Where on Xiaomi search for records of telephone conversations: all methods and hidden folders

Why are recordings of conversations “hiding” in different places?

You searched for a recording of an important conversation, but didn't find it in the obvious folders? This is typical of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones. The fact is that the storage location depends on three factors: the version of the MIUI firmware, the recording method (automatic or manual), and even the device model. For example, on the Xiaomi 13 Pro with MIUI 14, the recordings are stored by default in one place, and on the Redmi Note 10 with MIUI 12.5, in another.

Xiaomi also regularly changes the logic of file storage, where records were previously publicly available, but new versions of firmware can hide them in system folders or even access them only through a special application, and there is a nuance with the Mi Cloud cloud that some users do not even suspect that their conversations are automatically synchronized there.

In this article, we will explore all possible locations where call records can be stored, including hidden folders, system directories, and cloud services, and how to recover deleted records and why they sometimes “disappear” after a MIUI update.

Method 1: The standard phone application and its hidden functions

The most obvious place is the built-in Phone app, but not everyone knows that there's a hidden section with records to find.

  1. Open the Phone app.
  2. Tap on three points (⋮) top-right.
  3. Select Record or Record Conversations (name depends on MIUI version).

If this is not the case, the recording function is disabled in the settings to activate it:

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → Phone → Record conversations.
  2. Enable the option of Automatic Recording or Record all calls.
  3. Choose which calls to record (all incoming, only outgoing).

💡

If you don't have "Record Conversations" in your settings, your firmware doesn't support this feature. Try updating MIUI to the latest version or installing a third-party recording app.

Important: In some regions (e.g. the EU), automatic call recording can be disabled by law, in which case Xiaomi hides this feature in the settings.

Method 2: Rec or CallRecord folder in internal memory

If the records are not displayed in the Phone app, check the device's internal memory. Xiaomi saves audio files in one of these folders (depending on the model and version of MIUI):

  • 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Rec/ — The most common place for Redmi and POCO.
  • 📁 /storage/emulated/0/CallRecord/ — used in new versions MIUI 13+.
  • 📁 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ — hidden folder on some devices.

To find these folders:

  1. Open any file manager (such as Google Files or Mi File Manager).
  2. Go to the root directory of internal memory (/storage/emulated/0/).
  3. Enable the display of hidden folders (in Mi File Manager this is done through three points → Settings → Show hidden files).

Record files are usually.amr or.mp3 and named after a pattern: Record_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.amr. If the folder is not, then the records are saved elsewhere or the function is disabled.

Why can the Rec folder be empty?
If the folder exists but is empty, check: 1. Is the option “Delete Post-Talk” enabled in the Phone app settings. 2. Are records not redirected to the Mi Cloud cloud (see Method 4). 3. Are you using a third-party recording app (such as Cube Call Recorder) that saves files to its folder.

Method 3: Android/data system folder for third-party applications

If you use third-party applications to record calls (such as ACR, Cube Call Recorder, or Call Recorder by Lovekesh), the files will be stored in a secure system folder:

/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/[name packet appendix]/files/

For example, for ACR, the path would be:

/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.nll.acr/files/ACR/

To access this folder:

  1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB (in file transfer mode).
  2. Use Windows Explorer or macOS to navigate through folders.
  3. If the folder is not visible, turn on the display of hidden elements in the conductor settings.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete or move files from the folder Android/data This can cause the application to fail. Use the built-in export functionality to transfer the records.

Some apps (like Cube Call Recorder) allow you to change the save folder in your settings. Check Settings → the save folder inside the app.

Method 4: Mi Cloud – Automatic Record Synchronization

Xiaomi can automatically upload recordings of conversations to the Mi Cloud cloud if you have sync enabled.

  1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
  2. Scroll down and find the Synchronization section.
  3. Check if the Call Records or Audio option is enabled.

If the synchronization is active, the records can be found:

  • 🌐 On the web version of Mi Cloud at i.mi.com (Recording or Audio section).
  • 📱 In the Mi Cloud mobile application (cloud icon on the desktop).

Important: the Mi Cloud only provides 5GB of storage for free, and if the space runs out, new records will no longer sync, and some regions (such as Russia) may have restrictions on storing records in the cloud due to local privacy laws.

