Owners of Xiaomi Mi 9 smartphones often face an unexpected limitation: after upgrading the operating system to Android 10 and higher, the standard call recording feature may disappear or not work correctly.This is due to changes in Google’s privacy policy that prohibit third-party and system applications from accessing the audio stream during a conversation without the interlocutor’s knowledge. However, recording telephone conversations remains a critical feature for many users, whether it is fixing customer agreements or saving personal correspondence in voice format.
Fortunately, the MIUI shell installed on the Xiaomi Mi 9 has deep system settings that in most cases allow you to bypass these restrictions. Unlike many other manufacturers, Xiaomi often returns recording functionality to its firmware, even if Google tries to block it at the kernel level. In this article, we will look at all the available methods of activating recording, from hidden settings of the region to installing specialized software.
It is important to understand that the success of the operation depends on the version of your firmware (Global, China, EEA) and the version of Android. On some global versions of MIUI 12 and later, the standard voice recorder can be completely removed from the application code. So we will offer a comprehensive approach that will solve the problem in 99% of cases. Before starting any manipulations, make sure that you have a stable Internet connection to download the necessary components.
Why the recording of conversations on Xiaomi Mi 9 was missing
The disappearance of the recording button during a call is not a bug, but a consequence of global changes in privacy laws. Google, the developer of the Android operating system, has implemented strict restrictions on the API for calls. Starting with Android 9 and especially with Android 10, access to the microphone during an active call for applications that are not system, was blocked, which means that third-party programs from Google Play can no longer record the voice of the interlocutor, recording only the silence or voice of the owner of the phone.
In the case of Xiaomi Mi 9, the situation is aggravated by the fact that in global firmware (Global ROM), Xiaomi is forced to comply with these rules so that its devices can be certified and have pre-installed Google services. In Chinese versions of firmware, this feature usually does not arise, because local legislation is less strict on the issue of recording conversations. Users who bought a phone in Europe or the CIS often get a device with a “stripped” call functionality.
⚠️ Warning: Trying to reflash your phone with Chinese firmware on a global or vice versa without unlocking the bootloader can lead to a loss of warranty and errors in the operation of banking applications.
However, Xiaomi engineers have left loopholes. Often, the recording feature is physically present in the code of the Phone app, but hidden from the user depending on the selected region. Changing the location settings of a smartphone can instantly unlock the missing button. It is also worth noting that different versions of the MIUI shell (for example, 10, 11, 12 or 13) may have different algorithms to hide this feature.
Activation through region change in settings
The easiest and safest way to get back the ability to record conversations on the Xiaomi Mi 9 is to change the system region. The logic behind the MIUI shell is that for certain countries (like India, Indonesia or Singapore), Google restrictions do not apply or apply to a lesser extent, because local law allows for recording conversations. By switching the region, you make the phone think it is in another country, and the system automatically loads the corresponding settings profiles.
You don't need root rights or a computer connection to do this. All actions are done directly in the smartphone settings menu. The process takes no more than one minute and doesn't require a device restart, although in some rare cases restarting can help you apply the changes correctly. If the recording button appears after changing the region but is unstable, try clearing the cache of the Phone app.
☑️ Algorithm of region change
It's worth considering that changing your region can affect some system applications, such as Security or theme store. For example, you can change the available wallpaper or recommendations in your browser. However, the basic functions of your smartphone, communication and Internet operation are not affected. If the region you choose does not help, try another one - sometimes the settings for Indonesia work better than for India, depending on the version of MIUI.
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Once you activate the write function through region change, you can try to return the region back to Russia or Ukraine. In 80% of cases, the record function remains active, since it is written into the system configuration file.
Set up automatic call recording
Once the recording feature is available, it is crucial to set it up properly to keep important conversations in mind. Manually turning on the recording every time can be uncomfortable, especially if the call caught you by surprise. Xiaomi Mi 9's built-in mechanism allows you to set up automatic recording for all incoming and outgoing calls or for specific contacts from the phone book.
To access the settings, you need to open the Phone app (green handset) and click on the three dots in the upper right corner, then select Record Settings. Here you will see the Auto Record switch. Once you activate it, you can select the mode: record all calls only coming from unknown numbers or only from selected contacts, which gives you the flexibility to manage disk space and privacy.
| Setup parameter | Description of function | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| All the calls | Recording starts automatically on any call. | Use with caution, fills up memory quickly |
| Selected numbers | Recording is only for contacts from the list | Optimal for recording conversations with customers |
| Unknown numbers | Call records from numbers, not in the phone book | Useful for protection against scams and spam |
| Warning | Voice notification of recording start | It is recommended to include for compliance with etiquette |
The "Warn about recording" option is worth special attention. If this item is activated, your interlocutor will hear a voice message that the conversation is being recorded. This is a requirement of many countries' laws. However, if you want to record secretly (at your own risk), this option can be turned off. You can also choose the save format from this menu: M4A (best quality with a smaller size) or MP3 (maximum compatibility).
Use of third-party applications for recording
If the system methods to activate the recording on Xiaomi Mi 9 failed, third-party solutions come to the rescue. However, as mentioned earlier, regular voice recorders from the Play Market often do not work due to the limitations of Android. You will need specialized applications that can bypass locks using special availability modes or VoIP protocols.
One of the most effective solutions is the Cube ACR app, which uses Accessibility Services to capture audio, and when you install it, you'll need to give you extended permissions, which may sound suspicious, but it's necessary to work, and when you install it, it'll prompt you to activate the Cube ACR App Connector in the phone's special settings.
- 📞 Cube ACR — Supports recording via VoIP (Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram) and regular calls, has cloud storage.
- 🎙️ Call Recorder - SKVALEX — A paid but very powerful application with flexible settings of sound sources, suitable for experienced users.
- 📼 Automatic Call Recorder is a simple interface, automatically uploaded to the cloud, but may require hands-free for better quality.
⚠️ Note: When installing third-party recorders antivirus MIUI It can tag them as potentially dangerous, and it's a standard reaction to applications that request access to calls and microphones, and if you downloaded an app from a trusted source, the risk is minimal.
An important nuance when using third-party software is the choice of sound source. In the settings of the recorder application, you often need to manually specify "Voice Call" or "Voice Communication." If you choose the wrong source, you will get a file that only you can hear. On Xiaomi Mi 9, it is also recommended to turn off battery optimization for the recorder application so that the system does not "kill" the recording process in the background.
What to do if a third-party app writes silence?
Where are the records stored and how to find them
After a successful recording of a conversation, the question arises: where to look for a saved file? Depending on the recording method (built-in voice recorder or third-party application), the path to the files may differ. Understanding the structure of the MIUI file system will help you quickly find the information you need and, if necessary, transfer it to your computer or to the cloud.
If you used a standard Xiaomi call, the records are usually stored in internal memory in a folder. MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec. In newer versions of the shell, the path may look like Android/data/com.android.incallui/files/record. Files have extensions.m4a or.mp3 They're named by the date and time of the call, which makes it easier to search, and you can view them through the standard Files Explorer».
For third-party applications, paths are most often found in the root of internal memory or in the Android/data folder with the developer's name. For example, for Cube ACR, this is the Cube ACR folder. To quickly find the recording through the phone itself, you can open the Task Manager or Calls app, find a number in the call history and click on it. Under the contact information, a small voice recorder icon or a list of recorded conversations with this subscriber often appears.
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System records on Xiaomi are stored in hidden folders of the system, so when you reset your phone to factory settings without prior backup, they will be irretrievably lost. Regularly copy important conversations to your computer.
Problems with sound quality and their solution
Even with the right setup, Xiaomi Mi 9 users can experience poor recording quality: the voice of the interlocutor is barely audible, there are extraneous noises or echoes. This is often due to the peculiarities of noise cancellation in the smartphone, which when recording a conversation tries to drown out “extra” sounds, mistakenly considering the voice of the interlocutor as a hindrance if it is broadcast through the speaker.
To improve the quality, check the microphone settings. In some cases, it helps to disable the Noise Reduction function in the audio settings, if this option is available in your version of MIUI. It is also worth making sure that during a conversation you do not block the bottom microphone located next to the charging connector, since this is often used to record the voice of the interlocutor when the hands-free communication is on.
- 🔊 Check the volume of the speaker: if it is too low, the microphone may not catch the voice of the interlocutor.
- 🚫 Turn off Bluetooth headsets: when writing through them, quality may fall due to codec compression.
- 📂 Clean Memory: A crowded drive can cause interruptions in recordings and audio artifacts.
If the problem is a software failure, try clearing the cache of the Phone and Dictator apps. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find what you want, click Clear and select Clear Cache. You don't need to delete the data, otherwise your call history will be lost. In rare cases, resetting the network settings will help, but this will require re-entering the passwords from Wi-Fi.