Where on Xiaomi look for records of conversations: hidden folders, system settings and cloud services

Have you ever tried to find a recording of an important conversation on your Xiaomi, but you can't remember where it went? Or suddenly you found that the recorder automatically records all calls and you didn't even know about it? In Redmi, POCO and Mi smartphones, conversation records can be stored in several places, from standard applications to hidden system folders, and their location depends on the version of MIUI, device model and even regional settings.

In this article, we'll look at all the possible storage locations, from embedded voice recorders to third-party applications like Google Phone or Truecaller. You'll learn how to find files manually through the file manager, how to turn on or off automatic call recording, and how to recover accidentally deleted audio files. We'll focus on hidden MIUI folders that don't show up in a standard Explorer but contain backups of records. If you use a smartphone on Android 12+ with the latest shell, some menu items may have changed — we've taken these nuances into account.

1. Standard storage locations for MIUI records

On most Xiaomi devices, the default conversation records are stored in two places: in the Dictaphone app (if recorded manually) and in the CallRecord system folder (if used the automatic call recording function).

Appendix "Dictorphone" (Recorder):

• 📱 Microphone icon on the desktop or in the application menu.
• 📁 Records are stored in a folder. /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/ (for MIUI 12-14).
• 🔍 Inside the application there is a search by date and duration.
• 📤 Exports are possible in formats.mp3,.m4a or.

If you don't find the Dictophone app on your device, check if it's disabled in the settings. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Recorder and turn it on if it's "Disabled." On some models (such as the POCO F5 or Redmi Note 12 Pro+), the recorder can be hidden in the Tools folder.

Automatic call recording (Call Recording function):

• 🎤 Included in phone settings: Settings → Annexes → Phone. → Recording calls.
• 📂 Files are saved in /storage/emulated/0/CallRecord/ or /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/voice_recorder/call_rec/.
• 🔒 Android 12.+ Access to the folder may be limited – you will need a file manager with root rights or Mi File Explorer with the hidden file mode enabled.
• ⚠️ On some firmware, records are encrypted and played only through the standard “Phone” application».

⚠️ Attention: On Android devices 13/14 and MIUI 14 Automatic call recordings may be blocked due to Google's privacy policy, and in order for the feature to work, the phone's settings need to manually allow the Phone app to access the microphone during calls (not just in the background).

2. Hidden folders and MIUI system directories

If the records are not displayed in standard places, they could be saved in one of the hidden shell folders. Xiaomi often duplicates user data in backup directories, especially if cloud redundancy or sync with Mi Account is enabled.

To see hidden folders, use Mi File Explorer with the option “Show hidden files” enabled» (⋮ → Settings → The alternative is third-party managers like Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer that can work with system directories without root rights.

How to find records through ADB:

If the file manager doesn't show you the folders you want, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), connect your phone to your PC, enable USB debugging in the developer's settings, and follow the command:

adb shell ls /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/voice_recorder/

This will show you a list of all the files in the folder, so you can copy them to your computer.

adb pull /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/voice_recorder/ C:\Xiaomi_Records\

3. Cloud services and synchronization

Many users are unaware that Xiaomi can sync conversation records with the Mi Cloud by default, both manual recordings from the voice recorder and automatic call records (if enabled).

• ☁️ Open the Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
• 🔄 Check the Synchronization section – there should be a “Dictorphone” or “Call Records” item».
• 📥 If synchronization is enabled, download data to the device via Mi Cloud → Dictaphone → Restore.
• 🔒 To access the cloud, you will need to log in to Mi Account (the same account as your phone).

Recovery from Google Drive:

If you used the Google Phone app (which is the default on some models for the global market), the records could be saved to Google Drive.

1. Open Google Drive on your PC.
2. In the search box, type:audio.
3. Filter results by date – call records usually have names like Call_20260515_143022.mp3.

⚠️ Note: Automatic recording synchronization with Mi Cloud does not work on all regional firmware. ROM) This feature can be disabled by default due to local privacy laws, and it will require a change of firmware region or manual configuration to activate it. ADB.

4. Third-party applications for recording calls

If Xiaomi's standard tools don't suit you, you can use third-party apps, which often offer more features: cloud storage, speech-to-text transcription, or writing format selection.

