Where to look for a recording of a conversation in Xiaomi: all the ways to find and save audio files

Recording phone conversations on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones can be required in a variety of situations, from fixing important details of a business call to proving in controversial moments. However, many users face the problem of where exactly these records are stored, how to find them in the file system of the device and why they sometimes “disappear” from standard folders.

In this article, we’ll look at all possible storage locations, from obvious (the built-in Dictator app) to hidden (MIUI system folders and the Mi Cloud), and learn how to enable automatic recording of all calls, which Xiaomi models support this feature out of the box, and what to do if the record suddenly disappears after a firmware update.

We will pay special attention to the technical nuances: why entries can not be saved to a memory card, how to circumvent the restrictions of Android 10+ on access to files and what third-party applications will help if standard MIUI tools do not work.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Where did my recordings of conversations on Xiaomi go?” this guide will give you a comprehensive answer.

1. Standard record storage locations in Xiaomi

On most Xiaomi smartphones, the default phone records are stored in two main places, depending on which app was used to record.

If you recorded the conversation manually through a built-in voice recorder (Sound Recorder), the files will lie in the folder:

/storage/emulated/0/Recorder/

or (on some firmware):

/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/

Files have extensions.m4a or.mp3 and are named by date/time (e.g, REC_20260515_143022.m4a).

If the recording was automatically conducted through the "Recording of calls" function in the Phone application, the files are stored here:

/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/voice_recorder/call_rec/

Important:

Mi File Explorer

Total Commander

On some models (such as the Xiaomi 12T or Redmi Note 11 Pro+), the paths may be different. If the standard folders are empty, check:

• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Recordings/ — alternative location for new versions MIUI 14+
• 🔍 Download folder – sometimes records are saved there when a crash
• ☁️ Mi Cloud – if synchronization is enabled (more on this below)

2. How to enable automatic call recording

Not all Xiaomi models support autorecording out-of-the-box conversations, which is available mainly on devices with MIUI firmware for the global or Indian region (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro).

To activate the autorecord:

1. Open the phone application (pipe icon).
2. Press three points (⋮) top-right → Settings.
3. Select Call Recording (or Call Recording in English firmware).
4. Activate the Record Switch automatically.
5. Choose which calls to record: 📞 All calls - recording incoming and outgoing 📥 Only incoming 📤 Only outgoing 🔄 Selected numbers – entry only for contacts from the black/white list

Limitations:

• ⚠️ Android 10.+ Auto recording may not work due to Google's restrictions on accessing the microphone during a call.The solution is to use third-party apps (see Section 5).
• 📵 Some operators (for example, MTS or Beeline) block the recording at the network level.
• 🔇 In some countries (EU, USA) auto-recording without notifying the interlocutor is prohibited by law.

Make sure that the firmware is global (not Chinese)

Check out the Android version (there may be restrictions on 10+)

Update the phone app to the latest version

Pre-clear the memory (records take up a lot of space)-->

3. Why records are missing and how to recover them

A common problem: the user has enabled the recording, but after the conversation the file is not saved or disappears from the folder.

Critical information: on devices with MIUI 13+ Android 12 records can be automatically deleted after 30 days, if you do not turn off this option in the settings of the application "Phone" → "Storage of records".

If files are missing after a firmware update, try recovering them via Mi Cloud:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select the Recording (or Recorder) section.
3. Find the file you need and download it to your computer.

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If the recordings are not displayed in Mi Cloud, check if sync is enabled in Xiaomi account settings. Sometimes it turns off after resetting.

4.Where to look for records on a memory card (SD)

By default, Xiaomi only stores conversation records in internal memory, even if the device has a microSD card installed. This is due to Android's restrictions on writing files to external media.

Method 1: Change the way of saving manually

1. Open Settings → Storage → Memory by default.
2. Select a Memory Card (if the option is active).
3. Reboot the phone.
4. Try to record the conversation again – files should appear in the: /storage/XXXX-XXXX/MIUI/voice_recorder/call_rec/ (where XXXX-XXXX — identifier SD-map).

Method 2: Transfer of records after saving

• 📂 Use Mi File Explorer to manually copy files from internal memory to your computer. SD.
• 🤖 Install automatic porting via MacroDroid or Tasker (root rights required).
• ☁️ Set up autoload records to the cloud (Google Drive, Yandex Disk) and then download them to the map.

⚠️ Attention: On Android 11+ Applications are prohibited from creating files root SD-Use folders created by the application itself (e.g., maps, Android/data/com.miui.voicerecord/).

5. Third-party applications for recording calls

If Xiaomi’s built-in tools don’t work (for example, due to the limitations of Android 10+), use third-party solutions.

• 🎤 Cube Call Recorder ACR — Records both ends of a conversation (requires setting up the sound source: VOIP or Microphone).
• 📱 Call Recorder – Automatic Call Recorder – a simple interface, saves records in the cloud.
• 🔍 Truecaller – has a built-in recording function (does not work on all models).
• 🛡️ Boldbeast Call Recorder – Supports Android 13 and bypasses carrier restrictions.

How to set up Cube Call Recorder ACR:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. When you first start, provide all the permissions you have requested (microphone, storage, phone).
3. Go to Settings → Record source and select: 1. Normal mode - for most Xiaomi on Android 9-10. 2. VOIP mode - for Android 11+ (can only record your voice). 3. Root mode - if you have root rights.

Auto-recording

.mp3

.wav

Important: On MIUI 14 and later, some applications (like Truecaller) may conflict with the built-in Phone.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the phone and reset its settings (Storage → Clear data).
3. Set up a third-party dialer (like Google Phone) and set up a record through it.

6 How to Retrieve Records from a Damaged Phone

If your Xiaomi isn’t turning on, but recording conversations are critical, try the following recovery methods:

Method 1: Connecting to a PC in Recovery Mode

1. Turn off the phone (if it is getting stuck – press Power + Volume up for 10 seconds).
2. Press Power + Volume up to enter the Fastboot.
3. Connect your phone to your computer via USB.
4. In the command line (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) Do it: Adb pull /sdcard/MIUI/voice_recorder/call_rec/ C:\Xiaomi_Records\ (substitute C:\Xiaomi_Records\ pathway).

What to do if a record is required for the court?

1. Provide the original file without editing (metadata must confirm date and time).
2. Attach a printout of the call log from the operator (can be obtained through your personal account or communication salon).
3. If possible, bring in a witness to confirm the authenticity of the recording.

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In Russia, a call record is legally valid only if it has not been edited and contains metadata (date, time, duration). For reliability, also save a screenshot of the call history from the Phone application.

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording conversations on Xiaomi