How to listen to a recorded conversation on Xiaomi Redmi: from standard tools to hidden folders

Recording phone conversations on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is a feature that can be useful for storing important information, evidence or just personal notes. However, not all users know where these records are stored and how to play them correctly. Depending on the device model, the version of MIUI and the applications used, the paths to access audio files may vary.

In this article, we will look at all possible ways, from the standard Dictaphone app to finding hidden folders in the device’s memory, and focus on the nuances of why recordings may not be saved, how to recover deleted files, and what to do if your smartphone does not show audio in the gallery. If you use Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10 or older models, the instructions will be tailored to the specifics of your firmware.

Before you start, check if recording calls is allowed in your area – in some countries this may violate local privacy laws – and make sure you have the consent of the other person to record if required by law.

1. Standard Dictator app - where to look for call records

Most Xiaomi Redmi smartphones have a built-in Dictaphone app (or Call Recording in some versions of MIUI) that automatically saves audio files if you've enabled the recording feature in your phone's settings. Here's how to find these records:

Open the Dictaphone app. If it's not on the home screen, search the system (Settings → Search). Inside, you'll see the Call Record tab or All Records tab, where files are stored in chronological order. Each record contains:

• 📞 Phone number or contact name
• ⏱️ Date, time and duration of the conversation
• 🔊 Possibility to reproduce directly in the application
• 📤 Export button (for sending via messengers or saving to the cloud)

If there's no call record tab, the recording function is disabled to activate it:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Permissions → Recorder.
2. Make sure that the audio recording permission is enabled.
3. Return to Settings → System Applications → Phone → Record calls and turn on the option.

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If recording is interrupted or is interrupted, try turning off the noise suppression function in the microphone settings. This often solves the problem with the sound breaks.

2.File Manager Record Search: Where Audio Files Are Stored

If a standard application doesn't show records or you delete them, files can still be stored in the device's memory, and can be found through any file manager (e.g., Files from Xiaomi or Google Files).

* Access to this folder requires root rights or ADB-team.

To open the hidden folders:

1. In the file manager, click on three dots (menu) → Settings → turn on Show hidden files.
2. If you don’t have MIUI or Recordings, check the root directory /storage/emulated/0/ for files with the.m4a or.amr extension.

Enable the display of hidden files

Check the folder. MIUI/sound_recorder

Search for files by extension.m4a or.amr

Try to reproduce through VLC Player-->

Important: Call records files in the Call folder can be automatically deleted after 30 days unless the storage settings have been changed.

3. Recovery of Deleted Records of Conversations

If you accidentally delete a record, you can try to restore it, and you can use specialized applications like DiskDigger or Recuva (for PCs).

Immediately after removal:

1. Do not write new files to your device, which will reduce your chances of recovery.
2. Install DiskDigger from Google Play and select Full Scan (requires root).
3. Filter the results in.m4a/.amr format.

If root rights are not:

• 🖥️ Connect your smartphone to your PC and use Recuva or EaseUS Data Recovery.
• 🔍 Select the internal memory (internal storage) partition).
• ⏳ The scan can take up to an hour – don’t interrupt the process.

The chances of success depend on:

• 🕒 Time elapsed since the removal.
• 📱 The amount of free memory (the more free space, the higher the chances).
• 🔄 Number of new recording operations after deletion.

4.Use of third-party applications for recording and listening

If you don't like Xiaomi's standard tools, you can use third-party apps.

• 📱 Cube Call Recorder ACR — Records calls automatically, supports cloud storage.
• 🎧 Call Recorder by Lovekara – a simple interface, saves records in the MP3.
• ☁️ Otter.ai – recognizes speech and creates text transcripts (useful for business calls).

How to set up Cube Call Recorder ACR:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. When you first start, grant permissions for audio recording, contacts, and storage.
3. In the settings, select Record Format → MP3 and Quality → High (128 kbps).
4. Enable Auto Record for all calls or only for selected contacts.

Where to look for records in third-party applications:

• Inside the application itself (History or Records tab).
• In /storage/emulated/0/CallRecordings/ (for Cube ACR).
• In cloud storage (if sync with Google Drive or Dropbox is enabled).

Standard Xiaomi Recorder

Cube Call Recorder ACR

Call Recorder by Lovekara

Otter.ai

Other/not using-->

5. Listening to records through cloud services

If you've enabled cloud sync, the records can be stored in Mi Cloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox.

For Mi Cloud:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Check if synchronization is enabled for the Dictaphone application.
3. Go to i.mi.com → Records (if the feature is supported in your region).

For Google Drive:

1. Open the Google Drive app on your smartphone.
2. In the search box, type:audio.
3. Filter the results by date of creation.

If the records are not displayed:

• 🔄 Check if the storage period has expired (the files are stored for 6 months in the free Mi Cloud account).
• 📁 Make sure that sync is not disabled in the application settings.
• 🔍 Try searching for keywords, for example, call_rec record.

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Cloud services are a reliable way to back up records, but remember: files can take up space in your cloud storage. Clean up unnecessary records regularly to keep up with the limit.

6. Problems with reproduction of records and their solutions

Sometimes records are saved but not reproduced. Common reasons and ways of correcting:

If the record is reproduced with distortion:

• 🔊 Try to play the file on another device (PC, tablet).
• 🛠️ Convert the file to another format via Online-Convert or Audacity.
• 📱 Update the firmware MIUI — In the old versions there were bugs with recording of sound.

ADB-command for resetting the settings of the Recorder (if the application works incorrectly):

adb shell pm clear com.android.soundrecorder

7 Legal aspects of recording conversations

Before making any calls, please read your country's laws, and most regions have the following rules:

• 📜 Unilateral consent: You can record a conversation if you participate in it (e.g. in Russia, USA).
• 🚫 Bilateral consent: notification of the second interlocutor is required (EU, Canada, Australia).
• ⚖️ Prohibition of publication: Even if the recording is allowed, it may be illegal to distribute it without consent.

Xiaomi Redmi has a recording notification (an audible signal at the beginning of a call) on default to turn it off:

1. Go to Settings → System applications → Phone → Recording calls.
2. Turn off the Notice of Record option (not available in all regions).

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If you record business conversations, always notify the person at the beginning of the conversation, which will protect you from legal risks and maintain trust.

⚠️ Note: in some countries (e.g. Germany) recording conversations without consent is considered a violation of data protection law (GDPR) and may result in a fine of up to 20 million euros.

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording and listening to conversations on Xiaomi Redmi