Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often face the challenge of capturing important information from a phone conversation, whether it’s confirmation of an order, a customer agreement, or just valuable data that’s hard to keep in mind. Unlike many other manufacturers, Xiaomi has historically provided users with convenient built-in tools to solve this problem.
However, with the release of new versions of the MIUI shell and the transition to HyperOS, as well as changes in Google’s privacy policy, the standard algorithm of actions may have changed. In some regions, the function may be hidden, and in others, it may require additional activation.
In this guide, we will take a detailed look at the standard system capabilities, review process automation settings, and discuss alternative methods if standard functionality is unavailable or disabled by the carrier, and learn where files are stored and how to manage their access.
Use of built-in call functionality
The easiest and most reliable way to capture a conversation is to use the native feature built directly into the Phone app. On Xiaomi devices with MIUI or HyperOS shells, this tool is often already active by default, but requires settings check. You do not need to install additional software, which guarantees stability of work and no advertising.
To use this option, open the standard call app and look for the gear icon or three dots in the corner of the screen to log into the settings menu. Here you are interested in Call Record. This section contains all the key switches that control the behavior of the system during incoming and outgoing calls.
In the recording settings menu, you can select specific numbers that must be automatically recorded, or you can activate a global record of all incoming and outgoing connections, and you can also set up the audio storage format and file storage duration.
⚠️ Note: In some regions (e.g. the European Union) due to strict privacy laws, the automatic recording function may be software-locked by the manufacturer, in which case the activation slider may be missing or inactive.
Importantly, recording quality is directly dependent on the speaker and microphone of the device during a conversation. If you use a speakerphone, the system can record more extraneous noises. For maximum clarity, it is recommended to keep the phone in a standard position near the ear or use a headset that supports voice transmission.
Set up automatic recording of conversations
For those who need to keep a history of all communications, setting up automatic mode is critical, eliminating the need to manually press the recording button every time you talk, which is especially convenient in stressful situations or when driving a car.
In Settings → Call Record, activate the call recorder automatically. Once you turn on this option, the system will suggest you specify the conditions: record all calls or only selected numbers. The choice of a specific contact is useful if you want to control communication with certain people without clogging your memory with unnecessary files.
Also worth noting is the "Warning Record" option, which is activated, and when the conversation is recorded, the conversation is heard by the voice, which is a requirement of many countries' laws and is not recommended to be ignored to avoid legal consequences.
- 📱 All calls: The system saves every incoming and outgoing call without exception.
- 📞 Selected numbers: Recording is only for contacts from a special list or for numbers not saved in the phone book.
- 🔊 Loud warning: the beep is heard by both interlocutors at the beginning of the conversation.
- 💾 File format: usually used MP3 or AAC, What provides good quality with a small size.
Remember to check the records folder periodically, as when the memory is full, new files may not be created. In the settings, you can specify the action when filling the storage: stop writing or delete the oldest files.
☑️ Auto-recording setup
Recording through the Dictator app
If the built-in call function doesn't work or is not available in your area, the Dictaphone system app comes to the rescue, a powerful tool that is often underestimated, even though it can record sound directly from a phone speaker.
To get started, run the Dictaphone app and click on the gear icon in the upper right corner. In the settings menu, look for "Sound Sources" or "Call Recording." Here you need to select the Voice Call Audio source. This is key, because by default, the recorder can only write through the microphone, which gives the worst quality.
Once the source is configured, every time a call is made or made, a floating voice recorder window or a notification will appear on the screen asking you to start recording, and you just press the record button, and the conversation will be stored in the device memory.
| Parameter | Meaning | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Sound source | Voice during call | Be sure to make a clean sound. |
| Format | MP3 / WAV | MP3 to save space |
| Quality. | High/Standard | High for important negotiations |
| Noise suppression | On/off | Turn it on for the street. |
The voice recorder has its own peculiarities: first, it can consume more power; second, it can block the call screen, requiring a swipe to access the call control buttons; however, it is a great backup.
Why can't a voice recorder write the sound of the interlocutor?
Third-party recording applications
When Xiaomi’s regular funds fail or are blocked, users turn to third-party solutions from Google Play.However, it is worth noting that since Android 9 and especially Android 10-14, Google has significantly limited third-party apps’ access to the audio stream of a phone conversation for security reasons.
Many popular applications, such as Call Recorder, Automatic Call Recorder, or Cube ACR, can run unstablely, often requiring access or plug-ins to work properly, and without these manipulations, you can get a recording where the voice of the person you are talking to is barely audible or absent.
When installing such software, carefully read reviews, focusing on users with your version of MIUI. Often developers specify specific settings that need to be changed in the system to get the application the necessary rights.
- 🛡️ Cube ACR: One of the few apps that can bypass restrictions through a special applet (VoIP recorder).
- 📼 Automatic Call Recorder: A classic solution, but requires fine-tuning the sound source.
- 🔧 Truecaller: a popular number determinant that has a built-in recording function available in the premium version.
- 📱 Recording calls (SKVALEX): Powerful but paid solution with deep settings for advanced users.
⚠️ Warning: Third-party applications may conflict with the system call, causing communication failures or rapid battery drain. Use them only if built-in methods are not available.
Where records are stored and how to manage them
Understanding the structure of Xiaomi’s file system is essential to quickly find the right conversation or transfer it to your computer. By default, all audio recordings are stored in the device’s internal memory in a dedicated directory.
The standard file path is as follows: Internal memory → MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec. In this folder, files are usually sorted by date and time of creation, making navigation easier.The file name often contains the phone number and the date of the record.
You can manage records not only through the file manager, but also directly through the call log. If you open the call history and select a specific number, the subscriber's name can display a voice recorder icon or a text tag indicating the presence of saved dialogue, which allows you to quickly listen to the context of communication without wandering through the folders.
To free up space, it is recommended to regularly transfer important records to the cloud storage (for example, Mi Cloud, Google Drive) or to your computer. MP3 format is universal and plays on any device, so there should be no compatibility problems.
💡
Use the Favorites feature in the Dictaphone app to tag important conversations, which will allow you to quickly find them through a search, even if there are thousands of files in memory.
Problems with recording and how to solve them
Despite the system's cleverness, users can encounter a variety of bugs, and the most common problem is the lack of audio in the recording, often because Android's security system blocks access to the microphone during active calls to third-party processes.
Another common reason is the version conflict: Once you upgrade MIUI or HyperOS, your privacy settings may reset, and the Phone or Recorder app will need to re-authorize your microphone, and you can check this in Settings → Applications → All Apps → Phone → Application Rights.
If records are interrupted or files are corrupted, try clearing the Phone app cache. In more difficult cases, resetting network settings may help, but this will require re-entering Wi-Fi passwords.
💡
The main reason for the lack of voice is the security restrictions of Android 10+, which block direct access to the audio stream, the solution is the use of native MIUI functions, rather than third-party software.
In some cases, the problem lies in the use of Bluetooth headsets. Not all Bluetooth profiles support the transfer of conversation sound back to the recording system. If it is critical for you to record a conversation when using wireless headphones, check the Bluetooth headset settings or temporarily switch to the phone speaker.