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

Xiaomi’s smartphone phone recorder is a useful tool for recording important conversations, interviews, or evidence, but many users are faced with the problem of where exactly these records are stored and how to access them. Unlike photos or screenshots, call audio files don’t always lie in obvious folders, and their location depends on the version. MIUI, Device models and even regional settings.

In this article, we will look at all possible ways to store records, including standard and hidden directories, explain how to transfer files to a computer or the cloud, and look at the nuances for different versions of firmware, and focus on access issues – why records sometimes “disappear” from the gallery and how to restore them.

If you use call recording for work or personal purposes, it’s important to understand that Xiaomi doesn’t always provide direct clues about file location. MIUI 13 and MIUI 14 records can be automatically archived into a secure folder that is not accessible without additional permissions, and in older models (for example, the Redmi Note 8), files can be saved directly to the root memory directory, which created the risk of accidental deletion.

Before you start searching, make sure that the conversation recording feature is enabled in the Phone app settings. Without this, all further instructions will be useless.

Standard ways to store call records in Xiaomi

In most cases, phone records on Xiaomi are stored in one of the three standard folders of internal memory. MIUI And the smartphone models:

1. folder MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec — The most common way for devices with MIUI 12–14. Here, records are sorted by dates and phone numbers in format.m4a Or.amr. This is the directory that is the first to check.

2. folder Recordings/Call — alternatives for some models (e.g, POCO F3 Xiaomi 11T). The files here may have species names. Call_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.

3. Root catalog of memory (/storage/emulated/0/) — older MIUI (before 11-i) the records were sometimes kept right at the root under names such as recording_123456.amr. This created confusion as files were easily lost among other data.

• 📁 MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec — mainfolder MIUI 12–14
• 🎤 Recordings/Call — alternative POCO new models
• 📱 /storage/emulated/0/ — obsolete MIUI 9–11
• ☁️ Mi Cloud/Recordings — If you are synchronizing with the cloud

To check these folders, use any file manager (such as embedded Files or Solid Explorer) if the entries are not in the directories listed, they may be saved in a protected memory area, as we will discuss in the next section.

Hidden and Protected Folders: Why Records Are Not Visible

One of the common problems is that there are records, but they don't show up in a gallery or a standard player, because Xiaomi can save them in hidden or system folders that are restricted, and here are the most likely reasons for the files to disappear:

1. Secure folder. MIUI/secret_call_rec — It is used in some regional firmware (for example, for India or China) and to see its contents, you need to enable the display of hidden files in the file manager settings.

Limitations MIUI Access to media files, starting with MIUI 13, the system can block the scanning of audio files by third-party applications Solution: manually add a folder with records to the exclusions of the media scanner (Storage settings) → Files. → Scanning settings).

3 Encryption of records – on some devices (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro) records are encrypted and only accessible through the Phone application. Trying to open them through another player will lead to a playback error.

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi with global firmware (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Global), records can be automatically deleted after 30 days.This is due to the privacy policies of some regions.To disable autoclean, go to Phone Settings → Additionally. → Autoclean records.

To check for hidden records, follow the following steps:

1. Open a file manager (e.g. Files by Google).
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the settings menu.
3. Cross the path. /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/ And look for the names. sound_recorder, call_rec or secret_call_rec.
4. If there is no folder, try searching for the keyword recording or call.

Enable the display of hidden files in the manager

Check the folder. /MIUI/sound_recorder/

Search for files with extension.m4a or

Try to open records through the application "Phone".

Check the Mi Cloud (if synchronization is enabled)-->

How to transfer call records to your computer or cloud

If you need to save your records for a long time or make room on your phone, you can transfer them to your PC, to the cloud, or to an external drive. Here are the step-by-step instructions for each method:

1. Transfer to a computer through USB-cable:

- Connect your phone to your PC in File Transfer mode (MTP).

Open the folder with records (see the previous section).

- Copy files to any directory on your computer (e.g. Documents\Call_Records).

Important: Do not rename files before copying – this may disrupt their playback.

2. upload to the cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud, Yandex.Disk):

Open the cloud storage app on your phone.

Select the file upload function and specify the folder with records.

- For Mi Cloud, the path may look like Mi Cloud. → Records. → Challenges.

Files in Mi Cloud are automatically deleted after 6 months of inactivity, unless the option “Save Forever” is enabled.

3.Exports to SD-map:

- Put the memory card in the smartphone.

- In the file manager, select the records and select Move → SD-map → Recordings folder.

- Make sure that the card is formatted in FAT32 ExFAT or ExFAT – otherwise files larger than 4GB will not be copied.

If you have errors when copying files (e.g., “File corrupted” or “No access”), try the following solutions:

• 🔄 Restart your phone and try again.
• 🔧 Use a different file manager (for example, FX File Explorer).
• 📁 Copy the records to another folder on your phone before transferring.
• 🖥️ Connect the phone to another USB-port.

💡

If records are not copied due to their large size, divide them into parts using the Audio app. MP3 Cutter (available on Play Market).

Features for different versions of MIUI and Xiaomi models

The way records are stored can vary significantly depending on the firmware version and device model, and a comparative analysis for the most popular options is provided below:

1. MIUI 14 (Xiaomi 13/13 Pro, Redmi Note 12):

- Records are retained in /MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/.

