How to put a voice recorder during a conversation on Xiaomi: all ways and life hacks

Why do you need to record phone calls and can you do it legally?

Recording phone conversations on Xiaomi can be useful in dozens of situations, from fixing important business agreements to preserving evidence in controversial moments. However, before setting up a voice recorder, it is worthwhile to deal with the legal side of the issue. In Russia, recording a conversation is allowed only with a notification of the interlocutor (Article 23 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation on the right to privacy of correspondence). If you do not warn the second participant, the record cannot be used as evidence in court, but there is no punishment for it (except in cases of blackmail or distribution).

Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI firmware have a built-in voice recorder, but it can not automatically turn on during calls. This task will require either hidden system functions or third-party applications. In this article, we will analyze all working methods, from standard tools to advanced solutions using ADB and automatic triggers. You will also learn how to circumvent the limitations of MIUI on new versions and which Xiaomi models support recording conversations out of the box.

Important: If you’re using Xiaomi with global firmware (like the Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 Pro), some features may be blocked due to regional restrictions, in which case changing the region in settings or installing an alternative firmware will help – but this is a topic for a separate article.

Method 1: Xiaomi's built-in voice recorder (limited functionality)

Xiaomi's standard Dictophone app can record sound from a microphone, but it's not integrated with the telephony module, which means you can't automatically start recording when you make an incoming/outgoing call.

1. Open the Dictophone app (the microphone icon on the desktop or in the application menu).
2. Press the recording button (red circle) before the conversation begins.
3. Make or receive a call – recording will continue, but the sound quality from the interlocutor will be worse due to the lack of direct access to the audio stream of the call.
4. At the end of the conversation, stop the recording and save the file (by default, the files are stored in the file). /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/).

⚠️ Note: This method only works on MIUI 12 And older. MIUI 14/15 The built-in voice recorder can automatically mute the recording when an active call is made due to privacy policy. Also note that the recording will be conducted only from your microphone - the voice of the interlocutor will be heard weakly, especially on the speakerphone.

💡

To improve the quality of the recording, turn on the "High Quality" mode in the voice recorder settings (cog icon → "Record quality").

Method 2: Hidden Call Recording in MIUI (for selected regions)

Some MIUI firmware (mainly for India, China and Southeast Asia) has a built-in call recording feature, but it is hidden from global users, and can be activated via the Engineering Menu or ADB codes:

Instructions for models Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO F3/F4, Xiaomi 11/12/13:

1. Open the Phone app and type in the code: ##6484## This will open the MTK Engineer Mode menu (only working on MediaTek processors).
2. Go to the Telephony section → Call Recording.
3. Enable the Auto Record option and select the save format (e.g.,.amr for space saving).
4. Save the settings and restart the phone.

The call interface will then have a recording button (cassette icon) stored in /storage/emulated/0/CallRecordings/.

Activate the developer mode (7 taps by build number in "About phone")

Make sure the model runs on a MediaTek processor (check in Settings → About Phone → Full Specifications)

Download the MTK Engineering Mode app from the Play Market (if the code doesn't work)

Make a backup copy of data in case of failure-->

⚠️ Note: On smartphones with a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor (for example, Xiaomi 13 Pro or X-rays). POCO X5 Pro 5G) This method doesn't work. They'll need to use it. ADB-commands or third-party applications.

Method 3: Applications for recording calls from Google Play

If the built-in tools don't fit, third-party apps will come to the rescue. 10 popular solutions and selected the top-3, who are stable in their work MIUI 14/15:

• 📱 Cube ACR — Records both ends of a conversation (subject to VoLTE disabling), supports cloud storage and automatically deletes old files.+.
• 🔊 Call Recorder by Lovekesh – simple interface, integration with Google Drive, the ability to choose formats (.mp3,.Disadvantage: Free advertising.
• 🛡️ Appliqato's Automatic Call Recorder automatically records all calls on a white/black list, supports tagging records).

Instructions for setting up Cube ACR (the most reliable solution):

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. When you first start, provide all the permissions you have requested (microphone, call access, storage).
3. Go to the settings (⚙️ → Recording and turn on: 📞 "Record incoming calls" 📱 "Record outgoing calls" 🔄 "VoIP recording" (if required) WhatsApp/Telegram)

In Advanced, select "Audio source: Voice call uplink + downlink" (to record both participants).

Add the app to the battery optimization exceptions (Settings → Apps → Cube ACR → Battery → Without restrictions).

Built-in voice recorder Xiaomi|Cube ACR|Call Recorder by Lovekesh|Automatic Call Recorder|Other |I don't record calls-->

⚠️ Attention: On Android 10+ Google has blocked apps from accessing the audio stream of calls for security reasons.To circumvent this restriction, in Cube ACR needle:

1. Disable VoLTE in the settings SIM-maps (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Challenge 4G).
2. Or use root access (not recommended for beginners).

To connect an external voice recorder via Bluetooth:

1. Turn on the recorder mode.
2. Connect it to Xiaomi as a headset (Settings → Bluetooth → Device Search).
3. During the call, select an external recorder as the audio device.

Method 5: Recording calls via PC (for tech-savvy)

If you need professional quality recording (for example, for podcasts or litigation), you can use Xiaomi as a modem and record the conversation through a computer.

• 🖥️ PC Windows/macOS;
• 🔌 Cable USB (or wifi for MIUI 14+);
• 🎛️ Audacity program or OBS Studio.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC and turn on the developer mode (7 taps by build number in About Phone).
2. In the developer settings, activate debugging over USB.
3. Install Android SDK Platform Tools on your PC.
4. Open the command line and execute: Adb devices to make sure the device is detected.
5. Start recording audio from your phone: adb shell screenrecord --bugreport (This will create a file with logs, including an audio stream).
6. When calling, use Audacity to capture audio from your virtual audio device (configure in Edit → Preferences → Devices).

⚠️ Note: This method requires skills in working with ADB It can cause you to lose your warranty if you accidentally change your system files, and some banking applications (e.g. SberBank Online) can block access if you detect debugging. USB.

💡

Recording via PC gives the highest quality, but is only suitable for stationary conversations (for example, over speakerphone in the office).

Legal nuances and ethics of recording conversations

Even if you were technically able to set up a call record on Xiaomi, it is worth remembering the legal consequences.

• 📜 Private conversations: recording without the consent of the interlocutor violates Art. 138.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Violation of the secrecy of correspondence"), but in practice, liability is brought only when distributing the recording.
• ⚖️ Business negotiations: if the conversation concerns a trade secret, recording without consent may become the basis for a claim (Article 1465 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation).
• 🚨 Evidence: In court, the record will only be accepted if you prove that the interlocutor was notified (for example, by voice message at the beginning of the conversation).

To protect ourselves:

1. Always notify the recording at the beginning of the conversation (e.g., "The conversation is recorded to record the arrangements. Do you mind?").
2. Keep records for no longer than the required period (maximum 3 years for business purposes).
3. Do not distribute the records to third parties without the consent of the participants.

In some countries (e.g. the EU under GDPR), the rules are tougher: recording without consent can result in a fine of up to 20 million euros.

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording calls to Xiaomi