How to listen to a recorded conversation on the Xiaomi Redmi 9C phone

Budget but feature-rich smartphones often have to preserve important information from a phone conversation. The Redmi 9C, which is powered by the MIUI shell, provides built-in tools for recording audio, but finding and playing those files isn’t always obvious the first time, and users have to understand folder structure and system constraints to access the track.

There are two main types of audio recordings that may interest the device owner: recording conversations through a phone book and arbitrary recordings through a voice recorder. Xiaomi's system logic separates these data streams by placing them in different directories with unique extensions. Understanding this difference is critical to quickly finding the desired file without installing third-party software.

In this guide, we will take a detailed look at all the available ways to play back saved dialogs, look at the features of the Android 10/11 file system on which the device’s firmware is based, and provide solutions to common problems with access to audio archives.

Using the built-in Phone application for playback

The fastest and most obvious way to hear a stored dialogue is to use a standard dialing interface. MIUI And it's actually integrating the recording module directly into the call log, so you don't have to search deep in the system, and it's perfect if you know the date or the number of the person you're talking to.

To access the archive, you need to open the Phone app and go to the Journal tab. Find the contact or number you want in the list, which can display a special voice recorder icon or a note about the presence of a record. Click on the call bar to open the detailed menu where the play button will be available.

If there is no visual icon, try clicking on the phone number or contact name, this will open a detailed call window. At the bottom of the screen or in the optional action menu (three dots) there should be an option to listen to the recording. The system will automatically run the built-in player that supports formats.m4a or.mp3.

  • πŸ“ž Open the standard call app on the home screen.
  • πŸ“‚ Go to the call history section or a specific contact.
  • ▢️ Click on the speaker icon or select the menu item to start the audio.
  • βš™οΈ Use the equalizer to enhance quiet areas of conversation.

⚠️ Note: If after updating the system, the play button is missing, check the permissions of the Phone application to the storage in the privacy settings.

πŸ’‘

For easy listening to long dialogues, connect the headset or turn on speaker, as the speaker can work in noise reduction mode, cutting the frequencies.

Searching for files through System Explorer

When the standard interface does not display a record or you need to copy a file to a computer, you need to contact the file system directly. Redmi 9C uses the standard Android directory structure, but with proprietary add-ons MIUI. Files can be stored in different folders depending on the way in which the record was recorded.

Launch File Manager and go to the internal memory section. You will need to find a folder with the name MIUI, And inside it, the catalogue. sound_recorder. It is here that all audio files are saved by default, including voice recordings and, in some versions of firmware, conversations.

The directory may contain folders attached, for example, call_rec For phone calls and rec for voice recorders, files often have names that match the date and time of creation, or phone number, which makes it much easier to navigate through the archive.

Type of recordThe Way to MemoryFile extensionDefault application
Dictaphone/MIUI/sound_recorder/rec.m4a / .mp3Dictaphone / Mi Music
Conversations (Old)/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec.m4aPhone.
Conversations (New)/Android/data/com.android.dialer/files.mp3Audioplayer
Voice notes/MIUI/sound_recorder/voice.wavDictaphone
πŸ“Š Where do you most often search for records?
Call log.
Through the Conductor
In the Google cloud
I don't use the tape.

Use of the Dictaphone and Mi Music app

To listen to random recordings, interviews or lectures made through a standard application, it is best to use specialized software from a developer. The Dictaphone app on Xiaomi has its own library management interface, which is convenient for sorting long tracks.

Run the app and look at the top of the screen where the tabs are located. You're interested in the List or All records section. Here the files are sorted chronologically. By clicking on any item in the list, you start playback with the ability to rewind and change speed.

An alternative and often more powerful tool is the built-in Mi Music player, which automatically scans internal memory and external memory cards for audio files. From the player menu, select the Local or Track tab, then filter by folder to find the desired directory with conversation records.

  • 🎚️ Adjust the playback speed for quick familiarization with the content.
  • βœ‚οΈ Use the cropping function to highlight an important snippet of the conversation.
  • πŸ”Š Apply built-in voice amplification effects for quiet recordings.
  • πŸ“€ Share files via messengers directly from the player interface.

⚠️ Note: Mi Music may not display system conversation records files if they are protected by the access rights of a specific Android user.

Set up automatic recording of conversations

To avoid future problems with finding or missing records, you need to configure the automatic call-taking function correctly. On Redmi 9C, this option can be hidden or require activation through a special menu that depends on the firmware region (Global or Chinese).

Open the Phone app, click on the three dots in the top right corner, and select Settings. Find Call Record. If there is no such item, try changing the device region in the general system settings to India or Pakistan, where the feature is unlocked by default, and then return your region.

In the record menu, activate the Auto Record slider, and you can choose to record all calls, only unknown numbers, or selected contacts from the phone book, so you can organize the archive and not store unnecessary files.

β˜‘οΈ Auto-recording setup

Done: 0 / 1

It’s important to consider that since Android 11, Google has imposed strict restrictions on recording conversations with third-party and system applications. On Redmi 9C with updated firmware, a conversationalist can hear a voice notification about the start of recording, and the file can be saved to a hidden folder, access to which is limited.

Access problems and hidden folders in Android 11+

Users who upgrade to the latest versions of MIUI based on Android 11 and higher may find that files physically exist but do not appear in standard Explorer, due to the Scoped Storage security policy, which isolates application data.

Conversation records files can be moved to /Android/data/com.android.dialer/files/Recordings. Xiaomi’s standard file manager may not show the contents of the data folder without special permissions or using Documents mode.

To solve the problem, try installing a third-party file manager, such as Files by Google or Total Commander, which asks for full permission to manage files. USB-cable (MTP) β€” Access to hidden folders is often opened automatically via PC.

⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to delete or rename system folders in the directory Android/data manually – this can lead to incorrect operation of the Phone application and loss of call history.

Why are the old records missing?
After updating the firmware or resetting the settings to factory, all local record files are permanently deleted unless synchronization with the Xiaomi or Google Drive cloud was enabled.

Restoration and transfer of audio archives

Keeping recorded conversations safe is a priority, especially if they have legal or business value.The Redmi 9C's built-in memory is not a reliable storage in the long run, so regular backups are recommended.

Configure automatic uploading of records to the cloud storage. In the settings of the Recorder or the Phone application, find the Cloud Sync and activate it by linking your Mi Cloud account or Google Drive, which will allow you to listen to recordings even from other devices through the browser.

For manual transfer, connect your phone to your PC, copy folders sound_recorder You can also use the Cleanup function to save important files to a secure folder, and you can create archives by months to avoid getting confused in files.

  • ☁️ Set up sync with Google Drive for automatic backup.
  • πŸ’Ύ Periodically copy archives to a computer or external drive.
  • πŸ”’ Use the β€œHidden Folder” function in Explorer for Confidential Files.
  • πŸ—‘οΈ Regularly delete unnecessary records so as not to overflow the system cache.

πŸ’‘

Regular backup of conversation records to an external medium is the only guaranteed way to save data in case of a system failure or a smartphone breakdown.

Why is the recording of the conversation interrupted or not started?
This is most often due to a lack of free memory on the device or application conflict. Check if another voice recorder or voice assistant (such as Google Assistant) is running in the background, which can intercept the microphone. Also, the problem may lie in damage to the cache files of the Phone application - try to clear its data in the application settings.
Can I listen to a video on a computer without a cable connection?
Yes, if you have a Google or Xiaomi account on your phone and computer, use Google Files or Mi Cloud via your web browser, and you can send the file to yourself via your messaging app (Telegram, WhatsApp) to your favorites, if the file is not too large.
What is the format of the Redmi 9C?
By default, the system uses the.m4a format (AAC codec), which provides good quality with a small file size. However, depending on the version of MIUI and the selected quality settings, files can be saved in.mp3 or.wav formats (the latter takes up much more space).
Do you hear a voice or click when you start recording?
On global firmware versions, to comply with the laws of many countries, when recording a conversation, the voice notification β€œRecording has begun” can be played, which is heard by both interlocutors, and on some regional builds (India, China), this feature can be disabled, and the recording is silent.