Where Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 saves conversation records: a full analysis of storage spaces

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 is still one of the most popular smartphones in the lineup of the brand, but many users face a problem: where do the recordings of conversations go after saving them? Unlike photos or videos, audio files of calls do not always lie in obvious folders, and their location depends on the version of MIUI, recording method and even regional settings.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to store records, from standard directories to hidden system folders, and explain why files can “disappear” after updates or resets. You'll learn how to find records manually through Explorer, which apps create their folders, and what to do if the audio files are not displayed in the gallery. We'll also focus on the nuances of working with the built-in voice recorder and third-party programs like Cube Call Recorder or ACR.

Standard folders for recording conversations in MIUI

By default, the Redmi Note 9 stores the call records to one of the system folders, but their location varies depending on the firmware version. In MIUI 12-14, the main directories are:

• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ is the standard location for recordings made by an embedded voice recorder (if the feature is enabled in the phone settings).
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Recordings/ is an alternate folder that appears after the first record is saved through the system menu.
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.android.providers.media/ – Record metadata can be stored here, but files are usually located in subfolders.

It's important to keep in mind that the /storage/emulated/0/ path is the virtual root of internal memory. If you connect your smartphone to a PC, it will appear as an Internal Storage or Internal Storage in Windows Explorer or macOS. The MIUI folder can be hidden -- to see it, turn on the hidden files in the file manager settings to see it.

💡

If you don’t see the sound_recorder folder, try recording a test call – it will be created automatically when you first save it.

On some firmware (especially custom or global versions for Europe), records can be saved in /storage/emulated/0/CallRecordings/. This is due to restrictions of EU legislation, where recording calls without the consent of the interlocutor is prohibited - so Xiaomi changes the storage structure for different regions.

How to find records through the built-in conductor

The easiest way to detect audio files is to use the standard MIUI Explorer (Files app).

1. Open the Files app (the icon with the folder on the desktop).
2. Go to the Category tab → Audio.
3. In the list, find files with the extension.mp3,.amr or.m4a and the name of the form Call_20260515_143022 (date and time of writing).
4. If there are no files, click on the three dots in the top right corner → Show hidden files → re-search.

If the recordings are made by a third-party application (such as Cube Call Recorder), look for them in folders:

• 🔍 /storage/emulated/0/CubeBackups/ are backups of records.
• 🔍 /storage/emulated/0/ACR/ — for Another Call Recorder.
• 🔍 /storage/emulated/0/Android/media/ [application name]/ is the universal path for most programs.

Open Files | Go to Audio |Enable hidden file display |Check MIUI/sound_recorder and Recordings | Make sure files are not filtered by date-->

If you use Google Files or another third-party manager (like Solid Explorer), the search algorithm is similar, and the main thing is to give the application access to the memory of the smartphone in the Android settings.

Why Call Records Can 'Disappear'

Redmi Note 9 users often complain that saved conversations are lost for no apparent reason, and here are the main reasons and ways to eliminate them:

A critical feature of Redmi Note 9: When you update MIUI via OTA (over the air), the /MIUI/sound_recorder/ folder can be reset if the option “Save User Data” is not enabled. To avoid losses, transfer important records to the cloud or to the PC before updating.

Yes, after the update MIUI| Yes, due to reset | Yes, for unknown reason | No, never-->

Another common reason is memory optimization, and if you have Memory Cleanup enabled in your settings (in Settings → Memory), the system can delete old audio files if they haven't been listened to for more than 30 days. To avoid this, add a folder with the recordings to the exceptions:

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Memory Cleanup.
2. Click on three → exception points.
3. Add the folder /MIUI/sound_recorder/ or /Recordings/.

How to transfer records to PC or cloud

To avoid losing important conversations, it is recommended to regularly copy them to an external drive.

1 via USB- Cable

Connect the Redmi Note 9 to your computer using the original USB Type-C cable. From the connection menu, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.

