Xiaomi 9 voice recorder: where is it, how to turn on and use in 2026

Are you trying to find a voice recorder on your Xiaomi 9 but can't find it on the menu? Or has the record suddenly disappeared from the system? This problem is familiar to many owners of Redmi Note 9, Mi 9, Mi 9T and other 2019-2021 smartphones. The fact is that the manufacturer doesn't always install a standard audio recording app — it may not be in the default firmware, especially if you upgraded MIUI to the latest version.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to find a voice recorder on Xiaomi 9, from hidden folders to alternative recording methods. You’ll also learn how to recover deleted records, why the application may not work, and which third-party programs are best to use. If you don’t find a voice recorder on the standard menu, don’t rush to install third-party apps: it’s likely just hidden or disabled in the settings.

Where to look for a standard voice recorder on Xiaomi 9: 3 proven places

On most Xiaomi smartphones, the voice recorder is built into the system, but its location depends on the MIUI version and regional firmware.

• 📱 Tools folder – on your desktop (desktop) find a folder called Tools, Utilities or Mi Tools. Inside there may be a voice recorder icon with a microphone.
• 🔍 Search by system – swipe down the main screen to open the search bar and type in a Recorder or Recorder (on English firmware).
• ⚙️ All Apps menu – click on the *••• icon (or All Apps) at the bottom of the screen and scroll through the list to Systems or Services.

If the recorder is missing in all of these places, it may have been disabled in the MIUI settings or removed when you upgrade, so move on to the next section.

Why the recorder is missing on Xiaomi 9 and how to get it back

There are several reasons why a standard audio recording app might disappear:

1. Update MIUI - in new versions of firmware (for example, MIUI 14), the manufacturer sometimes removes underused utilities, including a voice recorder.
2. Regional restrictions – on firmware for Europe or Russia, the recorder can be replaced by Google Recorder or completely absent.
3. Settings reset – after resetting to factory settings, some system applications are not automatically restored.
4. Manual Deletion – A user could accidentally deactivate or delete an application through Settings → Apps.

To get the recorder back:

1. Check Hidden Applications: Settings → Applications → Application Management → (three dots) → Show all apps Find in the list of com.android.soundrecorder (standard voice recorder) and turn it on.
2. Install the update via the Mi App Store – sometimes the recorder returns after updating the system utilities.
3. Reset App-Only Settings (without data loss): Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → App Settings Reset

Alternative ways to record sound on Xiaomi 9 without a voice recorder

If the standard application is missing or not working, use one of these methods:

When recording conversations or lectures, take into account the laws of your country - in some regions, the consent of the interlocutor to record is required.

Check the battery level (minimum 30%)|Turn off the power saving modes|Close the background applications|Set the microphone volume in the recording settings-->

How to use a voice recorder on Xiaomi 9: step-by-step instructions

If you can find or install a voice recorder, here’s how to use it:

1. Start recording: Open the Recorder (or Recorder) application. Press the red Record (or microphone) button. ||, stop — ■.
2. Saving and listening: Records are automatically saved to the Recorder (or SoundRecorder) folder in internal memory. To listen, click on the entry in the list.

Additional functions

• 📌 Time stamps – add tags while recording for easy navigation.
• 🔊 Amplify the sound – increase the volume of quiet recordings in the settings.
• 📤 Export – send a record via Bluetooth, Email or instant messengers.

On some MIUI firmware, the recorder supports background recording — you can fold the app and the record will continue to go.

Settings of the recorder → Allow background recording → Enable

Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization → All applications → Recorder → Not Optimize

Where are records from the recorder on Xiaomi 9 and how to restore them

All audio files made through a standard voice recorder are saved in the following way:

/storage/emulated/0/Recorder/


or




/storage/emulated/0/SoundRecorder/

If you can't see the folder:

• 🔎 Use a file manager (such as Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer) and enable the display of hidden files.
• 💾 Connect your phone to your PC through USB Check the internal memory in file transfer mode (MTP).
• ☁️ If the recording synced with Mi Cloud, check the Records section in cloud storage.

How to recover deleted records:

1. Use data recovery software: DiskDigger, Recuva (on PC) or Dumpster (on Android).
2. Check the Recycle Bin in the file manager (if the function is enabled).
3. If the recording was in the cloud (Mi Cloud or Google Drive), check the recently deleted section.

💡

The faster you start recovering from deletion, the better the chances of returning the file. Avoid writing new data to your phone before recovery!

Frequent problems with the voice recorder on Xiaomi 9 and their solutions

Here are the common mistakes and ways to fix them:

If the problem is not solved, try resetting the app settings:

Settings → Applications → Dictator → Storage → Reset settings

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI For China, the recorder can block the recording because of local privacy laws, and only changing the firmware to the global version will help.

Best Dictator apps for Xiaomi 9 in 2026

If a standard voice recorder doesn’t suit you, consider these alternatives:

• 🎤 Easy Voice Recorder – Simple interface, support MP3/WAV, widget.
• 📊 Hi-Q MP3 Voice Recorder – high quality recording (up to 320 kbps), built-in editor.
• ☁️ ASR Voice Recorder – Cloud synchronization, speech recognition, support for Bluetooth microphones.
• 🔒 OTter.ai – automatic speech-to-text decoding (subscription for long entries).
• 📱 Google Voice Recorder – free, integration with Google Drive, search by records.

When choosing, pay attention to:

• Record format – MP3 takes up less space, WAV gives better quality.
• Time limit – some apps only record up to 30 minutes for free.
• Additional functions – time stamps, editing, cloud storage.

⚠️ Note: Phone recording apps (like Call Recorder) may not work on Xiaomi 9 due to Android 10 limitations+. To record calls will require root access or special firmware.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions about the Xiaomi 9 Voice Recorder

• Send the record to yourself by mail or in Telegram (as a file).