- File format:.m4a (High quality, but large size).

- Access via the Phone application → Conversations → Records.

2. MIUI 12.5 (POCO X3 Pro, Redmi Note 10):

- Way: /Recordings/Call/ or /MIUI/sound_recorder/.

Format:.amr (smaller size but worse quality)

Nuance: Some regional firmware automatically encrypts the records.

3. MIUI 11 and older (Xiaomi Mi 9, Redmi 8):

- Files can lie at the root of memory under names recording_*.amr.

There is no separate folder for records – you need to search them manually.

- Frequent PC playback problems (conversion to PC required.mp3).

4. Global vs. Chinese firmware:

- In Chinese versions (China) ROM) records may be retained in /MIUI/secret_call_rec/ and not available without root rights.

- In Global Firmware (Global) ROM) standard path is usually used /MIUI/sound_recorder/.

For devices with POCO Launcher (e.g, POCO F4) The path to the records may be different:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Go to the History of Challenges section.
3. Find the recorded call and click on the Share icon.
4. In the list of applications to send, select Files – this will open the folder with the original file.

Recovery of Deleted Call Records

If the records were accidentally deleted, you can try to restore them, and success depends on how long it has been since the deletion and how much memory the phone has been using.

1. Checking the basket:

Xiaomi’s file manager has a shopping cart where files are stored for 15 days.

- Path: Files → Basket.

Find the records by date of deletion and restore them.

2.Use of recovery programs:

Connect your phone to your PC and scan the memory with Recuva, DiskDigger or EaseUS MobiSaver.

Important: Do not install recovery programs on the smartphone itself – this can overwrite deleted files.

3. Restore from Mi Cloud backup:

- If sync is enabled, check the Mi Cloud. → Cart or Mi Cloud → Records.

Files in the cloud are stored for up to 30 days after deletion.

4. Manual recovery through ADB (for advanced users):

- Connect the phone to the PC with debugging enabled USB.

- Do the command:

adb shell su -c "find /data -name '.amr' -o -name '.m4a'"

This will find all audio files in the system folders, including the deleted ones (root rights required).

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi with Secure Folder (in the security settings), the records could be moved there automatically. To see them, you need to enter a password or fingerprint in the Security section. → Secure folder.

The chances of a successful recovery are higher if:

• 🕒 Less than 7 days have passed since the removal.
• 📵 The phone has not been rebooted or updated.
• 📴 No new files were recorded for memory (photos, videos).
• ☁️ Synchronization with Mi Cloud was enabled.

💡

The most reliable way to avoid losing records is to copy them regularly to your PC or the cloud, and even if the file is deleted from your phone, a copy of it will remain in the backup folder.

Set up automatic save and backup

To avoid losing important records, set up automatic backups. Xiaomi has a few built-in tools for this:

1. Automatic booting in Mi Cloud:

- Go to Settings. → Accounts. → Mi Cloud → Synchronization.

- Turn on Call Records.

Set a storage limit (e.g., “Save the last 100 records”).

2 Exports via Google Drive:

- Install the Google Drive app.

- In the settings, enable Automatic Booting → Audio.

- Specify the file with the records (/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec) manually.

3. Use of third-party applications:

Applications like Automatic Call Recorder (from Play Market) allow you to configure:

- Automatic sending of records to email.

- Save to Dropbox or OneDrive.

- Password encryption.

4. Local backup:

- Create a task in the Automate or MacroDroid application, which will copy new entries to a given folder (for example, on the computer). SD-once-daily.

For users who often record conversations (such as journalists or managers), a combination of cloud and local backup is recommended.

• ☁️ Download records to Google Drive (to access from any device).
• 💾 Copy them once a week to an external hard drive.
• 🔒 Encrypt important files with Cryptomator.

💡

If you're recording sensitive conversations, turn off automatic cloud uploads and use local encryption, and this is what Secure Voice Recorder is for.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When you work with call records on Xiaomi, users encounter common errors, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

Records shall not be retained:

- Check if the recording function is included in the phone settings → Call recording.

Make sure that the phone has enough free space (minimum 500 MB).

Restart the device – sometimes it solves the problem with saving.

2. Files are played without sound or with distortion:

- Try to open them through VLC Player – It supports more formats than the standard Xiaomi player.

- Convert files to.mp3 via Audacity or online services.

If the problem persists, the record may have been damaged while saving - try to re-record the conversation.

3. You can't find the file with the records:

Install a file manager with access to root folders (e.g., Root Explorer if you have root rights).

Check if the folder is hidden by the system (enable the display of hidden files).

If there is no folder at all, maybe records are saved to the cloud – check Mi Cloud.

4.The records are automatically deleted:

- Turn off auto-cleaning in Phone Settings → Warehouse → Auto-cleaning.

Check if the option “Delete records older than 30 days” is included in the settings of the Phone application.

If none of the methods helped, try resetting the settings of the Phone application:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the phone and select the Warehouse.
3. Click Clear Data (this won’t delete records, but will reset settings).
4. Restart your phone and try recording a test call.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions