Recovering Conversation Records on Xiaomi: From Backups to Deep Scanning

Why are recordings disappearing and can they be returned?

Phone records on Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO X5, and Mi 11 Ultra models) can be lost for several reasons: accidental deletion, factory reset, file system damage after MIUI update, or even a virus attack. Unlike photos or messages, audio files of calls are stored in specific folders of the system, which makes it difficult to restore them using standard methods.

The main problem is that MIUI doesn't automatically back up conversation records (unlike contacts or SMS), but there are workarounds, from checking the shopping cart in the Records app to using professional utilities like DiskDigger or EaseUS MobiSaver. The important thing is to act quickly: the longer you delay recovery, the greater the risk of overwriting deleted files with new data.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods for restoring conversation records on Xiaomi, including hidden MIUI features, cloud services and low-level memory scanning. The methods are tested on devices with MIUI 12-15 and are relevant for models from 2020-2026.

Method 1: Checking the Recycle Bin folder in the Records app

If you have recently deleted a record (in the last 30 days), the first thing you do is check the embedded Recycle Bin in the Records app (or Recorder in English firmware), which appeared in MIUI 12.5 and saves deleted files for a limited time.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Records app (icon with microphone).
• 🗑️ Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → pick the basket.
• 🔍 Find the right recording, hold your finger. → press Restore.
• 💾 The file will return to the main folder All records.

Note that the cart clears automatically after 30 days or when you manually clear the app cache. If the folder is empty, move on to the next method.

⚠️ Note: Do not install the Recordings application manually from APK, If it was deleted by the system, it can lead to a version conflict and loss of the remaining data.

Method 2: Search for backups in Mi Cloud or Google Drive

If your Xiaomi has Mi Cloud or Google Drive enabled sync, there’s a chance that the records are saved in the cloud. However, here’s a caveat: by default, MIUI does not reserve audio files for calls. They can only be saved manually or through third-party applications (for example, Automatic Call Recorder).

How to check:

1. Mi Cloud: 🌐 Go to i.mi.com → log in. 📁 Open the Device section → Backup copies. 🔍 Check the latest backups for Recorder or CallRecords folder.

Google Drive:

• 📱 Open the Google Drive app on your phone.
• 🔍 In the search, type:audio → filter by date.
• 📥 If you find the recordings, download them to the device.
• 💻 Connect your phone to your PC, install it. ADB Tools.
• 📌 In the command line, do: adb shell su find /sdcard/ -name ".amr" -o -name ".mp3" -o -name "*.m4a" This will find all audio files on the device, including hidden call records.
• 📤 Copy the found files on PC: adb pull /sdcard/MIUI/sound_recorder/ C:\Xiaomi_Records\

Alternative path to records (may vary depending on the version of MIUI):

• /sdcard/MIUI/sound_recorder/ — recorder.
• /sdcard/Recordings/ - in some firmware.
• /data/com.android.providers.media/databases/ is a system database (requires ROOT).

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB or ROOT This can cause a loss of warranty or system failure. /data/ or /system/ without understanding the consequences.

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC| Enable debugging on USB| Download ADB Tools| Backup data | Connect the phone with the original cable-->

Method 4: Data recovery programs (without ROOT)

If previous methods didn't work, use specialized utilities that scan the device's memory at a low level and can find deleted files even if they don't appear in the file manager.

Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger:

1. 📱 Install DiskDigger from Google Play.
2. 🔍 Run the scan (select Full Scan for deep search).
3. 🎵 Filter results by type of audio.
4. 📥 Save the files found to the cloud or PC.

To increase the odds:

• 🛑 Do not install new applications before recovery.
• 📵 Use In-plane mode to avoid overwriting data.
• 🔋 Charge your phone at least 50% – scans can take hours.

Method 5: Contact Xiaomi Support (official method)

If the records are critical (e.g., evidence in court), you can try to get official support from Xiaomi, but the chances of success are minimal: the company does not provide services to restore user data, however, in some cases, engineers can help with the extraction of files from damaged memory areas.

How to make a request:

1. 📧 Email support to the mail@xiaomi.com Data Recovery Request Theme.
2. 📄 Specify: Phone model (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro) 5G). Version MIUI (find it in the settings → About the phone? Approximate date and time of recording. Cause of loss of data (deleted accidentally, after updating, etc.).

📎 Attach screenshots of errors (if any).

Alternatively, you can contact an authorized Xiaomi service center with a request to flash the device in EDL (Emergency Download Mode) mode and try to extract data through specialized equipment, the cost of such a service starts from 3,000 rubles, and the result is not guaranteed.

⚠️ Warning: Don't trust "specialists" who offer TeamViewer data recovery or remote access, which is a fraud that could lead to identity theft.

💡

Xiaomi’s official support does not restore user files, but in rare cases it can help diagnose damaged memory.

What do you do if nothing helps?

If all methods are exhausted and records are not found, there are two options:

1. Call the professionals. Specialized labs (like Data Recovery Lab or Hetman Software) work with physical recovery of data from flash memory, starting at 10,000 rubles, but the chances of returning records are higher than with software methods.
2. Prevent future data loss: Set up automatic storage of records to the cloud or memory card: 📁 In the Records app, go to Settings → Preservation site → select the Memory Card. ☁️ Enable autoboot in Google Drive or Mi Cloud for the records folder. 🔄 Regularly (once a month) back up through Settings → System system → Backup.

If the records were of legal importance, contact a lawyer to record the fact of their loss, in some cases this may be the basis for restoring evidence through the operator (if the call was through their networks).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi recording recovery