Where Xiaomi Stores Recorded Conversations: A Complete Guide to Searching and Retrieving Audio Files

Recording phone conversations on Xiaomi smartphones is a useful feature that is often used to record important conversations, interviews or just save memorable conversations. However, many users face the problem: where exactly these records are stored, how to find them in the chaos of the MIUI file system, and what to do if they disappear after updating or resetting settings? In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible storage locations for audio recordings on Xiaomi devices, including hidden system folders, cloud services and even ways to restore deleted files.

The MIUI feature is that the path to records can vary depending on the firmware version (from MIUI 12 to MIUI 15), the smartphone model (for example, Redmi Note 12 vs. Xiaomi 13 Pro) and even regional settings. In addition, some records can automatically sync with Mi Cloud, while others can only remain in local memory. To avoid losing important data, it is important to understand all the nuances of storage and backup.

Before you start searching, make sure that the conversation recording feature on your device is enabled. In some countries (e.g. EU), it may be disabled by default due to legal restrictions. Check this in the Phone → Recording settings of the Calls app. If the option is missing, you may need to install alternative software or use third-party apps.

1. Standard ways of storing records in MIUI

In most cases, the recordings of conversations on Xiaomi are stored in one of the standard folders of internal memory.The path depends on the version of MIUI and the device model, but usually follows one of three schemes:

• 📁 Main folder: /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ — This store contains records made by an embedded voice recorder or recording function in the Phone application (current for MIUI 12–14).
• 📁 Alternative path: /storage/emulated/0/Recordings/Call/ – used on some Redmi and POCO custom firmware models.
• 📁 For newer versions: /storage/emulated/0/Android/media/com.miui.voicerecord/ is the path for MIUI 15 and fresh updates where records are stored in a protected area.

To open these folders, you can use any file manager (for example, embedded Files or Solid Explorer). It is important to enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings, since some directories can be hidden by default. If the MIUI or Recordings folder is missing, try recording a test conversation - it should appear automatically.

On some devices (such as Xiaomi 12T or Redmi K50), records can be saved in.amr or.m4a. To listen to such files on a PC, you may need to install additional codecs (for example, K-Lite Codec Pack).

⚠️ Warning: If you connect your smartphone to your computer via USB, the MIUI or Android/media folders may not be displayed due to the limitations of the MTP- protocol, in which case copy the files directly from your phone (e.g., via Google Drive or Telegram).

2. Cloud Storage: Synchronization with Mi Cloud

If your Xiaomi has Mi Cloud sync enabled, the conversation records can be automatically uploaded to the cloud.

1. Not all records are synchronized. By default, only files from the MIUI/sound_recorder folder are downloaded to the cloud if Media Backup is enabled.
2. Volume limit: The free Mi Cloud tariff provides only 5 GB, which will last for about 50-100 hours of recording (depending on the bitrate).
3. Regional restrictions: In some countries (e.g. India), cloud-based recording synchronization may be disabled.

To check if your records are saved in the cloud:

1. Open the Mi Cloud app (or go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud).
2. Select Backups → Device → Multimedia.
3. Check for the sound_recorder or call_rec folder in the backup list.

If there are no records in the cloud, but they are on the device, you can manually download them through the Google Drive or Dropbox app.

1. Open the folder with records in the file manager.
2. Select the files you want (holding your finger on one of them).
3. Click Share → Select Google Drive → Save.

⚠️ Warning: When you delete a record from your device, it will also disappear from the Mi Cloud if it was synced. To avoid data loss, turn on the option to Save deleted files for 30 days in the cloud settings.

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If you record conversations frequently, set up an automatic download of the call_rec folder to Google Drive via the AutoSync app.This will protect files even when your phone is reset.

3. Search for records on a memory card (SD)

If your Xiaomi supports memory cards (e.g., Redmi Note 11 or POCO X3 Pro), the records can be saved directly to the SD- card.

• 📁 /storage/XXXX-XXXX/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ (where XXXX-XXXX is a unique card identifier).
• 📁 /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Recordings/Call/ is an alternative path for some firmware.
• 📁 /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Android/media/com.miui.voicerecord/ — for newer versions MIUI.

To check the presence of records on the memory card:

1. Open the file manager and go to the SD- section of the card.
2. Enable the display of hidden files (in the manager menu).
3. Look for folders called MIUI, sound_recorder, or Recordings.

If there are no records on the map, but they should be there, check the settings of the Phone application:

1. Open the phone. → ⋮ (menu) → Settings → Recording of conversations.
2. Make sure that the SD- card is selected in the Save Place section, not the Internal Memory.

