Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones have faced intrusive adoption of Google services in recent years, with the standard calling app often replaced by Google Phone after updating MIUI or HyperOS, which is frustrating for users accustomed to native shell functionality, especially because of the lack of built-in conversation recording in Western versions.
Many people think that the only way out is to flash the device to a Chinese or Indian version of the software, which carries the risk of losing warranty and data. However, there are safer and more efficient ways to activate MIUI Dialer and return automatic call recording. You don't need root access or complex manipulation of the bootloader, just perform a series of sequential actions.
In this article, we will look at the proven methods of replacing Google Dialer with a system analog. We will examine both the software settings and the use of debugging commands to force the activation of hidden functions. Rebuilding the usual interface and functionality will take only a few minutes of your time.
Reasons to Replace Standard Calls with Google
The main reason for the forced installation of Google Phone is licensing policies and regional restrictions: Global firmware versions for Europe and several other countries are required to comply with strict privacy laws that prohibit automatic recording of telephone conversations without notifying the interlocutor.
Not only do users lose the ability to record conversations, but they also lose the user interface. The native MIUI call had more flexible spam blocking settings, integration with theme design, and easy access to call history. Google Dialer offers a stripped-down functionality compared to what long-time users are used to in the Xiaomi ecosystem.
In addition, the replacement often happens unnoticed by the user after the next update of system components through the Google Play Store, the system marks the application from Google as a priority, ignoring user preferences, you can take back control of the device, but you need to understand the mechanism of operation of application packages.
⚠️ Warning: Forced replacement of system applications can lead to unstable work of the contact book or malfunctions SIM-Before any manipulations are initiated, it is strongly recommended to create a complete backup of contacts in the cloud or on the Internet. SIM-map.
Preparation of the smartphone for system modification
Before you start activating hidden functions or installing modified packages, you need to properly prepare the device. Data security comes first, so you can't ignore the backup step, and you also need to access certain hidden menus that are closed by default from the average user.
The first step is to turn on the developer mode, which is standard for Android devices to access debugging, and without this step, you can't install a native call through a computer or a special command, and it's simple and it doesn't require any special knowledge.
You need to do the following in the settings menu:
- 📱 Open Settings and go to About Phone section.
- 🔨 Find the item Version. MIUI (or OS) And press it quickly. 7-10 successively.
- ✅ Wait for the pop-up notification “You became a developer».
- ⚙️ Return to the main settings menu, select Advanced Settings → For developers.
- 🔌 Activate the switch. USB-debugging and confirming the action.
Once debugging is enabled, the smartphone is ready to interact with external management tools, which is a critical step, because it is through the debugging protocol that we will send commands to the system to change application priorities.
☑️ Readiness of the device for modification
Replacement method for activating functions
One of the easiest and safest ways to get call recording back is to re-assign the phone’s regional anchorage. Xiaomi’s system applications are highly country-specific, and in some regions, like India, Singapore or China, the law allows you to record conversations, so it’s built into the firmware by default.
Changing the region does not require installing third-party software and is performed by regular means. However, it is worth considering that this can affect the operation of some services, such as Mi Pay or the display of news in the browser. Once you activate the desired functions, you can try to return the region, but sometimes the settings are reset.
The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Region.
- In the list of countries, select India or Singapore.
- The system will restart some services, the interface may blink for a short time.
- Go to the Phone app, click on three dots (menu) and select Settings.
- In the Call Record option, activate the "Record all calls" function.
If the switch is in the right settings after the region change, it works. You can use the call recorder. Some users note that the recording function is retained after the region returns to Russia or Ukraine, but this depends on the version of MIUI.
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If changing the region didn’t help, try clearing the phone and contact information from the Apps menu» → «All applications» → «Application management» → «Phone» → «Clean up» → «All the data." That'll reset the region's binding cache.
Using ADB to Install MIUI Dialer
A more advanced method that provides guaranteed results on most models, including the new HyperOS. It involves using a computer and an ADB (Android Debug Bridge) tool, the essence of which is to remove or freeze the updated Google Dialer and install the system version of the call, which is hidden in the depths of the system.
To implement this method, you will need a PC (Windows, macOS or Linux), USB-cable and platform toolkit ADB. Don't be intimidated by the command line, we only use a few simple commands).
Instructions for returning a native call:
- 💻 Download and install Platform Tools from the official Android website to your computer.
- 🔌 Connect your smartphone to your PC with a cable, unlock the screen and allow debugging in the pop-up window.
- 📂 Open the command line (CMD or Terminal in a folder with ADB.
- 🔍 Enter the adb device command to check the connection (the device code should appear).
- 🗑️ Enter the command to remove Google Phone updates: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.dialer.
- 🔄 Reboot your phone. The system will automatically tighten the system version of the call. MIUI.
If a native recording-enabled call appeared after the reboot, the procedure was successful. In the event that the system pulled Google Dialer back from storage, a deeper cleanup or a ban on auto-updating a particular package via Google Play may be required.
| ADB Team Team | Description of action | Risk of error |
|---|---|---|
| adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.dialer | Removes Google Phone Updates for Current User | Low. |
| adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.dialer | Remove the system call (use carefully!) | High-pitched |
| adb shell pm enable com.google.android.dialer | Enables the application if it has been disabled | Low. |
| adb shell pm disable com.google.android.dialer | Forced to disable Google Phone without deleting | Medium. |
⚠️ Warning: Never delete the com.android.dialer package unless you are sure of an alternative.This may make it impossible to make calls).
Alternative solutions and third-party applications
If you're messing with ADB-It seems too complicated for teams, and changing the region doesn't work, there are alternative ways. The market offers a lot of call apps that can record conversations, bypassing the system's limitations. 13/14 Due to limited access to audio.
One of the proven solutions is to install modified versions of system applications from trusted enthusiasts. APK-Files can often be found on specialized forums (e.g, 4PDA or XDA Developers. They're the original call. MIUI, which has been implemented patches for work on global firmware.
Popular options for third-party calls:
- 📞 Truephone Dialer & Contacts – powerful combine with recording support and flexible interface setting.
- 📼 Automatic Call Recorder is a specialized application that can work in tandem with any caller.
- 📱 MIUI Dialer (Port) – Original calling ports from other Xiaomi devices, adapted for your model.
When installing third-party APK-Keep your files safe. Only download files from trusted sources with a good reputation in the community. Viral software in system applications is a direct access of attackers to your personal conversations.
Where to find safe APK-file?
Possible problems and solutions
The process of returning a native call is not always smooth, users can experience a variety of errors, from the simple lack of sound when recording to the complete failure of the phone application, understanding the causes of these failures will help quickly resolve the problem without going to the service center.
A common problem is that the person is not sounding in the recording, and this is due to Android security policies that prohibit recording internal audio, which is recorded via a microphone, and the voice of the person may be quiet, and the solution lies in the settings of the particular call: sometimes it helps to turn on the speaker mode automatically when recording begins, but it is not always convenient.
Another common mistake is, “The Phone app is stopped,” which happens when the contact databases of the old and new call conflict, in which case you need to clear the data of both apps (“Phone” and “Contacts”) and re-synchronize them with your Google or Mi Account account.
Table of common errors:
| Symptoms. | Probable cause | Decision-making |
|---|---|---|
| No "call record" item. | Incorrect region or version of software | Change the region to India/Singapore |
| The recording is silent. | Limiting Android 10+ | Use a loudspeaker or patched call |
| Resetting calls to Google | Auto-Update Play Market | Disable Auto Update for Phone Application |
If after all the manipulations, the smartphone began to behave inadequately (frequent reboots, freezes on call), the only correct solution is to reset to factory settings. Therefore, backing up before experimenting is a prerequisite, neglecting which can lead to the loss of important data.
⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices, methods may differ from MIUI 14.In HyperOS, security measures are strengthened, and the removal of system packets through ADB It may require additional confirmation on the smartphone screen or be completely blocked by the manufacturer.
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The most reliable way to get a call record on a modern Xiaomi is to combine a region change to India and a modified version of the system call if the regular feature is not activated.