How to listen to the recording of the call on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9: all ways

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 is one of the most popular smartphones in the budget segment, but its ability to record and listen to phone conversations often goes unnoticed. Many users do not even suspect that their device can automatically store audio files of conversations — or that these recordings can be extracted manually if standard settings do not work. In this article, we will analyze all the available methods, from built-in MIUI functions to third-party applications, and also explain how to avoid typical errors when searching for records.

It's important to understand that the ability to record calls depends not only on the smartphone model, but also on the firmware version, regional restrictions (in some countries, recording conversations is prohibited by law), and even on the carrier. For example, in Redmi Note 9 with global firmware MIUI 12.5, the recording function can be disabled by default, whereas in the Chinese version it is available out of the box. We tested all methods on current versions of the software and collected working solutions.

1. Built-in call recording function in MIUI: where to look for files

If you have never turned on the recording manually, but suspect that the conversation could have been saved automatically, first check the standard storage. MIUI Default call records are saved in the folder MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec (for global firmware) or Recordings/CallRecord (The path may vary depending on the regional firmware.

To find the records:

• 📁 Open the Files app (folder icon on the home screen).
• 🔍 In the search box, enter call_rec or CallRecord.
• 🎧 If a folder is found, sort files by date – the last records will be at the top.
• 📥 Click on the file to play it through the built-in player.

⚠️ Attention: In some firmware MIUI 13+ Call records can be stored in the Mi Cloud instead of local storage. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Call records. If sync was enabled, files can be downloaded from there.

Audio files are usually.amr or.mp3. If your smartphone doesn't play the recording, try opening it through a third-party player (like VLC or MX Player). Also pay attention to the file size: if it's less than 10K, it's likely that the recording has been interrupted or not saved.

2. How to enable automatic call recording (if the function is disabled)

If your firmware doesn't activate the call record, you can manually turn it on. MIUI:

For MIUI 12.5 and later (global firmware):

1. Open the phone app.
2. Press three points (⋮) top-right → Settings.
3. Select Call Recording (or Call Recording in English).
4. Activate the Record Switch automatically.
5. Specify which calls to record: All, outgoing or incoming only.

For MIUI 11 and older (or Chinese firmware):

• 📞 Go to your phone settings. → Annexes → Phone. → Permits.
• 🔊 Make sure that the audio recording permission is enabled.
• 🔄 Go back to your phone settings and find the Call Recorder section (may be called Call Recorder).
• 📼 Enable the option and select the save format (for example, WAV better quality).

⚠️ Note: Some Redmi Note 9 firmware (especially European ones) may have their recording function blocked due to privacy laws, in which case only installing a third-party app or changing the firmware region through Settings will help. → Additionally. → Region (risky!).

Check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Make sure your phone has enough memory (records take ~1-2 MB/minute)

Enable audio recording permission for the Phone app

Turn off the power saving mode for the Phone application (otherwise the recording may be interrupted)-->

Third-party applications for recording: TOP-3 verified versions

If the feature doesn't work or you don't like the quality of it, you can use third-party software, and we tested dozens of apps and selected the three most reliable ones for the Redmi Note 9:

Before installing any of these applications:

• 🛡️ Check Permits: The App Must Have Access to Microphone, Warehouse and Phone.
• 🔋 Turn off battery optimization for the recorder app (in Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery).
• 📡 Make sure that mobile internet or Wi-Fi is active during the call (some apps require a connection to work).

Important: Cube ACR applications may conflict with the built-in MIUI recording function. If standard records are no longer stored after installing a third-party recorder, turn off automatic recording in your phone settings.

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If the recording is interrupted after 30-60 seconds, try in the settings of the recorder application to disable the option "Battery Saving" and add it to the list of optimization exceptions.

4. Where else records can be stored: hidden folders and backups

If you don’t find records in standard folders, check the following locations:

• 📂 /storage/emulated/0/Recordings/ — alternative storage for some firmware.
• 📂 /sdcard/MIUI/voice_recorder/ — Here may be the recordings made through the recorder.
• 📂 /data/com.android.providers.media/ — System folder (available only with root rights).
• ☁️ Google Drive or Mi Cloud – if Automatic Sync was enabled.

To search across the device:

1. Open the "Files" → click on the magnifying icon (search).
2. Enter file extensions:.amr,.mp3,.wav,.m4a.
3. Filter results by date (for example, select the day the call was made).

⚠️ Attention: Some records may be hidden by the system. To see them, click on three dots in the Files app (⋮) → Settings → Turn on Show Hidden Files. Also check the.nomedia folder — if it's in the directory with records, delete it (this will allow the files to be displayed in the gallery).

If you regularly back up your files via Mi PC Suite or TWRP, the records may have been archived to be retrieved:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open a backup via 7-Zip or WinRAR.
2. Find the backup/media/audio/ or backup/com.android.phone/ folder.
3. Copy files with the.amr extension to your computer.

5. How to recover deleted call records

If you accidentally delete a record, you can try to restore it, and success depends on how long it has been since it was deleted and how much memory the phone has been using.

Recovery methods:

• 🗑️ Recycle Bin in the Files app: Open the app → Basket → Find the deleted file and restore it.
• 🔄 Recovery software: DiskDigger, Recuva (requires root or PC connection).
• ☁️ Cloud Backups: Check out Google Drive (Basket section) or Mi Cloud.
• 📱 Local Backups: If you used Titanium Backup or Swift Backup, the records could be saved in the archive.

Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Select Full Scan (requires root permissions for deep search).
3. Mark the file types: Audio (AMR, MP3, WAV).
4. Wait for the scan to finish and select the right records to recover.
5. Save files to a safe place (for example, on a PC or cloud).

⚠️ Warning: Do not save recovered files to the same memory partition from which they were deleted! this may result in overwriting data.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even if you've done it right, you can have a lot of problems, and let's look at the typical situations and the ways to fix them.

If the recording does not start automatically:

• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes resetting temporary data helps.
• 📱 Check if another application is blocking the recording (e.g. Greenify or Battery Saver).
• 🔊 Make sure that the Do Not Disturb mode is not active during the call (it can block access to the microphone).

If none of these methods worked, your firmware may not support software-level call recording, which can only help by flashing to a custom MIUI (e.g. xiaomi.eu) or using an external recorder during a conversation (e.g., via a second device).

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On the Redmi Note 9 with MIUI 14+ firmware, the built-in call recording may be disabled due to tighter privacy policies, in which case third-party apps are the only working option.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions