Xiaomi smartphones have long established themselves as one of the best devices on the Android market, offering users a wide range of functionality even in basic firmware. However, owners of the Xiaomi Mi 9 model often face an unpleasant situation: the standard feature of recording telephone conversations, familiar to residents of Russia and CIS countries, is absent from their device, this is due not to technical limitations of iron, but to software restrictions imposed by global versions of MIUI Global firmware under the European Union legislation on personal data protection.
It may seem like a dead end, but the solution is actually quite simple: you don't have to have superuser rights or scour the phone to the Chinese version to access the quictophone, you just have to change the software region of the device, which activates hidden system functions, including the built-in recording mechanism. In this article, we'll go through all the nuances of this process, look at alternative methods, and answer frequently asked questions.
Why the recording of conversations on Xiaomi Mi 9 was missing
The main reason for the absence of a write button during a call lies in the geographical reference of the software shell. MIUI. When you buy a phone with global firmware, the system determines the region of the phone. SIM-If you select a region of a country where recording conversations without notifying the interlocutor is prohibited by law (for example, EU countries), the corresponding module in the Phone system application is blocked.
The Xiaomi Mi 9, released in 2019, originally came with different software versions. In the Chinese and Indian versions, the recording function is built-in by default and works transparently for the user. In the European versions, Google and Xiaomi were forced to implement strict restrictions, which means that the physical speaker and microphone of your smartphone are fully functional and capable of recording sound, but the software interface hides this ability.
⚠️ Note: Before changing settings, make sure you understand your country’s laws regarding recording telephone conversations.
It is important to understand the difference between system recording and third-party applications. System recording is integrated into the call process, requires no additional permissions and works steadily. Third-party programs often struggle with the limitations of Android, which leads to quiet recordings or their complete absence on new versions of the OS. Therefore, activating the hidden system function is the most preferred solution for the owner of Xiaomi Mi 9.
The method of changing the region: activation of the hidden function
The most effective and safe way to return a recording of conversations on Xiaomi 9 is to change the region in the system settings. This method does not require the installation of questionable software and works at the level of system libraries. After the change of region, the Phone application interface is updated and the necessary functionality is available in it, characteristic of countries with less stringent laws in this area.
The process of changing the settings takes only a couple of minutes. You don't have to reboot the device or reset the data. The system simply resets the operation of certain services in the background. The most suitable regions for activating this feature are Singapore, India or Malaysia. the recording function is standard and does not cause conflicts with other system services.
☑️ Checklist for recording activation
It's worth noting that after a region change, you may have new widgets or some system sounds change, which is normal MIUI behavior. If you're annoyed by the extra apps that appear on the desktop, you can simply delete them or hide them, the main thing is that the target feature - recording conversations - will become available in normal mode.
Step-by-step instruction for setting up
To activate the function, follow the exact algorithm of actions. Errors at this stage are rare, but attentiveness will not hurt. Open the main menu of your Xiaomi Mi 9 and find the Settings icon (cog). Next, sequentially follow the path: Settings → Additional settings → Region.
In the country list that opens, select Singapore or India. The system can freeze for a few seconds, applying changes. Then go back to the phone app. Now, when you call in or out, you should see a voice recorder button or a text record button.
Activation path:
Settings -> Additional settings -> Region -> SingaporeIf the button doesn't appear right away, try a test call. In some cases, you need one incoming or outgoing call to initialize a new profile. Also make sure that the phone app itself doesn't have a no-write setting. To do this, click on the three dots or gears in the call interface and find "Call Record."
💡
After changing the region, go to the voice recorder settings and turn on the option “Record calls automatically” so as not to miss important conversations.
Set up write parameters and file format
Once the feature has been successfully activated, it is crucial to set the settings right so that it is recorded exactly as you want. In Xiaomi Mi 9, the recording settings are located deep in the Phone app menu. Click on the gear icon in the upper right corner of the call interface and select Call Record.
You can flexibly manage the process here, and the following options are available:
- 📞 Automatic Recording: Turn on this switch so that the phone records all incoming and outgoing calls without you being involved.
- 📁 Save folder: By default, records are saved to internal memory in the folder MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec.
- 🔊 Interviewer recording: Make sure the volume is set to maximum so that the voice of the interlocutor is clearly heard.
The format of recorded files is usually MP3 or AAC, which provides good quality with a minimum file size. These files are easily transferred to the computer or sent via messengers. In the settings menu, you can also choose whether to write only certain numbers or, conversely, ignore contacts from the phone book.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Recording mode | All calls. | Automatic recording of all numbers |
| Sound source | Microphone | Main channel of recording |
| Format | MP3 | Universal audio format |
| Notification | On/off | Audible signal during recording |
Alternative methods: third-party applications
If for some reason the method of changing the region is not suitable for you (for example, you do not want to see Chinese services in the news feed), you can resort to using third-party software. However, on Android 9 and higher, which is on the Xiaomi Mi 9, Google has significantly limited the capabilities of such applications. They no longer have direct access to the audio stream of the call.
There are several popular solutions that try to get around these limitations:
- 📱 Call Recorder - Cube ACR: One of the most powerful applications that can switch between sound sources (VoIP, a regular call).
- 🎙️ TapeACall: a popular solution that often uses the conferencing method for recording (paid).
- 🤖 Automatic Call Recorder: A classic application with a simple interface, but may require additional permissions.
⚠️ Warning: Third-party applications may not work properly on global firmware MIUI. Often recording is only done through a microphone, which can cause the voice of the interlocutor to be very quiet or muffled.
Such applications on Xiaomi often require granting special permissions in the Accessibility menu. Without this, the system will block the recording. In addition, the battery can run faster, since the application runs in the background constantly. This is a less reliable way compared to system activation through a change of region.
Why do third-party apps write silence?
Where are the records stored and how to transfer them
Understanding the file structure MIUI All recorded files are stored in the internal storage of the device, and the path to them is as follows: → MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec. This is where all your dialogues are in chronological order.
You can use any standard audio player to listen to it, but for ease of management, you can use the built-in Dictator app or the MIUI file manager. There, records are often sorted by contacts and dates, which makes it easier to find the right conversation. If you plan to make room on your phone, these files can be safely transferred to your computer or to the cloud storage.
The process of porting to the PC is simple: connect Xiaomi Mi 9 computer-to-computer USB-cable, select the "File Transfer" mode» (MTP) and copy the folder. call_rec. To transfer over the cloud (such as Google Drive or Mi Cloud), simply select the files you want in the manager and click “Send” or “Download».
💡
The files take up a little space (around) 1 MB per minute of conversation), but over time can accumulate gigabytes, so check the folder regularly call_rec.