Where on Xiaomi record record recorder is stored: a full guide to search for audio files

Have you recorded an important conversation or lecture on a tape recorder of a built-in Xiaomi app, but can't find the file? Or accidentally deleted the record and want to restore it? The problem is that the manufacturer does not always place audio files in obvious folders, and the MIUI interface can hide them from the user. In this article, we will examine all possible ways to store records of the recorder on Redmi, POCO and Mi smartphones — from standard to hidden directories, and also learn how to extract files even without root rights.

Xiaomi's peculiarity is that the path to recording depends on the version of MIUI, the device model and even the firmware region. For example, on the Redmi Note 10 Pro with global MIUI 14 files can lie in one place, and on the POCO F5 with Chinese firmware in another. In addition, some records are saved to the Mi Cloud automatically, which complicates the search. We analyzed 15 models of Xiaomi smartphones (from Redmi 9A to Xiaomi 13 Ultra) and identified all possible options for the location of audio files.

Standard ways to store records of a voice recorder on Xiaomi

In most cases, the recordings of the recorder on Xiaomi are stored in the /storage/emulated/0/Recorder/ folder or its subdirectories, however, the path can vary depending on the version of MIUI:

• 📁 MIUI 12–14 (Global/European version): /storage/emulated/0/Recorder/ or /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/
• 📁 MIUI China: /storage/emulated/0/miui/soundrecorder/ (flat-out!)
• 📁 Old versions (MIUI 10–11): /storage/emulated/0/recordings/ or /sdcard/Recorder/
• 📁 POCO Launcher: Sometimes creates a duplicate folder /storage/emulated/0/POCO/Recorder/

Files usually have an extension.m4a (AAC-encoding) or.amr (for short records) file names are template-based: REC_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.m4a, where YYYYMMDD — date, HHMMSS — Time of recording, for example, REC_20231015_143022.m4a signifies 15 October 2023 yearly 14:30:22.

If the Recorder folder is not in the root directory, check the hidden system folders.

1. Open any file manager (e.g., Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
2. Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Settings → Show hidden files.
3. Enter the recorder request in the search bar or sound_recorder.

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If you connect your phone to your PC but don't see the Recorder folder, try turning on File Transfer (MTP) mode in the notification curtain. Sometimes Windows won't display folders because of the cache - reconnect the device.

Search for records through the built-in Dictophone application

The easiest way to find records is to use the Recorder or Sound Recorder app itself, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones and is usually hidden in the Tools folder on your desktop to open it:

1. Swipe up the screen to open the app menu.
2. Enter the Recorder (or Recorder for English firmware) in search.
3. Open the app and go to the Recordings (or Recordings) tab.
4. Press three points (⋮) Next to the required entry and select Details → Location of the file.

In some versions of MIUI, the path to the file is immediately displayed under the name of the record. If the file location option is not available, then the record is stored in the Mi Cloud (for this, see the next section).

Open the application menu|Find the Dictophone through search|Check the "Records" tab"|See the details of the file (⋮ → Details)-->

If the Dictophone application** has been removed or disabled, it can be restored:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Press three points (⋮) → Show all applications.
3. Find a recorder or a sound recorder in the list.
4. Click Enable or Install if the application has been uninstalled.

← Recordings in the cloud Mi Cloud: how to find and download

Xiaomi automatically syncs the recordings of the recorder with the Mi Cloud cloud storage, if the appropriate setting is enabled, which means that even remote local files can stay in the cloud for up to 30 days.

1. Open the Dictator app**.
2. Go to the Cloud tab (or Cloud in English).
3. Sign in to your Mi Account if required.
4. Select the desired entry and click Download (arrow icon down).

Files from the cloud are saved to a folder /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/cloud/. If there are no records in the cloud, check:

• 🔄 Was synchronization enabled: Dictaphone settings → Cloud. → Autoboot.
• 📶 Is there internet access (sync only works via Wi-Fi or mobile data).
• 🗓 Storage period: Records older than 30 days can be automatically deleted from the cloud.

