How to Record a Phone Call on Xiaomi Redmi 9: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi Redmi 9 remains one of the most popular budget smartphones, but many users are faced with the problem: how to record an important phone conversation if the MIUI firmware does not have built-in call recording? In this article, we will discuss all the working methods – from hidden settings to third-party applications – that are guaranteed to work on your device.

It's important to understand that recording capabilities depend on the firmware version, regional restrictions, and even the carrier, for example, in some countries, recording conversations without notifying the interlocutor is prohibited by law, and we'll show you how to circumvent these restrictions legally and without risk to your device.

If you’re looking for a way to save business conversation, interviews, or just important information over the phone, this is the guide for you. All methods have been tested on the Redmi 9 with MIUI 12.5 and MIUI 14, but will also work for other Redmi series models (such as the Redmi Note 9 or Redmi 9A).

Can I record a conversation on Redmi 9 without apps?

The standard Xiaomi Redmi 9 firmware does not have a call recording feature, which is the official position of the company.

• 🔍 In some regions (e.g. India or Indonesia), there may be a hidden recording option in the firmware that can be activated via Settings. → Special facilities.
• 📱 On Google Phone (Google Call) models, recording conversations is available by default, but requires manual settings.

To check if you have a hidden function:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings.
3. Scroll down and look for Recording Conversations or Call Recording.

If you don't have one, don't worry. In the next section, we'll show you how to turn on the engineering menu (it doesn't work on all versions of MIUI).

Method 1: Enabling an entry through an engineering menu (for power users)

This method is suitable for MIUI 11-13 firmware and requires caution, so if you have never worked with an engineering menu, you should skip this section or back up the data.

Instructions:

1. Open the phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##
2. In the menu that opens, select Phone Information (or Phone Information).
3. Scroll down to the Turn on/off call recording block and activate the option.
4. Save the settings and restart the phone.

After the phone is rebooted, a recording button (usually a red circle) should appear during the call, and if it is not available, your firmware version does not support this method.

⚠️ Warning: Changing the settings in the engineering menu can cause a malfunction of the phone. Do not change other settings unless you know their purpose!

Method 2: Record conversations via Google Phone (official method)

If your Redmi 9 has a standard Xiaomi Phone app installed, this won’t work, but you can replace it with Google Phone (it supports call recording in some regions).

How to install and configure:

1. Download Google Phone from the Play Market.
2. Launch the application and resolve all requests (access to contacts, microphone, phone calls).
3. Make it the default app: go to Settings → Apps → Default → Phone and select Google Phone.
4. During the call, click on the Record button (will appear after the first update of the application).

Ready records will be stored in the Call Recordings folder in the phone’s internal memory, note that in some countries (e.g. the EU), Google blocks the recording function due to restrictions, in which case a VPN will help.

Install Google Phone from Play Market

Make it a default application

Allow access to microphone and calls

Update the application to the latest version-->

Method 3: Call recording applications (most reliable option)

If the first two didn't work, the most common method is to use third-party apps, and we tested 5 popular programs and selected the two most stable ones for Redmi 9:

We recommend Cube ACR, which works best on Xiaomi and supports high-quality recording.

1. Open the app and allow access to calls and microphone.
2. In the settings, enable Automatic Recording (for all calls or only for selected contacts).
3. Select the save format (recommended MP3 for space saving).
4. Make sure that the phone settings allow the application to auto-run (otherwise, the recording may not start).

Important: on MIUI 14+, some recording applications may not work due to new restrictions on microphone access during calls, in which case a pullback to MIUI 13 or the use of Magisk modules (requires root rights) will help.

⚠️ Warning: Call recording apps may conflict with Xiaomi's power saving features. Add the selected app to the list with no battery setting restrictions, or the record will end.

Where are the records of conversations stored and how to save them?

By default, records are stored in the phone's internal memory, but they're easy to lose when you reset your settings or update your firmware. Here's how to manage files:

• 📁 Cube ACR and similar applications create a CallRecordings folder or ACR memory-root.
• ☁️ Use Google Drive or Mi Cloud for backup (there is usually an automatic download option in the app settings).
• 🔄 To make room, transfer old records to a computer or external drive (via Explorer or Driver) MI File Manager).

If the Suddenly disappeared records (disappeared), check:

1. Recycle Bin folder in MI File Manager (sometimes files are added after updates).
2. Write app settings – Automatic deletion of old files may be enabled.
3. Storage in phone settings: sometimes MIUI optimizes memory and deletes "unnecessary" files.

For long-term storage, we recommend converting records to MP3 format (for example, through the MP3 Cutter application) and uploading them to the cloud, which will protect files from accidental deletion.

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If the records take up too much space, in Cube ACR settings you can reduce the bitrate to 64 kbit / s – the quality will remain acceptable, and the files will weigh 2-3 times less.

Legal aspects: can you record conversations without consent?

In most countries, recording telephone conversations is allowed, but with important reservations:

• 🇷🇺 In Russia (Article 23 of the Constitution), recording a conversation without the consent of the interlocutor is prohibited unless you are a participant in it, but if you are the one who is conducting the conversation, the recording is permissible for personal use (but not for distribution).
• 🇺🇸 In the United States, laws vary by state: some (for example, California) require the consent of all participants in the conversation, in others (for example, Texas) – the consent of one person is enough.
• 🇪🇺 The EU countries are operating GDPR: Recording conversations without notice may be considered a breach of confidentiality.

To avoid problems:

1. Always notify the person about the recording (for example: “I’m recording our conversation for the record, is that okay?”).
2. Do not distribute the recordings without the consent of the participants.
3. Use the records only for legitimate purposes (for example, to record business agreements).

If you are recording a conversation for court or other official purposes, check the evidence requirements in your country.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after you set up the record correctly, you can still experience failures, and we've collected common errors and ways to fix them:

If none of these methods worked, try:

1. Update your firmware to the latest version (sometimes Xiaomi returns the recording function in new updates).
2. Install custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience) where call recording works out of the box.
3. Use a second phone to record (for example, via speakerphone).

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On MIUI 14+, the most reliable way to record is to use the Cube ACR application with VoIP enabled and power saving turned off for this application.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions