Recording phone conversations on Xiaomi smartphones is a feature that appears in MIUI firmware and disappears due to changes in laws in different countries. In 2026, the manufacturer again limited the ability to record automatically, but there are workarounds, this article will help you understand where the records are stored, how to find them in the file system, and what to do if the standard functionality is disabled.
We analyzed MIUI 14/15 on models from Redmi Note 12 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra, and also tested third-party apps for compatibility with the latest versions of Android. It is important to understand that in some regions (for example, the EU) call recording is blocked at the firmware level due to GDPR. But even then, there are legal ways to keep important conversations going — about this in the last section.
1. Standard place of storage of records in MIUI
If your Xiaomi supports built-in call recording (usually models for Asia or global versions with manual activation), the files are stored in a secure folder.
/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/The files are.amr or.m4a and are named by pattern: call_[date [time] [number].amr: call_20260515_143022_+79123456789.amr.
To see this folder:
- Open the File Explorer (File app).
- Turn on the display of hidden folders: tap on three dots in the upper right corner → Settings → Show hidden files.
- Go on the path of the internal drive → MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec.
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If the folders sound_recorder No, your version. MIUI It doesn't support recording calls out of the box.
In some firmware (e.g. MIUI 14 for POCO F5), records may be stored here:
/storage/emulated/0/Recordings/Call/2. How to enable call recording in Xiaomi settings
On global firmware models (such as the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or Xiaomi 13T), the recording function may be hidden, but it can be activated via the engineering menu or ##4636##. However, in 2026, this method does not work on all devices.
Official method (for supported regions):
- Open the Phone app.
- Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → Settings.
- Select Conversation Record (if there is no item, your firmware does not support the function).
- Activate the switch and select which calls to record: All, Favorite Only or Unsaved Numbers Only.
If there is no record of conversations, try:
- 🔍 Install an alternative Phone app (such as Google Phone) that supports recording.
- 📱 Update the firmware to the latest version MIUI 15 (in some regions, the function returns after the update).
- 🌍 Change the device region to India or Indonesia (via Settings) → Additionally. → Region).
3. Search for records through the Dictator app
Many users are unaware that the standard Dictaphone app in MIUI can display call records if they are saved to the system.
- Open the Dictaphone app (mic icon).
- Slip on three lines in the upper left corner → Call records.
- If the section is empty, try updating the app through Google Play.
On some models (such as the POCO X5 Pro), call recordings are displayed in the main recorder list, but marked as Call Recording.
- 🕒 Duration (usually 30 seconds to several minutes).
- 📞 Phone tube icon next to file.
- 📅 Date and time matching the call log.
What if the recorder does not show the recording?
4. Hidden folders and system paths for records
If standard methods didn’t work, the records could be saved in one of the system directories: Use a root Explorer (like FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer) or connect your phone to your PC in MTP mode.
Check these paths:
| Way | Description | File format |
|---|---|---|
| /data/user_de/0/com.android.server.telecom/call_recordings/ | System folder for records (requires root) | .amr, .3gp |
| /sdcard/Android/data/com.miui.voiceassist/files/ | Voice assistant folder (sometimes duplicated recordings) | .m4a, .wav |
| /storage/emulated/0/Download/CallRecordings/ | Folder for records from third-party applications | .mp3, .ogg |
| /data/media/0/MIUI/voice_recorder/ | Alternative storage for MIUI 13 and older | .amr |
Attention: folders in /data/ Patents to access them without proper permissions may cause the system to crash or trigger MIUI’s anti-tampering protection.
5. Recovering deleted call records
If the records have been deleted, you can try to restore them using specialized utilities.
- 🛠️ DiskDigger (Scans Internal Memory for File Remainders).
- 🔍 Recuva (works when connecting the phone to the PC in the storage mode).
- 📱 GT Recovery (for Android, requires root for deep scanning).
The recovery algorithm:
- Install an app (like DiskDigger) from Google Play.
- Select the full scan (may take 1-2 hours).
- Filter the results for extensions.amr,.m4a,.3gp.
- Save the recovered files to a memory card or cloud.
Stop recording new files (do not call, do not install applications) |
Connect your phone to charge (energy-intensive process)|
Free 10-15% of memory on your device |
Download the recovery program in advance (not after removal)-->
Importantly, the fewer actions you take after deletion, the better the chances of recovery, and MIUI system files can overwrite deleted data after a few hours of active use.
6. Alternative ways to record calls on Xiaomi
If the built-in feature is not available, use third-party solutions. We tested 10 applications - the best options for MIUI 14/15:
| Annex | Pluses | Cons | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cube ACR | Works on all Xiaomi, both-side record, cloud storage | Advertising in the free version requires setting exceptions for MIUI | Google Play |
| Call Recorder by Lovekush | Minimalist interface with MIUI 15 support | No VoIP recording (WhatsApp, Telegram) | Google Play |
| Truecaller | Automatic recording + blocking spam | Requires registration, limitation on the duration of the recording | Google Play |
For the correct operation of third-party recording applications on Xiaomi, you need:
- Add an app to battery optimization exceptions: Settings → Annexes → Application management → [Title of the annex] → Battery → No restrictions.
- Allow autorun: Settings → Applications → Permissions → Autorun.
- Enable a floating window (for some applications): Settings → Special features → [Application name].
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On Xiaomi with MIUI 14+, third-party applications for recording calls can be blocked by the system. If recording does not begin, check the security settings in Settings → Privacy → Special Access → Sound recording.
7. Legal nuances of call recording
In 2026, many countries have tightened their rules for recording telephone conversations.
- 🇷🇺 In Russia, recording of a conversation is allowed only with the notification of the interlocutor (Article 138 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
- 🇪🇺 The EU is operating GDPR — Recording without consent may be considered a breach of confidentiality.
- 🇺🇸 In the United States, laws vary by state: some (such as California) require the consent of all participants.
To avoid problems:
- Always notify the person about the recording (e.g., "The conversation is being recorded to record the information. Would you mind?").
- Keep the records no longer than necessary.
- Do not distribute the recordings without the consent of the participants.
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In business correspondence, it is convenient to use services like Rev Call Recorder or Otter.ai, which automatically decrypt the conversation and send a text confirmation to the interlocutor.
Note: on Xiaomi devices sold in the EU, the call recording feature is often disabled at the firmware level precisely because of GDPR. Attempts to circumvent this restriction may lead to the blocking of the Mi Account account.