Yes, only Mi Cloud|.

Yes, another cloud (Google Drive, Yandex.Disk) |

No, I only keep it on my phone.|

I don't know, I haven't.-->

Method 5: Recover Deleted Records with Mi File Recovery

If the records are missing after resetting, updating MIUI or accidentally deleting, you can try to restore them.

  1. Download the official Mi File Recovery app from AppGallery (it is not available on Google Play).
  2. Launch the application and select the file type to recover: tick Audio.
  3. Specify the folder to scan (e.g. /storage/emulated/0/Rec/).
  4. Wait for the scan to be completed and select the files you want to recover.

The chances of success depend on how long it has been since the deletion, and if new data (photos, videos, apps) were recorded on the phone, they could overwrite the deleted audio files.

⚠️ Warning: Don't install Mi File Recovery on the same memory partition where the records were stored, which reduces the chances of recovery, connect the phone to a PC and use desktop programs like Recuva or EaseUS Data Recovery.

If recovery didn’t work, check backups in Mi Cloud (if sync was enabled) or on Google Drive (if you used third-party auto-export apps).

Table: Where to look for records on different Xiaomi models

Model/SeriesMIUI versiondefault folderFeatures
Xiaomi 12/13/1413–14/CallRecord/Auto-recording is only available for selected contacts..m4a files.
Redmi Note 10–1212.5–13/Rec/Records are saved to.amr. When you upgrade to MIUI 14, the folder can change to /CallRecord/.
POCO F3–F512–14 (Global)/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/On global firmware, call recording is often disabled by default.
Xiaomi Mi 1112–12.5/Rec/ or /CallRecord/When manually writing files are saved to /Rec/, when automatic - to /CallRecord/.
Redmi 9/9A/9C11–12/Rec/There's no automatic recording. You need to manually activate the function before every call.

On the Xiaomi 13T Pro with MIUI 14 Global, the default record is saved to the cloud, not to internal memory.

Frequent problems and their solutions

If records are not saved or are lost, check these points:

  • 🔇 No audio in the record: The issue often arises from a conflict with Google Phone. uninstall updates for the Phone app or use a third-party recorder.
  • 📵 Records break: This may be due to battery optimization.Add the Phone app to exceptions (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery).
  • 🔄 After updating MIUI The records disappeared: The storage folder may have changed. /CallRecord/ and the Mi Cloud.
  • 🚫 No recording function: Some EU firmware has legally disabled call recording. Try changing region in settings (Settings) → Additionally. → Region).

If the problem is not solved, try resetting the phone app settings:

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → Phone → Storage.
  2. Click Clear Data and Clear Cache.
  3. Reboot the phone.

Make sure the recording function is enabled in the settings |

Check all possible storage folders |

Update MIUI to the latest version|

Try a third-party application to record (for example, ACR)-->

Can I record calls automatically on all Xiaomi models?
No. On EU-based firmware devices (e.g. Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G NE), automatic recording may be disabled due to privacy laws, in which case changing the region to India or Russia in settings (Settings → Additional → Region) will help.
Why are records saved in.amr format instead of.mp3?
The.amr format is used to save space, taking up 5-10 times less memory than.mp3 at comparable quality. To convert.amr to.mp3, use applications like Audio Converter or online services.
Can I transfer the recordings to another phone?
Copy files from /Rec/ or /CallRecord/ to a new phone to the same folder. If you use the Mi Cloud, the records are synced automatically when you log in to the same Xiaomi account.
How to turn on the call record on POCO with global firmware?
On POCO with global MIUI, recording is often disabled. To activate it: Set India region in settings. Update the Phone app via Google Play. If it doesn't work, use third-party apps (like Cube Call Recorder).
Why are records not saved after the MIUI update?
Large updates (e.g. with the MIUI 12 on MIUI 14) The path to the record folder may change, the old files remain in place, and the new ones are saved in the file. /CallRecord/. Also check if the settings of the record in the phone application have reset.

1. Is the recording function in the settings disabled?

2. whether you are using a third-party application with a different storage location.

3. whether records are redirected to the cloud (Mi Cloud or otherwise).

4. Have files been deleted after the update MIUI (This will help in the recovery of data).-->