Where to keep records of phone conversations on Xiaomi smartphones: a complete guide

Have you turned on a call record on Xiaomi but can't find the file? Or do you want to change the save location so that the records don't take up your phone's memory? In this article, we'll look at all the options for storing call records on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, from standard folders in internal memory to Mi Cloud cloud services and third-party applications.

It’s important to understand that file location depends on the firmware version (MIUI 12/13/14), phone model and even regional settings. For example, on the Xiaomi 13 Pro with global firmware, the path to records may differ from the Chinese version of Redmi Note 12. We have gathered up-to-date information for all modern devices and will tell you how to find records, transfer them to a memory card or to the cloud, and what to do if the files are gone.

If you use third-party recording apps (like Cube Call Recorder or ACR), the storage rules will be different — we’ll talk about that separately, too. And for those who are worried about security, we’ve added a section on encrypting records and protecting against accidental deletion.

Standard place to save phone records on Xiaomi

By default, Xiaomi smartphones store phone records in the device's internal memory.The path depends on the version of MIUI, but most often the files are here:

• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ — mainfolder MIUI 12–14 (European and European Firmware).
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Recordings/CallRecord/ — alternative paths in some models (e.g, POCO X5 Pro).
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.android.providers.media/files/CallRecord/ — rarer version MIUI.

Record files are usually formatted.m4a or.amr and named by template: CallRecord_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.m4a, where YYYYMMDD — date, HHMMSS — Time of conversation, for example, CallRecord_20260515_143022.m4a signifies 15 may 2026 yearly 14:30:22.

To find the folder quickly:

1. Open the File Manager app.
2. Go to the "Category" section» → «Audio».
3. In the list, find the “CallRecord” folder or «sound_recorder».

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T For the Chinese market, call recording can be disabled at the firmware level. If the folder is not available, check for the feature in the phone settings (Settings) → Annexes → Phone. → Recording calls).

How to change the location of the saved records (to a memory card or cloud)

Your internal memory fills up quickly, especially if you record long conversations often. Fortunately, you can redirect your storage to a microSD card or Mi Cloud on Xiaomi.

Method 1: Save to a memory card

If you have a microSD installed on your phone:

1. Open the application "Dialer" (Phone).
2. Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select "Settings».
3. Go to the "Call Record" section.
4. Select “Save Place” and select “Memory Card” (SD-card).

After that, new records will be saved along the way:

/storage/XXXX-XXXX/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/


or




/storage/XXXX-XXXX/Recordings/CallRecord/

where XXXX-XXXX is the unique identifier of your memory card.

Method 2: Automatic booting in Mi Cloud

Mi Cloud allows you to store records in the cloud and sync them between devices.

1. Open your Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud
2. Make sure you are logged in to your Xiaomi account.
3. Enable the call record sync option (if available in your area).

Note that free storage in the Mi Cloud is limited (usually 5 GB), which is enough for ~50-100 hours of audio (depending on quality).

Make sure the memory card is formatted as internal storage (if needed)

Check the free space on the map (minimum 1 GB)

Sign in to Mi Cloud (for cloud storage)

Make a backup of old records-->

Why Call Records Are Not Saved or Disappeared

Sometimes users have a problem: the record is enabled, but the files are not in the folder.

A critical feature of MIUI 14: on some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra), call records are saved by default in the protected folder /Android/data/com.android.dialer/, access to which is only possible through root or a file manager with superuser rights. If you can’t see files, try using the FX File Explorer app with the “Show Hidden System Files” mode enabled.

⚠️ Attention: On Android devices 13+ and MIUI 14 Access to application folders is limited by Scoped Storage. To transfer records to your PC, connect your phone in File Transfer mode and use a Explorer. Windows/macOS — Standard file managers on your phone may not show hidden system folders.

How to find call records from third-party apps

If you use alternative recording software (such as Cube Call Recorder ACR, Call Recorder by Lovekush or Boldbeast), the path to the files will be different.

• 📱 Cube Call Recorder ACR: /storage/emulated/0/CubeBackup/ or /storage/emulated/0/ACR/. Files in format.mp3 or.ogg.
• 📱 Boldbeast Call Recorder: /storage/emulated/0/Boldbeast Recorder/. Supports storage on a memory card without root.
• 📱 Call Recorder by Lovekush: /storage/emulated/0/CallRecordings/. Can create separate folders for incoming/outgoing.

Features of third-party applications:

• ✅ More recording formats (.mp3,.wav,.ogg vs.m4a standard-recording).
• ✅ Selective recording (for example, only for contacts from the blacklist).
• ❌ The risk of blocking recordings on new versions of Android (starting with Android 10, Google has restricted app access to audio call stream).

On Android 12+, many third-party recorders have stopped working due to tighter privacy policies.

1. Check if special permissions are enabled in your Android settings (Settings → Apps → Special Access → Record audio).
2. Install the Magisk CallRecorderPatch module (root required).
3. Use an external recorder (for example, connect a second phone in hands-free mode and record it).

💡

If you often record important conversations, set up automatic email submissions. In the Boldbeast app, this is done under Cloud and Backup → Send by email. Specify your address and enable the Send After Write option.

How to protect call records from deletion or theft

Phone records may contain sensitive information, such as passwords, financial details, personal conversations, to protect them:

1. Encrypting the records folder

On Xiaomi, you can encrypt the folder with records through the standard Files app:

1. Open the Files and find the folder. call_rec or CallRecord.
2. Press and hold the folder, then select “Encrypt”.
3. Set a password or pattern lock.

After that, access to the files will be possible only after entering the password.

2. Backup to an encrypted cloud

Mi Cloud, Google Drive or Proton Drive allow you to store records in encrypted form, for example, in Proton Drive:

1. Upload the records files to the "Private" folder.
2. Enable “Customer-side encryption” in the settings.
3. Download the backup copy of the encryption key (it will be needed to decrypt).

3. Hiding records from prying eyes

To hide the file with the records:

• Rename it by adding a point to the beginning (e.g,.call_rec_hidden).
• Use apps like Hide It Pro (Audio Manager) to disguise as harmless files.
• Move the recordings to the Black Box (Settings → Privacy → Black Box).

⚠️ Note: In some countries (e.g. the EU), recording telephone conversations without the consent of the interlocutor may violate privacy laws (e.g., the data, GDPR). Before recording, specify local legislation or warn the interlocutor about keeping the record.

How to transfer call records to a computer or other device

If you need to save your PC records or transfer them to another phone, there are a few ways to do this:

Method 1: Through USB-cable

1. Connect Xiaomi to your computer using a USB-C cable.
2. Select File Transfer mode in the connection notification.
3. Open “This Computer” (Windows) or “Finder” (macOS) and find the folder call_rec or CallRecord.
4. Copy the files to the hard drive.

Method 2: Wireless (Wi-Fi Direct, FTP)

If the cable is not available:

1. Install the FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer app on your phone.
2. Turn it on. FTP-server in application settings.
3. Connect to the server from the PC at the address ftp://[IP-telephone address: [port].
4. Download files via FileZilla or Windows Explorer.

Method 3: Through Cloud Services

The most universal method:

1. Upload your recordings to Google Drive, Dropbox or Mi Cloud.
2. Open the cloud on your computer and download the files.

For convenience, you can archive records before transfer, for example, Xiaomi has a built-in archiving feature:

1. Open the files, select the necessary records.
2. Press "More» → «Squeeze».
3. Choose the format.zip or.rar.

💡

When transferring records to Windows, avoid using the #,%, &,* characters in file names – this can cause copying errors.

Frequent questions about recording calls to Xiaomi