The Redmi 8 has become a hit in the budget segment, offering users the robust work and functionality that is usually expected of more expensive devices. However, one of the most sought-after features, which is often the subject of disputes and technical limitations, is the ability to capture the audio stream during communication. Xiaomi owners are constantly looking for ways to bypass software locks or properly configure embedded tools.
The problem is more pressing than ever, as laws and policies of companies like Google are constantly changing the rules of the game. On devices running the MIUI shell, the situation is complicated by the fact that different systems calls can be used in different regions of the firmware. If you just purchased a device or upgraded to the latest version of Android, you need to understand the current state of affairs.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the available methods, from standard tools to installing third-party software, why the recording button disappeared on some devices and how to return it without losing warranty, and we will look at the technical details of microphones and the software constraints that the operating system imposes.
Features of the MIUI Dialer system call
Xiaomi originally used its own device called MIUI Dialer, which allowed you to record conversations in just one click, and the user just pressed a button during the call, and the file was stored in memory, and it was convenient, simple and stable on all versions of firmware, including global ones, but with the release of new versions of Android, things changed dramatically.
Beginning with certain Google security updates, third-party apps and even system calls were banned from recording internal audio, which led to the global versions of MIUI 12 and newer firmware often being removed or hidden, and Redmi 8 owners now face the fact that the call interface is missing a familiar icon or inactive.
It's worth noting that Chinese firmware versions (CN ROMs) often lack restrictions and are fully functional, creating an unequal environment for users from different regions to look for workarounds. If you get the global version, you're very likely to run into the limitations of Google Phone.
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Before any manipulation of system applications, be sure to back up important contacts and data to avoid losing them in the event of a crash.
It is important to understand the difference between recording through a microphone (when you hear only the interlocutor or very quietly) and recording system sound (pure stereo). MIUI Dialer in older versions was able to write system sound, while new solutions are often limited to the microphone, which is a key point that affects the quality of the final audio file.
Google Phone Use and Hidden Codes
Most modern Redmi 8 devices, especially those that have been released or updated in recent years, have a Google Phone call installed by default, which has a recording feature built in, but has its own features. First, the system warns both interlocutors about recording with a loud voice message, which is not always convenient. Second, the function can be hidden depending on the region of the SIM card.
To activate the ability to fix the conversation in Google Dialer, you often do not need to install additional software, just change the settings or use special software. USSD-However, it is worth remembering that Google is actively fighting to bypass these restrictions, so methods may stop working after another security update.
There is a method of activating via a hidden settings menu, which requires you to go to the dial menu and enter a special code that opens the hidden features of the device. Codes may vary depending on the version of MIUI and region, but the most common is logging into the test menu.
##6484##Once you enter this combination, you will open an engineering menu where you can find sections related to hardware testing. However, to enable call recording, you most often need access to the settings of the Phone application itself, rather than the general engineering menu. If the standard path through the settings fails, users resort to changing the region.
Changing the region as a way to activate the function
One of the most effective and safest ways to return the recording feature is to change the region in your smartphone settings. The logic is simple: in some countries (for example, India, Indonesia, Vietnam), the law allows you to record conversations without mandatory voice alerts or with milder restrictions. By switching regions, you force the system to reconfigure applications.
To do this, you need to go to the main settings of the device, and you need to find the region and select the country from the recommended list. After changing the region, the phone can reboot some services, and the long-awaited button may appear in the phone application.
☑️ Algorithm of region change
And you have to consider that changing your region doesn't just affect your call, you can change your browser news feeds, you can get local apps in the GetApps store, you can change your time zone and date format, so once you activate the desired function, you can try to return the region, although in some cases the function may disappear again.
The effectiveness of the method depends on the version installed MIUI. On older versions of the shell (MIUI 11 and early MIUI 12), this trick worked almost flawlessly. On new versions, where the Google Phone is tightly integrated, changing the region can only enable recording with voice notification, but does not remove the notification itself.
Third-party applications for recording conversations
If the system methods fail to achieve the desired result, third-party development comes to the rescue. The Android application market offers many solutions, but due to the limitations of Android 10, 11 and above, most of them work unstable, either writing sound only through the microphone (which gives low quality), or requiring complex manipulation of access to special features.
Cube ACR has long been a leader in this niche, and it can bypass some restrictions using Accessibility Services, and when installed, it will ask for permissions to allow a variety of rights, including screen recording or access to special features, which are necessary to intercept the audio stream.
| Annex | Type of record | I need a Root. | Stability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cube ACR | System/Microphone | No (preferably) | Tall. |
| Automatic Call Recorder | Microphone | No. | Medium |
| TapeACall | Conference liaison | No. | Low (paid) |
| Blackbox Call Recorder | Systemic | Often required | Tall. |
It is important to understand that installing third-party apps from unknown sources carries security risks.Always download software from trusted stores such as Google Play or reputable alternative markets. Xiaomi's security settings may display a warning about a potential threat that you will have to ignore if you are confident in the source of the file.
Why did some apps stop working?
The problem of lack of sound of the interlocutor
A common complaint of Redmi 8 users is that only the owner of the phone can be heard while recording, and the voice of the interlocutor is absent or barely distinguishable, due to the fact that the voice of the interlocutor is transmitted over a secure communication channel to which the recorder application does not have direct access, as a result, recording is only from the main microphone that captures your voice.
To try to remedy this, you can try changing the sound source in the recording app settings, and if you have that option, switch it from "Microphone" to "Voice Call" or "Voice Communication," but on modern Android versions, this option is often blocked by the system.
Another solution is to turn on the speakerphone while you're talking, and in that case, the speaker's voice will play back through the speaker, and the phone's microphone will be able to pick it up, and the quality will be lower than the system recording, but at least both sides of the dialogue will be heard.
⚠️ Note: Using hands-free to record can cause echoes and extraneous noises in the final file, especially if you are in a room with poor acoustics.
It's also worth checking the noise reduction settings. Aggressive MIUI algorithms can perceive the voice of the interlocutor coming from the speaker as background noise and try to drown it out. Turning off noise reduction in some cases helps improve the legibility of the second side.
Where are the records stored and how to find them
Once a file is written successfully, it needs to be saved somewhere, depending on the method used (a regular call or a third-party application), the path to the files may differ. MIUI files are usually in a folder MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec You can find them through the standard Files Explorer".
If you use Google Phone, most of the time, records are saved in the Phone/Call folder or are accessed directly from your call history, so just open a call log, select the number you want, and the play button below it will show up, and it's a user-friendly interface, but it doesn't make it easy to copy a file to your computer without doing anything else.
To access hidden folders, you may need to enable the display of hidden files in Explorer. In Explorer, click three dots in the corner and select the appropriate menu item, which will allow you to see all system directories.
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The standard path to records MIUI: Internal memory -> MIUI -> sound_recorder -> call_rec. Google Dialer: Internal Memory -> Phone -> Call.
Remember to periodically clean the memory of old records, as they can take up a significant amount of storage. Audio files, especially in high quality, quickly consume free space on the Redmi 8 drive, which does not always have excess memory.