If you use a SD- card as internal memory (the option is to format as an internal drive), the path to the records will be the same as for internal memory (for example, /storage/emulated/0/...).

4. How to recover deleted records

If the conversation records were deleted by mistake, you can try to restore them using specialized programs, success depends on how long it has been since the deletion and how actively the device memory was used.

The following tools will be suitable for recovery:

• 🔧 DiskDigger (Android) – works without root rights, but with restrictions.
• 🔧 Recuva (Windows) – if you connect your smartphone to your PC in Mass Storage mode (you need to unlock the bootloader).
• 🔧 EaseUS MobiSaver supports recovery of.amr and.m4a files.

Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger:

Install DiskDigger from Google Play

Start the app and select Basic scan (no root)

Mark the type of Audio files

Select the partition to scan (internal memory or SD- card)

Wait until the scan is completed and save the files found-->

If the records were deleted long ago (more than 2-3 weeks), the chances of recovery are minimal, as they could be overwritten by new data, in which case only a backup (if it was created in advance) will help.

⚠️ Warning: Don't install recovery software on the same partition where the records were stored! This can permanently overwrite deleted files. Use a separate SD- card or cloud storage.

Critical information: On devices with MIUI 14+ and F2FS file system (e.g. Xiaomi 13T), standard recovery methods often do not work, in which case you will need to unlock the bootloader and use ADB or TWRP.

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The faster you start recovering from deletion, the better the chances of getting your records back, and each new record or application you install reduces the likelihood of success.

5. Alternative methods of recording and storage

If the built-in conversation recording feature on your Xiaomi is not available or is unstable, you can use third-party apps, which offer more options for storing and managing records:

• 🎤 Cube Call Recorder ACR – Records calls to the cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox) and supports automatic tags.
• 🎤 Call Recorder by Lovekush – saves records in encrypted form (useful for confidential conversations).
• 🎤 Truecaller – In addition to identifying numbers, it can record calls (premium subscription is required).

Advantages of third-party applications:

• 🔹 The ability to select a recording format (MP3, WAV, AAC).
• 🔹 Automatic transcription of conversations (in some applications).
• 🔹 Sync with multiple cloud services.

However, there are also disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Some applications may conflict with the built-in recording function MIUI.
• ⚠️ In Android 10+ versions, recording conversations through third-party apps may be blocked for security reasons.

To avoid problems, before installing a third-party recorder:

1. Turn off the built-in recording in the settings Phone → Record conversations.
2. Give the application all the necessary permissions (microphone, file access, autorun).
3. Test the recording on an unimportant call to make sure it works.

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If you use Cube Call Recorder ACR, turn on the option to Record from both sides in the settings, which will save the voice of the interlocutor even on Android 10+.

6. Security and legal aspects

Recording telephone conversations is not only a technical issue, but also a legal one, with strict rules governing recording conversations without the consent of the interlocutor in most countries, and violating these rules can result in fines or even criminal liability.

The main legal nuances:

• 📜 Russia: Recording a conversation without notifying the interlocutor is allowed if you are a participant in the conversation (Article 23 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation).However, distributing the recording without consent can be qualified as a violation of privacy (Article 137 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
• 📜 European Union (GDPR): Recording conversations without the explicit consent of the interlocutor is prohibited.
• 📜 USA: Laws vary by state, and some (e.g., California) require the consent of all participants in the conversation.

Recommendations for the safe use of the record:

• 🔒 Always notify the person you are talking to about the recording (e.g., "I'm recording our conversation for the record. Do you mind?").
• 🔒 Store records in encrypted form (for example, in the Call Recorder by Lovekush app).
• 🔒 Remove unnecessary records to minimize the risk of leakage.

On Xiaomi devices, you can enable additional protection for the folder with records:

1. Open the file manager of the files.
2. Go to the entries folder (e.g., MIUI/sound_recorder).
3. Press ⋮ → Protect the folder and set the password.

⚠️ Warning: In some countries (e.g. Germany), even storing recordings of conversations without an explicit purpose may be considered a violation of the law.

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

Xiaomi users often face typical problems with recording conversations, and here are the most common ones and how to solve them:

If the MIUI update has stopped recording conversations, try the following steps:

1. Reset the settings of the application Phone: Settings → Applications → Phone → Storage → Clear the data.
2. Check if the recording function is disabled in regional settings (e.g. EU).
3. Install an alternative recording app (e.g. Cube Call Recorder).

If the problem persists, it may be due to hardware limitations, such as some models (such as the Xiaomi 12 Lite) may not work due to the chipset or the region-specific firmware modification.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions