How to record a phone conversation on Xiaomi: all the ways to MIUI 12/13/14

Recording phone conversations on Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that users face for a variety of reasons, from storing important business information to capturing evidence in controversial situations. Although MIUI offers built-in tools for recording calls, their functionality is often limited by regional regulations or a firmware version. In this article, we will examine all the current ways to record conversations, from standard features to circumventing restrictions using third-party solutions.

It is important to understand that the legislation of many countries (including Russia) regulates the recording of telephone conversations. According to Art. 23 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, recording a conversation without the consent of the interlocutor is allowed only in cases provided for by law (for example, to protect your rights in court), Therefore, before using any of the described methods, make sure that your actions are legal or get the consent of the second participant in the conversation.

This article is relevant for all modern Xiaomi devices, including the Redmi Note 12/13 series, POCO F5/X5, Xiaomi 13/14 and Black Shark 5/6, running on MIUI 12, 13 or 14. If your model is older than 2019 release, some features may be missing - in this case, pay attention to the universal solutions in the last sections.

1. Built-in call recording in MIUI: where to look and how to turn on

Since MIUI 12, Xiaomi has integrated the conversation recording function directly into the standard Phone app, but its availability varies by firmware region and device model, for example, on devices for the European market (EEA), this option is often disabled for legal reasons, while on global (Global) or Chinese (China) versions it may be present.

To check for the presence of the function:

1. Open the phone application (pipe icon).
2. Go to the magazine tab (clock icon).
3. Tap any contact or number that you made the call with.
4. If the function is active, you will see the Record button (microphone) next to the call buttons.

Global (Global)|European (EEA)|Chinese (China)|Custom ROM)|Don't know-->

If there is no record button, try an alternative path:

• 📱 During the call, press three points (⋮) top-right corner of the screen.
• 🔊 In the drop-down menu, an item may appear Record the conversation.
• 📁 Records are saved in a folder MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec (Available through Files or Explorer).

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+ 5G) Recording is automatically interrupted if the interlocutor uses VoLTE (voice via voice). 4G). In this case, you will have to disable VoLTE in the settings. SIM-maps or use third-party applications.

2 Why there is no record button: regional restrictions and circumvention

The main reason for the lack of built-in call recording is regional restrictions, and EU firmware (EEA) is stripped of this feature due to strict privacy laws (GDPR), but there are ways to get around this restriction without changing the firmware:

The safest way is to change the region:

1. Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Region.
2. Choose India or Russia (for these regions, entry is usually available).
3. Reset the device.
4. Check the appearance of the recording button in the Phone application.

3. Third-party applications for recording calls: TOP-5 solutions

If the built-in methods don't work, third-party apps come to the rescue, and we tested dozens of options and selected the 5 most reliable ones that work on Xiaomi without root rights:

• 🥇 Cube Call Recorder ACR — It supports recording VoIP calls (WhatsApp, Viber), works in the background, saves records to the cloud.
• 🥈 Call Recorder - Automatic Call Recorder - simple interface, automatic recording of all calls, sorting by contacts.
• 🥉 Truecaller, in addition to recording calls, blocks spam and identifies unfamiliar numbers.
• 4️⃣ Call Recorder by Lovekesh – a lightweight application without unnecessary functions, supports the format.mp3 Minus: There is no Russian language.
• 5️⃣ Boldbeast Call Recorder is one of the few that runs on Android. 13/14 Less: complex settings for beginners.

For installation:

1. Download. APK-file from the official website of the developer (do not use third-party sources!).
2. Allow installation from unknown sources in Settings → Applications → Special Access → Install unknown applications.
3. Install the application and provide all the permissions requested (microphone, access to calls, storage).
4. In the application settings, select the write format (MP3 or WAV) and the folder to save.

Install the app from Google Play| Allow access to microphone and calls | Enable auto recording in settings | Select MP3 format to save space | Check test call-->

⚠️ Note: Call recording applications can increase battery consumption by 5-15% because they are constantly in the background. If you notice a fast discharge, add the app to the battery optimization exception list: Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → Choose yours. → Not optimize.

4. Hidden recording of calls without notifying the interlocutor: risks and implementation

Many users are looking for a way to record conversations without alerting the person they are talking to (without the beeping "Your conversation is being recorded"). Technically, this is possible, but it is important to understand the legal and ethical implications. In Russia, a hidden recording of a conversation can only be used in court if:

• 📜 You are a participant in the conversation.
• ⚖️ Recording is necessary to protect your rights (for example, in the event of threats or blackmail).
• 🔒 You do not distribute the record to third parties without good reason.

If you are aware of the risks, here is how to implement it:

1. For embedded recording: In MIUI, the audio notification is turned off via system file editing (root required). Use Root Explorer to delete the /system/media/audio/ui/CallRecordStart.ogg file.
2. For third-party applications: In Cube Call Recorder ACR or Boldbeast settings, turn off the Play beep sound option.

On Android 10+ and MIUI 12+ devices, Google blocks microphone recording of calls while talking to third-party apps, which can only be circumvented using the Magisk CallRecorderPatch module, but this requires an unlocked bootloader and root rights.

💡

If you need to record a conversation legally, use the conference function: add a second phone (like an old smartphone) to the conversation and record from a second device.

5. Record calls via Google Drive or cloud services

If you don't want to store records on your device, you can automatically upload them to the cloud, for example, Google Drive is integrated into many recording apps. Here's how to set up autoboot in Cube Call Recorder ACR:

1. Open the app and go to Settings → Cloud Storage.
2. Select Google Drive and log in through your account.
3. Specify the folder to download (for example, CallRecords).
4. Enable the autoboot option after recording.
5. Customize the recording quality (Mono is recommended, 64 kbps for space saving).

The advantages of cloud storage:

• 🔒 Protection against loss of records when resetting your phone.
• 📱 Access to records from any device.
• 📊 Possibility to search by date/contact.

Disadvantages:

• 🚫 Risk of data leakage when hacking a Google account.
• 💰 Restriction of free space (15 GB on Google Drive).
• 📶 Downloading requires a stable internet.

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Use two-factor authentication for your Google account if you store sensitive records in the cloud, which will protect your data from unauthorized access.

6.Alternative methods: from second phone to smart watches

If the software methods are not suitable, consider hardware solutions:

• 📱 Second phone: Put a second smartphone next to it with the voice recorder running.
• 🎧 Headphones with recording: Some Bluetooth headsets (e.g. Sony) WH-1000XM5) Support sound recording through special applications.
• ⌚ Smartwatch: Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro or Redmi Watch 3 can record sound through a microphone, but the quality will be worse.
• 🎤 External voice recorder: Professional devices (e.g. Sony) ICD-UX570) They are of the best quality, but they require carrying them.

To use the Xiaomi Watch:

1. Install the Sound Recorder app on your watch through Mi Fitness.
2. Start the recording on the clock before the call.
3. After the conversation, sync the recording with your phone via Bluetooth.

⚠️ Warning: Recording through a smartwatch or external device can be considered a hidden recording if the person you are talking to is unaware of its conduct.

7 How to find and recover deleted call records

Call records on Xiaomi are saved by default in the folder:

/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/


or




/storage/emulated/0/CallRecordings/

If files have been deleted, you can try to restore them:

1. Check the Recycle Bin: The Files app from Xiaomi has a Recycle Bin section where files are stored for 30 days.
2. Use recovery programs: DiskDigger – works without root, but restores only thumbnails. Recuva (for PC) – connect your phone in file transfer mode. Dr.Fone – a paid solution with a high recovery percentage.

Check the cloud copies:

To avoid losing records in the future:

• 🔄 Set up automatic backup to the cloud.
• 📁 Regularly transfer important records to the PC.
• 🔒 Use applications with Deletion Protection (e.g. Cube Call Recorder) ACR).

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording calls to Xiaomi