Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones have long been powerful multimedia centers, where recording what happens on the display has become one of the basic functions. Users no longer need to search for third-party apps full of advertising, because the built-in Screen Recorder tool offers flexible quality and sound settings, this is especially true for creating educational materials, saving game moments or fixing errors in the work of applications.
However, standard settings are not always obvious to the beginner, and hidden features allow you to significantly improve the recording result. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to activate the function, adjust the video encoding parameters and avoid common errors when capturing the audio stream, you will learn how to make the recorder work simultaneously with the recording of the screen and which file formats are better to choose for later editing.
Before we get into the technical details, it’s worth noting that the interface of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS may differ slightly visually, but the logic of the system components remains the same for all current models. Understanding the principles of the clipboard and codecs will help you get a stable result regardless of the version of the software of your device.
Activation of the system recorder and basic settings
The first step to get started is to find and run a system application that is already preinstalled on your gadget. It's usually in the Tools folder on your desktop or in the menu of all apps and has a video camera icon. If you can't find it visually, the easiest way to search the system is by typing the name "Screen Recorder" or "Screen Recorder" in the settings search bar.
After the first run, the app will ask for the necessary permissions to access the media and microphone, which must be confirmed for proper operation. Without these rights, the program simply will not be able to save the file or capture the audio track, so ignore the system security requests, and after confirmation, you will see the main interface with the start button and the settings menu hidden behind the three dots in the upper right corner.
In the Settings menu → Video quality, it is recommended to immediately select 1080p resolution and 60 FPS frame rate if your device supports this performance. Higher settings, such as 4K, can only be available on flagship models with Snapdragon 8 processors, as they create a huge load on the video core. For most use cases, the optimal balance between quality and file size is Full HD.
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To record gameplay, always choose 60 FPS to make the motion on the screen look smooth, even if you sacrifice a bit of resolution.
Audio stream setting: system sound and microphone
One of the most popular features is the ability to record internal sound of the system, which allows you to save audio from games, videos or calls without extraneous noise. In the menu settings of the recorder, you need to find the item "Sound Source" and switch it from "Microphone" to "Inner Sound", which ensures that the video gets a pure digital signal, rather than sound recorded through the speaker.
However, if you need to comment on the screen with your voice, the standard functionality may seem limited, as it usually does not allow you to write system sound and voice at the same time. There is a hidden setting available through the engineering menu or special commands to solve this problem, but it is easier to use third-party modules or the “Mic Record” function with connected headphones, although the quality will be lower.
It is important to understand the difference between audio encoding formats: AAC provides better quality at a smaller size, whereas MP3 is more compatible with older devices. In the Xiaomi recorder settings, you can often choose a bitrate, where 128 kbit / s is considered the standard for voice and 320 kbit / s is for music.
⚠️ Note: When recording calls via WhatsApp, Telegram, the use of internal audio may result in only one side of the dialogue being recorded or the complete absence of audio due to Android security policy limitations.
Use of hidden functions through the engineering menu
For advanced users who want to gain maximum control over the recording process, there is an option to activate additional options through the hidden developer menu. To get there, you need to go to Settings → About phone and quickly click on the MIUI version seven times, after which the option “Developers” will appear in the additional menu.
Inside this section, we are interested in a logging or debugging item where you can sometimes find options that affect the operation of media codecs. However, a more effective method is to use special commands in the Engineering Menu (CIT) application, which you can access by typing in the "ringer" code # # # #64663##. Here you can check the microphone and speakers to make sure that there are no hardware problems before recording an important video.
There is also a method of activating simultaneous recording of sound system and microphone through ADB-commands if your firmware version blocks this feature in the standard interface. This requires connecting to a computer and executing a command that changes the flag of the audio stream configuration, allowing the sources to mix.
adb shell settings put global recorder_audio_source 3This command forcibly switches the audio source to the combined mode, but its effectiveness depends on the specific model of the processor and the version of Android. On some devices, especially with MediaTek processors, this setting may not work or cause instability of the system, so use it with caution.
What is ADB and why is it needed?
Comparison of video and codec formats
Choosing the right format for saving video is critical if you plan to further process the file or send it through instant messengers. Modern Xiaomi smartphones use an MP4 container with H.264 codec by default, which provides excellent compatibility with all video players and social networks.
For devices with high-powered hardware, the more modern H.265 codec (HEVC) is available, which allows you to reduce the file size by almost half while maintaining the same image quality. However, if you send such a video to an old smartphone or computer, the file may simply not play, making this format less versatile for sharing.
Below is a table comparing the main recording parameters available in the recorder settings:
| Parameter | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Permission | Number of pixels horizontally and vertically | 1080p for quality balance |
| Bitreit | Data volume per second (Mbps) | 12-20 Mbps for 1080p |
| Frequency of personnel | Number of frames per second (FPS) | 60 FPS for games, 30 for lessons |
| Orientation | Portrait or landscape | Depends on the contents of the screen |
It is worth noting that a high bitrate directly affects the size of the final file: a minute of writing in 4K can take up to 500 MB of disk space. If you have limited free space, it is better to reduce the bitrate to 10-12 Mbit / s, which visually almost does not affect the picture, but saves gigabytes.
☑️ Settings before an important entry
Optimizing performance during recording
Recording high-resolution video places a serious strain on the smartphone’s processor and cooling system, which can lead to sudden performance declines in games or interface lags. To avoid this, it is recommended to close all background applications before the session begins, freeing up the maximum amount of RAM for the encoding task.
It’s also worth activating Game Turbo if you’re recording gameplay, as it prioritizes system resources for running the game and the recorder by blocking notifications and incoming calls, which will prevent recording interruptions and pop-ups that could ruin the final video.
If you notice that the device starts to heat up a lot, and the frame rate drops, try to reduce the recording settings to 720p or 30 FPS. The critical temperature threshold for starting trottling (reducing the processor frequencies) for most Xiaomi smartphones is 45 degrees Celsius, after which the system artificially slows down to protect components.
⚠️ Note: Long-term recording of video in 4K at high ambient temperatures can cause emergency shutdown of the device or damage to the battery due to overheating.
Where to look for saved files and how to edit them
Once the recording is complete, the file is automatically saved to the standard device gallery, the Screen Records album or Screen Recorder. The path to the file system usually looks like internal memory. → DCIM → screen_recorders, Where can you copy it to a computer through USB-cable.
The built-in editor in the recorder app allows you to perform basic operations: cropping the beginning and end of a video, adding a watermark or simply cropping a frame. For more complex editing, overlaying music or text comments, it is better to use specialized applications such as CapCut or VN Editor, which are perfectly optimized for mobile platforms.
When transferring videos via instant messengers such as Telegram or WhatsApp, always send the file as "Document" to avoid re-compression and loss of image quality. Standard sending as "Photo/Video" is strong bitrate, making the picture "soapy" and losing details in dark scenes.
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Always send the source files of the video as documents to keep the original recording quality without the artifacts of compression by the messenger.