Deleting a critical voice recording from a Xiaomi smartphone voice recorder is a familiar situation. Whether it’s a lecture, an interview, a personal note, or a work conversation, losing that data can be a serious problem. Fortunately, in most cases, files don’t disappear permanently once you click the Delete button. They stay in the device’s memory until the new data overwrites them. The main thing is to act quickly and correctly.
In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can recover deleted records, from standard MIUI features (like the Dictator Recycle Bin) to using third-party utilities for deep memory scanning. We’ll focus on the nuances of working with different Xiaomi models (from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra) and explain why some methods may not work on data-encrypted devices. If you’ve tried to restore records yourself and encountered errors, there’s a section on solving problems at the end of this article.
1. Check the basket in the Dictophone app
Modern versions of MIUI (starting with MIUI 12) feature a built-in Dictophone Recycle Bin, where deleted records are stored for up to 30 days, the first and easiest way to recover lost files without additional software.
To find the basket:
- Open the Dictaphone app on your Xiaomi.
- Slap the icon. ⋮ (three points) in upper right corner.
- Select Recycle Bin (or Remote Records in some versions).
- Find the desired entry, click on it and select Restore.
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If the basket is empty, check the application settings: sometimes the automatic cleanup function is enabled by default. Turn it off in the voice recorder settings → Recycle Bin → Auto Cleanup
Importantly, the cart is not available on all models, for example, on the Redmi 9A with MIUI 11, it may not be available, in which case move on to the next method.
2.Recovery through MIUI backups
If your Xiaomi has automatic backup enabled to Mi Cloud or locally, the chances of returning records are significantly higher.The Dictator app can save data to the cloud, but only if you explicitly enabled this option.
How to check backup copies:
- 📱 Local Copy: Go to Settings → Memory. → Backups, check if there are any archives with a date prior to deleting the record, and it'll take 5-10 minutes to recover.
- ☁️ Mi Cloud: Open Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Backups. If the recorder was included in the synchronized data list, select the copy you want and click Restore.
What to do if the backup is damaged?
Restriction: Backups in Mi Cloud take up space in cloud storage.If you have a free rate (5GB), old copies could have been automatically deleted to free up space.
3.Use of a file manager to search for "hidden" records
Deleted files don't disappear instantly -- they're just labeled as free space, and before they're overwritten, you can manually find them through the file manager, if you know where to look.
Instructions:
- Install Total Commander or FX File Explorer (they show hidden files).
- Go to the folder. /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/ or /storage/emulated/0/Recordings/ (model-wise).
- Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.
- Look for files with the.m4a,.mp3, or.amr extension and the date of creation before deletion.
The critical nuance is that if the recording was made in.opus format (used in newer versions of MIUI to save space), standard players won't open it. Use VLC or convert the file through online services.
4.Programs for deep memory scanning
If previous methods have failed, you’ll have to connect your smartphone to your computer and use specialized utilities that scan memory at a low level and restore files even after formatting (provided that the data has not been overwritten).
The best programs for Xiaomi:
| Programme | Xiaomi support | Deep scanning. | Free version |
|---|---|---|---|
| EaseUS MobiSaver | Yes (requires USB debugging) | Yes. | Limitation of 2 files |
| Dr.Fone | Yes (works with MIUI 12+) | Yes. | Pre-examination without preservation |
| DiskDigger | Yes (need root for full scan) | Yes. | Yes (with limitations) |
The following steps are taken for EaseUS MobiSaver:
- Download and install the program on PC.
- Turn on Xiaomi Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times to activate developer mode), then go back to Settings → Additional → For developers and turn on USB debugging.
- Connect your phone to your PC and select File Transfer mode.
- Run the scan in EaseUS and wait for the results (may take up to 1 hour).
Enable debugging by USB| Charge your phone at least 50% |Use the original cable |Deactivate screen lock while scanning-->
⚠️ Note: if the phone has data encryption enabled (configured when you set the password), most programs will not be able to scan the memory, in which case only a backup copy or contacting the service center will help.
5. Recovery through ADB (for advanced users)
If you have experience with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can try extracting the records manually through the command line, which works even on encrypted devices, but requires technical skills.
Instructions:
- Install ADB Tools on your PC and connect Xiaomi with USB debugging enabled.
- Open the command line and type: adb shell su find /data-name.m4a" -o-name.mp3" -o-name"*.amr" This will find all the audio files in the system folders.
- Copy the found files on PC: adb pull /data/minus/path/to/file.mp3 C:\Backup\
⚠️ Attention: Wrong commands ADB If you're not sure, use the graphics utilities in the previous section.
6. Contact the Xiaomi Service Center
If all independent attempts to restore the record failed, the last option is to contact the official service center Xiaomi.
- 🔐 The device is encrypted and you don’t remember the password.
- 💾 The phone’s memory is physically damaged (for example, after a fall).
- 🔧 You need to recover data from the eMMC drive (sweeter equipment is required).
The cost of the service varies from 1,500 to 5,000 rubles depending on the complexity.
- Don't update the firmware.
- Do not install new applications.
- Bring a check or confirmation of purchase (for warranty devices).
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The service center is the only way to return data from phones that have enabled FBE (File-Based Encryption) encryption, used in MIUI 13+ by default.
Frequent mistakes and their solutions
When recovering records, users often encounter typical problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:
Error: “The basket is empty, although the records were deleted recently”
Reason: The Dictaphone settings have disabled the basket function. Solution: Check the Dictaphone settings → Bin → Enable.
Error: “The software does not see the phone when connected”
Causes and solutions:
- 🔌 The cable is faulty - try another one.
- 📱 Not included debugging USB — Check the developer’s settings.
- 🔒 Locking drivers – install Mi PC Suite for Automatic Driver Installation.
Error: “Recovered files are not being played back”
The reason: file headers are damaged. Solution: use Audacity to import raw audio (File → Import → Raw data) and save it to the new format.