Where on Xiaomi Redmi 9 saves call records: all possible storage locations

Have you turned on a call recording on Xiaomi Redmi 9 but can't find the file? Or accidentally deleted an important audio recording and want to restore it? The problem is that the smartphone doesn't always save the records in obvious folders — their location depends on the firmware version, the recording application used, and even regional settings. In this article, we'll go through all possible storage locations, including hidden system directories, cloud services, and ways to recover deleted files.

The peculiarity of Redmi 9 (codename lancelot) is that the standard application "Dictophon" from Xiaomi is not always used to record calls - often users install third-party programs like Cube Call Recorder or ACR. Each of these applications saves files according to its own rules. In addition, starting with MIUI 12.5, Xiaomi has tightened its privacy policy, which could affect access to records.

1. Standard storage location: Recordings folder in internal memory

If you used the built-in Xiaomi voice recorder (com.miui.voiceassist app), then the default call records are saved here:

• 📁 Internal memory. → MIUI/sound_recorder/recordings/
• 📁 Internal memory. → Recordings/ (version MIUI)
• 📁 Internal memory. → Music/Recordings/ (If the files have been moved)

The files are formatted.m4a or.amr and named by template: REC_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.m4a. To find the folder quickly:

1. Open the Files app (yellow folder icon).
2. Go to the Category section → Audio.
3. Sort files by date of creation – the latest records will be at the top.

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If the Recordings folder is empty, check the settings of the recorder: it is possible that records are saved on the recorder. SD-map: /storage/XXXX-XXXX/MIUI/sound_recorder/).

Important: in MIUI 13+, Xiaomi added protection for call records – files can be encrypted and not accessible through a standard file manager, in which case use ES Explorer with root rights or connect your smartphone to your PC.

2. entries from third-party applications: Cube ACR, Boldbeast and others

Xiaomi's standard voice recorder doesn't always record calls reliably because of Android's limitations, so many people install alternatives.

🔍 How to find hidden folders? enable the display of hidden files in the file manager settings (in the file manager settings) ES Conductor: Settings → Some applications (e.g. Boldbeast) allow you to change the way you save in your settings – check the Storage Settings section.

3. Cloud Storage: Mi Cloud, Google Drive and Dropbox

If Redmi 9 enabled sync with Mi Cloud, the records could automatically upload to the cloud.

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select Storage Management → Audio.
3. Look for files with the.m4a or.amr extension.

🔄 Recovery from the cloud: If a file has been deleted, check the Mi Cloud Recycle Bin (stores deleted files for up to 30 days). ACR) The records can be synced with Google Drive:

• 🌐 Open Google Drive in your browser.
• 🔍 In the search box, type:audio.
• 📅 Filter files by date of creation.

4. Hidden system folders: where Xiaomi hides records

On Redmi 9 with MIUI 12.5+, call records can be saved in secure system directories that are not available without root rights.

• 🔒 /data/user/0/com.android.providers.media/documents/ (root)
• 🔒 /data/media/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/private/
• 🔒 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.voiceassist/files/

⚠️ Warning: Trying to access these folders without root permissions can cause the Files app to crash. If it's critical for you to recover records, use the ADB (Android Debug Bridge with the team:

adb pull /data/media/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/ ~/Desktop/redmi_records/

For this:

1. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm your trust in the device.
3. Run the command in the terminal (Windows: cmd, macOS/Linux: Terminal).

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If the recordings were made through a root-access application (e.g., Call Recorder - Automatic), they can be stored in a root-access application. /data/local/tmp/. Recovery will require custom recovery (TWRP).

5. Recovery of deleted records: 3 working methods

If you accidentally delete a call record, don't despair, it can be restored. The rule is, don't write new files to your smartphone so you don't overwrite deleted data.

⚠️ Note: Recovery works only if the file was deleted no more than 30 days ago and no new data was saved in its place. MIUI 14+ chances are lower due to automatic cache cleaning function.

Recovery methods:

1. Through the DiskDigger app: 📱 Install DiskDigger from Google Play. 🔍 Select a full scan (requires root). 🎵 Filter the results by type of Audio. 💾 Save the files found on your PC or cloud.

With the help of PC and EaseUS MobiSaver:

Connect Redmi 9 to your PC in file transfer mode (MTP)|Install EaseUS MobiSaver for Android|Disconnect sync with Mi Cloud|Do not connect the charger during scanning-->

It scans internal memory and finds deleted audio files, and it's important that you don't use the free version, it only recovers files up to 5MB.

Through TWRP backup:

If you have custom recovery installed, restore the /data partition from the backup.

1. Download to TWRP (press Power + Volume Up).


2. Select Restore → Select Storage → Internal Storage.




3. tick the Data section and confirm the recovery.

6 Why records are not saved: common problems

Sometimes Redmi 9 doesn't save any call records at all, and here are the main reasons and solutions.

⚠️ Attention: Starting with Android 12 (MIUI 13+), Google has tightened its privacy policy, and now apps need special permission to record calls. MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE, It's only system software, if you have your Redmi. 9 Updated to a new version, a standard recorder may stop working – use alternatives like Truecaller (the record works through their servers).

7 How to transfer the recordings to another phone or PC

If you need to keep your call records for a long time, you better move them to another medium.

• 🖥️ On PC: Connect Redmi 9 to USB (File Transfer mode) and copy the Recordings folder to the hard drive.
• ☁️ To the cloud: Upload files to Google Drive or Yandex Drive (use the Files app" → "Send to the cloud").
• 📱 To another phone: Send your recordings via Mi Share (built-in Xiaomi feature) or Telegram (without loss of quality).
• 💾 Nana SD-Map: Move files to /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Recordings/ (use ES Conductor).

🔐 Security tip: If records contain sensitive information, archive them with a password:

1. Set RAR.
2. Select files in the Recordings folder.
3. Click Add to the archive and set the password.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi 9 call records