How to Record a Conversation on Xiaomi 9: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to maintain an important dialogue, whether it is a conversation with a customer, supplier or customer support. On the Xiaomi Mi 9 model released in 2019, this functionality is implemented at the system level, but depending on the version of MIUI and the firmware region, the settings can vary significantly. Understanding these nuances will allow you to avoid losing critical information at the most inopportune time.

Modern versions of Android and MIUI (including 2026 MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS) have built-in privacy protections that may limit the functionality of the voice recorder. However, for the Xiaomi Mi 9 device, there are proven recording activation methods that work steadily. In this article, we will discuss the standard tools, hidden settings and alternative solutions for your smartphone.

The standard features of the phone Xiaomi Mi 9

The first thing a Xiaomi Mi 9 owner needs to do is check for the feature built in, as most global and Chinese firmware already has it integrated into the Phone app. To access the settings, open a standard caller and find the gear icon or three-dot menu icon at the top of the screen, and that's where the switch that automatically records incoming and outgoing calls lurks.

If you use the official global firmware version, the functionality may be limited by the legislation of the country specified when the device was first started, in which case the system may not offer the recording option at all. However, if the region is installed correctly (for example, India, Singapore or China), the feature becomes available immediately. It is important to note that the recording quality in normal mode is usually high, since it uses a direct audio stream, not a microphone.

• 📞 Open the phone application (green handset).
• ⚙️ Click on the menu icon (three dots or gear) in the upper right corner.
• 🎚️ Select the "Call Recording" option).
• ✅ Activate the slider "Record calls automatically».

⚠️ Note: In some EU regions, the recording function may be software-enabled even when you change your region in settings, which will require installing a third-party application or changing your region to Singapore through special engineering codes if supported by your version. MIUI.

Once the function is activated, the system will start storing all conversations in the device's memory. By default, files are stored in a hidden folder that is accessed through the recent call menu. To listen, you just open your call history, click on the desired number and select the voice recorder icon, which allows you to quickly navigate the archive without searching for files through the explorer.

Set up automatic recording of conversations

To effectively use the Xiaomi Mi 9 for work purposes, it is not enough to simply turn on a record; you need to adjust the filtering rules. The system allows you to choose which numbers will be recorded: everything in a row, only unknown or only selected contacts. This is especially true for users who want to save only dialogues with indefinite numbers or specific customers without clogging the memory with unnecessary files.

To set up a sample record, go to the call record settings menu, where you will find the "Record Calls" option, clicking on it, you will see options: "All Numbers", "Selected Numbers" and "Numbers in Contacts", the latter option is often the best for security, as it allows you to record calls from scammers or couriers, ignoring personal conversations with loved ones.

Remember to check the internal storage capacity regularly. Audio files, although they do not take up gigabytes, can accumulate and slow down the system with daily recording. Xiaomi Mi 9 has enough memory, but overflowing storage can lead to the fact that new records simply will not save or old ones will be overwritten.

• 🗑️ Regularly clean the archive of records from unnecessary dialogues.
• ☁️ Set up a record folder sync with Mi Cloud or Google Drive.
• 📂 Periodically check the way to save files in the Explorer settings.

Solving the problem of not having a recording function

The situation when the menu of call settings is not a record point, is quite common on devices purchased from official dealers in certain regions, this is due to the fact that the Google Dialer app, which is installed by default on global versions of Android, does not have built-in recording functionality in most countries. Xiaomi Mi 9 users may face this restriction after the system update.

There are several ways to get around this limitation, and the easiest way to do this is to install a modified version of Xiaomi's Phone app (Mi Dialer), which is free of geographical restrictions. APK-A more secure but sophisticated method is to change the region of the device to a country where recording is allowed (e.g. India or Nepal) via the phone's settings menu.

Settings → About phone → Region → India / Nepal / Singapore

Once you change region, restart your device and check the call menu. If the item appears, you can activate the record., changing the region can affect the operation of some local services and widgets in the MIUI system, so once the function is activated, you can try to return the region back, although in some versions of the firmware the function may disappear again.

⚠️ Warning: When installing third-party versions of a call (Mi Dialer), make sure the Android version is compatible. On Android 11, 12 and higher, Google has implemented strict restrictions. API, Because of which old versions of voice recorders may not work or record silence instead of the voice of the interlocutor.

Use of third-party applications for recording

If the standard methods do not work or do not suit you with their functionality, third-party solutions come to the rescue from the Google Play store. The leader in this niche has long been the Call Recorder application - ACR from NLL. It has flexible settings and supports various audio compression formats. However, on the Xiaomi Mi 9 with new versions of MIUI, access rights may be difficult.

To properly work third-party software, you need to give the application maximum permissions. Android system requires explicit permission to access the microphone, phone and, critically, storage. Without this, the recording will either not start or the file will be empty. It is also recommended to add the application to the battery exception list so that the system does not “kill” the recording process in the background.

Special attention should be paid to setting the sound source in third-party applications. In the recorder settings menu, find the item “Audio Source” and try to go through the options: Mic, Voice Call, Voice Communication. For the Xiaomi Mi 9, Voice Communication or Voice Call is often the best option, but the result depends on the specific version of the firmware.

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Tip: If a third-party app only records your voice, try to turn on speaker while you're talking, which will allow the microphone to pick up the voice of the other person, even though the recording quality will decrease.

Where are the records of conversations stored and how to find them

Understanding the structure of Xiaomi's file system is essential for fast search and backup of records. By default, all audio files are stored in internal storage. The path to them can vary depending on whether a regular caller or a third-party application was used. Knowing the exact path allows you to quickly transfer files to your computer or to the cloud.

For a regular record, files are usually along the way: Internal Memory → MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec. If you have used a third-party application, for example, ACR, The path may look like this: Internal memory → ACR Android → data → com.nll.acr. Files may have an extension.mp3,.m4a or.3gp, This ensures that they are reproduced on any device.

• 📂 Open the File Manager (File Manager) application).
• 🔍 Enter in the search «call_rec» or the name of the recorder app.
• ▶️ Click on the file to listen to it directly in the conductor.
• 📤 Use the “Share” button to send the file to the messenger.

For ease of archive management, it is recommended to use built-in sorting by date or contact name. Xiaomi Mi 9 has a powerful processor, so finding files even in a crowded folder takes fractions of a second. Remember that call records files can be hidden from prying eyes if the Hide Contents feature is enabled in the folder settings.

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Record files take up space in the Other section when you clear your memory. Check this section regularly in the Security app to free up space.

Legal aspects and quality of recording

Before recording conversations, it is important to remember your country’s laws. In many jurisdictions, recording a phone conversation without warning is a violation of privacy law. A Xiaomi call often plays a beep or voice alert “Talk recording has begun,” which is a legally significant fact of notifying the second party.

The quality of recording on Xiaomi Mi 9 is directly dependent on the quality of communication and the codec used. When using VoLTE (Voice over LTE) networks, voice quality is high, but some old recording methods may not cope with digital flow, recording silence. In such cases, the system can automatically switch to recording through the microphone, which reduces intelligibility, especially in noisy places.

For maximum reliability, it is recommended to periodically test the recording function by making trial calls to another number, this will make sure that the MIUI or Android system updates have not changed the operation of the audio subsystem. If you notice a deterioration in quality, try changing the recording format in the settings from MP3 to WAV or vice versa.