Where Xiaomi Stores Records of Phone Calls: A Complete File Search Guide

Why recordings of conversations “disappear” from the phone

You've turned on a recording of a conversation on Xiaomi, but you can't find a file after the call is over? This problem is familiar to many smartphone users of the brand. The fact is that MIUI uses non-obvious ways to save audio files, and sometimes hide them from the user's eyes. Unlike Samsung or Google Pixel, where the records usually lie in the CallRecordings folder, Xiaomi has a more complicated path: it depends on the firmware version, the phone model and even regional settings.

Another trap is the automatic encryption of records in newer versions of MIUI 14+. Files may not be available through standard Explorer but still take up space in memory. In this article, we will look at all possible storage locations, including hidden system folders, cloud backups and ways to recover deleted files. And we will find out why some records are not saved at all — even if you press the write button.

Standard ways to store records on Xiaomi

In most cases, the recordings of conversations on Xiaomi are stored in one of the following folders of internal memory:

• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ — mainland MIUI 12–14 (Redmi Note models 10/11, POCO X3/X4)
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Recordings/Call/ — Alternative path for global firmware (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T)
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.android.incallui/files/ — hidden folder for records made through the standard “Phone” application»
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Download/CallRecordings/ — If you use third-party software (such as Cube Call Recorder)

Important: On some models (e.g. Redmi 9A or POCO M3), records can be saved in the CallRecord root folder without subfolders. If you can't see files, check the settings for displaying hidden folders in Explorer (more on this in the next section).

Also note the file format. Records are usually saved to.m4a (AAC) or.amr, less commonly to.mp3. If the file is not playing, try renaming the extension or using the VLC player that supports most audio formats.

How to enable the display of hidden folders and system files

By default, MIUI Explorer does not show hidden folders or files with a dot at the beginning of the name (e.g.,.nomedia). To see all possible storage locations, follow the following steps:

1. Open the Files app (the folder icon on the home screen).
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → “Settings”.
3. Activate the “Show hidden files” switch.
4. Go back to the root directory (/storage/emulated/0/) and manually check the folders from the previous section.

If you connect your phone to your PC via MTP, the hidden folders may not show up even after you turn on the option in the settings.

• 🖥️ Use Total Commander or ES Conductor on the phone – they show more system files.
• 🔍 Enter the path to the folder manually in the address bar of Windows Explorer (for example, \\Xiaomi\Internal storage\MIUI\sound_recorder\).

Warning: Do not delete files with the.nomedia extension in the records folders! they prevent the display of audio files in the gallery, but do not affect their playback.

Why records are not saved: common reasons

If you clicked on the write button during the call, but the file did not appear in the expected folder, the problem may be due to one of the following reasons:

Especially often, problems arise in firmware for the Indian and European markets, where recording conversations can be blocked at the system level, in which case only installing an alternative application for calling (for example, Google Phone) or unlocking the bootloader and then running a global version of MIUI will help.

Note: on some models (POCO F3, Xiaomi 11T) recording may be interrupted if the call activates the power saving mode.

Search for records via PC: detailed instructions

If you can’t find the phone, connect it to your computer and do the following:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC via USB-cable (preferably original).
2. On your phone, select File Transfer (MTP) mode in the connection notification.
3. Open “This Computer” on your PC and find a Xiaomi device.
4. Go to the Internal Storage folder.
5. In the address bar of Windows Explorer, enter one of the paths from the first partition (for example, \Internal). storage\MIUI\sound_recorder\call_rec\).
6. If there is no folder, try a keyword search: type in the search bar.m4a or.amr.

For a deeper search, use the command line:

dir /s /b "D:\Internal storage\*.m4a" > C:\xiaomi_records.txt

Where D: is the letter of your phone's disk. The search result will be saved to a file. xiaomi_records.txt disk-C:.

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If the phone is not determined by the PC, try another one. USB-cable or port, and check if debugging is enabled USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Tap 7 times according to version, then return to additional → For developers).

Warning: Don't use programs like Dr.Fone or iMobie to search for records -- they often recognize audio files as "junk" and suggest that they be deleted.

Recovering Deleted Records of Conversations

If you accidentally delete a record, you can try to restore it with specialized tools, and it's important that you don't write new files to your phone after you delete it, which reduces the chances of a successful recovery.

Recovery methods:

• 🔄 Basket MIUI: Some files fall into Settings → Warehouse → Basket (available on MIUI 12+).
• ☁️ Cloud Backups: Check Google Drive (if sync was enabled) or Mi Cloud.
• 🛠️ Third-party utilities: DiskDigger (for Android) or Recuva (for PC when connecting your phone in Mass Storage mode).
• 📱 Backup copies TIWLAN: If you were backing up through Mi PC Suite, records can be in the archive (location: C:\Users\Your name\AppData\Local\MiPhoneManager\Backup).

To recover via DiskDigger:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Select “Full Analysis” (requires root rights for deep scanning).
3. Filter the results for.m4a,.amr,.mp3 extensions.
4. Save the recovered files to SD-card.

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The chances of recovery are maximum in the first 24 hours after deleting, and the longer you use your phone, the more likely you are to overwrite deleted data.

If the records were encrypted (for example, on Xiaomi 13 Pro with MIUI 14), it is almost impossible to restore them without root rights, in which case only contacting the service center with proof of ownership of the device will help.

Alternative ways to record conversations on Xiaomi

If the standard recording function doesn’t work, consider the following options:

• 📱 Third-party apps: Cube Call Recorder - records both ends of a conversation (requires root on new Android); Call Recorder by Lovekesh - works without root, but may not record the voice of the interlocutor; Google Phone - in some regions supports recording (install via APK).
• 🎧 External devices: Use a second phone with the recording enabled (put it next to it). Connect a Bluetooth headset with the recording function (e.g. Sony) WH-1000XM4).
• ☎️ Operator services: Some operators (for example, MTS or Beeline) offer a paid service of recording calls on the server.

When using third-party applications, pay attention to:

• 🔒 Permissions: The app must have access to microphone, storage and phone calls.
• 📡 Internet: Some programs (such as Cube Call Recorder) require a connection to work.
• 📌 Notifications: on Android 10+ The application should be added to the battery optimization exceptions.

Note: recording conversations without notifying the interlocutor may violate the laws of your country, for example, in Russia, the consent of the second participant in the conversation is required (Article 138 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording conversations on Xiaomi