Where on Xiaomi Redmi 8 store conversation records: all the ways to find and save

Why recordings of conversations can disappear from the phone

You recorded an important conversation on Xiaomi Redmi 8, but now you can't find it? The problem is familiar to many users. The fact is that the calls on Xiaomi smartphones are not stored in obvious places, and their location depends on the version of the firmware, the recording application used, and even regional settings. Moreover, after updating MIUI or resetting, files can move to other folders or disappear from the visible storage altogether.

Another common reason is automatic cleaning. Many recording applications (including the standard Mi Recorder) default to deleting old files when memory is scarce, and if you used third-party programs like Cube Call Recorder or ACR, the records may have been saved in their own cloud storage or hidden directories. In this article, we will look at all possible locations for recordings on Redmi 8, including system folders, backups, and ways to recover deleted files.

Before you start searching, make sure that records exist at all. For example, in some regions (e.g. the EU), call recording is disabled by default due to privacy laws, and you can check this in the Phone app settings, if there is no recording option, it is blocked at the firmware level.

Standard storage locations for MIUI records

If you have used the built-in recording feature in the Phone app (not available in all versions of MIUI), the files must be in one of the following folders:

• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ — main storage MIUI 10–12.
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Recordings/Call/ — Alternative path in new versions of the firmware.
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.android.providers.media/ — This can be the metadata of the records.

To open these folders:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB (select File Transfer Mode).
2. Use Windows Explorer or a file manager on your phone (such as Mi File Manager).
3. Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.

If there are no folders, then the records were saved elsewhere or deleted. Also check the Gallery - sometimes the files are displayed in the Audio section marked "Record of the call."

Search for records in third-party applications

The standard MIUI write function is unstable, so many install third-party programs.

If you don't remember which application you used, check all of the folders listed. Also note the file extensions: records can be saved in.amr,.mp3,.m4a or.wav. To avoid missing them, in the file manager settings, turn on the filter by file type - select Audio.

Check the folders of all installed recorders|Sort files by date of change|Use keyword search ("call", "record")|Check out cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox)-->

How to find hidden or deleted records

If files are not in standard folders, they could be:

• 🗑️ Removed automatically (for example, when cleaning the cache).
• 🔒 Hidden by the system (in folders with limited access).
• 📱 Moved to backup (e.g., Mi Cloud).

First, check the Recycle Bin in the file manager (Recently Deleted section). If there are no records, use data recovery software, such as:

• DiskDigger (does not require root rights, but does not restore all formats)
• Recuva (works through a PC, connect your phone in USB-drive mode).
• Dr.Fone (a paid solution with high efficiency)

Before recovery:

⚠️ Warning: Do not save new files to your phone after deleting the records - this reduces the chances of successful recovery. Use a memory card or external drive to save the recovered data.

If the recordings have been synced to Mi Cloud, check:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select Backups and check the date of the last save.
3. Restore data from the backup (note that this may overwrite your current settings).

How to enable automatic record saving in the cloud

To avoid losing important records in the future, set them up to automatically sync with cloud storage, for example, in ACR it is done like this:

1. Open the app and go to Settings → Cloud.
2. Select Google Drive or Dropbox and log in.
3. Specify the folder to save and enable the Autoboot option.

For the built-in recorder in MIUI:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Recording calls.
• 🔄 Enable AutoSave in Mi Cloud (not available in all regions).
• ☁️ Make sure there is enough space on your Mi Account.

You can also set up exporting email records, for example, Cube Call Recorder has a feature to send files to a specified address after each call, which is convenient for business conversations that need to be archived.

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If you record calls often, create a separate folder in Google Drive and set up an automatic download in the recorder app so you can access the records even if the phone is lost.

Problems with recording calls on Redmi 8 and their solutions

On Xiaomi Redmi 8 (especially with MIUI 11 and below) users often face the following problems:

If the recording does not start at all, check the permissions of the application:

• 📞 Permission to access the microphone.
• 📁 Permission to record audio.
• 🔄 Permit to work in the background.

On some versions of MIUI, call recording is blocked due to privacy policies, in which case only installing custom firmware (like LineageOS) or using a second phone to record will help.

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On Redmi 8 with MIUI 12+, the standard call record may not work due to Google restrictions, in which case use third-party VoIP-enabled apps (e.g. Boldbeast).

How to transfer recordings to another phone or PC

If you found the records and want to save them, there are several ways to transfer them:

• 📎 Through USB-cable: connect your phone to your PC, copy files manually.
• ☁️ Through the Cloud: Upload your records to Google Drive, Dropbox or Mi Cloud, then download them on another device.
• 📤 By email: send files to your own mail (convenient for small records).
• 🔗 Through messengers: send entries to Telegram (without size limit) or WhatsApp.

For mass transfer, it is convenient to use Mi File Manager:

1. Select all the files you need (hold your finger on one file, then mark the rest).
2. Click Share and select Send to PC (via Mi Drop).
3. Scanner. QR-Connect to your phone from your computer and download files.

If you're recording in.amr, you can convert it to.mp3 with Audacity or online services like Online-Convert, making it easier to listen to on other devices.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi 8 conversation recordings