Where Xiaomi Stores Records of Phone Calls: A Complete File Search Guide

Recording phone conversations on Xiaomi smartphones is a useful feature that helps to capture important conversations, interviews or business information. However, many users face the problem that after recording they can not find the saved file. MIUI Uses non-obvious storage paths that depend on the firmware version, device model, and even regional settings.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible places Xiaomi (including Redmi, POCO, and Black Shark) stores audio conversations, from standard internal memory folders to cloud services. You’ll learn how to access files through Explorer, why records can “disappear” after a MIUI update, and what to do if the record folder is empty. And for owners of older models, we’ve prepared a separate section tailored to MIUI 10-12 features.

Important: If you use third-party recording apps (like ACR or Cube Call Recorder), the storage paths will be different – we’ll cover them at the end of the article.

Standard Ways to Keep Records in MIUI

By default, Xiaomi smartphones store phone records in a system folder that is hidden from the user in normal mode. MIUI:

• 📁 MIUI 13/14 (Android 12/13+): /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/
• 📁 MIUI 12.5 below: /storage/emulated/0/Recordings/CallRecord/ or /sdcard/MIUI/sound_recorder/
• 🌐 Cloud Storage: Mi Cloud (if sync is enabled in Settings) → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Records)

To see these folders, you need to enable the display of hidden files in any file manager (for example, in the standard Xiaomi Explorer or Total Commander).

1. Open the Conductor.
2. Tap on three points (⋮) top-right.
3. Select Settings → Show hidden files.
4. Return to the root directory (/storage/emulated/0/) and follow the path indicated.

⚠️ Attention: If the folder call_rec Check if the recording function is enabled in the phone settings. on some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or Redmi Note 11) Default conversation recording disabled due to Google's Android restrictions 12+.

How to turn on recording of conversations if the function is missing

Starting with Android 9 and MIUI 11, Google has tightened its call recording rules, so on some Xiaomi devices, this option can be hidden or blocked.

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap it on three points (⋮) → Settings → Recording of conversations.
3. If there is no item, try an alternative path: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Phone → Permissions → Microphone (allow access).
4. For models with MIUI 14 on Android 13, you may need to install a patch through Magisk (for advanced users only).

🔹 If the recording option is not available in full:

• 📱 Install a third-party application (for example, ACR Call Recorder or Boldbeast).
• 🔧 Check your regional settings: some firmware for India or the EU has a record blocked due to privacy laws.
• 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version – in new builds, the function sometimes returns.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with Android 12+ (For example, Xiaomi 13 Pro or POCO F5) Standard call recording can only work for your operator's subscribers due to limitations API. In this case, third-party applications may not help either - root access will be required.

Enable recording permission in phone settings

Check the free space in the internal memory (minimum 500 MB)

Disable the power saving mode for the "Phone" application

Make sure the microphone is not occupied by another app (e.g. voice assistant)-->

Why conversation records disappear or don't persist

A common problem with Xiaomi users is that the records are missing from the folder or not saved at all.

🔍 Hidden Reason: On some models (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) The records are saved in.amr, which not all players support:

1. Install the VLC or MX Player.
2. Or convert a file to.mp3 via online services (e.g. Online-Convert).

Critical information: On devices with a MediaTek chipset (for example, Redmi Note) 10 or POCO X3 NFC) records can be stored in a folder /data/user_de/0/com.android.server.telecom/files/, accessible only through ADB orroot-right.

How to find records through PC (step-by-step instructions)

If you can’t find files on your phone, connect the device to your computer and follow the instructions:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC via USB-cable (select File Transfer Mode in the Notification Curtain).
2. On your computer, open This computer → find your device (e.g. Redmi Note 11).
3. Go to the folder Internal drive → MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec.
4. If you don’t have a folder, check the alternative paths: Recordings → CallRecord Android → data → com.android.server.telecom → files (root rights required)

Copy files to your PC for backup.

⚠️ Note: If when connecting to a PC, the phone requests permission to access files, but the folder call_rec It doesn't show up anyway, try it:

• 🔄 Reboot the device and reconnect.
• 📱 Use a different file manager on your phone (for example, a file manager, FX File Explorer with Root Mode enabled).
• 💻 On PC, install Mi drivers PC Suite for correct device recognition.

💡

If the records are not displayed on the PC, but there is on the phone, try archiving the folder. call_rec via RAR on a smartphone and then copy the archive.

Features of recordings on older versions of MIUI (10-12)

On devices with MIUI 10-12 (e.g. Xiaomi Mi A2, Redmi Note 8 Pro), the storage paths for records are different, and the recording function itself may work differently.

• 📂 default folder: /sdcard/MIUI/sound_recorder/ or /storage/emulated/0/Recordings/.
• 🎤 File format:.m4a or.amr (depending on the model).
• ⚙️ Recording settings: in older versions MIUI The option was enabled via the phone → Settings → Recording of conversations → Auto-recording.

🔹 The problem of old firmware: MIUI 10 or lower records could be automatically deleted after 30 days if backup was not enabled in Mi Cloud:

1. Move the files to another folder (such as Downloads).
2. Use automatic sync with Google Drive via the Automate or Tasker app.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi Mi A1/A2 (with pure Android One, there is no standard recording of conversations – third-party applications are required, as these models do not use MIUI.

Cloud services and record backup

Xiaomi offers synchronization of conversation records with Mi Cloud, but this feature does not work on all models and regions.

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Find the Records section (or Call Records in English).
3. Turn on sync and select Autoboot via Wi-Fi.
4. The recordings will then be available on i.mi.com in the Records section.

🔹 Alternative cloud services:

• 🌥️ Google Drive: Automatically upload files via FolderSync or Automate.
• ☁️ Dropbox/OneDrive: set up autoload folder call_rec.
• 📱 Telegram: Send your records to Save Messages.

⚠️ Note: When using Mi Cloud, recordings can be compressed to 64 kbps quality, which degrades sound.If it is important to maintain original quality, disable cloud sync and copy files manually.

💡

Sync with Mi Cloud does not work on devices without a Xiaomi account attached. Before setting up, make sure you are logged into your profile in Settings → Xiaomi Account.

Third-party Write Applications: Where They Store Files

If the standard recording feature on Xiaomi doesn't suit you, you can use third-party apps.

🔹 Important: On Android 11+ Many recording apps have stopped working because of Google's restrictions:

• 📲 Use Boldbeast with Fix Call Recording setup in manual mode.
• 🔧 Install Magisk and Call Recorder Patch (for advanced users only).
• 📞 Try recording conversations over speakerphone (quality will be worse, but files will be saved).

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording conversations on Xiaomi