How to recover deleted recordings of a voice recorder on Xiaomi smartphones: from the basket to deep scanning

Deleting an important audio recorder from a Xiaomi recorder is a familiar situation. Whether it’s a lecture, an interview, a voice note, or just a valuable conversation, losing that data can be a serious problem. Fortunately, owners of Redmi, POCO or Mi smartphones have several ways to recover lost files, from standard system features to specialized tools.

In this article, we'll look at all the recovery methods you can use, including running the Dictophone Recycle Bin, using Mi Cloud backups, connecting to a PC, and even low-level memory scanning. It's important to understand that success depends on many factors: whether synchronization was enabled, how long it took to delete, and whether the device's memory was overwritten with new files, and the faster you start to act, the better the chances of success.

We will focus on models with MIUI 12-14, where the algorithms for storing audio have changed, and also consider the nuances for devices with dynamic memory (for example, Xiaomi 12T or Redmi Note 11 Pro+).

1. Checking the basket in the standard Dictophone application

The easiest and fastest way to return a deleted record is to use the built-in Recycle Bin. In MIUI, starting with version 10, the Dictator app automatically saves deleted files in a special folder for 30 days (some firmwares have 7 days).

1. Open the Dictophone app** (the microphone icon on your desktop).
2. Tap the three-point menu (⋮) top-right.
3. Select the item "Basket"** (or Trash in English firmware).

If the basket is empty or there is no record in it, it means one of three:

• 🗑️ The file was deleted more than 30 days ago and automatically erased.
• 🔄 You cleaned the cart manually** through the app menu.
• 📱 Your device does not have a shopping cart** (rarely found on older versions). MIUI custom-made).

⚠️ Note: In some regional firmware (e.g. India or Europe), the basket may be disabled by default. To activate it, go to the voice recorder settings. → Additionally. → Turn on the basket.

If there is an entry in the Recycle Bin, but when you restore it, there is an error “Failure to restore the file”, try the following:

• 📁 Check the space in the memory (at least 100 MB is required).

2.Recovery through Mi Cloud backups

If your Xiaomi has Mi Cloud sync enabled, the chances of returning a record are much higher. Xiaomi Cloud Storage automatically saves copies of audio files (provided the feature is activated).

Step 1. Open Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.

Step 2. Make sure that the Synchronization Recorder slider is on (if not, turn it on immediately after removal to avoid overwriting).

Step 3: Go to i.mi.com from your PC or phone, log in and select the Recorder section** (or Recorder).

If you have a record in the cloud, download it to your device; if you don't, check your version history (available within 30 days for paid accounts); free users can only recover files from the latest sync.

⚠️ Note: If you use third-party cloud services (like Google Drive or Yandex Disk), check the Recorder or Voice Notes folder manually. Some voice recorder apps (like Easy Voice Recorder) save files there automatically.

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Before recovering from the cloud, check if there is enough space on the device. If memory is scarce, download the file to your PC via the web version of Mi Cloud, and then transfer it back.

3. Manually search for files through file manager

Deleted records don't always disappear. In some cases, they remain in the device's memory, but become invisible to the user. To find them, use the built-in Explorer** (com.android.fileexplorer) or a third-party manager (for example, Solid Explorer or FX File Manager).

Where to look:

• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Recorder/ — recorder.
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/SoundRecorder/ — alternative location on some firmware.
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.voiceassist/files/ — hidden-file.
• 🗑️ /storage/emulated/0/.trash/ — System Basket (root rights required).

If the files are not displayed:

1. Enable the display of hidden folders** in the file manager settings.

On devices with MIUI 13+, records can be stored encrypted, and if you see files with the.enc or.dat extension, you can't restore them without root permissions, you'll need specialized software like the MIUI Decrypt Tool.

Open the file manager|Enable the display of hidden files|Check the Recorder and SoundRecorder folders|Search for extensions.mp3/.m4a|Connect your phone to a PC for deep scanning-->

4. Recovery with PC and specialized programs

If the standard methods don't work, you'll need to plug in the computer. USB-cable (preferably original), data recovery software and a little patience.Best tools for Xiaomi:

• 💻 7-Data Recovery (works well with the rest) MIUI-device).

Step-by-step instructions for Recuva:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Start Recuva and select the Audio file type.
3. Specify the path to the phone’s internal memory (usually This device → [Model Xiaomi] → Internal storage).
4. Click "Analysis" and wait for the scan to be completed.
5. Mark the records found and click "Restore".

Important nuances:

• 🔌 Do not use fast charging** while scanning - this may interrupt the process.
• 📵 Do not save recovered files to the same disk from which the scan is being conducted (the risk of overwriting).
• ⏳ Deep scanning can take hours** (depending on memory capacity).

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi uses dynamic memory (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T Or the Redmi Note 11 Pro.+), Standard programs may not see all files, in which case try DiskDigger with the Dig Deeper option (requires root rights).

5. Restoration with root rights (for advanced users)

If none of the previous methods worked, the last chance is root rights and low-level memory scanning, which is only suitable for advanced users, because:

• 🔓 Violates warranty** (if the device is warranty-free).
• 🛡️ Threat to security** (risk of installing malware).
• 🔄 It can cause a system failure (if you do something wrong).

If you are willing to take a risk, follow the instructions:

Step 1. Unlock the bootloader** through the official Xiaomi website (requires a Mi Account and wait 7-15 days).

Step 2: Install custom recovery (TWRP) for your model.

Step 3: Search Magisk for root rights.

Step 4: Install Root Explorer or FX File Manager and enable access to system folders.

Step 5: Go to /data/data/com.miui.voiceassist/files/ and look for files with the.tmp or.bak extension.

To recover encrypted records, use the command:

adb pull /data/data/com.miui.voiceassist/files/recordings/

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 and newer Xiaomi actively blocks attempts to obtain root rights.If your smartphone is released after 2022, the chances of success are minimal. EDL-mode, but it requires special equipment (box Qualcomm).

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Root rights are a last resort. Before you get them, make a full backup of data through TWRP or Mi Flash Tool, as the process can erase all files.

6. Alternative methods: cloud services and third-party applications

If you don’t like Xiaomi’s standard voice recorder, consider using third-party apps with automatic backup.

• 🎤 Easy Voice Recorder (Sync with Google Drive).
• 🎤 Hi-Q MP3 Voice Recorder (save to Dropbox cloud).
• 🎤 OTTER.ai (Recognizes Speech and Stores Text Transcriptions).
• 🎤 Smart Recorder (supports encryption and password on records).

If you have already used this app, check:

1. The application folder in the file manager (usually /Android/data/[name packet]/).
2. Application settings → “Backup” or “Export”.
3. Cloud storage tied to an application (e.g. Google Drive for Easy Voice Recorder).

For future records, set up automatic synchronization:

1. Open the recorder app.
2. Go to Settings. → Cloud storage.
3. Select the service (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.) and enable autosynchronization.

On some Xiaomi models (such as the POCO F4 GT or Xiaomi 13 Ultra), the built-in voice recorder may conflict with third-party applications. In this case, turn off the standard voice recorder through Settings → Applications → Application Management → Recorder → Disable.

7.If nothing has worked: professional assistance

If all of these methods are useless, you can contact specialists. Professional data recovery services (for example, LabData or HDD Recovery) can extract files even from damaged drives, but these are:

• 💰 Expensive** (from 5 000 to 30 000 rubles depending on the complexity).
• ⏳ Long** (from 3 days to 2 weeks).
• 🔒 Does not guarantee 100% results (especially if the memory is overwritten).

Before contacting the service:

• 📵 Do not use your phone** for new recordings or installing apps.
• 🔋 Do not discharge the battery to 0%** (this can cause the device to be turned off and data loss).
• 📦 Do not reset your settings (Hard Reset).

In Moscow and St. Petersburg, you can contact:

• 📍 LabData (specializes in mobile devices).

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi has physical damage** (for example, after a fall or water hit), data recovery may not be possible without a board repair.

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording recovery