Recovering deleted records from a voice recorder on Xiaomi Redmi: 5 working ways

Delete an important audio recording from a tape recorder on Xiaomi Redmi and don't know how to get it back? Don't panic - in most cases, files can be recovered even if they were erased from a gallery or a shopping cart. In this article, we'll look at 5 proven methods, including built-in MIUI tools, third-party programs and professional utilities for PCs. The important thing is to act quickly: the less time has passed since deletion, the better the chances of success.

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones (including Note models) 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10/13C and others) keep the recorder's records in a folder /MIUI/sound_recorder/ or /Recordings/. When you delete files, they don't physically disappear, they're just labeled as free space. Until new data is written on top of them, they can be retrieved software. MIUI 12–14, and universal solutions for Android.

⚠️ Critical warning: Do not install new apps or write new audio files to your phone before you try to recover.

1. Checking the basket in the standard Xiaomi voice recorder

In the latest versions of MIUI (starting with MIUI 12.5), the standard Sound Recorder app features a recycle bin function where files are stored for up to 30 days. If you have recently deleted a record, check this folder first:

1. Open the Dictophone app (mic icon).
2. Tap it on three points. ⋮ top-right.
3. Select the option “Trash” or “Recycle Bin”.
4. Find the desired entry, click on it and select "Restore".

If the basket is empty or not in your version of MIUI, move on to the next method. Note: in some firmware, the basket is hidden - you can turn it on in the voice recorder settings (Settings → Recycle Bin → Enable).

2. Recovery via MIUI File Manager (Hidden File Checker)

Sometimes deleted records are left in the phone's memory, but they're hidden to find them.

1. Open File Manager, the standard Xiaomi app.
2. Go to Categories → Audio or Internal Memory → MIUI → sound_recorder.
3. Tap it on three points. ⋮ → «Settings» → Enable "Show hidden files».
4. Check files with the.m4a,.mp3, or.amr extensions – they can be orphans after a crash.

If files are found but not played, try renaming them (e.g., adding recovered to a name) or copying them to a PC. In MIUI 14, hidden audio files may have the prefix.nomedia - delete it for display in the gallery.

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If the recording is not played, try opening it through VLC Player – this application often copes with corrupted audio files.

3.Use of third-party Android apps

If the built-in methods didn't work, install one of the specialized data recovery applications, and we tested them on the Redmi Note 11 and Redmi 10C, and the best results were:

• 🔍 DiskDigger – Searches for deleted audio files without root rights (free version restores only previews).
• 📁 Undeleter Recover Files & Data – Supports Recovery.m4a and.amr.
• 🛠️ Dumpster is an analogue of the basket that saves deleted files (you need to install INSTRUCTIONS).

Instructions for DiskDigger:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Start the "Full Scan" (requires access to memory).
3. Check the files with the.m4a or.amr extension.
4. Click on “Restore” and save to the cloud or SD-map.

⚠️ Warning: Do not save recovered files to the same partition of memory from which they were deleted! SD-Map or cloud storage (e.g. Google Drive).

Charging the phone > 50%|Shut down. Wi-Fi/Mobile data (to avoid interrupting the scan)|Release. 1–2 GB of memory for temporary files|Have SD-Map or cloud to save results-->

4. Connection to PC and Recovery through the Program

For deep scanning of the phone memory, connect Xiaomi Redmi to your computer and use desktop utilities.

Step-by-step instructions for Recuva:

1. Connect Redmi to your PC via USB (select File Transfer (MTP) mode).
2. Start Recuva, select “All Files” → “On an External Device”.
3. Show the way Internal Memory\MIUI\sound_recorder\.
4. After scanning, mark the audio files and click "Restore".

⚠️ Note: If the phone is not detected in mode MTP, Turn on "Debugging by" USB» in the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to the Additional Settings → For developers).

5. Restore via MIUI or Google backup

If you previously enabled automatic backups to MIUI or Google Drive, the records could be saved to the cloud:

• 📱 Local backup MIUI: Go to Settings. → The phone. → Backup and reset. Select Restore and specify the date when the recording was still on your phone. /MIUI/backup/.

Google Drive:

1. Open Google Drive in your browser.
2. In the search, type:audio.
3. Check the backups folder.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB or root access can cause you to lose warranty on Xiaomi Redmi.Before experimenting, create a full backup via fastboot:

fastboot backup create backup.img

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If the record is critical (e.g., evidence for a trial), don't try to recover it yourself -- go to the digital forensics lab. Wrong actions can permanently damage the data.

How to Prevent Loss of Records in the Future

To avoid losing important audio files:

• 🔄 Automatic backup: Enable voice recorder sync with Google Drive or Mi Cloud (Dictaphone settings) → Cloud).
• 📥 Export after recording: Get used to sending important files to your mail or messenger (Telegram saves files in the cloud).
• 🛡️ Recycle Bin Apps: Install Dumpster or Recycle Bin to automatically save deleted files.
• 🔋 Battery: Keep an eye on charge – if the phone turns off during recording, the file may get corrupted.