How to record a conversation on a Xiaomi phone: 5 proven ways + legal subtleties

Recording phone conversations on Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that users face for a variety of reasons, from fixing important business negotiations to preserving evidence in controversial situations. However, standard MIUI capabilities are not always obvious, and third-party applications can work unstable or violate laws. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to record calls on Redmi, POCO and Xiaomi devices – from built-in functions to hidden settings, and also tell you how to not break the law while doing so.

The feature of Xiaomi smartphones is that the ability to record conversations depends on the version of MIUI, regional firmware and even the device model. For example, on the Xiaomi 13 Pro with global firmware, the function can be blocked, whereas on the Redmi Note 12 with the Chinese version of the software it is available out of the box. We tested all methods on current versions of MIUI 14/15 and identified those that work stably in 2026.

Important: Before recording conversations, check the legal nuances in your country; in some regions, recording without the consent of the interlocutor can be considered a violation of the law on personal data.

1. Built-in conversation recording in MIUI: where to look and how to turn on

On most Xiaomi smartphones, the call recording feature is integrated into the standard Phone app, but its visibility depends on the firmware version.

1. Open the Phone app (the tube icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the recent tab (calling history).
3. Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Settings.
4. Scroll down to the Recording of Conversations section (on some firmware, the item is called Call Recording).

If you don't have a clause, your firmware doesn't support out of the box, so move on to the following ways: on firmware in India and China, recording is usually available by default, whereas on global versions (EEA, Russia) it's often removed due to legal restrictions.

Check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Update the firmware to the latest version

Install an alternative dialer (see Section 3)

Use third-party applications (section 4)-->

On some models (e.g. POCO F5 or Xiaomi 12T), the recording is turned on right during the call — just click on the Record button that appears on the call screen. If there is no button, try:

• 📱 Reset the settings of the application Phone: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Phone. → Warehouse → Clear the data.
• 🔄 Switch to Chinese firmware (requires unlocking the bootloader).
• 🛠️ Install a patch through Magisk (for advanced users).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with Android 12+ Google has restricted apps from accessing the microphone during calls, which means many third-party recording programs have stopped working without root rights.

2. Hidden MIUI settings: how to unlock a recording through the engineering menu

If the built-in recording feature is disabled at the firmware level, you can try activating it via an engineering menu (power users only!), a technique that works on some Redmi and POCO models with Qualcomm processors.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##.
2. In the menu that appears, select Phone Information.
3. Scroll down to the Recording Settings (or Call Recording) section.
4. Activate the Enable Call Recording Switch.
5. Reset the device.

After the reboot, the Phone app should have a write button, and if the menu is missing or the settings are not saved, then your model does not support this method.

Important: This method may not work on all devices. For example, on Xiaomi 13 Ultra with MIUI 14, the engineering menu does not contain options for recording calls, while on Redmi Note 10 Pro with MIUI 12.5, the function is activated without problems.

3. Alternative dialers with recording function

If the built-in methods don't work, the most reliable way is to install a third-party dialer app with recording support. We tested 5 popular solutions and selected those that work stably on Xiaomi without root rights.

The most versatile version is Truecaller, which not only records conversations, but also detects spam calls.

1. Install Truecaller from Google Play.
2. Register (a telephone number will be required).
3. Go to Settings. → Recording of conversations.
4. Enable the option of Automatic Recording.

Truecaller saves records in the cloud, which may not be safe for confidential conversations. Use Cube ACR for local storage, but note that on newer versions of Android it requires root rights.

Built-in MIUI function

Truecaller

Cube Call Recorder ACR

Boldbeast

Other/not recording-->

4. Record conversations through the second device (without applications)

If the software isn't working, you can record a conversation with a second phone or a voice recorder, which is legal in most countries, because you only record your side of the conversation.

• 📱 The second device (smartphone, tablet, voice recorder).
• 🔊 External microphone (optional, for better sound).
• 🎧 Headphones with microphone (to reduce echoes).

Algorithm of action:

1. Connect the headphones to the main phone (Xiaomi).
2. Place the second device next to the headphone microphone.
3. Enable recording on the second device (for example, through a standard recorder).
4. Start a conversation. The voice of the person will be transmitted through the microphone of the headphones.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ It works on all versions. MIUI Android.
• ✅ No need to install software.
• ✅ Legally (you only write your side).

Disadvantages:

• ❌ The sound quality depends on the acoustics of the room.
• ❌ It requires synchronization of two devices.

💡

For better sound, use a directional microphone or place a second device 10-15 cm from the main phone speaker. Avoid hands-free communication - this worsens the recording quality.

5. Legal aspects: when recording a conversation is legal and when it is not

In Russia, according to article 23 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation and FZ-152 "On personal data", recording a conversation without the consent of the interlocutor is allowed only in one case:

If you are a participant in a conversation and record it for personal needs (do not distribute it publicly).

But there are nuances:

• 📜 For litigation, a record can only be considered evidence if the interlocutor was notified of the record before the conversation began.
• 🚫 It is forbidden to distribute the recording on the Internet or use it for blackmail.
• 💼 In business correspondence (for example, with banks or support services), companies are often warned about recording at the beginning of the call - it is legal.

The European Union (including the EEU) has a GDPR that requires explicit consent to record personal data, can incur a fine of up to 20 million euros, and in the United States, laws vary by state, with some (e.g. California) requiring consent from all participants in a conversation.

💡

If you're recording a conversation for a trial, notify the person in advance by saying, "The conversation is recorded to record information," which will strengthen the legal force of the record.

On Xiaomi smartphones with Chinese firmware, when you turn on the record, you automatically play a voice notification: "This conversation is recorded." This is done to comply with local laws. On global firmware, such a notification may not be available - be careful!

6 Where records are stored and how to keep them

By default, the conversation records on Xiaomi are saved in the folder:

/sdcard/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/

Or (on some firmware):

/sdcard/Recordings/Call/

The files are.amr or.mp3 and named by template: Recording_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.amr. To transfer them to the PC or the cloud:

1. Connect your phone to your computer via USB (select File Transfer mode).
2. Go to the folder with the records (see the paths above).
3. Copy files to a secure location (we recommend encrypting the archive).

If there are no records in the specified folders:

• 🔍 Check the Settings. → Warehouse → Files. → Audio.
• 📁 Use a file manager (e.g. Mi File Manager) with hidden folders enabled.
• ☁️ If you have used Truecaller, records are stored in its cloud: Profile → Records.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI The records are automatically deleted after 30 days, and to avoid this, transfer them to another folder (for example, Downloads) or to a cloud drive.

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

Xiaomi users often face the following problems when recording conversations:

If the recording is interrupted due to battery optimization:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Consumption Management by Apps.
2. Find your dialer (like Truecaller) and select Unlimited.

For models with MediaTek (e.g. Redmi 10C), disabling VoLTE can help:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
2. Turn off the Volte Call option.
3. Reset the device.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions