Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to find a stored audio recording of an important conversation or interview done through a standard voice recorder. Finding the right file can turn into a long process of wandering through hidden folders of the system, especially if you are used to a different file system structure in the past. Understanding the logic of storing data in the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS allows you to instantly find the right tracks.
Complicating matters, recent versions of Android and firmware often change paths to system directories for the sake of user data security. A standard file manager can only show a fraction of the information, hiding system directories from accidental deletion, which is why knowing the exact address of the folder and being able to work with memory analysis tools becomes a critical skill.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the possible paths your audio files may be in, the differences between call recording and voice recorder, and the issues of data recovery, learn how to change a standard storage to a memory card and what to do if a familiar folder suddenly disappeared after a system update.
Standard paths in the file manager
By default, the Android operating system installed on Xiaomi devices strictly regulates the structure of directories. All user data, including audio, is stored in internal storage, which is often designated as Internal Storage or Internal Memory. For quick access to recorders, the easiest way to use the built-in Explorer or Files app.
When you open a standard file manager, you'll see several categories, like Images, Video, and Audio. If you click on Audio, the system will filter out all the audio files in memory. However, to accurately locate a particular track, you'll want to go to manual folder viewing mode. The main path where the tape recorder's recordings are located is as follows:
/MIUI/sound_recorder/Within this directory, files are often sorted by date or record type. If you're looking for where Xiaomi conversation records are stored, this is the right place for you. that in some regions or firmware versions, the folder name may vary, but the MIUI structure remains basic. Users who are used to the old Android structure can search the Recordings folder at the root, but on modern smartphones this method is no longer relevant.
⚠️ Note: When connecting a smartphone to a computer through USB-file transfer cable, folder MIUI It can only be hidden or accessible after the request is confirmed on the phone screen (MTP), not just charging.
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If you don’t see the MIUI folder when connecting to a PC, try unlocking your smartphone screen and allowing data access in the system window that appears.
For those who use third-party file managers, such as Total Commander or FX File Explorer, the navigation will be similar. The main advantage of third-party applications is the ability to display hidden files and folders that begin from a dot. Sometimes system logs or backups of records can be stored in hidden directories, access to which is limited by standard means.
Differences between Call Recording and Recorder
It is important to clearly distinguish between recording a conversation and recording a voice recorder, as in the Xiaomi ecosystem, these functions are responsible for different system components. Call Recording is performed through the Phone application and, depending on the version of Android and regional settings, may have limitations.
The files created by recording phone calls are usually saved in a different directory, and the path to them is usually as follows:
/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/Or, in the newer versions of the shell:
/Android/data/com.android.callrecorder/files/However, starting with Android 11 and up, Google has implemented strict restrictions on app access to the microphone during a call, which has led to the fact that on global versions of MIUI firmware, the call recording function can be completely removed or work with a caller warning, in which cases files may not be created at all, or search for them will require root rights.
If you use third-party applications to record calls, such as TapeACall or Call Recorder, the paths to the files will be unique to each application. They are usually in the /Android/data/ [name packet app]/ folder. Checking the settings of a particular application is the most reliable way to know the exact way to save.
Search for records through the Dictophone application
The easiest way to find a record without digging through the system folders is to use the application itself in which it was created. The standard Dictator on Xiaomi has a convenient built-in file manager. When you open the application, you immediately see a list of all records sorted by date.
To obtain information about the file and its location, follow the following steps:
- 📱 Open the Dictophone app and find the desired entry in the list.
- ℹ️ Click on three dots next to the file name or hold your finger on the record.
- 📂 Select "Information" or "File Information».
- 📍 In the window that opens, the full path to the file and the ability to go to it will be indicated.
This method is especially useful if you have changed the default save settings. in the voice recorder settings (Settings) → The way of preservation can be selected for SD-In this case, the path will begin with a map. /storage/emulated/0/SDCard/... or similar designation of external memory.
⚠️ Note: If you have changed the way of saving SD-The card is removed or the card is damaged, the records in the application may appear as inaccessible.
In addition, you can send a file directly from the record management menu via messenger or save it to the cloud, which eliminates the need to manually search for a file in the explorer, which is especially convenient for fast transfer of large audio files.
Configuring the way of preservation and working with SD-card
Xiaomi’s internal memory is often limited, and active voice recorder users can quickly run out of space. Fortunately, the system allows you to transfer the storage of records to a microSD card. This not only frees up the interior space, but also makes it easier to transfer archives to your computer.
To change the settings:
- Launch the Dictator app.
- Click on the menu (three stripes or dots) in the top corner.
- Go to Settings.
- Find the item “Preservation Path” or “Storage”.
- Choose «SD-map instead of "Inner Memory».
Once you change the settings, all new records will automatically be saved to the appropriate folder on the external media, and the old files will remain at the old address, so you will have to manually transfer them if you want to clean up.
☑️ Checklist before changing storage
Note that the write speed on cheap memory cards can be slow. If you record in high quality (for example, without compression or in WAV format), the buffer card may not have time to process the data stream, which will lead to intermittent sound or recording stop.
Table: Folder structure and file formats
To help you understand where Xiaomi’s conversation records are stored, we’ll give you a summary of the main file paths and characteristics that will help you navigate the file system faster.
| Type of record | Standard path | File format | Annex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recorder (standard) | /MIUI/sound_recorder/ | .m4a /.mp3 | Dictaphone |
| Call recording | /MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ | .mp3 /.aac | Phone. |
| Defendant | /MIUI/sound_recorder/ans_rec/ | .m4a | Phone. |
| Screen recording (sound) | /DCIM/ScreenRecorder/ | .mp4 (video) | Screenshots |
The.m4a format is a modern standard for audio compression, providing good quality with a small file size. However, some older players or voice recorders may not play it. In the voice recorder settings, you can often choose the.mp3 save format for maximum compatibility.
Why the format m4a better mp3?
If you plan to transfer files to devices with outdated software, converting to MP3 may be necessary.Modern Xiaomi smartphones and computers play M4A without problems.
Recovery and search for deleted records
Unlike photos, audio files in Xiaomi don’t always have a separate shopping cart in the gallery, although newer versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14 also have a shopping cart in the file manager. Check the Recycle Bin folder in the Files app — deleted files can be stored there for up to 30 days.
If a file is permanently deleted (bypassing the recycle bin), the chances of recovery depend on whether the memory area has been overwritten. Modern smartphones use encryption, which makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to recover data without root rights.
Basic search methods:
- 🔍 Checking Cloud Services: If synced with Google Drive or Xiaomi Cloud is enabled, the file could be saved there automatically.
- 💻 PC software: Using software like Dr.Fone or DiskDigger (requires a connection over the Internet) USB and debugging).
- 📂 Cache analysis: Sometimes temporary copies of files remain in hidden app cache folders.
⚠️ Warning: When trying to recover data, immediately stop using your smartphone actively.Write new files (photos, messages, install applications) can overwrite memory sectors where the deleted record was located, making recovery impossible.
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Regularly synchronizing important records with cloud storage is the only guaranteed way to protect against data loss in the event of a system failure or accidental deletion.
Data loss prevention is more important than data recovery: set up automatic uploading of voice recorders to the cloud or computer if you are keeping an archive of important conversations or lectures.