How to set up a record of phone conversations on Android Xiaomi

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to keep an important conversation going, whether it’s business negotiations or communication with official services. However, after switching to global firmware and the introduction of new versions of Android, the regular recording feature often disappears or works incorrectly due to Google’s limitations, which creates a situation where the user has to look for alternative solutions to save audio data.

There are several proven methods to bring this back on devices with shells MIUI and HyperOS. Some methods do not require root rights and complex flashing, while others involve the use of third-party applications or special regional settings. Understanding how exactly Android security works in conjunction with the shell Xiaomi, will help you choose the best option for your model.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the current ways to activate call recording. We will look at both the built-in features hidden in different regions and third-party solutions that are guaranteed to work on modern versions of Android. It is important to note that laws in different countries can restrict recording without warning the interlocutor.

Why did you miss the call record for Xiaomi and Redmi?

The main reason for the disappearance of the usual recording button is a policy change by Google, which owns the Android operating system.Beginning with Android 9 and especially in versions 10, 11, 12 and later, strict restrictions were imposed on the access of applications to the microphone during a telephone conversation, this was done to protect user privacy, but functionally it hit the ability to keep an archive of calls.

MIUI, which previously made it easy to record conversations in the background without alerts, now has to comply with Google Play Services rules. Global ROMs often cut out or only work with hands-free and recording alerts that the interlocutor hears, while China ROM and some Indian firmware versions may not have these restrictions.

⚠️ Note: Using third-party recording apps may conflict with Google system services, resulting in no sound in the file or connection interruption.Always check the method before an important conversation.

And it's also affected by the specific model of the smartphone and the year it was released. New devices based on Snapdragon and MediaTek processors with the latest security updates get tighter restrictions. So what worked on the Redmi Note 8 may not work on the Xiaomi 13 or POCO F5 without additional manipulation. Users have to look for workarounds, as the standard call interface no longer offers the right button.

Check the built-in function in the Phone application

Before installing third-party software, you need to make sure that your firmware version does not have a native feature. In some cases, it is simply hidden or deactivated by default. To check, open the standard Phone app (green tube icon) and go to the settings menu, which is usually indicated by three dots or a gear.

In the settings menu, find Call Record. If you have one, you're lucky that the system allows you to record. However, the functionality may be limited. For example, in some regions, only incoming or outgoing calls are available. You can set up automatic recording of all numbers or only selected contacts, which is convenient for monitoring the quality of communication.

• 📱 Open the Phone app and click on three dots in the corner of the screen.
• 📱 Select Settings, then find the Call Record section.
• 📱 Activate the switch Automatic recording for all numbers or specific contacts.
• 📱 Check the file saving path, usually a folder MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec internal storage.

If the "Record Calls" item is not on the menu at all, then your current regional configuration is blocking this capability at the system level, in which case simple slider switching won't help, and you'll have to resort to the more sophisticated methods described below.

💡

The presence of the "Record of calls" in the settings depends on the region selected at the first activation of the smartphone or in the "Region" menu in the system settings.

Replacement method to activate hidden functions

One of the safest and most effective ways to get your call back is to change your region in your smartphone settings. The MIUI shell and HyperOS have different feature sets for different countries. In particular, for India, Indonesia, Serbia or Kazakhstan, the call functionality is often expanded compared to the versions for Europe or Russia, which does not require root rights and does not break the warranty.

To implement this method, go to Settings -> Additional -> Region. From the list of countries, select, for example, Indonesia or India. System interface may change slightly (local widgets will appear), but this is not critical. After changing the region, you need to completely clear the data of the Phone application. To do this, go to Settings -> Applications -> All applications -> Find Phone (or Google Phone) -> Storage -> Clear -> All data.

⚠️ Note: After changing the region and clearing the data, the Phone application may reset your call history and contacts if they are not synced with your Google or Mi Cloud account.

Once the data is cleared and the call is reopened, the record must appear in the settings. If it didn't appear the first time, try other regions on the "lucky" list. Often, successively changing 2-3 regions with the mandatory cleaning of the cache and application data each time helps, this allows you to "unlock" hidden function flags in the system configuration.

Use of third-party applications for recording

If system methods don’t work, Google Play apps come to the rescue. However, due to the limitations of Android 10+, most of them require complex setup or work incorrectly (only your voice is recorded and the interlocutor is not heard), however, there are solutions that circumvent these restrictions using accessibility services.

One of the most popular and working solutions is the application TapeACall or Call Recorder - ACR. The principle of their work is to create a conference call with the recording server or use special audio drivers. When installing such software, you will need to provide it with wide permissions, including access to a microphone, phone and, critically, special features.

• 📱 Download the Call Recorder app - ACR Or similar to Play Market.
• 📱 When you first start, follow the instructions of the setup wizard.
• 📱 Enable permission in the Accessibility menu for the selected application.
• 📱 In the app settings, select the recording method that matches your version of Android (usually "Android 10").+" or "VoIP").

It is important to note that free versions of these apps often have limitations, such as the number of records per day, the presence of watermarks or advertising.Premium versions usually do not have these drawbacks and offer cloud storage. It is also worth considering that when using third-party programs, recording can be markedly delayed, and the beginning of the conversation can be lost.

Comparison of recording methods: table of possibilities

To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have systematized the basic methods into a comparative table, each method has its pros and cons, depending on your technical training and audio quality requirements.

As you can see from the table, changing the region is the safest and most high-quality way to do so without needing to install additional software, but if this method didn’t work on your model, you’ll have to balance the quality of recording through third-party applications with the complexity of installing modified systems.

Set up automatic recording and storage of files

Once you have activated the recording function (by any means), it is essential to adjust its behavior correctly. The recording menu usually has an option called Auto Record, which is recommended to be enabled for all numbers if your country allows, or to set up the recording only for contacts from the phone book, eliminating the need to manually press the button during each call.

Record files take up space in internal memory. By default, they're saved to a folder. MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec (For the built-in voice recorder, or in a separate folder of the recorder application, periodically check the storage capacity, and you can set a limit in the settings, for example, delete old records when the memory is full, or store files no more than 30 This will prevent the situation when the smartphone will stop taking calls due to overflow of memory.

⚠️ Note: Record files made through the built-in feature after changing region may be protected and not playable on other devices or PCs without a special key.

Use a built-in player or file manager to listen to the recordings. If you use a third-party application, make sure it has permission to work in the background, otherwise the system can "kill" the recording process to save energy. In the battery settings for the recorder application, select No Limits mode.

💡

To quickly find the desired record, use the search function in the Dictator or file manager application, entering the contact name or call date. Files are often called in the format Record Date Time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)