Recording phone conversations on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro is a useful feature for recording important conversations, interviews or evidence. However, many users face the problem that once a call is complete, finding a stored audio file can be difficult, because the MIUI system distributes records across multiple directories depending on the firmware version, the application used, and even regional settings.
In this article, we will take a look at all possible storage locations, including standard folders, hidden directories, and cloud services, how to quickly find files through the built-in file manager, why records can disappear after an update, and how to set up automatic saving to a convenient location, and we will also look at alternative ways to record calls if the standard feature is disabled or not working properly.
Standard folders for calling records in MIUI
By default, the Redmi Note 9 Pro stores conversation records in one of the system folders of internal memory. The exact location depends on the version of MIUI and regional firmware.
- 📁 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ — main folder for records in global and European firmware.
- 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Recordings/Call/ — Alternative path in some versions MIUI 12-14.
- 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Downloads/CallRecordings/ — If the recording is initiated through the Call Recording app from Google Play.
It is important to note that paths may differ if you use custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS). In such cases, records are often stored in /sdcard/CallRecords/ or right at the root of internal memory. To pinpoint the storage location, check the write application settings - the path is usually specified in the Save folder section.
If you don't find the folder in the directories listed, try enabling the hidden files in the file manager.
- Open the Files app (or any other manager, such as Solid Explorer).
- Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings.
- Activate the option to show hidden files.
- Go back to the root directory and check the.miui or.recordings folders.
How to find records through the file manager: step-by-step instructions
The most reliable way to find records is to use the built-in file manager from Xiaomi.
- Open the Files app (the folder icon on the home screen or in the app menu).
- Go to the Device (Internal Memory) tab.
- In the search box, enter call_rec Record or Record – this will help you quickly find the right folder.
- If the search does not give results, manually check the paths: /MIUI/sound_recorder/ /Recordings/ /Downloads/
.m4a
.amr
Call_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS
☑️ Searching for call records
If you use a memory card, check its contents – some firmware stores SD-card entries in the /CallRecords/ folder. Also pay attention to the date of creation of files: records are sorted by time, so look for the latest audio files.
⚠️ Note: If you connect your phone to your computer MTP (File transfer mode, folders could be hidden due to settings Windows/macOS. In this case, use the file manager directly on your smartphone or enable the display of hidden elements in your PC settings.
Why Call Records May Not Be in a Folder
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the recording of the call allegedly occurred (on the screen appeared a notification), but the file in the folder is not.
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Recording not retained | There is no permission to write for the application | Check the rights in Settings → Applications → Permissions → Microphone |
| File is empty (0 KB) | Failure during recording or lack of memory | Clear the cache of the Call Record app and try again |
| The folder exists, but there are no files. | Records are saved to the cloud (Mi Cloud or Google Drive) | Check the synchronization in the Xiaomi account settings |
| Files disappeared after the update | Reset or change paths in the new version of MIUI | Recover records via Mi Cloud or backup |
A critical feature of the Redmi Note 9 Pro is that in MIUI 12.5 and later firmware, the default records can be saved in a secure system folder that is not accessible without root permissions. To fix this, install a third-party recording application (such as Cube Call Recorder) and specify the path to save to the memory card.
Another common reason is automatic cleaning, and the Call Recording app settings may include the option to delete old files when memory is scarce, to turn it off:
- Open Settings → Applications → Record calls.
- Choose Warehouse.
- Turn off the Auto Clean option or increase the storage limit.
Setting up the place to save call records
If you don't like the standard folder, you can change it manually.
- Open the Call Record app (if preinstalled) or download it from Google Play.
- Go to the application settings (cog icon).
- Find the Save folder or the Warehouse section.
- Choose one of the options: 📱 Internal memory (by default) 💾 Memory card (if installed) ☁️ Cloud storage (Mi Cloud, Google Drive)
/Call_Records/Work/
💡
If you choose to save to a memory card, pre-format it as internal in the storage settings, which allows applications to write files without restrictions.
For advanced users, there is an opportunity to change the way of saving through ADB-For example, to redirect the records to a folder. /sdcard/CallRecords/, execute:
adb shell settings put global call_recording_path /sdcard/CallRecords/Note: This method requires USB debugging and may not work on some versions of MIUI.
Alternative ways to record calls
If the regular recording function is unstable, consider third-party applications, which offer more options: file format selection, automatic saving to the cloud, and spam filtering.
- 🎤 Cube Call Recorder ACR — Supports recording of both interlocutors, integration with Google Drive and file encryption.
- 📞 Call Recorder by Lovekesh – a simple interface with the ability to record on a schedule (for example, only work calls).
- ☁️ Otter.ai – recognizes speech and saves the text transcript of the conversation (useful for interviews).
When using third-party applications, consider:
- Some programs require root rights to record incoming calls on newer versions of Android.
- Android 10+ has restrictions on recording audio in the background – the app must be active during the call.
- To work properly, disable battery optimization for the recording application in Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization.
How to get around the limitations of Android 10+ to record calls?
Recovery of Deleted Call Records
If the records were deleted by mistake, you can try to restore them.
- Check the Recycle Bin in the file manager (.Trash or Recycle Bin folder).
- Use programs to restore data: 🔍 DiskDigger (no root required to scan internal memory). 🛠️ Recuva (works by connecting your phone to your PC in mode) MTP). 📱 Dumpster – a shopping cart application that saves deleted files.
Mi Cloud
https://i.mi.com
The chances of recovery depend on how long it has been since the deletion and how much memory the phone has been using, and if new data has been written to the deleted files, recovery is unlikely.
⚠️ Warning: Do not install recovery software on the same memory as the files were deleted! This will overwrite sectors and make recovery impossible.