Xiaomi records calls: where to look for audio files on your phone and in the cloud

Have you ever tried to find a recording of a major phone call on your Xiaomi, but you couldn't remember where exactly those files were stored? Or suddenly you found that the record disappeared after the MIUI update? This problem is familiar to many users of the brand's smartphones — despite the built-in feature of recording calls, it can be difficult to find the audio files themselves. The fact is that Xiaomi uses several locations to store records, and in some cases they can even sync with the cloud without you knowing.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible places Xiaomi can save conversation records, from standard folders in internal memory to hidden system directories and cloud services, how to find files manually through the file manager, why records sometimes disappear after updates, and what to do if the desired audio file was deleted, and for owners of older models, we have prepared a separate section with the nuances of the function on MIUI 10-12.

Standard ways to store call records on Xiaomi

By default, Xiaomi smartphones store phone records in a special folder in the device's internal memory.The path depends on the version of MIUI, but in most cases it looks like this:

• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ — mainfolder MIUI 12–14.
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Recordings/CallRecord/ — Alternative path for some models (e.g. Redmi Note) 10 Pro).
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.android.providers.media/ — This can be the metadata of the records.

To open these folders, use a standard File Manager (Files) or third-party applications like Solid Explorer. Note: If you connect your phone to your PC via MTP, some folders may be hidden – turn on the display of hidden files in Windows Explorer or macOS settings.

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If the folder call_rec Check your call record settings: files may be saved to the Mi Cloud or to the cloud SD-map (if installed).

Important: On devices with MIUI 13+, records can be automatically archived after 30 days if you have enabled Storage Optimization in your phone settings. To turn this off, go to Settings → Memory → Autoclean and uncheck the box from Delete Old Records.

Why Call Records Can 'Disappear' and How to Fix It

One of the most common complaints of Xiaomi users is the sudden disappearance of conversation records, for several reasons:

1. Update MIUI: When you upgrade to a new firmware version, the folder structure can change, and old records can move or delete.
2. Factory reset: Without a backup, all local records will be erased.
3. Memory optimization: Autoclean can delete files older than 30 days.
4. Cloud Conflict: If sync with Mi Cloud is enabled, records can be duplicated or replaced.

To avoid losses, follow simple rules:

Manual copy of important files to the cloud (Google Drive, Yandex.Disk)

Disabling Autocleaning in Memory Settings

Periodic export of PC records

Use of third-party applications for recording (e.g. Cube) ACR)-->

Critical information: On some models (such as Xiaomi 12T and Redmi K50), call records are saved by default in.amr format, which not all players support. To listen to such a file, use VLC or convert it to.mp3 through online services.

How to find records in the cloud Mi Cloud and other services

If you've activated sync with Mi Cloud, the call records can automatically be uploaded to the cloud to find them:

1. Open the Mi Cloud app on your phone.
2. Go to the Backups section → Application data.
3. Find the Call Recorder folder or Call Recorder.
4. Download the necessary files to the device.

If there is nothing in Mi Cloud, check out other cloud services:

• 🌐 Google Drive: Some recording apps (like Call Recorder by Lovekush) save files here.
• 🌐 Yandex.Disk: If you used autoboot for the Recordings folder.
• 🌐 Dropbox: Rarely, but some firmware may sync with it.

Yeah, just Mi Cloud.

Yes, but third-party (Google Drive, Yandex.Disk)

No, I only keep it locally.

I don't know, I never checked.-->

Important: files in the cloud can take up space in your data plan. For example, in Mi Cloud, only 5 GB is available for free, so old records can be automatically deleted. To avoid this, set exceptions for the entries folder in the Storage Management section.

Search for records on a memory card (SD-card)

If your Xiaomi has a memory card installed, call records can be saved to it, especially if there is little space in the internal memory.

• 📁 /storage/XXXX-XXXX/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ (where XXXX-XXXX — ID yours SD-map).
• 📁 /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Recordings/CallRecord/.
• 📁 /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Android/data/com.miui.voicerecord/.

To check if records are kept on SD-map:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Call Recorder (or Sound Recorder) app.
3. Go to the Warehouse and see which device is listed as the primary.

Note: If you are going to get it. SD-If you paste it into another phone or PC, the paths to the files may change, for example, on Windows, the card will appear as a removable disk (for example, a removable disk, D:\ or E:\), The file will be inside the directory. MIUI.

Recovery of Deleted Call Records

If the records were deleted accidentally or after resetting, you can try to restore them.

The recovery algorithm:

1. Stop using your phone as soon as possible so as not to overwrite deleted data.
2. Connect the device to your PC and run one of the programs (e.g. Recuva).
3. Select the Audio file type and specify the folder to scan (for example, /MIUI/sound_recorder/).
4. Wait for the analysis to be completed and save the recovered files to the PC.

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The chances of successful recovery depend on the time elapsed after deletion, and if more than 2-3 days have elapsed, the data may have been overwritten with new files.

If you have root access, you can try to recover records through ADB:

adb shell


su




cd /data/data/com.miui.voicerecord/databases/




sqlite3 call_rec.db




.select * from recordings;

This command will display a list of all the recordings, even deleted ones, but it will require additional manipulation of the hex editor to extract the audio files themselves.

Features of recording calls on older versions of MIUI (10-12)

On smartphones with MIUI 10-12 (for example, Redmi Note 8 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 9) the call recording function works differently:

• 🔄 Records are saved in a folder /MIUI/sound_recorder/ subfoldless call_rec.
• 🎤 File format —.m4a (Instead of.amr in the newer versions).
• ☁️ Sync with Mi Cloud is disabled by default.
• ⚙️ No automatic memory optimization for records.

In addition, these versions of MIUI have a bug: if you turn on the Record all calls, the system can only save the last 100 files, removing the old ones.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Call Record → Storage.
2. Clear the app cache.
3. Turn off the Auto Remove option (if any).

Third-party applications for recording: pros and cons

If you don’t like the standard Xiaomi recording feature (for example, because of file or format restrictions), you can use third-party apps.

Important: When using third-party applications on Xiaomi, you may have problems with:

• ⚠️ Permissions: MIUI It blocks access to the microphone during a call for some applications. To fix this, give the app permission to record audio and read call logs in security settings.
• ⚠️ Optimizing the battery: MIUI It can pause applications in the background. Add the write app to the list with no limitations on battery settings.

If the recording is interrupted or not saved, try:

1. Disable MIUI Optimization for the application.
2. Install the application as a System through ADB: adb shell pm grant com.app.package android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO adb shell pm grant com.app.package android.permission.READ_CALL_LOG
3. Use Magisk to modify system resolutions (for advanced users only).

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording calls to Xiaomi