Have you turned on a conversation record on your Xiaomi but can’t find a file in your phone’s memory? or do you suspect someone is secretly recording your calls? In this article, we’ll take a look at exactly where MIUI stores conversation records, from standard paths to hidden system folders, and explain why files can “disappear” and how to recover them.
The manufacturer does not always transparently inform users about the location of such files, especially if the recording is done through built-in tools or third-party applications. We tested the behavior of records on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO F5 and Xiaomi 13T running MIUI 14/15 — and are ready to share the latest data. Importantly, on some Xiaomi models, the records are stored by default in encrypted form and require special actions to be retrieved.
Standard Ways to Keep Records in MIUI
If you use the built-in call record feature (not available in all regions due to legal restrictions), the files will usually fall into one of the following folders:
- 📁 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ — The main place of recording on most devices with MIUI 12+. Here files are sorted by dates and subscriber numbers.
- 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Recordings/Call/ — alternative path on some firmware (e.g. global versions for the POCO).
- 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.android.providers.media/files/CallRecordings/ — hidden folder where the record can be saved when the activated option “Record all calls” in the phone settings.
The files are formatted.m4a or.amr and named by template: CallRecord_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS_Phone number.m4a. For example: CallRecord_20260515_143022_79123456789.m4a.
On dual-devices SIM-cards in the file name can be added prefix SIM1_ or SIM2_. If there is no folder, check if the recording function is enabled in the Phone application settings (Settings) → On some firmware (e.g. India or China), this option is hidden and requires activation via the ##6484##.
Hidden and System Folders: Where else can records be stored
MIUI is known for distributing files to non-obvious directories, and if the standard paths didn't work, check:
- 🔍 /data/user/0/com.android.dialer/files/CallRecordings/ — A system folder that is only available with root rights, and it stores temporary copies of records before they are moved to the user's repository.
- 🔍 /storage/emulated/0/Android/media/com.miui.voicerecord/ — Alternative location for devices with Google Mobile Services (GMS).
- 🔍 /storage/emulated/0/Download/CallRecord/ — here you can save records if you manually changed the path in the settings of the Dictator application».
⚠️ Attention: Folders in /data/ Patents to access them through standard file managers (like Mi File Explorer) will result in a "Permission denied" error. To view these files, you'll need to use ADB commands or a root explorer.
On encrypted storage devices (such as Xiaomi 14 Ultra), the records can be stored in a virtual container. To extract them, connect the phone to your PC and use the command:
adb pull /data/user/0/com.android.dialer/files/CallRecordings/ C:\CallRecords\Where C:\CallRecords\ is the path on your computer.
How to check if the call is being recorded at the moment?
Features of recordings on different Xiaomi models
The behavior of the recording function depends on the device model and firmware version. Below is a comparison table for popular lines:
| Model/Series | MIUI version | default folder | File format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 11/12 | 13–14 | /MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ | .m4a | Recording is only available for SIM1 on dual models. |
| POCO F4/F5 | 14 (Global) | /Recordings/Call/ | .amr | The files are automatically archived after 30 days. |
| Xiaomi 13/14 | 14–15 | /Android/media/com.miui.voicerecord/ | .m4a | Permission to access the microphone for third-party applications is required. |
| Black Shark 5 | 13 (Custom) | /Download/CallRecord/ | .wav | The recording only works in the "Game" mode. |
On Chinese firmware (without GMS), records can be saved to the Mi Cloud automatically. To disable this, go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Sync → Call Records.
How to find records if they are not displayed in the file manager
If you are sure that the recording was done, but the files are not in the standard folders, follow the following steps:
Check the filters in the file manager (enable the display of hidden files)
Search for keywords: "CallRecord", ".m4a", ".amr"
Connect your phone to your PC and scan your memory with Everything or Agent Ransack>
Install FX File Explorer and activate Root Access (if you have permissions)
Check out cloud services: Mi Cloud, Google Drive (automatic download)
-->
If the records have been deleted, try to restore them with utilities like DiskDigger or Recuva (requires a PC connection). Note that the chances of recovery depend on how long it has been since the deletion and how actively the phone memory was used.
⚠️ Note: On devices with Memory Optimization (on default on the Redmi budget line), records can be automatically deleted after 7-14 days unless they are moved elsewhere. → Memory. → Autocleaning → Exceptions and add a folder with records.
Third-party Write Applications: Where They Store Files
If you use alternative call recording software (such as Cube Call Recorder, ACR or Boldbeast), the ways of saving will be different.
- 📱 Cube Call Recorder: /storage/emulated/0/CubeBackup/ or /storage/emulated/0/CallRecordings/ (format.mp3).
- 📱 ACR (Another Call Recorder): /storage/emulated/0/ACR/ subfolded.
- 📱 Boldbeast Call Recorder: /storage/emulated/0/Boldbeast/ (aac or.wav files).
These apps often offer additional options, such as uploading records to Google Drive or Dropbox. Check the settings of a particular software: the path is usually specified in the Storage Settings or Save Location section.
💡
If you use Boldbeast on Xiaomi with MIUI 14+, enable the option “Fix recording issues” → “Fix Xiaomi issues” in the application settings.
Legal aspects and security of records
Before recording conversations, consider legal nuances: In most countries (including Russia, the EU and the United States), recording a call without the consent of the interlocutor is prohibited unless you notify him in advance.
- ⚖️ You record a conversation for personal use (e.g., recording important information).
- ⚖️ The interviewee gives explicit consent (oral or written).
- ⚖️ Recording is conducted for official purposes (for example, for quality control in the call center).
On Xiaomi, with firmware for China or India, an automatic notification to the interlocutor may appear when the recording is first turned on (for example, a voice message “This conversation is being recorded”), a requirement of local law.
⚠️ Note: If you plan to use the records in court or for dispute resolution, make sure the files have not been edited. MIUI When editing a record through a built-in player, a new file is created with the edited tag in the name, which can be regarded as falsification.