How to record a phone conversation on Xiaomi Redmi 9: all the ways from standard to hidden

Recording phone conversations on Xiaomi Redmi 9 can be required in a variety of situations, from fixing important business agreements to preserving memories of conversations with loved ones. However, not all users know that the smartphone’s capabilities in this regard depend not only on the version of MIUI, but also on regional restrictions. In some countries, the default call recording feature is disabled due to legal regulations, and in others it is available, but hidden in the depths of the menu.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to record conversations on Redmi 9, including standard MIUI tools, third-party apps, and even engineering modes. We’ll focus on legality — where and when you can record conversations without breaking the law, and where it can be punishable by fines.

Important: before you start recording, make sure that your interlocutor agrees to this – in most countries of the world, a hidden recording of conversations without notifying the other party is considered a violation of the right to privacy. In Russia, for example, according to Art. 138 of the Criminal Code, unauthorized recording is fraught with a fine of up to 200 thousand rubles.

1. Standard call recording in MIUI: where to look and how to turn on

On Xiaomi Redmi 9 with MIUI 12 and above, the conversation recording feature can be built into the Phone app, but it varies by region. In Russian and European versions, it is often disabled for legal reasons, and in global ones (for example, for India or Asia) it is available by default.

To check if you have this function:

• 📞 Open the phone application and dial the number to call.
• 🔍 During the conversation, pay attention to the screen – if there is a Record button at the bottom or top (usually with a microphone icon), then the function is active.
• ⚙️ If there is no button, go to Settings. → Annexes → Phone. → Record conversations and check if the switch is available.

If your firmware doesn’t have a feature, don’t despair – it can be unlocked through hidden MIUI settings or through third-party apps (more on this below), and it’s also worth updating to the latest version: in MIUI 14, call recording has become available in some regions where it was previously blocked.

2.How to unlock hidden call recording via engineering menu

If your MIUI version has a recording feature disabled, you can activate it via an engineering menu, which works on most firmware versions, but you need to be careful that improper actions can disrupt the stability of the system.

Instructions for inclusion:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code: ##36446337## This will open the MMITest menu (Test Mode for Communication Module).
2. Go to Audio → Volte (or VoLTE Settings)
3. Find the Call Recording option and set the Enabled value.
4. Save the settings and restart the phone.

After the reboot, the Phone application should have a recording button, and if it is not, check if the settings have reset after the reboot - sometimes you need to repeat the procedure.

Warning: changing the settings in the engineering menu can cause network or sound to malfunction.If after manipulation, mobile Internet or calls have disappeared, reset the network settings to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.

3.The best apps to record calls on Redmi 9

If standard methods didn’t work or you need advanced features (e.g. automatic call recording, cloud storage, or transcription), you should pay attention to third-party applications. We tested dozens of programs and selected those that work stably on the Xiaomi Redmi 9 with MIUI 12-14.

Before installing the application, check the permissions: the program must request access to the microphone, phone and storage. If there is no permission, the recording will not work. Also note that some applications (such as Cube ACR) require you to disable battery optimization for MIUI, otherwise they will close in the background.

Install the application from the official store|Provide all necessary permits|Disable battery optimization for the application in Settings → Annexes → Permits → Auto-start|Check the test call for correct recording-->

4 Where records are stored and how to keep them

By default, call records (if you use the standard MIUI function or third-party apps) are stored in the phone's internal memory.

/storage/emulated/0/CallRecordings/


or




/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/

To avoid losing records when resetting your phone or replacing your device, we recommend:

• ☁️ Automatically upload them to the cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud or Yandex.Disk).
• 📁 Regularly copy the folder with records to a computer or external drive.
• 🔒 Protect your entries with a password (for example, through the File Hide Expert app).

Important: Call recordings take up a lot of space – one hour of talk in MP3 format weighs about 10-15 MB. If you do not clean the folder, after a few months it can take several gigabytes. To avoid this, set up in the application to record automatic deletion of old files (for example, older than 30 days).

5. Legal nuances: When recording a conversation is legal

In most countries, recording telephone conversations is regulated by privacy laws. In Russia, according to article 138 of the criminal code and article 23 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, recording a conversation is possible only with the consent of both interlocutors.

• ⚖️ Recording is done in self-defense (for example, in case of threats or blackmail).
• 📞 The interlocutor is notified in advance of the recording (for example, through an autoinformer at the beginning of the conversation).
• 🏢 The conversation is for official purposes, and this is written in the internal documents of the company.

The European Union has a GDPR, which is even stricter on personal data records, and you can get fines of up to 20 million euros or 4% of your annual turnover for violating the rules, so if you record conversations at work, make sure that:

• 📋 You have the written consent of the customer.
• 🔒 Records are stored in a secure place and are not distributed to third parties.
• ⏳ The retention period of records does not exceed the necessary (for example, 3-6 months).

💡

If you're doing business and recording customer conversations, add an automatic notification at the beginning of each call, "Conversation is being recorded to improve service," which will protect you from legal risks.

⚠️ Note: Even if you recorded a conversation legally, publishing it or sharing it without the consent of the interlocutor may be considered a violation of the law, for example, by posting a post on social networks, you risk getting a lawsuit for the protection of honor and dignity.

6. Alternative methods: recording via second phone or computer

If none of the above methods worked (e.g., due to operator limitations or an older version of MIUI), you can use external recording devices, which is universal and works on any phone, but requires additional hardware.

Options:

• 📱 Second phone: put a second smartphone with a voice recorder running next to it (for example, the standard Dictaphone app on Xiaomi.
• 🎤 External voice recorder: connect through USB-C Bluetooth specialised device (e.g. Sony) ICD-UX570). Plus – high quality recording, minus – additional costs.
• 💻 Computer: Connect Redmi 9 to PC via USB, Enable the File Transfer Mode (MTP) And use programs like Audacity to record sound from the microphone.

Recording via computer will require:

1. Install Xiaomi drivers (download from the official website).
2. Enable USB Debugging on your phone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then Settings → Additional → For developers → Debugging over USB).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and run a recording program (e.g. OBS Studio with Capture Audio Output).

⚠️ Attention: when recording through USB Sound can be transmitted with delay or distortion. For better quality, use a Bluetooth headset with profiling support HFP (Hands-Free Profile).

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

When recording calls to Redmi 9, users often encounter common errors, and we've collected the most common and corrective methods:

If none of these methods worked, check if your mobile operator is blocking the recording. Some providers (such as MTS or Beeline) restrict the recording functionality at the network level, in which case only a change of the recording will help. SIM-Cards or use of VoIP calls (via WhatsApp, Telegram or Skype).

💡

On Xiaomi Redmi 9 with MIUI 14, recording VoIP calls (WhatsApp, Viber) is possible only through third-party applications like Cube ACR. The standard voice recorder or the built-in feature of the phone do not fix them.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions