Where in Xiaomi Redmi 5 are stored records of telephone conversations: the full guide

Did you record an important conversation on Xiaomi Redmi 5 but can't find the file? Or suddenly find that the old records disappeared after the update? This problem is familiar to many owners of Xiaomi smartphones - especially on models with MIUI 9-12, where the logic of storing audio files has changed several times. Unlike modern flagships, Redmi 5 (released in 2018) has its own peculiarities: records can hide in non-obvious folders, and the standard Dictophone application does not always display them.

In this article, we will look at all possible storage locations for call records, from system folders to cloud services, and explain why files can go missing and how to recover them.

• 📂 Where to save records with Redmi 5 (including hidden folders) by default)
• 🔍 How to find files if they are not displayed in the gallery
• ☁️ Where do records automatically load when synchronized with Mi Cloud?
• ⚙️ Why records may disappear after updating or resetting settings

Important: the instruction is valid for Redmi 5 (codename rosy) on all versions of MIUI, including global and Chinese firmware. If you have a different model (for example, Redmi Note 5 or Redmi 5A), the paths may be different - check in the comments.

1. Standard record storage location on Redmi 5

By default, the Call Recorder app (com.android.incallui) saves files to the folder:

/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/

This is where you'll find.amr or.mp3 recordings (depending on your settings).

• 📁 folder MIUI It can be hidden – enable the display of hidden files in any file manager (for example, in Mi File Explorer or Total Commander).
• 🔊 Files are named by template: Rec_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.amr (for example, Rec_20231015_143022.amr).
• 📱 On some firmware folders may be called call_record instead call_rec.

How to get there:

1. Open the Files app
2. Go to the "Device" section» → «Internal memory».

Check the settings of the call recording in the "Phone" application

Make sure the recording is on before the conversation begins.

Try to find files through a search by name "Rec_*.amr"

Update the Files app to the latest version-->

⚠️ Attention: If you are using MIUI 10 or older, records can be automatically archived in a folder MIUI/sound_recorder/archived/ after 30 Check it if you can't find any new files.

2. Alternative places: where else records can be stored

If there are no files in the standard folder, check these locations:

A critical nuance for Redmi 5: If you’ve used third-party recording apps (like Cube Call Recorder or ACR), the files will be in their own folders — usually /CallRecordings/ or /ACR/. These apps often save.mp3 records with a higher bitrate, but may conflict with the built-in MIUI function.

To check which app recorded the conversation:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the phone (com.android.incallui) and check the recording permission.
3. If the permission is disabled, the recordings were conducted through third-party software.

Built-in MIUI | Third-party app (ACR, Cube, etc.)| I don't write | I don't know-->

3.Why records disappear: 5 main reasons

Redmi 5 users often experience recordings suddenly disappearing, and the most common reasons are:

• 🔄 Update MIUI: After a major update (for example, with a MIUI 9 MIUI 11) the system may transfer files to a new location or reset the recording settings.
• 🧹 Cache Clearing: When the Phone app data is cleaned (com.android.incallui), the records are deleted if they were stored in its cache.
• ☁️ Mi Cloud conflict: If sync is enabled but the cloud space is over, old files can be deleted automatically.
• 📱 Factory reset: All local records are erased without recovery (unless backup was available).
• 🛠️ Memory Optimization: Cleaning Up in Settings → Memory can delete "unnecessary" audio files.

How to prevent loss of records:

1. Turn off automatic cleaning in Settings → Memory → Clean (uncheck the box from Audio Files).
2. Copy the folder regularly call_rec on PC or in the cloud (e.g. Google Drive).
3. Use third-party apps with auto export settings (for example, ACR can send entries to email).

💡

If the records are missing after the update, try to roll back the version of the Phone application via APK. To do this, download the old version from the APKMirror website and install it manually (pre-disable automatic update in the Play Market).

4. How to recover deleted call records

If files have been deleted, you can try to restore them, and success depends on how long it has been and whether the device has been used after it has been deleted.

Recovery methods:

1. Through the Recycle Bin: Open Files → Recycle Bin. Check if there are files with the.amr or.mp3 extension. Restore them by clicking Restore.
2. With Recovery Software: Connect your phone to your PC and use programs like Recuva, DiskDigger or EaseUS MobiSaver (/data) And look for file formats. AMR/MP3. ⚠️ Note: Do not install recovery programs on Redmi itself 5 — This will overwrite deleted data and make recovery impossible.
3. Backup Mi Cloud: Go to i.mi.com from your account. Go to Records or Backups. Download the archive and find the folder in it. sound_recorder.

If none of these methods worked, contact Xiaomi Service Center – sometimes records can be retrieved through the service. EDL-Mode (special equipment required).

5. How to transfer recordings to another medium

To avoid losing important conversations, it is recommended to regularly copy them to an external drive or to the cloud.

Method 1: Through a File Manager

1. Open Files and find the folder with records (see Section 1).
2. Select the necessary files (long press → ticks).
3. Click on "Copy" or "Cut".
4. Go to the destination folder (for example, /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Call_Backup/ on SD-map and insert files.

Method 2: Through the PC

1. Connect Redmi 5 to your computer via USB (select File Transfer mode).
2. Open the conductor. Windows/macOS and go into the internal memory. → MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec.
3. Copy the files to the hard drive.

Method 3: Automatic synchronization

• 📱 Set up autoboot in Mi Cloud: Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization → Records.
• ☁️ Use Google Drive: Install the app and enable automatic folder download call_rec.
• ⚡ For advanced users: Set up a task in Tasker or Automate to copy files periodically.

💡

Don't store a single copy of the records on the phone!Redmi 5's internal memory (eMMC 5.1) has a limited overwrite life - when used intensively, it can fail, making data recovery impossible.

6.Setting up call recording on Redmi 5: how to enable and optimize

If you haven’t recorded conversations yet or want to improve the quality of your recordings, follow this guideline:

How to turn on the record:

1. Open the phone app.
2. Press three points (⋮) top-right → «Settings».
3. Select "Translation of conversations."
4. Activate the Automatic Record switch or select Write only selected ones.

The best settings for Redmi 5 are:

• 🎤 File format: Select MP3 (better quality instead of AMR (though AMR less space).
• 📍 Storage area: Specify SD-card if the internal memory is full.
• 🔕 Notice: Enable the “Report Record” option (required by law in some countries).
• 🗑️ Cleaning: Disable "Auto-Delete Old Records».

If the recording option is not in the settings:

• Update the Phone app through the Play Market.
• Check regional restrictions: in some countries (such as India) call recording is blocked at the firmware level.
• Install an alternative dialer (like True Phone) that supports recording.

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

When you're working with Redmi 5, you're going to have a problem with your typical record, and here's how to solve it:

If none of the solutions worked, try resetting the phone app settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Phone.
2. Click on “Storage” → “Clear Data”.
3. Restart the phone and check the recording.

⚠️ Warning: Cleaning the phone application data will delete the call history and SMS! Pre-return backup through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions