How to record a phone conversation on Xiaomi Redmi 9

Xiaomi budget smartphone owners often face unexpected software limitations. The Redmi 9, launched in 2020, originally came with a MIUI shell that allowed them to record conversations with regular means. However, global security updates and changes to Google’s policy have made their own adjustments to the standard call.

To make matters worse, different regions and firmware versions have different audio streaming algorithms, so if you upgraded to Android 10 or higher, it could automatically replace the phone’s native app with Google Phone, a standard practice for global versions to enforce privacy laws in the EU, making recording a conversation on Xiaomi Redmi 9 a task that requires an understanding of the system’s architecture.

Don't despair, because technically, the ability to capture a conversation is almost always possible. You will either need to activate hidden functions or configure alternative software correctly. Below we will discuss in detail all available methods, from standard tools to third-party solutions that are guaranteed to work on this device.

The regular recording function in MIUI Dialer

The first thing you need to check for Redmi 9 is the functionality built into the standard application. The MIUI shell (especially versions under 12.5) often preinstalled its own Dialer, which has powerful recording functionality. To check for it, open the Phone app and click on the three dots or gear in the corner of the screen to enter the settings.

If you have one, you're lucky that the system allows you to record automatically or by clicking a button during a conversation. However, newer versions of firmware may hide or rename this section, sometimes requiring you to change the region of the device to China or India in the system settings to activate this option, since in Europe it is often blocked by law.

⚠️ Note: When changing region in settings (Settings) → Additional settings → Region: The phone may change its interface language and set of pre-installed apps, and be prepared to return the region back when the desired function is activated.

If a point is found, you can set up an automatic entry for all numbers or only for selected contacts. MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec Or in a standard voice recorder, and the sound quality in this mode is usually high, because it uses direct capture of the digital audio stream, rather than recording through a microphone.

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If after changing the region, the record did not appear, try to clear the cache of the Phone application through the application management menu and restart the smartphone.

Features of Google Phone (Google Dialer)

This is a game-changer if your Redmi 9 has a Google Phone app installed, or if you reset your phone when you tighten up Google services, in which case recording a conversation on Xiaomi becomes more difficult due to the limitations of the Android operating system itself.

The main problem is notifying the interlocutor. Starting with certain versions, Google Dialer compulsorily turns on a loud signal and a voice message "Recording has begun" for both sides of the conversation, which is impossible to avoid using standard methods, since this is a requirement of Android security. However, if you are not confused by the warning, the functionality can be used.

To activate, you need to open the call settings, find the Call Record section, and turn on the switchboard. It is important to understand that in some countries this item may not be completely missing, in which case the system blocks the ability to record at the regional settings level. SIM-card IP-address.

There's a nuance to sound quality. In Google Phone mode, recording is often done through a microphone, not from an internal channel, which means that if you hold the phone to your ear, the sound of the interlocutor can be quiet or intermittent, and it's recommended to use a speakerphone or headphones for better quality recording of the dialogue.

Use of third-party applications for recording

When Xiaomi Redmi 9’s regular tools don’t meet the requirements, third-party apps come to the rescue.The market is full of solutions, but not all of them are able to bypass the limitations of Android 10/11/12.

One of the leaders in this niche is Call Recorder's Cube ACR app, which can work with different phone bases and often successfully records sound even where others surrender. Once installed, you'll need to provide an extensive list of permissions, including access to special capabilities, which is necessary so that the app can "hear" the audio during the call.

Another popular option is TapeACall or Blackbox Call Recorder. The way they work can be different: some use conferencing to record, which can be paid or require a stable Internet.

• 📱 Cube ACR: Supports recording from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) and has flexible settings of sound sources.
• 🎙️ Call Recorder SKVALEX: A paid but powerful solution that requires root rights for maximum quality, but works in a limited mode without them.
• 📼 Automatic Call Recorder: Simple interface, automatic cloud upload, but may experience volume issues on newer versions of Android.

⚠️ Warning: Installing third-party recorders requires giving access to microphone and phone. download apps only from a trusted Google Play store to avoid personal data leakage.

Developers need time to release patches, so always have 2-3 versions of such programs on hand for testing.

Configure sound sources and resolutions

The quality of the recording on Xiaomi Redmi 9 depends on the right choice of sound source. In the settings of most advanced recorders, there is an option "Audio Source" or "Sound Source". If you choose the value "Default" (Default), the system can use a microphone that will catch ambient noise and your voice, but the voice of the interlocutor will be deaf.

The best option is to choose "Voice Communication" or "Microphone (Sensitivity High)". Some Xiaomi devices with MIUI shells work well with the source "Voice Uplink" or "Voice Downlink", but their availability depends on the specific version of the kernel system. Experimentally select the option where you hear both sides of the dialogue.

Don’t forget to check the permissions in the system. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find your recorder and make sure that all the necessary switches are on. Pay special attention to the permission to “Start” and work in the background, otherwise MIUI can “kill” the recording process to save battery.

Where records are stored and how to manage them

Recorded conversation files take up space in Redmi's internal memory 9. By default, they can be saved in different directories depending on the application used. For a Xiaomi recorder, it is usually a hidden folder. MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec, This can be seen through the file manager.

Third-party applications often create their folder at the root of the storage, such as CallRecordings or Recordings. To avoid losing important files when resetting settings or breaking the phone, it is recommended to set up automatic sync with the cloud. Many apps allow you to download records immediately after the call is completed in Google Drive, Dropbox or on the Internet. FTP-server.

File management also includes periodic cleaning, high-quality records can be large, and it is recommended to audit and delete unnecessary items once a month, or transfer the archive to a computer or microSD card if it is installed in a slot.

Addressing common problems

Even with the right setup, Redmi 9 users can face typical problems, the most common being recording silence or recording only their own voice, which almost always indicates the wrong sound source in the app settings or the Android system blocking access.

The second problem is that you suddenly stop recording in the middle of a conversation, and it's because of the aggressive optimization of the battery in MIUI, and the system thinks that the recorder application is not necessary if the screen is turned off, and it ends the process, and the solution is one: stop the system from closing the application.

To do this, go to Settings → Battery and Performance, find your application and select No Limits mode. Also, you should pin the application to the list of running processes (lock in the multitasking menu) so that it always remains in memory.

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Aggressive energy saving MIUI is the main enemy of stable conversation recording.