Important: If you delete a record from both local storage and the cloud, it will be extremely difficult to recover it. Xiaomi does not provide tools to recover deleted files from Mi Cloud after cleaning the Recycle Bin.

Alternative ways to search for records: file managers and ADB

If standard methods didn't work, use third-party tools. We tested 5 popular file managers and found the most effective way to search:

We recommend using Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer with Root access enabled (if you have superuser rights).

1. Open the manager and allow access to the storage.
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the settings.
3. Enter the extensions:.m4a,.amr,.mp3.
4. Filter the results by the date of creation (corresponding to the time of recording).

If you don’t have a record, try connecting to your phone via ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

1. Turn on Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).
2. Activate Debugging by USB in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command:

adb shell find /storage -name ".m4a" -o -name ".amr"

This command will recursively scan all folders for audio files, and the result will be a list of paths, such as:

/storage/emulated/0/Recorder/REC_20231015_143022.m4a


/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.soundrecorder/files/REC_20231010_091547.amr

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If the ADB command returns the permission denied error, you don't have permission to access the system folders. Try running the command with su (root required).

Recovery of deleted recordings of the recorder

If the record has been deleted, the chances of recovery depend on how long it has been and whether the device has been used after removal. Xiaomi does not provide built-in recovery tools, but you can use third-party utilities:

• 🛠 DiskDigger scans internal memory for deleted files (works without root, but with limitations).
• 🔍 Recuva (for PC) – connect your phone in Mass Storage mode and scan as a removable drive.
• 📱 Dumpster – an application that creates a “basket” for deleted files (you need to install in advance).

Recovery algorithm with DiskDigger:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Select Start Basic Scan (without root).
3. Mark the file types: Audio (M4A, AMR).
4. Wait for the scan to be completed and select the desired records to recover.

⚠️ Warning: Don't save recovered files to the same drive from which they were deleted! Use cloud, PC, or external memory card to avoid overwriting data.

If you have root rights, you have a better chance of recovery.

1. Install Root Browser or FX File Explorer with root access.
2. Go to /data/data/com.miui.soundrecorder/files/ – temporary copies of records may be stored here.
3. Use Undelete to scan the /data partition in depth.

Features of storing records on different Xiaomi models

After analyzing 15 models of Xiaomi smartphones, we identified patterns in the location of voice recorder records depending on the series of devices:

On dual storage devices (internal memory + microSD card), the default records are stored in internal memory to change the location of the storage:

1. Open the "Dictorphone"** → Settings.
2. Select a Retention Site → Memory map.
3. Specify the folder (for example, /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Recorder/, where XXXX-XXXX — ID yours SD-map).

⚠️ Note: On some models POCO (for example, POCO X3 Pro) while retaining on SD-The recording card may become unavailable for play through a standard application, in which case use third-party players, for example, VLC.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Xiaomi users often face the following problems when working with voice recorders:

• 🔇 Records are not played: files are corrupted or saved in an unsupported format. VLC convert.mp3 via Audacity.
• 📱 The Dictator app is missing: it can be disabled or deleted. Restore it via Settings → Annexes → Show all applications.
• ☁️ Records are not synced with Mi Cloud: check the cloud settings in the application and Internet access. Sometimes it helps to restart Mi Cloud services in Settings → Accounts.
• 🔍 Files do not appear in the folder: turn on the display of hidden files or use ADB for search (see section above).

If after updating MIUI records are no longer saved, reset the settings of the application:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Recorder → Storage.
2. Click Clear Data and Clear Cache.
3. Reset the device.

On some firmware (especially Chinese), the Dictator app** can block recordings due to security restrictions.

1. Open Settings → Privacy → Special permissions → Recording sound.
2. Find the Recorder in the list and allow access to the microphone.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions