Where to save calls on Xiaomi: a complete guide to search and setup

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the question: where do call records are saved after activating the feature in the Phone app? Despite the convenience of automatically recording conversations, finding these files is not always easy — especially if you do not know where exactly MIUI stores audio by default. In this article, we will analyze all possible storage paths, including hidden folders, cloud services and options for different versions of firmware.

Complicating the problem, Xiaomi regularly changes the logic of working with records: in MIUI 12 files were in one place, and in MIUI 15 – already in another.In addition, the path may depend on the model of the smartphone (for example, Redmi Note 12 vs. Xiaomi 13 Ultra), the presence of a memory card and even regional settings. If you have ever lost an important record or could not find it – this guide will help to avoid such situations in the future.

Before you go to search, make sure that the recording function is enabled at all. To do this, open the Phone application, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings → Call Record. If the option is active but there are no files, the problem may be in storage settings or access rights.

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1. Standard ways to store call records on Xiaomi

By default, MIUI stores conversation records in the smartphone’s internal memory, but the exact path depends on the firmware version. Below are the current directories for the latest updates (2023–2026):

• 📁 Main folder: /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ — Here are the records. MIUI 14/15 Most of the models are Redmi Note 11/12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 12/13).
• 📁 An alternative path: /storage/emulated/0/Recordings/Call/ — It is used on some global firmware devices (e.g. Xiaomi) 11T Pro).
• 📁 For older versions: /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/voice_recorder/call_record/ — relevant MIUI 12 below.

To open these folders, use any file manager (like a standard Files or Solid Explorer) if you don't have a directory, check if the entry is enabled in the settings, or try to make a test call so that the system creates the folder automatically.

Important: on some models (e.g, POCO F4/F5) records can be saved in the root folder of Recordings without subfolders. If you do not find files on the specified paths, use a search by keyword call_rec or record in the file manager.

2 How to change the way call records are saved

If you don't have enough internal memory, you can transfer it to a microSD card or to the cloud.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Phone app and select Memory.
3. Click Change next to the Default Warehouse item.
4. Select a Memory Card (if installed) or a cloud service (such as Mi Cloud).

Limitations:

• ⚠️ On some models (Redmi 10 and older) the option of transferring to the SD-card may be blocked.
• ⚠️ Cloud storage is only available for users with a linked Mi Account.

If Change is missing, try an alternative way through Settings → Memory → Default Storage. Here you can select a memory card for all media files, including call records.

3. Search for records through the "Phone" application

Not everyone knows that you can listen to and manage recordings in the standard Phone app.

1. Open the phone and go to the magazine tab.
2. Find the contact or number you need to call.
3. Click on the call record – if it was recorded, an icon will appear. 🎤 Reproduce.

If the icon is not available, but you are sure that the recording was made:

• 🔍 Check the filters in the log (the call may be hidden).
• 🔍 Try to find the entry through a search by number in the top row.
• 🔍 Make sure that there is no storage time limit in the recording settings (e.g. Delete after 30 days).

Tip: MIUI 15 has featured Featured entries – a long press on the entry in the journal allows you to add it to a separate folder for quick access.

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If the record is not played, try copying the file to your computer and opening it through the VLC Player – sometimes codecs in MIUI work incorrectly.

4. Cloud Storage of Records: Mi Cloud and Google Drive

Xiaomi offers to save call records to Mi Cloud, but this feature is unstable and varies by region.

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Scroll down to the Backup section.
3. Enable the Call Records option (if available).

If you don't have a point, your model or firmware doesn't support cloud storage, so you can manually upload files to Google Drive:

• 📁 Find the folder with the records (see section 1).
• 📁 Select the files you need, click Share → Save it to the Disk.
• 📁 Create a separate folder (like Call Records) for convenience.

Warning: Cloud services can compress audio files, which degrades recording quality. For important conversations, it's better to store the originals locally.

5. File formats and how to open them

Call records on Xiaomi are saved in one of three formats:

If the file does not open:

• 🔧 Try renaming the extension (for example, from.amr to.amr.mp3).
• 🔧 Use a format converter (e.g. Online Audio Converter).
• 🔧 Check the file for integrity – the record may have been interrupted.

On models with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra), the default records are saved in M4A format with a bit rate of 128 kbit / s, which provides better quality with a smaller file size.

6.Record problems: why they're not in the folder

If you have turned on the record, but there are no files, check these points:

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO M5, Redmi A2) Call recording only works when using the standard Phone app. If you make a call via WhatsApp or Telegram, the conversation will not be recorded.

• 🚫 No access rights: Go to Settings → Annexes → Permits → Phone and access Memory and Microphone.
• 🚫 Time limit: In the recording settings can be ticked Delete old records automatically.
• 🚫 Conflict with other apps: If a third-party developer’s Call Recorder is installed, it may block the standard feature.

Another common reason is regional restrictions, where in some countries (e.g. the EU), call recording is disabled by default due to privacy laws, to get around this:

1. Install a global firmware (e.g. MIUI Global).
2. Use alternative recording applications (e.g. Cube Call Recorder ACR).

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If the records are missing after the MIUI update, check the folder /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.android.dialer/files/ – sometimes the files are transferred there.

7 How to Recover Deleted Call Records

If you accidentally deleted a post, try these recovery methods:

1. Check the Recycle Bin: File managers (like Google Files) have a Recycle Bin folder where files are stored for 30 days.
2. Use Recovery Programs: 🛠️ DiskDigger (for Android). 🛠️ Recuva (if you connect your phone to a PC).

Check backups:

Mi Cloud

Google Drive

The more important thing is that the faster you start recovering, the better the chances of success. Once you delete, don't write new files to your device, because they can overwrite deleted data.

⚠️ Attention: Recovery software requires root permissions for deep scanning, and without them, they can only find files that have not been overwritten by the system.

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording calls to Xiaomi