Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often face the challenge of keeping an important conversation, whether it’s a confirmation order, a customer agreement, or just a personal conversation that you want to keep in the archive, but once a call is complete, users don’t always understand where the audio file is stored and how to quickly find it in the tangled structure of MIUI or HyperOS folders.
With each new version of the firmware, developers change the location of system files and the logic of the voice recorder. Standard file manager search methods may not work if you don't know the exact path or have not turned on hidden directories. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the ways to access the archive of conversations, starting from the standard tools of the system.
It's important to understand that automatic recording and manually running a voice recorder while you're talking are different processes in terms of data storage. If you're used to relying on automation but find that files are gone, it's probably a matter of cloud storage settings or region change, so let's figure out how to get your audio archive back.
Standard Search through the Phone App
The most obvious and quickest way to find a recording of a conversation is to use the built-in Phone app. In most cases, especially on global firmware versions, the call history contains special tags next to the subscriber number. If the conversation was recorded, a voice recorder icon or a small red dot will appear next to the date and time of the call.
To access a file, you need to open a call log and find the contact you want. Click on the record icon and the system will suggest listening to the file right in the call interface, which is convenient because it doesn't require you to go to other folders, but it has limitations in playback and editing functionality.
⚠️ Note: If you upgraded to Android 11 Or newer, access to the folder. MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec The security system can be limited to third-party file managers, in which case the phone's built-in player is the only regular way to quickly listen.
The interface of the application may vary depending on the version of MIUI. On older versions, the record could be stored in a separate tab, whereas in newer HyperOS it is integrated directly into the contact card. If the icon is not, it is possible that the record did not occur or the file was deleted when the cache was cleared.
Search for files through File Manager
If you don't like the built-in player, or you need to copy the file to your computer, you'll have to go to the file system. The way to write on Xiaomi is strictly regulated and rarely changes. You'll need a standard Explorer application or any analogue with permissions to access system folders.
The algorithm is this: Open the file manager, go to the root of the internal drive and consistently open directories. The folder name may vary depending on regional settings, but the logic remains the same for all devices of the brand.
- 📂 Open the internal memory of the device.
- 📂 Find and enter the folder. MIUI.
- 📂 Go to the directory. sound_recorder.
- 📂 Open the folder. call_rec (or call_record).
This is where all the audio files created by the call recording function are stored. The file format is usually.m4a or.mp3, which ensures good compatibility with most media players. If the folder is empty, check if the recording is enabled in the telephony settings.
Set up automatic recording of conversations
So, instead of looking for a record button every time an important client calls, you better set up automatic saving of all incoming and outgoing calls, which will relieve stress and guarantee information retention, and you can set up the phone app menu.
Click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the dialing or call history screen and select Settings. In the list of options, find Call Record. Here you can activate the function and select the mode of operation: record all numbers, only unknowns or a specific contact list.
| Setup parameter | Description of function | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic recording | Turns on a recording without confirmation | Activate for important contacts |
| Record of unknowns | Save calls from numbers outside the contact book | Good for business and couriers |
| Notification of the record | Voice warning of the interlocutor | Disable for secrecy (if the law allows) |
| File format | Choosing the quality and type of audio compression | MP3 for compatibility, M4A for quality |
Note the Record Notice, which is the default voice alert, and in some regions, it's a legal requirement, but technically, you can turn it off in the recording settings if you want privacy.
⚠️ Warning: Recording a conversation without warning may violate the laws of your country, use this function responsibly and only for personal or official purposes permitted by law.
Problems with the lack of records on new versions of Android
With the release of Android 11 and subsequent versions, Google has imposed strict restrictions on app access to the microphone during a call, which led to the fact that on global versions of Xiaomi firmware, the call recording function could disappear or not work correctly.
The main reason is the security policy of Google Dialer: if your smartphone has global firmware installed, the system can block the recording at the kernel level, in which case the standard methods of file search described above will not work, since the file is not physically created.
There are several workarounds that can help bring functionality back, one being changing the region in the phone settings. Sometimes switching to India, Serbia or China in the Settings menu → Additional settings → Region returns the native recording feature.
- 🔄 Change the region to India or Serbia.
- 📱 Restart the device completely.
- 📞 Check the recording button in the call interface.
- 🗑️ Clear the phone app cache.
If the region change didn’t help, you may need to install a modified version of the Phone app (Google Dialer with a patch) or use third-party solutions such as Cube ACR. However, the latter require complex accessibility settings and may not work smoothly.
Use of cloud services and synchronization
For those concerned about data security, Xiaomi offers integration with Xiaomi Cloud, which allows you to automatically upload conversation records to the cloud, freeing up space on the device and creating backups.
In some versions of MIUI, call records are synchronized with contacts and messages. To check sync status, go to Settings → Mi → Xiaomi Cloud Account. Make sure the slider opposite the Dictator or Records item is active.
The advantage of cloud storage is accessibility, and you can listen to an important conversation from any device by going to the web version of the cloud or another phone authorized under your account, which is especially useful when changing or breaking your smartphone.
Consider that the free volume of the cloud is limited, and if you actively negotiate and record every call, the place can run out quickly, in which case the system will stop downloading new files until you free up space or buy a subscription.
Third-party applications for recording calls
When Xiaomi’s regular tools are not up to date or locked in, third-party apps come to the rescue.The market offers a plethora of solutions, but due to Android’s limitations, their effectiveness may decline with each OS update.
One of the most popular and functional applications is Cube ACR, which can bypass system limitations by recording sound through alternative channels (VoIP, messengers), but to work properly it requires special permissions through a special menu.
Installing third-party software comes with risks: Apps like this require broad permissions to access your microphone, contacts, and phone, choose only proven high-ranking solutions on Google Play, and read user reviews of your phone model carefully.
⚠️ Attention: Third-party applications can drain the battery faster, as they constantly monitor the status of the call in the background.
There are also voice recorder applications that use hands-free, which record the sound that the microphone hears, including the voice of the person, and the quality of the recording depends on the speaker design and the sound insulation of your Xiaomi.