How to play recordings from the Xiaomi recorder: from Mi 8 to Redmi Note 12

Xiaomi smartphones can use voice recorders in a variety of situations, from saving important lectures to recording voice notes. However, not everyone knows where these files are stored and how to open them correctly — especially if the recording was made a long time ago or on another device. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways of playing audio files, including hidden MIUI functions and workarounds for older models.

The main problem is that Xiaomi periodically changes the location of records depending on the firmware version. MIUI 12 and newer files are saved by default in a protected folder /MIUI/sound_recorder/, Whereas in earlier versions they could lie right in the root directory. Recordings/. In addition, some models (for example, POCO F3 or Redmi K50) use their own audio compression algorithms, which can cause playback problems on third-party players.

We tested all the methods on the latest devices (2023-2026) and identified those that work consistently. If you didn’t find your model on the list, don’t worry: most of the instructions are universal across the Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO lineup.

1. Standard application "Dictophon" - the easiest way

If you recorded your voice through the built-in Recording app (a microphone icon on a red background), all files are automatically saved to its internal library, which is suitable for 90% of users and does not require additional programs.

To reproduce the recording:

1. Open the Record app** (if you don’t find it, check the Tools folder or search the system).

⚠️ Note: If the record is not played or if it gives an error "File corrupted", try to update the application via Google Play (even on Chinese firmware.m4a and.aac.

• 📱 It works on: all models Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO s MIUI 10 newer.
• ⏱️ Speed: Instant access to records.
• 🔒 Limitation: You can’t edit files directly in the application (only listen and delete).

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If the recording is too quiet, the Record app has a built-in audio amplifier. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Improve Sound → select the amplification level (up to +20 dB).

2. Search for records through File Manager

If a standard application does not open or the recording was made through a third-party voice recorder (for example, Easy Voice Recorder), the files can be found manually through the file manager. MIUI:

To open files:

1. Slip the file and it will open in the standard Mi Music player.

🔍 Tip: If there is no folder, turn on the display of hidden files in the file manager settings (Settings) → Show hidden files. On some firmware, records may be stored in a protected area. /Android/data/ — Root rights will be required to access them.

3. PC playback (USB or Wi-Fi)

If you need to transfer the records to your computer for editing or long-term storage, connect your smartphone to your PC via USB-This method is suitable for large files (for example, hourly lectures) or if the phone does not play a recording due to damage.

Method 1: via USB (file transfer mode)

1. On PC, open This Computer → Find Xiaomi Device → Go to Internal Storage folder.

Method 2: Wi-Fi (without cable)

• 📲 Install the app on the phone FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer.
• 🌐 Enable the function in the application settings FTP-server.
• 💻 On your computer, open the browser and enter the address specified in the application (for example, ftp://192.168.1.10:2221).
• 📁 Download the necessary files directly through Windows Explorer or macOS.

⚠️ Note: When transferring over Wi-Fi, large files (>500MB can break. Use archive (.zip) or break records down for 10-15 minutes for security.

Synchronize time on your phone and PC|Check the free space on the disk|Disable Battery Optimization for File Manager|Use the original USB-cable-->

4. Cloud services: Mi Cloud and Google Drive

If you enabled automatic sync in the voice recorder settings, the records could be uploaded to the cloud. This is convenient if the phone is lost or broken - the files will remain safe.

How to check your posts in Mi Cloud:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in to your Xiaomi account.
2. Select the Cloud → Records section (if there is no partition, synchronization is disabled).
3. Download the necessary files to your computer or listen to them directly in the browser.

How to recover records via Google Drive:

• 📱 Open the Google Drive app on your phone.
• 🔍 Type:audio – the system will show all audio files, including recordings of the recorder.
• 📥 Click on three dots next to the file → Download or reproduce.

Important: Xiaomi does not sync recordings to Mi Cloud by default – this feature must be enabled manually in the Write settings (Settings → Backup).

5. Recovery of deleted records

If you accidentally delete a record, you can try to restore it with specialized programs, and success depends on how long it has been since the deletion and how actively the phone's memory was used.

Recovery methods:

• 📱 Through the Recycle Bin: In the Files app, open the Recycle Bin section - records are stored there for 15 days.
• 💾 PC software: DiskDigger, Recuva or EaseUS MobiSaver (requires phone connection in mode) MTP).
• 🔄 Backups: If you have automatic copying enabled in Google Drive or Mi Cloud, check your archives.

⚠️ Warning: Don't install recovery software directly on your phone, they can overwrite deleted data. Use only your PC and connect the device as an external drive.

Reproduction problems and their solutions

Sometimes records are not played or distorted, and here are the most common reasons and ways to eliminate them:

If none of these methods worked, try converting the file to another format using online services (Online-Convert, CloudConvert) or applications like Audio Converter.

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For records longer than 1 hour, use the.wav format (no compression) – it is less susceptible to distortion when played.

FAQ: Frequent questions about recordings of the Xiaomi voice recorder