Where to look for a phone call record on Xiaomi: all ways and hidden folders

You've been looking for an important recording of a conversation on Xiaomi, but you can't find it in standard folders? The problem is that MIUI hides audio files of calls in an unobvious way — they can be stored in system directories, the cloud, or even encrypted backups. In this article, we'll look at all the possible places where Redmi, Poco or Mi save records, including little-known tricks for old and new versions of firmware.

Xiaomi's peculiarity is that the path to files depends on the version of MIUI, the phone model, and even the firmware region. For example, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro with MIUI 14, the records can lie in one place, and on the Xiaomi 13 Ultra with HyperOS, we analyzed 15+ models and found common patterns that will help you find files even if you do not know the exact version of the software.

Important: If you used third-party recording apps (like Cube Call Recorder or ACR), the search algorithm will be different, we’ll talk about this in a separate section, and if the record is lost after an update or reset, we have a solution for this case.

1. Standard place of storage of records in MIUI

In most cases, Xiaomi keeps the call records in the folder. MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec But the path can vary:

• 📁 For MIUI 12-13: /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/
• 📁 For MIUI 14+ HyperOS: /storage/emulated/0/Recordings/Call/
• 📁 For older versions (MIUI 10-11): /storage/emulated/0/recorder/calls/

The files are formatted.m4a or.amr and named by template: call_[date [time] [number] [number].m4a. For example: call_20260515_1430_+79123456789.m4a. To see hidden folders, enable the display of system files in any file manager (for example, in Mi File Explorer, click on the file manager). ⋮ → Settings → Show hidden files).

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If the folder call_rec empty, check the permissions of the "Dictorphone" application in Settings → Annexes → Permits → Microphone and storage, without those rights. MIUI can't keep records.

On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T POCO F5) Records can be automatically archived in MIUI/backup/AllBackup/call_rec/. These files are encrypted and require recovery through Settings. → System system → Backup.

2. How to find records through the application "Dictorphone"

The easiest way is to use the built-in Sound Recorder app, which not only records voice notes, but also stores a call archive (if activated).

1. Open the application "Dictophone" (mic icon).
2. Go to the Calls tab (or Call Recordings in English firmware).
3. Here you will see all the saved conversations sorted by date.
4. Click on the recording to listen, or ⋮ → Share to export to share.

If there is no Call tab, the recording function is disabled. Enable it in Settings → Apps → Recorder → Auto Recording of calls. Note: on some models (for example, Redmi 9A), autorecording works only for incoming calls.

Is the auto-recording on the Dictator included"|Is there a permit to access the microphone?|Is there enough space on the internal storage device?|Is the Dictator app updated to the latest version?-->

In MIUI 14+, the interface has changed: call records can be displayed in a separate log section inside the Phone.

1. Open the phone app.
2. Click on the icon. ⋮ (three points) in upper right corner.
3. Select the Recordings Journal (or Call History → Recordings).

3. Search for records through the file manager

If the standard methods don't work, then you can go manually, use Mi File Explorer or a third-party manager (like Solid Explorer).

1. Open the file manager and go to the root directory (/storage/emulated/0/).
2. Enable the display of hidden folders (in Solid Explorer: ☰ → Settings → Show hidden files).
3. Look for the entries in the following folders (prioritized by probability):

If you use Google Files, type:audio call in the manager's search box to help filter out call records among other audio files. Note the.amr files, which take up less space but are of poorer quality.

4. entries in the cloud Mi Cloud and Google Drive

Xiaomi can automatically sync call records to Mi Cloud or Google Drive if the appropriate option is enabled.

• 🌐 Mi Cloud: Go to Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud. Select backup copies → Apps. Check if the Dictator backup is on. If so, recover the data via Recovery.

Google Drive:

1. Open Google Drive in your browser.
2. In the search box, type:audio call.
3. Check the Backups or Sound Recorder folder.

Important: Mi Cloud records are stored encrypted and not directly accessible. They can only be restored to the same device with the same Xiaomi account. If you have changed your phone, log in to Mi Cloud on the new device first, then restore data through Settings → Memory → Backup.

On your phone |In the cloud (Mi Cloud/Google Drive)|On your computer |On an external drive |I don't save-->

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI EU or xiaomi.eu), cloud-based recording synchronization is disabled by default due to GDPR limitations.

1. Go to Settings → Further → Privacy.
2. Select Application Special Permissions.
3. Find the Dictator and allow access to the cloud.

5. Recovery of deleted records

If the tape has been deleted, don't panic. There are several ways to get it back:

• 🗑️ Recycle Bin in File Manager: Open Mi File Explorer, go to Recycle Bin (icon at the bottom menu.
• 🔄 Recovery via Mi Cloud: If sync was enabled, try to restore data by the desired date (Settings) → Mi Cloud → Backup copies).
• 🛠️ Third-party utilities: Programs like DiskDigger or Recuva (for PCs) can find deleted files if new data is not written to the phone.

To recover via DiskDigger:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Select Full Scan (requires root rights for deep search).
3. Filter the results for.m4a,.amr,.mp3 extensions.
4. Save the files found to a memory card or cloud.

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The chances of recovery are maximum if you have not written new files to your phone (photos, videos, music) after deleting the record, and each new record reduces the likelihood of a successful recovery.

If you’re using Xiaomi root access, try scanning the /data section through ADB:

adb shell


su




find /data -name".m4a" -o -name".amr"

Etoda recursively searches for audio files in the system partition. Be careful: changes to /data without root can lead to crashes.

6. Features for third-party recording applications

If you use third-party programs to record calls (e.g. Cube Call Recorder, ACR, Boldbeast), the search algorithm will be different.

• 📱 Cube Call Recorder: /storage/emulated/0/CubeBackup/ or /storage/emulated/0/CallRecorder/
• 📱 ACR (Another Call Recorder): /storage/emulated/0/ACR/
• 📱 Boldbeast: /storage/emulated/0/Boldbeast Recorder/
• 📱 Truecaller: /storage/emulated/0/Truecaller/Recordings/

In the settings of these applications, there is usually a save folder option where you can change the storage path. ACR:

1. Open the app, press. ⋮ → Settings.
2. Select the Record File.
3. The current path is indicated here (e.g. /storage/emulated/0/ACR/).

Some applications (e.g. Boldbeast) allow you to save records on the SD-In this case, check the map:

• /storage/[SD_CARD_ID]/Boldbeast/
• /storage/[SD_CARD_ID]/CallRecordings/

To see the real path to SD-Enter the command in Terminal Emulator:

ls /storage/

1. Permission to access microphone and storage.

2. "Do Not Disturb" settings (they may block the recording).

3. Application version (some do not work on MIUI 14+).

4. Regional restrictions (in some countries, recording calls is prohibited by law).-->

7 Problems and Solutions: Why Records Are Not Saved

If Xiaomi doesn’t record calls or files aren’t saved, the reasons may be:

A new restriction has been introduced on MIUI 14+ and HyperOS: the system blocks call recording if the call privacy option is enabled in the security settings.

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → More.
2. Find Call Privacy Protection and turn it off.
3. Reboot the phone.

On some models (such as Xiaomi 13 Pro or Mix Fold 3), recording calls may conflict with Dual Apps. If you use a duplicate of a Phone or a Dictator, recording will only be saved in the main version.

8.Export and backup of records

To avoid losing important records, export them regularly.

• 📤 Through "Dictorphone": Open the recording in the app. Press ⋮ → Share. Select Save to... and specify a folder (e.g. Downloads or cloud).
• 🖥️ On the computer: Connect the phone to the PC through USB (File Transfer Mode. Copy the folder with the records (e.g., file transfer, MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/) hard-drive.

Automatic synchronization:

1. In "Dictophon" enable Autoboot to the cloud (Settings → Cloud).
2. Choose Mi Cloud or Google Drive.

For mass export, use ADB (only USB debugging is required):

adb pull /sdcard/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ C:\Xiaomi_Calls\

This command will copy all the records to a folder. C:\Xiaomi_Calls\ Replace the path with the one that's relevant to your system.

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The recommended format for long-term record storage is.mp3 or.wav..amr files take up little space but lose quality. Convert them through Audacity or online converters.

If you plan to keep records for a long time, consider:

• 🗄️ Format:.m4a (MIUI by default or.mp3 (better for the archive).
• 🔒 Encryption: Use Cryptomator or VeraCrypt for confidential conversations.
• 📅 Tags: Rename files by adding the date and name of the person (for example, 2026-05-15_Ivanov-the treaty.m4a).

However, we do not recommend doing this without the consent of the other party.

If your question is not covered in the FAQ, check the official documentation of Xiaomi for your model or contact for support through Settings → Reviews. Specify the exact model of the phone and the version of MIUI - this will help to solve the problem faster.