How to permanently remove the built-in voice recorder on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Why Xiaomi’s Standard Voice Recorder Can Get In The Way – and How to Remove It Safely

The built-in Dictophone app** on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones is often a source of irritation: it takes up space in memory, appears in the list of recent apps without your knowledge and sometimes even starts recording sound in the background (especially on models with MIUI 13+). Unlike Google Drive or YouTube, it can not be removed in the standard way – the “Delete” button in the settings simply does not exist.

Complicating the problem is that MIUI treats the recorder as a system component, even if you don't use it. In this article, we'll look at 5 working methods, from simple shutdown to complete removal via ADB, including nuances for different firmware versions. Importantly, some methods require superuser rights (root), but we'll also provide solutions without them.

Method 1: Disable the recorder through the MIUI settings (without root)

If you don’t have to completely remove the app, but just hide it from the interface and stop background activity, this method works best. It works on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12-15 and requires no special knowledge.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 In the search bar, enter "Dictophon" (or Recorder in English firmware).
• ⚙️ Click on the app, then select Disable (or Remove Updates if the button is active).
• 🔄 Confirm action. The app will disappear from the menu, but will remain in the system.

⚠️ Warning: After disabling the recorder will no longer appear in the list of applications, but its data (records) will remain in the device memory. To delete them, clear the cache and storage in the same menu before turning off.

Clear the app's cache|Delete all records (if any)|Backup of important records|Disable autostart in battery settings-->

Method 2: Remove via ADB (without root but with PC)

For those who are willing to connect a smartphone to a computer, the ADB method allows you to completely remove the voice recorder without superuser rights. It is an official tool from Google, but requires care.

Step-by-step:

1. 🖥️ Install. ADB Tools on PC and enable Debugging on USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to Additional → For developers).
2. 🔌 Connect your phone to your PC and type in the command line: Adb devices Make sure the device is defined.
3. 🗑️ Execute the command to remove the recorder: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.soundrecorder For global firmware (MIUI Global) may require an alternative package: com.android.soundrecorder.

⚠️ Warning: If you have problems with system sounds after removal (for example, the alarm clock sound is gone), restore the application with the command:

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.miui.soundrecorder

Method 3: Remove with root rights (for power users)

If your Xiaomi has Magisk or another root rights manager installed, you can remove the voice recorder as a regular app — but with reservations. This method gives maximum purity, but risks disrupting the stability of the system if you remove the associated libraries.

How to proceed:

• 🛠️ Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Root Explorer). FX File Explorer).
• 📁 Cross the path: /system/priv-app/SoundRecorder or (for global firmware): /system/app/SoundRecorder
• 🗑️ Delete the SoundRecorder folder or rename it (for example, in the SoundRecorder_bak).
• 🔄 Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi) 12T, Redmi Note 11 Pro+) The voice recorder is integrated into the system process miui.system, its removal can lead to the collapse of the interface. TWRP!

su


pm dump com.miui.soundrecorder | grep "codePath"

This will show all the linked packages.-->

Method 4: Resetting to factory settings (radical method)

If the recorder causes a failure (e.g., it constantly starts itself or interferes with other applications), and it can not be deleted by other means, it remains a complete reset, which will delete all data from the device, including the recorder, but return it after the first setup of the system.

How to reset:

1. 📲 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Resetting settings.
2. 🔄 Choose to erase all data and confirm.
3. 🔐 After restarting, do not restore data from the backup - this will return the recorder back.

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 14+ After the reset, you may need to link your Xiaomi account to unlock.Make sure you remember your login and password!

Disconnect via settings | Delete via ADB|Use of root-rights |Reset to factory settings |Never, I need a voice recorder-->

Method 5: Alternative – Replacing the voice recorder with a third-party application

If you can't remove the built-in voice recorder or you're afraid of disrupting the stability of the system, consider turning off the standard and installing an alternative.

After installation of the alternative:

• 🔕 Turn off the standard recorder (see Method 1).
• 📵 Stop him from auto-starting in Settings → Battery → Autostart control.
• 🔒 Limit access to the microphone in Settings → Confidentiality → Permits.

💡

Disabling a standard voice recorder + installing an alternative is the safest way to get rid of an unnecessary application without risk to the system.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after the recording is removed, users face unexpected consequences, and consider typical scenarios and ways to fix them:

1.The recorder reappeared after the MIUI update

System applications recover with major updates. Solution: Repeat deletion via ADB or disable automatic application updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → Settings (⚙️) → Auto-update of applications.

2.The sound has disappeared in other applications

This happens if the recorder was linked to the system audio libraries. Restore it via ADB (see Method 2) or reset the audio settings to Settings → Sound → Reset.

3. "Application stopped" error when recording screen

On some models (POCO F4, Xiaomi 11T) the recorder is integrated into the screen recording function. Solution: use third-party applications to record the screen (for example, AZ Screen Recorder).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions