Where to look for phone records in Xiaomi: hidden folders, settings and recovery

You had an important conversation on the phone, turned on the record, but now you can't find the audio file in the memory of your smartphone? This problem is familiar to many Xiaomi owners - even with the activated call recording function, files sometimes "disappear" from standard folders. The reason lies in the features of the MIUI firmware, where the storage paths depend on the version of the system, the phone model and even regional settings.

In this article, we’ll look at all possible storage locations, from obvious folders in the file manager to hidden system directories only accessible through Root or ADB. You’ll also learn why records may not be saved (even if you clicked the write button), how to recover deleted files, and what alternative write methods to use if the standard feature is unstable.

The instructions are valid for MIUI 14/15 (including global and Chinese versions), as well as models from Redmi Note 12 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra. If your phone is older than 2020, check out the section on outdated firmware versions - there are nuances there.

1. Standard location of MIUI records: where to look first

In most cases, phone records on Xiaomi are stored in a folder. MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec or Recordings/Call. However, the path may change depending on the:

• 📱 Versions MIUI: global-firm (EEA/Global) China and China are different paths.
• 🔄 System updates: after major updates (e.g., with MIUI 13 by 14) folders can be moved.
• 📁 Record settings: if you have changed the save location manually (via the Dictator app»).

To check the standard folders:

1. Open the File Manager application**.
2. Go to the internal memory of the phone (not to mention the SD-map!).
3. Open the folder. MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec.
4. If you don’t have one, check Recordings → Call or Music/Recordings.

🔍 Important: Record files are usually formatted.m4a or.amr and named by template Call_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS. If you don’t see file extensions, turn them on in the file manager settings (Settings) → Showing expansions).

2. Hidden folders and system directories: how to access

If the records are not in the standard folders, they could be saved in the hidden system directories.

• 📞 Calls recorded through a built-in voice recorder (not through the Phone application»).
• 🔒 Limited rights firmware (e.g. Chinese versions) MIUI global ROM).
• 📱 Outdated models (Redmi 9, Mi) A3 where the logic of storage differs.

To see the hidden folders:

1. Open File Manager (you can use MiXplorer or Solid Explorer, which shows hidden files by default).
2. Enable the display of hidden elements: Settings → Show hidden files
3. Check the following paths: /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.android.providers.media//data/user/0/com.miui.voicerecord/ (requires Root) /sdcard/MIUI/voicerecord/ (for older versions of MIUI)

⚠️ Attention: Folders in /data/ available only with Root rights or through ADB. Do not delete files from system directories – this can cause malfunctions in the phone.

If you don't have Root, try connecting your phone to your PC and using ADB Shell to search for files.

adb shell find /storage/ -name "call." -o -name "record."

3. Why records are not saved: common reasons

Sometimes users complain that they clicked on the recording of the conversation, but the file did not appear.

A critical feature of MIUI is that in some regions (e.g. the EU), call recording is disabled by default due to privacy laws, and to enable it, you need to manually activate the option in the Phone application settings → Call recording → Auto Record.

💡

If recording is interrupted after 30 seconds, check the "Background Limitation" settings in the "Battery" section. Add the "Phone" app to the list of permitted backgrounds.

4. How to Recover Deleted Records of Conversations

If you accidentally delete a record or it disappears after resetting, you can try to restore it, and success depends on how long it has been since you deleted it and whether the phone's memory has been used after that.

🛠 Recovery methods:

• 🔄 Through the Recycle Bin: Xiaomi File Manager Has a Recycle Bin (Files) → Recycle Bin where files are stored for 15 days.
• 💾 Using a PC: Connect your phone to your computer and use programs like Recuva or DiskDigger (scan internal memory, not internal memory). SD-map!).
• 📱 Root: Undelete-like apps can recover files directly on your phone, but require Root rights.

📌 Important: Do not save new files to your phone until you recover, which reduces your chances of success. If the record is critical, contact the service center (but there is no guarantee of recovery).

Disable Wi-Fi and Mobile Data|Not installing new applications|Do not take photos or videos|Use the original USB-cable-->

5. Alternative ways to record conversations on Xiaomi

If the standard recording function is unstable, consider alternatives:

🎤 Third-party annexes:

• 📱 Cube Call Recorder ACR — Records both ends of the conversation, works even on blocked firmware.
• 🔊 Call Recorder by Lovekesh – Google Drive (CD).
• 📞 Truecaller – has a built-in call record (but requires registration).

💡 Important: When using third-party applications:

• Check the permissions to access the microphone and storage.
• Some apps may conflict with the built-in MIUI record – disable it in the settings.
• On Android 10+, recording conversations through third-party programs may not work due to Google’s restrictions.

🔧 Manual solution: If neither method works, you can record a conversation via a second phone (put it next to you and turn on the recorder) or use a headset with a recording function (for example, Sony). ICD-UX570).

6. Features for different Xiaomi models

The logic of recording storage may vary depending on the phone model and MIUI version.

📌 For older models (released before 2020): If the record is not saved, update the firmware to the latest version MIUI. In older versions, there was an error that caused files to be written in a corrupted format.

💡

On POCO and some Redmi, call recording may not be available on global firmware, with the solution being to install China ROM (but this will remove Google services) or use third-party apps.

7. Security and legality of recording conversations

Before you record phone calls, make sure that it does not violate local law. Most countries have the following rules:

• 🇷🇺 Russia: It is allowed to record conversations if you are a participant (Article 23 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation).
• 🇪🇺 EU: Consent of both interlocutors required (GDPR).
• 🇺🇸 Laws vary by state (some have only one member’s consent).

⚠️ It's important:

• Do not post online without the consent of the other participant, this could lead to a lawsuit.
• In business correspondence (for example, with banks or customer support), a record of a conversation can be used as evidence, but only if you have warned the interlocutor in advance.
• Keep records in a secure place – leaking confidential information can cause reputational damage.

🔒 How to protect records:

• Transfer important files to encrypted archives (for example, through 7-Zip with a password).
• Use cloud storage with client encryption (e.g. Cryptomator + Google Drive).
• Delete unnecessary entries through irrevocable erasure (Shreddit-type applications).

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording conversations on Xiaomi