Recording phone conversations on Xiaomi smartphones is a useful feature that helps you save important details of conversations, confirm agreements or simply record memorable moments. However, many users face difficulties: where exactly are these records stored, how to find them in the maze of the MIUI menu, and what to do if the record suddenly disappeared after updating or resetting?
In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to access call records on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, from standard firmware tools to third-party applications. We’ll focus on hidden folders, cloud services, and the nuances of how the feature works on different versions of MIUI (12 to 14). If you’ve ever lost a record of an important conversation or just want to learn how to manage this tool, read on.
Where are the default call records on Xiaomi stored?
In MIUI, phone records are stored in two places, depending on whether you used a built-in voice recorder or a recording function right at the time of the call. Let's look at both.
If you have enabled the recording directly during the conversation (the “Write” button in the call interface), the file is automatically saved to the system folder: /sdcard/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/. The path may differ on some models (e.g., on the POCO F5 file call_records), But the principle is the same. These files have the.amr or extension.mp3 and are named by pattern: Call_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.amr.
If you used the standard Dictator app (com.android.soundrecorder), the records fall into the: /sdcard/Recordings/. Here they are sorted by dates and have more understandable names, for example_20260515_143022.mp3.
⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 and later call records can automatically sync to Mi Cloud if the option “Multimedia Backup” is enabled, which means that files can disappear from the phone after cleaning the cache or reset, but remain in the cloud.
- 📁 System folder of calls: /MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ or /MIUI/voice_recorder/
- 🎤 The recorder folder: /Recordings/ or /Recorder/
- ☁️ Cloud Storage: Mi Cloud → «Multimedia» → «Records»
- 🔍 Phone Search: Use the built-in file search (the Files app) by keywords: call_rec,.AMR, TAKE
On some models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12), the path may be hidden. To see it, turn on the display of hidden folders in the Files app: go to Settings → Show hidden files.
How to enable call recording on Xiaomi (if the function is disabled)
Not everyone knows that the Xiaomi conversation record feature can be disabled by default, especially on European (EEA) devices due to legal restrictions.
- Open the phone application (pipe icon).
- Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Settings.
- Go to the Recording of Conversations section (on some versions of MIUI it is called Auto Recording).
- Turn on the switch Record calls and select mode: 📞 Record everything: all incoming/outgoing; 🔄 Only selected: entry is included for numbers from the "Favorites»; 🚫 Disabled: manual recording (button during call).
MIUI 13/14 may require additional confirmation of microphone access rights. If the "Talk Record" option is not on the menu, then your firmware does not support this out of the box feature, in which case installing a third-party application (more about this in the next section).
⚠️ Attention: On devices with Android 12+ and MIUI 13+ The recording of calls may be blocked due to Google’s privacy policy, in which case the system will notify the interlocutor of the recording by voice (“This conversation is recorded»).
☑️ Preparation for call recording
Third-party applications for recording calls (if the built-in feature doesn’t work)
If you don't like the standard Xiaomi tool (for example, because of the notification of the interlocutor or lack of a feature), you can use third-party solutions. We tested several applications and selected the most reliable ones:
| Annex | Features | Cons | Link (Google Play) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cube ACR | Recording in high quality (up to 320 kbps); Automatic save to the cloud; Support Xiaomi on Android 10+. | Paid version for advanced functions. | Download |
| Call Recorder by Lovekush | Simple interface;.mp3 and.wav support; ability to exclude entries from the gallery. | The commercial is free. | Download |
| Automatic Call Recorder | Flexible settings (number, time, etc.); Google Drive integration; MIUI 14 support. | Requires manual exception settings for Android 11+. | Download |
Before installing, check the app's permissions: it must have access to Microphone, Warehouse and Call Log. Android 10+ will also require permission to Overlay over other apps (to display the record button during a call).
Important: On devices with MIUI Global (e.g. Redmi Note 11 or POCO X5), some applications may not work due to Xiaomi limitations, in which case installation via APK or using Magisk modules (for advanced users) will help.
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If the app doesn't record calls, try turning off battery optimization for it: Settings→Annexes→Application management→[Title of the annex]→Battery→No restrictions.
How to listen to and manage call records
There are a number of ways you can find and listen to the recordings, depending on where they're stored, and let's look at each option in detail.
