How to listen to audio on Xiaomi phone: from voice recorder to third-party applications

On Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi lines), audio recordings can be listened to in several ways, from an embedded voice recorder to specialized players. However, many users face problems: files are not played, the application does not find recordings or sound is distorted. In this article, we will discuss all current methods of listening to audio, including hidden MIUI functions and bypassing typical errors.

Xiaomi's feature is a fragmented file system where records can be stored in different folders depending on how they are created, such as voice notes from Screen Records being stored separately from those from a standard Recorder, and we'll look at where to look for audio, how to open it, and what to do if the phone doesn't see the files.

1. Built-in voice recorder: where to find and how to use

The standard Dictaphone app (icon with microphone) is preinstalled on all Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI 12+. It automatically saves.m4a or.mp3 recordings with a bit rate of up to 128 kbit / s. To find it:

• 📱 Open the app menu (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
• 🔍 Enter “Dictophone” in search (if the icons are not on the main screen).
• 📁 Alternative path: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Dictaphone.

Inside the application, records are sorted by date. You just tap the file to play back. Importantly, in MIUI 14+, the records are saved by default to the Mi Cloud if synchronization is enabled. To check the storage location:

1. Open the recorder.
2. Tap on three points (⋮) top-right.
3. Select Settings → Preservation site.

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If the recorder is missing, it can be restored through Settings. → Annexes → Show all applications (⋮) → Show system-based.

2.Where audio recordings are stored on Xiaomi: paths to folders

Files from Xiaomi smartphones are scattered across several internal memory directories, the main ways to look for audio:

Use any file manager (e.g., built-in Explore or Solid Explorer) to access these folders.

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 13/14 hidden-system folders (MIUI/, Android/) You can't show up without root. To see them, connect your phone to your PC and use Windows Explorer or Mi. PC Suite.

The alternative is to search by file.

1. Open the Category tab.
2. Pick the audio.
3. Filter by date or title.

3. Playing through third-party players

If Xiaomi's built-in tools don't fit (for example, there's no support for.flac or.wav formats), install a dedicated player.

• 🎵 VLC — Supports all formats, including corrupted files.
• 📀 Musicolet - lightweight player with uniform playback.
• 🔊 Voice Recorder (from Sony) – optimized for voice notes.
• 📂 FX File Explorer – Shows hidden folders and plays audio directly from the manager.

To open a record via VLC:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Run it and allow access to the files.
3. Go to Audio → select a folder with records (for example, Recorder).
4. Put it on the file to play back.

If the player can’t see the files, check:

• 🔄 Permits to access storage (Settings) → Annexes → Permits → Warehouse).
• 📁 Correct path to the folder (use it) FX File Explorer to be checked).
• 🔊 File format (some players do not support.opus or.amr).

4. Listening to call records

Xiaomi phone records are stored separately and often hidden from the user, and the call recording feature is disabled by default due to legal restrictions in some countries.

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap it on three points (⋮) → Settings.
3. Select the Conversation Record.
4. Turn on the option and specify which calls to record (all, incoming only, etc.).

Where to look for saved records:

• 📞 In the phone application: open the history of calls → tap on a recorded conversation → playback.
• 📁 In the file manager: /MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ (amr).

⚠️ Note: In some regions (e.g. the EU), recording calls without notifying the interlocutor violates the law. Xiaomi can block this feature at the firmware level for certain countries.

5. Removal of audio from video recordings (screen, camera)

If the audio recording is part of a video file (e.g., a screen recording with voice comments or a camera video), it can be extracted separately.

• 🎬 Use the built-in video editor (Mi Video Editor):
• 🖥️ On PC, use the programs: Audacity (free, supports all formats). VLC (Tool to Convert/Save).

For extraction through Audacity:

1. Import the video file (File → Import → Media).
2. Set aside the audio track.
3. Export to.mp3 or.wav (File → Export → Export as...).

If the video is recorded in.mkv or.mov, you may need to convert to retrieve the audio. Use HandBrake or online services like Online-Convert.

6.Recovery of deleted audio recordings

If the record was deleted accidentally, you can try to restore it. Xiaomi does not provide built-in tools for this, but there are third-party solutions:

• 🗑️ DiskDigger scans internal memory for deleted files (requires root for deep search).
• ☁️ Mi Cloud – Check the cloud storage cart (available 30 days after deletion).
• 💻 Recuva (for PC) – connect your phone in File Transfer mode and scan the drive.

The recovery algorithm through DiskDigger:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Select Full Scan (for non-rooted devices – Basic).
3. Mark the file types: Audio (.m4a,.mp3,.amr).
4. Wait until the scan is completed and save the files found.

⚠️ Warning: The more data you have written to your phone after deleting, the lower your chances of recovery. At the first sign of file loss, turn off the recording of new data (do not install apps, do not take photos).

Disconnect mobile internet and Wi-Fi

Do not record new audio files

Connect the charger (the process can take >1 hours)

Use the original USB-plug-in-->

7. Solving typical problems

If the audio recordings are not played or distorted, check the following points:

If the problem is MIUI related, try resetting the app settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Recorder.
2. Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.
3. Reboot the phone.

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Before resetting your settings, export important entries to the cloud or PC – they will be deleted along with the application data!

FAQ: Frequent questions