Where Xiaomi Redmi Stores Records of Conversations and How to Listen to Them

You've been looking for a way to listen to a phone call recording on your Xiaomi Redmi, but you don't know where exactly those files are stored? You may have turned on automatic call recording, but you can't find audio files in a gallery or file manager. This problem is typical of smartphones on MIUI, Xiaomi's proprietary shell, where records are often hidden in obscure folders or require special applications to access.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible storage locations on Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10/11 and other devices, including hidden system directories, cloud services and third-party applications. You’ll learn how to recover deleted records, why some files are not played, and what to do if the recording function suddenly stopped working, and also a unique life hack to extract records from a locked phone without losing data.

1. Standard place of storage of records in MIUI

By default, Xiaomi Redmi smartphones save conversation records in a folder /MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/. However, the path may differ depending on the version. MIUI And regional firmware. That's how to get there:

• 📁 Open the standard Files app (yellow folder icon).
• 🔍 In the search box, enter call_rec — The system will show all the folders with records.
• 🎧 Files are usually.amr or.mp3 and named after a pattern: Record_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.
• ⚠️ If the folder is empty, check the recording settings (more on this below).

Important: In some firmware (e.g. MIUI 13 for the global version), records may be stored in /Internal Storage/Recorder/CallRecord/. If you don't see the MIUI folder, then your version of MIUI is using an alternative path.

If standard search didn’t work, try using an advanced file manager like Solid Explorer or a file manager. FX File Explorer with hidden file mode enabled, sometimes hiding in folders with a dot at the beginning (e.g., file files, /.recorder_temp/).

2. How to enable call recording if the function is disabled

If you can't see the records, it's possible that the function is simply not activated. In MIUI 12-14, the switching algorithm is different from the older versions.

1. Open the phone application (pipe icon).
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → "Settings".
3. Select "Talk Recording" (some firmwares call "Call Recording").
4. Activate the "Write Automatically" switch or select "Write Manually".
5. Specify which calls to record: "All", "Outgoing only", "Incoming only" or "Favorite contacts".

Is the recording function in the Phone app enabled?

Is the correct mode (auto/manual) chosen?

Is there enough space on the phone (records won't save if <100MB is free)?

Is your cloud storage disabled (if you use Mi Cloud)?

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⚠️ Note: In some countries (e.g. the EU), automatic recording of calls may be blocked by law, in which case a notification will appear in the settings: "Talk recording is not available in your region" The solution is to change the firmware region (but this requires unlocking the bootloader).

If no new files appear after you turn on the record, check the permissions for the Phone application:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Phone.
2. Click on "Permissions" and make sure it's enabled: 🎤 "Microphone" 💾 "Warehouse" 📞 "Telephone” (to access calls)

3. Alternative Storage Locations: Cloud and Third Party Applications

If you don't have records in your local storage, check out Mi Cloud, a Xiaomi cloud service that can automatically sync audio files. Here's how to find records in the cloud:

• 🌐 Open i.mi.com and log in to your Mi Account.
• 📁 Go to the "Cloud" section" → "Records" (or "Cloud" → Recorder in English version).
• 🔍 Use the filter by date if there are many records.
• ⬇️ Click on three dots next to the file → "Download "to save the record to the computer.

If you use third-party recording apps (such as Cube Call Recorder, ACR, or Boldbeast), check their settings:

⚠️ Note: Some apps (e.g. Boldbeast) require permission to record system audio, which may not work on newer versions of Android (10).+). In this case, only your voice is recorded and the interlocutor is not heard. ADB-commands to enable system recording (instruction below).

4.Recovering deleted conversation records

If you accidentally delete a record, don't despair - it can be restored using specialized utilities. The main rule is: do not write new files to your phone, so as not to erase deleted data.

Here is a step-by-step instruction for recovery:

1. Install a recovery application: 📱 DiskDigger (free version only searches for photos, but paid – all files) 📱 Recuva (needs root or PC connection) 📱 Dumpster (works as a "basket" for deleted files)
2. Scan internal memory: In DiskDigger, select "Full Scan" (it takes 10-30 minutes). Filter the results on the extension:.amr,.mp3,.m4a.

Save the recovered files

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If the record has been deleted recently (during the 24 Look for it, try to find it in the folder. /MIUI/sound_recorder/.trash/ — sometimes MIUI Sends files to the Recycle Bin before final deletion.

For root-righted devices, you can use more powerful tools like Undelete or GT Recovery, which scan memory at a low level and even find fragmented files, but beware: inexperienced root activities can lead to data loss or system failure.

If recovery doesn’t work, try extracting the records with your PC:

1. Connect your phone to your computer in MTP (file transfer) mode.
2. Use EaseUS Data Recovery or Recuva to scan your internal memory.
3. Select the Audio section in the scan results.

5.Why the records are not reproduced or distorted

A common problem with Xiaomi Redmi users is that recordings are saved, but when playing, you can hear only noise, cliffs or even silence.

To solve the problem of recording only one end of a conversation (your voice) on Android 10+, follow the following steps:

1. Enable USB debugging in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell settings put global capture_audio_output true
3. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Note: This command may not work on some firmware MIUI The alternative is to use applications that support VoIP recording (e.g. Boldbeast in Alsa mode").

6.How to Retrieve Records from a Locked or Broken Redmi

If your Xiaomi Redmi is locked (forgot the password), the screen crashed or does not turn on, but you need to urgently get the recordings of conversations, there are several ways:

• 🔌 Connect to PC in Fastboot mode: Turn off the phone, pinch the power + Volume down to log into Fastboot.Use Mi Flash Tool to extract data (requires unlocked bootloader).
• 📱 Use of the OTG-cables and mice: Connect USB-mouse-wise OTG-Adapter: Unlock your phone with your mouse (if the screen responds to touch).
• ☁️ Recovery via Mi Cloud: Sign in to i.mi.com from another device. → Records".

For devices with a broken screen, but a working sensor, you can use screen mirroring on a PC via Mi PC Suite or Scrcpy.

1. Download Scrcpy and unpack the archive.
2. Connect your phone to your PC via USB (turn on USB debugging in advance!).
3. Run scrcpy.exe – the image from the phone will appear on the PC screen.
4. Control your phone from your keyboard and mouse to find and copy the recordings.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone has data encryption enabled (the default for the new Redmi), it is almost impossible to extract the recordings without unlocking.The only way out is to reset the phone to factory settings (but this will delete all data!).

7 Legal aspects of recording conversations

Before making any calls, please read your country's laws, and most regions have the following rules:

• 🇷🇺 Russia: Recording of conversations is allowed only with the consent of the interlocutor (Article 23 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation), except if the recording is for personal use and is not distributed.
• 🇺🇦 Ukraine: Similar rules – consent of the other party is required.
• 🇪🇺 EU: Recording without consent is prohibited in most EU countries (GDPR).
• 🇺🇸 U.S.: Laws vary by state, and some (e.g., California) require consent from all participants in a conversation.

Xiaomi warns users about legal risks: in the settings of the recording of calls in MIUI there is a paragraph "Warn the interlocutor about recording" (on by default in European firmware). If you turn off this notification, Xiaomi disclaims responsibility for violation of local laws.

If you keep a record for litigation, make sure that:

• 📝 The file was not edited (original format and metadata).
• 🔊 The recording is clearly audible (no noises or breaks).
• 📅 Date and time of recording coincide with call logs.

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Even if the recording is permitted by law, its publication or distribution without the consent of the interlocutor may be considered a violation of the right to privacy.

FAQ: Frequent questions about recordings of conversations on Xiaomi Redmi