Method 1: Through the Phone App
If the recording was made during the call, it can be quickly found in the magazine:
- Open the phone app.
- Find the right contact or number in the list.
- Click on the call record - if it was recorded, an icon will appear 🎤 or the inscription Record available.
- Tap the icon to listen to the file.
Method 2: Through the Files app
To access all records:
- Open the Files app (Folder icon).
- Go to the Category section → Audio or manually open the way /MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/.
- Files are sorted by date. Click on any one to listen.
Method 3: Through the Mi Cloud
If the records are synchronized with the cloud:
- Open “Settings” → “Mi Account” → “Mi Cloud” →
- Choose Multimedia. → Records.
- Download the file or listen to it online.
For easy recording management, you can use the built-in Xiaomi player or third-party applications (for example, VLC or MX Player), which support.amr and.mp3 formats.
How to convert a record from.amr to.mp3?
What to do if the phone records are missing
It's not uncommon for records to disappear suddenly, and there are many reasons, from firmware failure to accidental deletion, and here's a recovery algorithm.
1. Check the basket in the Files app
Deleted files can stay in the basket for up to 30 days:
- Open the Files» → «Basket».
- Find records by date or name (for example, Call_*.amr).
- Select the files you need and click Restore.
2.Restore from backup of Mi Cloud
If automatic backup is enabled:
- Go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup.
- Select the last copy and click Restore Data.
- Make sure that the Multimedia or Records item is marked.
3. Use data recovery software
If the files were deleted permanently, software like DiskDigger or Recuva (for PC) will help.
- Connect your phone to your computer in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
- Start the program and select the Internal Memory section.
- Specify the search formats:.amr,.mp3,.wav.
- Wait until the scan is completed and save the files found.
⚠️ Warning: Do not install recovery software on the same partition where records were stored.
If the records are missing after the MIUI update, check the /MIUI/backup/AllBackup/ folder – sometimes the system saves backups of the media before the update.
How to keep your phone records for a long time
To avoid losing important records, follow these guidelines:
- ☁️ Cloud Storage: Enable automatic download to Mi Cloud or Google Drive (via apps like Automatic Call Recorder).
- 💾 Local Backup: Copy the folder regularly /MIUI/sound_recorder/ computer or external storage.
- 📧 Email: Send important emails to yourself (e.g. via Gmail with attachment).
- 🔄 Sync with PC: Use Mi PC Suite for Automatic Multimedia Synchronization.
To automate the process, you can create a task in the Automate app (Google Play), which will copy new records to the cloud immediately after they are created.
1 Trigger: "New file in the /MIUI/sound_recorder/ folder"
2. Action: "Upload the file to Google Drive"
Condition 3: "If the file size is > 100 KB"If you work with records frequently (for example, for a business), consider buying. NAS-drive (e.g. Synology) and set up automatic download via WebDAV or FTP.
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Regular backup of records is the only way to guarantee them if your phone crashes or settings reset.
Legal aspects of recording calls on Xiaomi
Before recording conversations, it is important to understand the legal implications: in most countries, recording a call without the consent of the person involved can be considered a violation of privacy law.
| Country/Region | Consent is required? | Penalties for violation | Exceptions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇷🇺 Russia | Yes, if the record is used in court or published. | Up to 80,000. ₽ (Article 138.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). | Personal use without distribution. |
| 🇺🇦 Ukraine | Yes, you must notify the interlocutor. | Fine or criminal liability. | Recording for self-defense (such as threats). |
| 🇪🇺 EU (GDPR) | Yes, explicit consent is required. | Up to 20 million € 4% of the company’s global revenue. | Personal records without distribution. |
| 🇺🇸 USA | Depends on the state (12 states require the consent of all parties). | Fines up to $10,000 (in California). | Recording for security (such as threats). |
On Xiaomi devices with MIUI 13+, the system automatically notifies the person they are recording (voice in English or Chinese), which is done to comply with the law, but may cause discontent. To circumvent the notification, you will have to use third-party applications with Stealth Mode (hidden recording), but this increases legal risks.
If you are recording conversations for work, make sure that:
- 📋 The contract or company policy contains consent to the recording;
- 🎙️ The interviewee is notified at the beginning of the conversation;
- 🔒 Records are stored in a secure location (e.g., in an encrypted cloud).