How to record a call on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Xiaomi’s smartphones have long been popular for their functionality, but in the latest versions of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS, owners often face unexpected difficulties when trying to capture a conversation. Built-in functionality that used to work automatically can now require additional actions or be completely absent depending on the firmware region, due to Google’s tightening privacy policies and local laws in different countries.

However, the need to record an important conversation with a customer, relative, or technical support hasn’t disappeared. Fortunately, the company’s engineers have provided several workarounds, and third-party developers offer powerful alternatives. In this article, we’ll look at all the current methods to enable call recording on your device, regardless of the operating system version.

You don't need to be an IT expert to set up this feature, but you need to follow the algorithms below, and we'll look at the standard system features, the hidden settings through region change, and installing specialized software that can bypass Android 13 and 14 system locks.

Built-in recording function in the Phone application

The first thing to check is the standard features of your gadget. In most cases, the built-in voice recorder is already integrated into the system application for calls, but can be hidden or disabled by default. To find this option, open the standard "ringer" and look at the three dots in the upper right corner of the screen.

If you have one, you're lucky: it allows you to record automatically or at the touch of a button during a conversation. However, often users see a message that the feature is not available in your area. This is not a bug, but a software restriction. In some countries, recording a conversation without notifying the interlocutor is prohibited by law, so Xiaomi blocks this option at the firmware level.

To activate the hidden feature, sometimes a simple change of region in the general settings of the smartphone helps. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Region and select a country where the legislation is more loyal to this issue, such as India, Singapore or Russia. After changing the location, restart the device and check the caller menu again.

⚠️ Note: When you change region, your device may change the set of pre-installed apps and news feed in your browser. Remember to return the original settings after activating the desired function, if you do not need a new region for other purposes.

It is important to understand that even if the feature is available, it may not work properly on new versions of Android due to microphone access restrictions. If the built-in method does not give the desired result, it is worth considering alternative options.

Set up automatic recording of conversations

If the regular function is active, it is critical to adjust its behavior correctly so that you do not miss any important word. In the recording settings menu, you can choose to work manually or automatically. Automatic recording begins immediately after connecting with the subscriber, which eliminates human factor and forgetfulness.

To fine-tune your phone, go to the Recording Settings section inside the Phone app, where you can specify whether to record all incoming and outgoing numbers, or select specific numbers from the contact book, which is especially useful if you are only interested in talking to certain people, such as a courier or bank employee.

Modern smartphones support different codecs, but for maximum compatibility it is better to choose a standard MP3 or AAC. These formats take up less space and open on any computer without installing additional software.

Remember to check the records folder regularly, as when the memory is full, old files can be deleted. → MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec. Periodic monitoring of free space ensures that important conversations are not lost due to a shortage of gigabytes.

Changing the region as a way to activate the function

Many users are unaware that the geographic location specified in the settings directly affects the functionality available. As mentioned earlier, changing the region is the easiest and safest way to unlock hidden features of the system without obtaining root rights.

The most effective regions for activating call recording are India, Indonesia and Serbia. In these jurisdictions, the notification requirements for the interlocutor are less stringent or implemented differently. After changing the location at Settings → Advanced Settings → Region, the phone may require a reboot of the interface or a full restart.

Note that this method does not work on 100% of devices: Global ROMs with the latest security updates can block the recording regardless of the region they choose, in which case the system forcibly alerts the interlocutor with an audible signal or a voice message.

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If the function did not appear after changing the region, try clearing the cache of the Phone application through the Apps menu → All Apps → Phone → Clear → Clear the cache.

Remember that using this method is legal, as you simply change the settings of your personal device, but always keep in mind the ethical norms and laws of your actual country of residence when recording conversations.

Third-party applications for recording calls

When built-in tools are powerless, independent apps come to the rescue. The market offers many solutions, but not all of them work consistently on Android 12, 13 and 14. Google is actively fighting the recording of conversations, blocking access to the audio stream from third-party software, so the choice of program should be careful.

One of the leaders in this niche is the Call Recorder app - Cube. ACR. It can bypass many system limitations and supports recording not only through the cellular network, but also through messengers like Viber, Telegram and WhatsApp. ADB.

Another popular option is TapeACall or Blackbox. These programs often use a conferencing method to record: they connect a third hidden recorder number to your conversation. This guarantees recording even under tight restrictions, but may require a paid subscription for long conversations.

When installing third-party software, be sure to provide all the requested permissions, especially access to the microphone, phone and storage. Without this, the application will not be able to intercept the audio stream. It is also recommended to add the program to the “Start” list and remove battery restrictions so that the system does not “kill” the recording process in the background.

Recording conversations through messengers

In today's world, communication often moves from regular telephony to Internet channels. Viber, WhatsApp or Telegram on Xiaomi has its own specifics. Standard methods that work for the Internet. GSM-Calls are often useless because of traffic encryption.

For this task, VoIP applications, such as the Cube ACR mentioned above, are best suited. In the settings of such software, you need to find the partition responsible for VoIP telephony and enable forced activation for the desired messengers. Sometimes you need to install an additional plugin (App Connector), which can be found in the menu of the recorder application itself.

An alternative, albeit lesser, method is to use the system's built-in recorder, so you can turn on speakerphone and run the standard Dictator app on the second device or on the smartphone itself (if the hardware allows), and the sound quality will be lower, but the information will be stored.

⚠️ Note: When recording conversations in messengers, the notice of the recording may not be broadcast to the interlocutor, but the ethics of such actions remains on your conscience.

Remember that updates to the messengers themselves can break the recorders. If the feature stopped working after the WhatsApp update, check the recorder developer's website for new instructions or patches.

Where are the records stored and how to transfer them

After a successful recording, the question arises: where to find the file? on Xiaomi smartphones with a shell MIUI or HyperOS, the path to files may not be obvious. By default, the system record is stored in internal memory along the way: Internal drive → MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec.

Files usually have names in the format of the date and time of the call, which makes it easier to search. If you used a third-party application, the folder can be called by the developer name, for example, CallRecorder or CubeACR. For ease of managing the archive, it is recommended to periodically transfer files to your computer or to the cloud storage.

You can automate the process through the synchronization settings of Google Drive or Xiaomi Cloud. Set up the Files app or a third-party file manager to automatically upload the contents of the folder with records to the cloud. This will save your data in the event of loss or breakage of your smartphone.

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Regular backup of conversation records is the only guarantee of their safety, since system failures can lead to a sudden cleanup of the tape recorder cache.

To listen to your computer, use any standard player, such as VLC or Windows Media Player. If the file does not open, it may be saved in a proprietary format and you will need to convert through online services.

Frequent problems and their solution

Despite the many ways in which users are exposed, the most common is that they don't have a voice in the recording, you hear yourself, and the answer is silence, because Android blocks the capture of the audio stream of the incoming channel for third-party applications.

In this case, switching the speaker to hands-free mode during a conversation will help, the phone's microphone will start to capture sound from the speaker, and the recording will become two-way, another option is to use a headset, which can also help break through the software barrier.

Another problem is that recording is interrupted when you make a second call or switch to another application, so to avoid this, make sure that the battery settings for the recorder application are set to "No Limits" and the "Out-Out" option is enabled, which will give the process a high priority in the system.

If nothing works and no recording is possible, then your device may be on the Google Play Protect exclusion list, leaving you with only the use of a second device for voice recording or the switch to custom firmware that lacks Google services, which requires high skill.