Why recordings of conversations are “hidden” in non-obvious places
You turned on a call recording on Xiaomi Redmi, but after a conversation you can't find the file? This is a typical problem of MIUI users - the operating shell from Xiaomi uses non-standard storage paths for multimedia data. Unlike photos or screenshots that get into the gallery, the conversation records often end up in hidden system folders or require special permissions to access.
The reasons for this behavior lie in the MIUI security policy: by default, call records are considered confidential data, so the system restricts access to them. In addition, the path to files can vary depending on the firmware version (MIUI 12, 13 or 14), the phone model (Redmi Note 10 Pro, Redmi 9A, etc.), and even the method of recording – through a standard “Phone” application or third-party programs like Cube Call Recorder.
In this article, we’ll look at all possible storage locations, including hidden folders, cloud backups, and alternative search methods, and learn how to transfer files to your computer, change the default location, and recover accidentally deleted records.
Standard place for storing records in MIUI
If you use the built-in call recording feature in the Phone app (com.android.dialer), the default files are saved in the following folder:
/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/This is the way most Xiaomi Redmi models on MIUI 12-14 are used.
- 📁 folder MIUI It can be hidden – enable the display of hidden files in the file manager (for example, in Mi File Explorer click «⋮» → «Show hidden files»).
- 🔊 The files are.amr or.mp3 and are named by pattern: call_record_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.amr.
- 📱 Some models (e.g. Redmi Note) 11) path may be different: /storage/emulated/0/Recordings/Call/.
How fast to find the folder:
- Open any file manager (e.g., Mi File Explorer or Total Commander).
- Go to the root directory (/storage/emulated/0/).
- Open the folder. MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec.
- If there is no folder, check the alternative paths in the table below.
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If you don’t see the MIUI folder, try connecting your phone to your PC and using Windows Explorer – sometimes system folders only appear when you connect over USB.
Alternative storage paths depending on model and firmware
In different versions of MIUI and on individual models of Xiaomi Redmi, the paths to recordings may differ. Below is the current table with verified locations:
| Model/Version MIUI | The path to the records | File format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 10/11 Pro (MIUI 13–14) | /MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ | .amr, .mp3 | The folder could be hidden. |
| Redmi 9/9A/9C (MIUI 12) | /Recordings/Call/ | .amr | Sometimes it is duplicated in /MIUI/. |
| Redmi K40/K50 (MIUI 14) | /Android/media/com.miui.voicerecord/ | .m4a | Requires rights to access media |
| Third-party applications (Cube Call Recorder) | /CubeBackup/CallRecordings/ | .mp3, .ogg | Configured in the application parameters |
Important: On Redmi with Global Firmware (EEA), records can be automatically encrypted and saved to the Mi Cloud without notifying the user. To check this, go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backups and see Call Records.
How to find records if standard folders are empty
If there are no files in the specified folders, try the following methods:
- Search by file name: 🔍 In the file manager, enter in the search call_record or. 📌 Make sure that you search for all folders, including system folders.
- Verification of cloud services: ☁️ Mi Cloud: Go to the web version at i.mi.com → «Backup copies». 📁 Google Drive: if you used the Call Recorder app with synchronization.
Viewing through the application "Phone":
- 📞 Open the phone» → «Journal» → tap on the recorded call → Reproduction icon (if any).
- 🔗 In some versions MIUI There is an Open folder button with a direct path to the file.
What if the records are in the journal but not reproduced?
How to Change the Default Records Saving Place
If you don't like the standard file layout, you can reconfigure it.
- Using the phone application (limited functionality): 📱 Open the phone» → «⋮» → «Settings» → «Recording calls». 📁 In some versions MIUI There is a save folder option here (but it is not available on all models).
Through third-party applications (recommended method):
- 🛠️ Install Cube Call Recorder or Automatic Call Recorder from Google Play.
- 🔧 In the application settings, find the “Storage” section and specify any folder, for example. /Download/Call_Records/.
- Through ADB (Adb shell settings put global settings call_recording_storage_path /sdcard/YourFolder/ ⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB This team can cause a malfunction of the phone. MIUI 13+ loader-free.
📌 Make sure that the new folder exists (create it in advance)
📌 Check access rights (folder must be available for recording)
📌 Make a backup of old records
📌 Reboot your phone after the changes-->
How to transfer records to a computer or other device
There are several ways to export records:
- 🖥️ Through USB-cable: Connect Redmi to PC in File Transfer mode (MTP). Open the folder with records (see the paths above) and copy the files to your computer.
Through the cloud:
- Upload files to Google Drive, Mi Cloud or Dropbox directly from your phone.
- Use the Files by Google app for quick submission to your PC.
Through messengers:
- Send your recordings to Telegram (without compression) or WhatsApp.
- Use Nearby Share to transfer to another Android device.