Why recordings of the recorder "disappear" and where to look for them
You turned on your Xiaomi Redmi recorder, recorded an important conversation or lecture, but then you can’t find the file? This problem is familiar to many users of Redmi smartphones – from the budget Redmi 9A to the flagship Redmi K60 Pro. The fact is that the standard application “Dictophon” (or “Recording sound” in MIUI) uses non-obvious ways of saving, and sometimes even hides files from the user.
In this article, we’ll look at all possible locations for recordings, from standard folders to system directories where MIUI can send audio without your knowledge, and how to find records that aren’t displayed in the gallery or file manager, and what to do if the recorder suddenly stopped saving files. Instructions are relevant for all versions of MIUI 12-14 and Redmi models (including Note 11 Pro+, Redmi 12, POCO X5 Pro, etc.).
Before you dig into the folders, check out two key points:
- 🔍 Title of annex: b MIUI The recorder can be called in different ways - "Sound Recording", "Dictorney", "Sound Recorder" (on global firmware) or even "Voice Notes" (on some custom assemblies).
- 📁 File format: by default, records are saved to.m4a (AAC) Or.amr, but some versions. MIUI use.mp3 or wav.
Standard ways to save records recorder
In 90% of cases, audio files are in one of three folders of internal memory, and their location depends on the MIUI version and the smartphone model.
| MIUI version | The way to the folder | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI 12–14 (Global) | /storage/emulated/0/Recorder/ | Standard seating for Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4. |
| MIUI 12–14 (Chinese) | /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/ | It is available on Redmi K40/K50 and firmware for China. |
| MIUI 11 and older | /storage/emulated/0/Recordings/ | It is an outdated track, but is sometimes used on Redmi 8/9. |
| Any version | /storage/emulated/0/Download/ | If you manually specified saving in “Downloads”. |
To open these folders:
- Run any file manager (e.g., “Files”** from Xiaomi or Solid Explorer).
⚠️ Note: If the Recorder folder is empty but you are sure that the records were, check the hidden files. MIUI They are only displayed after you turn on the “Show Hidden” option in the file manager settings (three dots). → «Settings» → «Display hidden files»).
Where else can records be stored: non-obvious places
If there are no files in standard folders, don't panic. MIUI sometimes saves audio in illogical places, especially if:
- 📱 You have used a third-party recorder (for example, ASR Voice Recorder or Easy Voice Recorder).
Check out these alternative paths:
- 📂 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.soundrecorder/files/ — system folder.
- 📂 /storage/emulated/0/Android/media/com.miui.soundrecorder/ — Here are the records made via Quick Ball (floating panel in the MIUI).
- 📂 /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Recordings/ — Sometimes the audio gets into the folder with the photo and video.
- 📂 /storage/emulated/0/Bluetooth/ — If the recording was made during the Bluetooth call.
If you have used Google Drive or Mi Cloud, check:
- Open the "Cloud"** (Mi Cloud) → "Records" or "Audio".
💡
If you recorded the audio through Google Assistant (OK, Google, Write), look for the files in /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.google.android.apps.recorder/files/.
How to find records if they are not displayed in folders
Sometimes files are physically on the device, but not visible in the file manager.
- 🗑️ Cash: files are temporarily hidden in the cache of the recorder.
To find the "lost" records:
☑️ Search for hidden records
If you have root access, do it in Terminal Emulator or through ADB:
su
find /storage/emulated/0 -name ".m4a" -o -name ".amr" -o -name "*.mp3"This command will find all the audio files on the internal memory. To search the entire system (including system folders), use:
find / -name "*.m4a" 2>/dev/null⚠️ Note: Searching the entire system (find /) can take up to 10-15 minutes and temporarily slow down the smartphone.
Why the recorder does not save records and how to fix it
If the Xiaomi Redmi voice recorder is turned on, the recording timer shows, but after the file stops, there is no - the problem lies in the settings or errors of MIUI. Here are the main reasons and solutions:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Recording ends in 1-2 seconds | Time limit in settings | Open the recorder. → ⚙️ → «Max. Duration» → Choose "No limitation». |
| The file is not saved, but the timer is running | There's not enough disk space. | Clear the cache (Settings) → Warehouse → Clear) or transfer files to SD-map. |
| The application will fly out when saved | Damaged recorder data | Clear the application data (Settings → Applications → Recorder → Storage → Clear data). |
| Records are retained but not reproduced | Damaged codecs or DRM-restriction | Install VLC Player or convert the file through Audio Converter. |
If none of these methods worked, try:
- Update the Dictophone** via Play Market or App Gallery.
- Install an alternative application (such as Hi-Q MP3 Recorder) and check if records are saved.
What if the recording is interrupted because of a call?
How to Recover Deleted Recordings of a Recorder
If you accidentally delete a record, it can be returned within 30 days (if the cart has not been cleaned) or with special utilities.
Method 1: Recovery from the MIUI basket
- Open the Files»** → «Basket».
- Find the deleted audio file (sort by date).
- Select the file → click “Restore”.
Method 2: Using DiskDigger or Recuva (for PC)
- 📱 To recover directly on the phone:
💻 For recovery via PC:
- Connect Redmi to your computer in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
- Start Recuva or EaseUS Data Recovery.
- Select the phone’s internal memory as a scan drive.
- Specify the search for files of the type "Audio".
⚠️ Warning: The more you use your phone after deleting the record, the lower your chances of recovery. MIUI It doesn't erase it right away -- it just marks the memory area as free. New data can overwrite your record.
💡
If you regularly make important recordings, set up automatic voice recorder backup in Mi Cloud or Google Drive. → ⚙️ → «Backup and select a cloud service.
How to Change the Default Records Saving Place
If you don't like the standard Recorder folder, you can change it.
- Open the "Dictophone" (or "Sound Recording").
If you don’t have a save folder option (as it happens on some versions of MIUI), use the workaround:
- Create a folder manually (e.g., audio recordings at the root of internal memory).
- Install a third-party recorder (for example, Smart Recorder) and specify your folder in it.
- Use Tasker or MacroDroid to automatically move new files from Recorder to the desired directory.
For advanced users, if you have root, you can change the way you save directly to the tape recorder's configuration.
- Open Root Explorer and go to the /data/data/com.miui.soundrecorder/shared_prefs/.
- Find the settings.xml file and open it in the text editor.
- Find a line. <string name="save_path">/storage/emulated/0/Recorder/</string>.
- Replace the path with the path you want (e.g. /storage/emulated/0/Audio/).
- Save the file and restart the recorder.