• 📞 Cube Call Recorder ACR — Records high quality calls, supports cloud backup.
• 🔊 Call Recorder by Lovekesh – Simple interface, automatic deletion of old records.
• ☁️ Truecaller – in addition to spam detection, can record calls (premium subscription required).
• 📝 Otter.ai – records and recognizes speech, creates text transcripts.

Where these apps store records:

Each app uses its own folder, but it is usually:

• /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/[application package]/files/ (e.g. for Cube ACR: com.nll.acr/).
• /storage/emulated/0/CallRecordings/ (a universal folder for many recorders).
• Cloud storage applications (Google Drive, Dropbox, own servers).

To transfer records from a third-party app to a standard Xiaomi voice recorder, copy files to a folder /MIUI/sound_recorder/ Update the media library through Settings → Warehouse → Clear the media cache.

Install an app from Google Play

Provide access to microphone and storage

Enable entry in the application settings

Check the storage folder in the application description

Create a backup of important records-->

5. How to recover deleted records

If you accidentally deleted a recording of a conversation, don't despair, you can try to restore it. Success depends on how long it has been since you deleted it and whether the phone used cache cleaning functions.

1. Check the basket: The Dictator app has a "Basket" section» (⋮ → Recycle Bin where files are stored for up to 30 days.
2. Use Recovery Programs: 🖥️ DiskDigger (for Android) – scans internal memory. 💻 Recuva or EaseUS Data Recovery (for PC) – if you connect your phone as a drive.

Check backups:

• ☁️ Mi Cloud (if synchronization was enabled).
• 📱 Local backups in /MIUI/backup/AllBackup/.
• If the record is critical (for example, for a court), you can try laboratory data recovery (cost from 5 000 USD). ₽).

How to increase your chances of recovery:

• 🛑 Stop using your phone immediately (new data can overwrite deleted files).
• 🔋 Do not discharge the battery to 0% – this can lead to cleaning the cache.
• 📴 Turn off automatic storage optimization in Settings → Battery and productivity → Optimization.

⚠️ Attention: Recovery programs like DiskDigger require root permissions for deep scanning, without which they can only find thumbnails or fragments of files. MIUI 14 and File-Based Encryption: The chances of rootless recovery are minimal.

6. Privacy settings and aspects

Before recording conversations, it is worth remembering the legal nuances, and different countries have different privacy laws:

• 🇷🇺 Russia: Recording a conversation without the consent of the interlocutor is allowed if you are a participant in the conversation (Article 23 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation), however, using the recording in court may require proof of its authenticity.
• 🇪🇺 EU (GDPR): Recording without consent is prohibited and punishable by fines of up to 20 million € 4% of the company’s global revenue.
• 🇺🇸 U.S.: Laws vary by state, and some (e.g., California) require consent from all participants in a conversation.
• 🇨🇳 China: Recording conversations without notifying interlocutor is prohibited and could be considered a violation of cybersecurity law.

How to protect your posts on Xiaomi:

If you keep confidential records, follow these tips:

• 🔐 Encrypt files using Mi Security or third-party apps like Cryptomator.
• 📁 Store records in a protected Private Folder folder (available in the MIUI 13+).
• ☁️ Turn off automatic cloud sync if you are afraid of leakage.
• 🗑️ Clean old records regularly through Settings → Warehouse → Analysis of the vault → Audio.

On devices with MIUI 14, the feature Privacy Mode (Settings → Privacy → Confidential Mode) has been introduced, which allows you to hide notifications about recording calls and block access to audio files through biometrics.

💡

If you're in business correspondence or in important conversations, use specialized services like Rev Call Recorder or TapeACall, which offer legally relevant time-stamped and authentication records that are accepted in courts.

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

Xiaomi users often face typical problems with recording conversations, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

If none of the solutions worked, try resetting the phone app settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Phone → Storage.
2. Click on “Clear Data” and “Clear Cache”.
3. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) K50 Xiaomi 13) Automatic call recording may conflict with function HD-call-up (VoLTE/VoNR). If after turning on VoLTE records are no longer saved, disable this option in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → HD-call-up.

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On devices with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chips (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi K60 Pro), call recordings can be saved in.opus format, which not all players support. Use VLC to listen or convert files through AudioConverter.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions