Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the challenge of keeping an important conversation going, whether it’s confirming an order, getting a legal consultation, or just having a nice conversation with a friend, call recording is becoming an indispensable tool, but in the latest versions of MIUI and the new HyperOS, developers have changed the logic of the tool, raising questions for users.
In the past, it was enough to just press a button on the screen while talking, but now the settings have become deeper and more confusing, due to changes in Android privacy policy that require stricter control over the collection of audio data. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to activate the feature, including hidden menus and settings of the system application Phone.
It’s worth noting that the interface may vary slightly depending on your device model and firmware version. For example, on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12, the menu may look different than on the flagship Xiaomi 14. However, the basic principles remain the same across the manufacturer’s ecosystem.
The standard features of the application Phone from Google
Most of the modern smartphones of the Chinese brand, especially in the global versions, have the default Google Phone app installed, which is responsible for making calls and has built-in, but often hidden recording functionality, to activate it, you need to go to the settings of the application itself, not the general system.
Open the Phone app, click on the three dots in the top right corner, and select Settings. In the menu that opens, look for Call Record. If you have one, you're lucky that it allows you to legally use this feature in your area, and you can enable automatic recording for all numbers or select specific contacts.
⚠️ Note: When you turn on a recording through the standard Google Phone app, the interlocutor may hear a voice warning that the conversation is being recorded.
Inside the recording settings menu, you'll find important switches. You can set up automatic deletion of old records so that they don't take up the device's memory. You can also choose a sound source: a microphone or an internal audio stream (if supported by the device). For POCO F5 and later models, only the microphone mode is often available, which can reduce the recording quality in noisy places.
If the "Record Calls" option is not in the app settings, it means that the feature is blocked for your region or carrier, in which case, move to the next section, where we will discuss changing the region as a way to unlock.
Changing the region to activate hidden functions
One of the most effective ways to recover a missing record button is to change the region in your smartphone settings. Xiaomi often restricts functionality based on the user’s geographic location, guided by local privacy laws. Switching to a region with more loyal laws, such as India, Singapore or some CIS countries, can activate the desired options.
To do this, go to Settings → Additional settings → Region. In the list, select, for example, "India" or "Vietnam." After changing the region, the system interface may change slightly, new widgets or applications will appear, but most importantly, the call settings may appear cherished switch.
Does the change in location affect other applications?
Once you change region, you need to restart the device, and only after you turn it on, check the settings of the Phone app. If you have a feature, you can use it normally.
Some users have noted that HyperOS firmware is less stable than older versions of MIUI 12 or 13. If changing the region didn't help, your shell version may have deeper limitations that require third-party solutions.
Use of third-party applications for recording
When standard methods don’t work, third-party apps come to the rescue. Google Play and GetApps stores offer dozens of solutions, but not all of them work correctly on modern versions of Android due to strict restrictions on accessing the microphone during a call.
One of the most reliable solutions is the Appliqato or Cube ACR Automatic Call Recorder, which can bypass system constraints by recording audio through accessibility services, and you'll need to give the app a lot of permissions when you first install it, including access to contacts, phone and microphone.
- 📱 Cube ACR: Supports recording not only ordinary calls, but also conversations in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber), which makes it a universal tool.
- 🎙️ Automatic Call Recorder: Known for its stable performance and ability to automatically upload records to the cloud, which protects data when you lose your phone.
- 🛡️ Call Recorder - SKVALEX: A paid but powerful solution that requires root rights for maximum quality, but works as usual.
When using third-party software, recording quality can vary. Often the interlocutor is heard quieter than you, or vice versa. In the settings of such applications, be sure to experiment with the audio source. For Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 and later, often the best choice is "Voice Communication" or "Microphone".
⚠️ Attention: Installing third-party recorders requires broad access rights.Use only proven applications with high ratings and a large number of reviews to avoid personal data leakage.
Set up automatic recording and file management
Once a function is activated, whether it's a regular function or a third-party software, it's important to set up the automation correctly. Manually turning on a record every time is uncomfortable and there's a high risk of forgetting to do it at an important moment.
From the recording settings menu, select Autowrite. You can choose to record all incoming and outgoing numbers, or create a list of favorite numbers. This is especially true for those waiting for an important call from a courier, bank or employer. Also worth paying attention to the save format: MP3 takes up less space, but WAV or AMR can have better quality.
☑️ Set up the perfect recording
Files are stored in the device's internal memory, and the path to them usually looks like MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec or Recordings/Call_recording. To quickly find the right conversation, it is better to use the built-in search in the application "Dictorphone" or "Phone", sorting records by date or contact name.
Remember to clean up storage regularly. High quality write quickly consumes free space. Set up automatic cleanup of old files over 30 days if this option is available in your app. For owners of low-memory models, such as the Xiaomi Redmi 12C, this is a critical setting.
Comparison of recording methods on different versions of MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi’s shell has evolved to make a variety of changes to telephony, and understanding the differences between versions will help you find the right setup faster. Below is a table comparing the availability of features across different versions of the software.
| Shell version | Staffing record | Warning of the interlocutor | Stability of third-party applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI 11 - 12 | Complete. | No (often) | Tall. |
| MIUI 13 - 14 | Limited by region | Yeah (Google Phone) | Medium |
| HyperOS 1.0 | Depends on the region. | Yes. | Low/Mediocre |
| Chinese firmware | Complete. | No. | Tall. |
As you can see from the table, Chinese firmware (CN) owners are in the best position, Global (Global) and European (EEA) versions have more stringent restrictions, but even HyperOS can achieve acceptable results by combining region change and microphone setup.
If you have a Chinese version of a smartphone but have global firmware, the situation may be the opposite: a full-time recorder may be missing, since it is tied to the Chinese app Phone, which is replaced by Google when you flash it, in which case installing the Chinese app Phone via GetApps can return functionality, but can cause contact conflicts.
💡
The most stable, unannounced recording is available on Chinese firmware versions or through root rights, global versions require compromises.
Problems with sound quality and their solution
A common problem with users is the quiet voice of the interlocutor or the complete absence of sound on the other side, which is because Android blocks direct access to the audio stream for third-party applications for security purposes, and a regular app can also sin this depending on the speaker model.
To improve the situation, try to turn on speaker while talking, in which the sound is broadcast through the main speaker, and the microphone catches it much better than through a narrow ear-piece channel. Also, using a headset helps: many recorders correctly capture sound from Bluetooth headphones or a wired headset.
In the settings of a specific application for recording, find the section "Record settings" →"Sound source. Try to go through the options: Mic, Voice Call, Voice Communication. For Xiaomi devices with Snapdragon processors, the "Voice Downlink" or "Voice Uplink" option often works better. + Downlink" if available.
⚠️ Note: Using speaker modes or special headphones may be necessary to get readable recording on Android 12 and above, as system restrictions become tighter every year.