Recovering Deleted Conversations Records on Xiaomi Smartphones: A Complete Guide

Deleting an important recording of a conversation on Xiaomi is a situation that many users face. Whether it’s a business conversation, personal memories or evidence for a lawsuit, losing that data can be a serious problem. Fortunately, in most cases, files are recoverable β€” if you act quickly and correctly.

Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark) store conversation records in standard formats (.amr,.mp3,.m4a), making them easier to recover. However, success depends on several factors: time after deletion, availability of backups and the type of memory used (internal or microSD card).

1. Checking the basket and system folders

Before you resort to third-party tools, check standard storage locations. Many users are unaware that Xiaomi automatically creates temporary copies of some files.

Open the Records app (or Recorder, depending on the MIUI version) and find the Recycle Bin section (usually available via the menu in the upper right corner). Deleted records can be stored there for up to 30 days. If there is no Recycle Bin, check the folders:

  • πŸ“ /storage/emulated/0/Recordings/ β€” standard location.
  • πŸ“ /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/ β€” slip-folder.
  • πŸ“ /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.soundrecorder/ β€” There may be temporary files left here.

Use any file manager (such as Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer) with the hidden folder display option enabled. If no records are found, move on to the next method.

πŸ“Š Where do you usually keep records of conversations?
Inner memory.
On a microSD card.
In the cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud)
I don't record conversations.

2. Recovery through backups

If your Xiaomi has automatic backup enabled, the chances of returning deleted files are much higher. MIUI offers two types of backups:

  1. Local copies are created through Settings β†’ About Phone β†’ Backup. Check /MIUI/Backup/AllBackup/ for archives with the.mbk extension.
  2. Cloud Copies – sync with Mi Cloud. Go to Settings β†’ Xiaomi Account β†’ Mi Cloud β†’ Backups and select the latest date.

To extract records from the local backup:

  1. Download the archive to your PC.
  2. Rename the file from.mbk to.zip and unpack.
  3. Look for the records in the folder. sound_recorder or call_record.

⚠️ Note: Cloud backups in Mi Cloud only store records if Sync is activated in advance!

πŸ’‘

To avoid future data loss, enable automatic recording sync in Mi Cloud: go to Settings β†’ Xiaomi Account β†’ Mi Cloud β†’ Sync β†’ Recording conversations.

3. Use of specialized applications

If system methods do not help, use third-party utilities. For Xiaomi, the following programs are suitable:

AnnexType of recoverySupport for formatsRoot access
DiskDiggerDeep scanning..amr, .mp3, .m4aNot required
Recuva (Windows)Full recoveryAll audio formatsRequired for internal memory
EaseUS MobiSaverRapid/deep scanning.amr, .mp3, .wavOptionally.
GT RecoveryAndroid only.amr, .mp3Not required

DiskDigger (the most effective solution without root):

  1. Install the app from Google Play.
  2. Select Basic Scan (for recently deleted files) or Full Scan (deep scan).
  3. Mark the file type: Audio β†’ AMR/MP3.
  4. Wait until the process is completed (it can take up to 1 hour).
  5. Save the records found to a memory card or cloud.

Important: Do not install recovery programs on the same memory as the deleted records, which will reduce the chances of success.

Disable Wi-Fi and Mobile Data

Charge your phone at least 50%

Free up 1-2 GB of free space

Not installing new applications-->

4. Recovery through ADB (for advanced users)

If you have experience with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can try extracting entries directly from system partitions, a method that works for devices without root access, but requires a PC connection.

Steps:

  1. Enable USB Debugging in Settings β†’ About Phone β†’ MIUI Version (click 7 times) β†’ Additional β†’ For Developers.
  2. Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trust in your computer.
  3. Open the command line and type in: adb shell su find /data -name ".amr" -o -name ".mp3"
  4. Copy the files found on PC: adb pull /path/to/file.mp3 C:\Backup\

If the su command doesn't work, root access is not available, in which case, try an alternative route:

adb shell ls /sdcard/Recordings/


adb pull /sdcard/Recordings/ C:\Backup\

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB without experience, it can cause system failures. Do not change or delete files in folders /system or /data/data/!

5. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center

If all the independent attempts failed, and the records are critical (for example, for the court), contact the official service center Xiaomi.

What you need to know before your visit:

  • πŸ“‹ Bring checks or a warranty card with you – this will speed up the process.
  • πŸ”’ If the phone is locked with a password, provide proof of ownership (box, IMEI).
  • πŸ’° The cost of the service varies from 1,500 to 10,000 rubles depending on the complexity of the.
  • ⏳ Recovery period - from 3 days to 2 weeks.

Official Xiaomi service centers in Russia can be found on the website mi.com/ru/service/center. Check by phone if they are engaged in data recovery – not all centers provide this service.

What if the service center refuses to help?
If the official service is not taking up the recovery, contact specialized laboratories (for example, Data Recovery or Hetman Software), which work with a physical memory chip and can retrieve data even after formatting, the cost of such services starts at 15,000 rubles, but the chances of success are higher than 80%.

6.Prevention: How to avoid loss of records in the future

To avoid the problem of remote conversations, follow these recommendations:

  • πŸ”„ Auto-Reserve: Set up weekly sync with Google Drive or Mi Cloud.
  • πŸ“ Duplication of files: Save important records in two places at once (e.g., to a microSD card and to the cloud).
  • πŸ”’ Accidental Deletion Protection: Use apps like AppLock to block access to the recorder.
  • πŸ“± Regular check: Once a month, review the folder with records and archive old files.

For automatic synchronization with Google Drive:

  1. Install the Automate or Tasker app.
  2. Create a task: When you file in /Recordings/ β†’ Download to Google Drive.
  3. Set up notifications about successful download.

If you often record important conversations, consider buying an external recorder (such as the Sony ICD-UX570 or Olympus WS-853), which is more reliable than smartphones and does not depend on MIUI failures.

πŸ’‘

The most reliable way to protect records is a combination of cloud redundancy + locally duplicated memory cards, and even if one source fails, the data will remain in the other.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi recording recovery

Can I recover records after resetting the phone to factory settings?
The odds are extremely low. Hard Resets completely overwrite internal memory. If the records were stored on a microSD card, you can try to recover them with Recuva or PhotoRec on a PC. Internal memory requires professional tools (such as Chip-Off) that are only available in laboratories.
Will root access help increase your chances of recovery?
Yes, but with reservations. Root allows programs like Undeleter or Root Explorer to scan system partitions where fragments of deleted files may remain, but the root process itself can overwrite some of the data. If records are critical, try methods without root first, and then consider this option.
How to recover records if the phone is not turned on?
If Xiaomi is not responding to charging or is stuck on the logo, connect it to your PC in Fastboot mode (click Volume Down + Power). Use the Mi Flash Tool to flash without cleaning data (Clean All and Lock β†’ uncheck Clean All). Once the system is restored, try the methods from this article. If the phone is physically damaged (for example, drowned), contact the service.
Can the recordings be restored by themselves after the MIUI update?
No, the firmware update does not return deleted files, and even more so, installing a new version of MIUI can overwrite the memory sectors where the records were stored, which will permanently destroy them. Always back up before upgrading!
How to protect records from being deleted by children or strangers?
Use a combination of methods: Hide the folder with records through Mi File Manager (long press β†’ Hide). Set a password for the Records app via AppLock. Set Parental controls in Mi Cloud to restrict access. Store sensitive files in an encrypted container (for example, VeraCrypt).