Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to save important information from phone calls. the Redmi 9T model is equipped with built-in functionality for this, but finding saved files is not always easy because of the features of the MIUI shell. The system has a specific directory structure that can confuse even an experienced user who is accustomed to standard Android logic.
Searching for audio recordings can be required in a variety of situations, from restoring business agreements to documenting evidence. In this article, we will look at all possible paths to your data. We will look at both standard methods through the file manager and hidden settings that are often overlooked when you first set up a device.
It’s important to understand that file layouts can vary depending on the operating system version. If you upgrade to the latest Android 11 or newer version, the rules for accessing system folders have become stricter, which is done for the security of user data, but makes it difficult to directly access media content through third-party apps.
Using the Dictator app to search
The easiest and most obvious way to find a record you're interested in is to use the regular Dictophone app, which, in the Xiaomi ecosystem, is not only responsible for recording voices, but also for storing archives of phone conversations. When you open the app, you'll see a list of all available audio files, sorted by date of creation.
Not only can you listen to the file, but you can also do basic things with it. There's a renaming feature available, which is convenient for organizing the archive, and you can send the file via messengers or email. The application interface is intuitive and does not require deep technical knowledge.
⚠️ Note: If you cleared the cache of the Phone or Recorder application through system settings, the list in the application may temporarily disappear, although the files themselves will remain in memory.
To quickly get to the right moment in long recording, use the built-in player, which allows you to speed up playback, which saves time when listening to hour-long conversations, and the trimming feature is available, allowing you to leave only an important part of the dialogue.
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Use the Favorites feature in the Dictaphone app to flag critical conversations that cannot be lost or deleted by accident.
Search through the Explorer in the device memory
If you want to copy a file to a computer or transfer it over Bluetooth, you need to know the exact physical path to it. MIUI, All the data has their own residence permit. 9T The standard path to recording conversations is usually at the address: MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec.
To get there, open the Explorer app (or Files) and go to Device Memory (or Internal Drive) and then open folders sequentially following the structure above. call_rec All records made through a standard dialing number are stored.
☑️ File search algorithm
Sometimes users don’t see the folder. MIUI When you connect your phone to your computer, it's connected to the data protocols. USB-Connection mode selected "File Transfer» (MTP), It's not just Charging, otherwise the computer won't have access to the internal directory structure.
The files in this folder are.m4a or.mp3, depending on the recording quality settings. If you can't find the file by name, sort the contents of the folder by the date of the change, which will help you quickly identify the most recent record.
Quality and format settings for recording
Before you search for a file, you should make sure that the recording was in the right format at all. In the settings of the Phone application, there is a section dedicated to recording conversations, you can activate automatic recording for all incoming and outgoing calls or select specific numbers.
Sound quality directly affects file size and space. High quality (HD) ensures better legibility of voices, but files will weigh more. Redmi 9T with its ample storage is recommended to put the highest quality, unless space is critically limited.
⚠️ Note: If you change region to your phone settings (e.g. India or Singapore), the recording function may disappear due to local legal restrictions.
You can also find the option "Write only selected numbers" in the settings, which is a useful feature for noise filtering, and if it's activated, conversations from unknown numbers may not be saved, and it's useless to search for them in the folder.
Hidden codecs of records
Synchronization with the cloud Xiaomi and Google
Modern smartphones offer more than just local storage. Xiaomi Cloud allows you to automatically synchronize recordings of the recorder. If you have this option enabled, your files will be accessed from any device where you log in to your Mi Account.
To check sync status, go to your account settings, which will tell you what data is uploaded to the cloud, and usually the conversation records are a separate category in the storage, which saves the situation if the phone is lost or broken.
However, it is worth remembering the limits of free storage. 5 GB, provided by default, can quickly run out if you record a lot of long conversations, in which case the system will stop syncing new files before freeing up space or buying a subscription.
| Parameter | Local storage | Xiaomi Cloud | Google Drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access without the Internet | There is. | No (cache needed) | No (cache needed) |
| Risk of loss on discharge | High-pitched | Low. | Low. |
| Occupied seat | Phone memory | Cloud limit | Cloud limit |
| Speed of access | Instant. | Depends on the network. | Depends on the network. |
Problems with access to folders on Android 11+
With the release of new versions of Android, Google has implemented a “Scoped Storage” policy, which prohibits applications and computers from freely accessing system folders, including those where records are stored. 9T With the updated firmware, you may find that the folder call_rec empty or unavailable via PC.
To solve this problem, use the built-in MIUI file manager rather than third-party applications like Total Commander (without additional permissions).
If you connect your phone to your computer and you can't see the files, try USB debugging. This is a more complex method that requires you to install ADB drivers on your PC, but it gives you full access to the file system as an external drive.
⚠️ Note: Do not try to delete system files in the folder MIUI It's root rights, if you're not sure what they're supposed to do, and it can lead to a cyclical reboot of the smartphone.
An alternative way is to use Google’s Downloads or Documents app by requesting access to storage, often bypassing restrictions imposed on third-party software.
Third-party applications for recording calls
If Xiaomi's standard tools don't work well or are not working well, you can always turn to third-party solutions. App stores offer dozens of voice recorders that integrate into the call system. Popular options include Cube ACR, Automatic Call Recorder and others.
These applications often have their own folders for storing data, usually located on the Android/data/[name packet app] path or at the root of the memory in the folder with the program name, and can be found through the settings of the recorder application itself.
The main advantage of third-party solutions is the flexibility of settings, you can set up a record on a schedule, exclude certain contacts or configure cloud sync with Dropbox and Google Drive, bypassing the limitations of MIUI.
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Third-party apps may require permanent work permits in the background, which increases the Redmi 9T's battery consumption.
However, it should be noted that on new versions of Android, third-party recorders often work unstable, the system can block the recording of sound for privacy reasons, and only you, but not the interlocutor, will be heard in the recording.