How to listen to a call on Xiaomi: official and hidden methods

Recording phone conversations on Xiaomi smartphones is a useful feature that helps you capture important information, confirm agreements or just save memorable conversations. However, many users face the problem of where these records are stored, how to find them in the chaos of system folders, and why they sometimes disappear after updating MIUI. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods, from standard tools to little-known life hacks that work even on the new Xiaomi 14 and Redmi Note 13 models.

It’s important to understand that recording capabilities depend on the firmware version, regional restrictions (in some countries the feature is disabled by law), and even from the carrier. We tested all methods on devices with MIUI 12-14 and Android 10-14, so the instructions are relevant for most modern gadgets of the brand. If your smartphone does not record calls out of the box, do not rush to install dubious applications – first check the settings of the system.

1. Standard call record in MIUI: where to look for files

On most Xiaomi smartphones, the recording function is built into the Phone app. To activate it, just click on the Record button during a conversation — it appears after the first 3-5 seconds of the connection. But then where to find the saved file?

By default, records are stored in the folder:

/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/

Alternative path (for some versions of MIUI):

/storage/emulated/0/Recordings/CallRecord/

To get there quickly:

1. Open the Files app (the folder icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the Category section → Audio.
3. Find the CallRecord folder or call_rec — There'll be files in the format.m4a or.

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If there is no folder, check if the record is included in the call settings: Phone → ⚙️ → Recording calls on some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T Pro) the function is hidden and activated only through the engineering menu.

The records have uncomfortable names like 1685432100543.m4a, which is timestamp.

• 📅 Sort by date - new entries will be at the top of the list.
• 🔍 Use a keyword search for a keyword call_rec file-appendix.
• 📱 Install a third-party file manager (such as Solid Explorer) that shows hidden folders.

2. How to enable automatic recording of all calls

If you need to record all incoming/outgoing conversations without manually starting, activate automatic mode.

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Press three points (⋮) top-right → Settings.
3. Select Call Record (some firmwares have a item called Call Record).
4. Activate the Automatic Recording Switch.
5. Choose which calls to record: 📞 All calls (incoming) + outgoing) 📱 Only incoming 📞 Only outgoing 🔒 Only selected contacts (to be added to the list)

⚠️ Note: On devices for the European market (with firmware) MIUI EU) Automatic recording may be blocked due to GDPR. In this case, only manual mode or third-party applications will help.

After activation, all records will be saved to the same folder. call_rec, marked auto_ At the beginning of the file name:

• 🔋 Auto-recording consumes battery – with long conversations, the charge can fall 1-2% faster.
• 📱 Does not work in power saving mode – if Ultra Mode is activated, the recording may be interrupted.
• 📵 VoIP calls (WhatsApp, Telegram, Skype) are not recorded – only standard voice calls.

3. How to listen to the recording through the Dictator app

If you can't find records in folders, try using the standard Dictaphone app, which automatically indexes all audio files, including call records.

1. Open the recorder (if not, install it from Google Play).
2. Go to the Records or Calls tab (depending on the MIUI version).
3. Find the file by date/time or contact name.
4. You can tap the tape to listen to it: 📤 Share (send via messenger or mail) ✂️ Cut (remove unnecessary fragments) 🔊 Increase the volume (if the voice of the interlocutor is not heard)

The advantage of this method is that it's a user-friendly interface with contact sorting and the ability to add entries to favorites.

• 🔄 Not all records are displayed – if the file is corrupted or has a non-standard format, the recorder will ignore it.
• 📱 No cloud sync – records are only stored locally (unless you set up manual backups).

4 Where are the records of calls to Xiaomi with Google Phone stored

Some Xiaomi models (especially for the global market) use Google Phone instead of a standard MIUI call, and it uses a different way to record calls:

To find the records:

1. Open Google Phone (the phone icon with the Google logo).
2. Go to the Call log.
3. Find the right call – if it is recorded, there will be an icon next to it. 🎤.
4. Click on the record. → Reproduce.

Files are stored in the Google Drive cloud (if sync is enabled) or locally along the path:

/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.google.android.dialer/files/CallRecordings/

⚠️ Note: Google Phone only works on Android 9 and below. on newer versions (Android 10)+) The feature may be disabled due to Google's privacy policy.In this case, use third-party apps (see Section 6).

If you don’t see any Google Phone entries, check:

• 📱 App Version – Update it to Google Play.
• 🔧 Settings of recording in Google Phone → ⚙️ → Recording calls.
• 🌍 Region – in some countries (e.g. the United States) the record is blocked.

5. How to recover deleted call records

If you accidentally delete a record or it disappears after resetting, try to restore it. Specialized utilities will do this, but it is important to act quickly - the longer the time has passed, the lower the chances of success.

Recovery methods:

Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger:

1. Install DiskDigger from Google Play.
2. Launch the application and select Full Analysis (requires root permissions for deep scanning).
3. Specify the file type: Audio (formats.m4a,.amr).
4. Wait until the scan is finished (it can take 10–30 minutes).
5. Find the desired entry in the list and click Restore.

Important: Don't save recovered files to the same drive you're recovering from! Use a cloud or external memory card to avoid overwriting data.

Do not connect your phone to charge during scanning

Disable Wi-Fi and Mobile Data

Close all background applications

Use the original cable to connect to your PC (if you restore it via a computer)-->

6.The Best Third-Party Call Recording Apps

If Xiaomi’s standard tools don’t suit you (e.g., Redmi Note calls are not recorded). 12 s MIUI 14), Try third-party apps. We tested them. 10 programs and selected the top-3:

1. Cube Call Recorder ACR

• ✅ Records both ends of the conversation (your voice) + interlocutor).
• ✅ Works with VoIP (WhatsApp, Viber).
• ✅ Cloud backups.
• ❌ Requires setting access rights (instructions in the application).

2. Call Recorder – Automatic Call Recorder

• ✅ Automatic schedule recording (for example, only during business hours).
• ✅ Integration with Google Drive and Dropbox.
• ✅ Support for tags for sorting records.
• ❌ A paid version is required for recording HD-quality.

3. Truecaller

• ✅ Free recording + number-finder.
• ✅ Blocking spam.
• ✅ It works without root rights.
• ❌ Records are only kept for 30 days in the free version.

To avoid recording problems:

• 📱 Disable battery optimization for the write application in Settings → Annexes → Permits → Optimizing the battery.
• 🔊 Check the microphone – if the recording is quiet, clean the microphone hole (especially relevant for the recording of the microphone). POCO X5 Pro).
• 📵 Use headphones with a microphone – this will improve the quality of the recording.

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The application side may conflict with the standard MIUI call. If incoming calls stop working after installation, reset the settings of the Phone application to Settings → Applications → Phone → Storage → Reset.

7.Why Xiaomi calls aren't recorded and how to fix it

If the record is not started or files are not saved, the reasons may be as follows:

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 📱 Version MIUI — The beta firmware may not work, the rollback to the stable version solves the problem.
• 🔧 Access Rights – Give the Phone app permissions to microphone and storage in Settings → Annexes → Permits.
• 🌍 Regional restrictions - some firmware for India or the EU has the record disabled by law.

Frequently asked questions