• 🖥️ Open this computer (Windows) or Finder (macOS).
• 📂 Go to the entries folder (see section above).
• 📋 Copy files to any directory on your PC (e.g. Documents → Call Records).

2. Through cloud services

For automatic synchronization, you will be able to:

• ☁️ Google Drive: Install the application, enable autoload for the /Recordings/ folder.
• ☁️ Mi Cloud: In your Xiaomi account settings, activate media backup.
• ☁️ Dropbox or OneDrive: upload files manually through the mobile app.

3. Through messengers

For fast transfer of small files (up to 50 MB), you can use:

• 📱 Telegram: Send the entry to yourself in Save Messages.
• 📱 WhatsApp or Viber: Create a chat with yourself and attach a file.

When transferring, pay attention to the file format:

• .amr is compact but low quality (used by default in MIUI).
• .mp3 is a balanced option (recommended for long-term storage).
• .m4a is high quality but large in size.

Call recording settings in Redmi Note 9

By default, the Redmi Note 9’s call recording feature can be disabled or hidden due to regional restrictions.

1. Open the phone application (pipe icon).
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Settings.
3. Go to the Conversation Record (if there is no item, see the next section).
4. Turn on the option to Record automatically or select Record manually.
5. Specify the save format (AMR or MP3) and the storage folder.

If you don't have Record Conversations on the menu, your version of MIUI doesn't support the built-in function.

• 🔧 Install a third-party app (e.g. Cube Call Recorder or Call Recorder by Lovekesh).
• 🔧 Update MIUI to the latest version (in Settings → About Phone → System Update).
• 🔧 Use regional firmware for India or Russia – they have call recording enabled by default (but this requires unlocking the bootloader).

💡

The built-in call recording only works for the standard Phone app. If you're using Truecaller or Google Phone, install a separate recording app.

Note the legal nuances: in some countries (e.g. the EU), recording conversations without the consent of the interlocutor is prohibited. Xiaomi can block the feature at the firmware level for such regions.

Recovery of deleted records

If the records were deleted accidentally, you can try to restore them using specialized utilities. The effectiveness depends on how long it has been since the deletion and how actively the memory of the smartphone was used.

Method 1: Through the MIUI basket

Files Explorer has a built-in Recycle Bin where deleted files are stored for up to 30 days:

1. Open the Files app.
2. Go to the basket tab (the garbage can icon).
3. Find the audio files you need, highlight them and click Restore.

Method 2: Using DiskDigger

If the files are not in the Recycle Bin, use the DiskDigger utility (available on Google Play):

1. Install and open the application.
2. Select Basic Scan (for non-root devices).
3. Check the audio and MP3/AMR file types.
4. Click Scan and wait for the process to be completed.
5. Select the records found and save them to a safe place.

💡

Deep scanning (if the basic one didn’t work) requires root rights, and the Redmi Note 9 can get them through Magisk, but that voids the warranty.

Method 3: Through PC (recovery software)

You can use more powerful tools on your computer:

• 💻 Recuva (Windows) is a free utility with a simple interface.
• 💻 EaseUS Data Recovery supports recovery from internal Android memory.
• 💻 PhotoRec (cross-platform) – works via ADB but requires technical skills.

Before recovery:

⚠️ Warning: Do not save new files to your smartphone after deleting the records, which reduces the chances of successful recovery. Use another drive to save the recovered data.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

When you're working with Redmi Note 9 conversation records, you're going to have a problem, and here's how to solve it:

If you use a third-party application to record, check its settings:

• 🔊 In Cube Call Recorder: Settings → Recording format → MP3 (mono).
• 🔊 In ACR: Settings → Storage folder → Select custom.
• 🔊 In Call Recorder by Lovekesh: Settings → Eliminate contacts (unless records are saved for specific numbers).

To solve the problems with the built-in entry in MIUI:

1. Update the Phone app via Google Play.
2. Clear the cache: Settings → Apps → Phone → Memory → Clear the cache.
3. Reset the application settings: Settings → Apps → Phone → Storage → Reset.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions