Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face the challenge of capturing important information voiced during a call, whether it’s an order confirmation, a customer agreement, or just a big reminder from a relative, the voice recorder feature becomes indispensable in conversation, but in recent versions of MIUI shell and global Android firmware, this option is sometimes hidden or not working properly due to changes in Google’s privacy policy.
A standard caller pre-installed on a Redmi Note or Xiaomi Mi has a built-in recording mechanism, but it can be disabled by an operator or region. Understanding how to activate this feature or what to replace it will save you a lot of time and nerves, and we will take a look at all the available methods, from standard tools to third-party applications.
It’s worth considering that Android’s security policy is constantly changing.What worked on Android 10 may require additional tweaks on Android 12 or 13. So it’s important to check the relevance of the techniques for your particular device model.
Built-in recording function in the "Phone" application
The easiest and most reliable way to do this is to use the capabilities that the manufacturer has put into the standard application. On most Xiaomi devices with MIUI shells (especially in Chinese and some European versions), this feature is present by default. To check for it, you need to open the Phone application and go to the settings.
Usually, the path is this: click three dots in the corner of the screen, select Settings, and find Call Record. If there is no such section, then this option is software-locked for your region or firmware version, in which case the system may suggest using Google Drive or third-party solutions.
⚠️ Attention, global versions. MIUI, Based on Google’s strict policies, the write button can be removed from the interface at the system file level, rather than simply hidden in the menu.
If the feature is available, you can set up an automatic record of all incoming or outgoing calls, and only record contacts from a specific list. MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec and are available for listening directly from the call history.
The sound quality of the built-in method is usually high, as the application has direct access to the system's audio stream, eliminating the need to turn on speakerphone, which is often required by third-party programs.
Use of third-party applications for recording
When regular funds are not available, Google Play apps come to the rescue, but because of the limitations of Android 9 and above, many of them are unstable, they can only record your voice, and the interlocutor will be barely audible, or require the speakerphone to turn on.
One of the most popular solutions is the Cube ACR app, which can bypass some of the system’s limitations using special accessibility services, and once installed, you’ll need to give the app a number of permissions, including access to a microphone, phone, and overlay windows.
- 📱 Cube ACR: Supports recording from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) and has flexible quality settings.
- 🎙️ TapeACall: Popular solution, but often requires a paid subscription to access full functionality and works via conferencing.
- 📼 Call Recorder - ACR: Classic application with support for cloud storage and automatic file sorting.
When using third-party software, it is important to monitor permissions, and if an application requests access to contacts or locations without the explicit need to record sound, it may be a sign of collecting excess data.