How to record calls to Xiaomi: all the ways to MIUI 12-14

Recording phone conversations on Xiaomi is a challenge that users face for a variety of reasons, from preserving important business negotiations to capturing evidence in controversial situations. However, with the release of new versions of MIUI and the tightening of Google’s privacy policy, standard recording capabilities are often blocked or hidden. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods, from built-in features to third-party applications that work on the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T and other devices from 2022-2026.

It is important to understand that the legality of recording conversations depends on the laws of your country: in some regions, you need to notify the interlocutor about recording, in others it is forbidden to record conversations without consent.

We tested all methods on the latest versions of MIUI 14 (Android 13/14) and only selected working solutions. If your smartphone runs on an older firmware (for example, MIUI 12.5), some features may not be available, we will warn about this in the relevant sections.

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

Before MIUI 12, Xiaomi smartphones had a pre-installed call recording feature, but due to Google Play restrictions, it was removed from the public domain, but on some models (especially in the Chinese market), it is still available through hidden settings.

To check for her presence:

• 📱 Open the phone application (pipe icon).
• 🔍 Click on three dots in the upper right corner → Settings.
• 🎤 Scroll down to the Recording of Conversations section (if there is no item, proceed to the next method).
• 🔄 Turn on the switch and select which calls to record: All, Favorites Only or Manual Mode.

If there is no record of conversations on the menu, try an alternative path:

1. Enter the combination in the Phone app: ##4636##.
2. Select Phone Information → scroll to MIUI Version and press 5-7 times (the developer menu will open).
3. Go back to your phone settings → Additional → For developers → find Enable Call Recording.

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On some firmware for the Chinese market (e.g. Xiaomi 12S Ultra), the record is enabled via the Security → Call Recording menu. If you have a global version of MIUI, this item will be missing.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI Global (European/Russian firmware) embedded recording is most often disabled at the system level, and attempts to activate it through the engineering menu can lead to failures in the communication module.

2. Call recording applications: TOP-5 working options

If the built-in feature is not available, you can use third-party applications. We selected 5 proven programs that bypass the limitations of Android 12+ and work on Xiaomi without root rights.

To install any of these applications:

1. Download APK from the developer’s official website (not from the Play Market, as it blocks similar programs).
2. Allow installation from unknown sources: Settings → Applications → Special Access → Install unknown applications.
3. Launch the application and provide access to the Microphone, Contacts and Warehouse.
4. In the application settings, select the write format (such as MP3 or WAV) and the folder to save.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi with Android 13/14 Many apps stop recording calls due to restrictions API. If the program doesn’t work, try rolling back the Google Play Services version or using it. ADB-commands to bypass the lock (instruction in the next section).

3. Recording through ADB: bypassing the limitations of Android 12+

If apps are not working because of Google’s blocking, you can manually allow access to the audio stream via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that does not require root rights, but requires connecting the smartphone to a computer.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install Platform Tools on PC.
2. On your smartphone, turn on Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
3. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
4. Connect the phone to the PC via cable and enter in the command line:

adb devices

(The name of your device should appear.)

adb shell settings put global capture_audio_output 1

This command unlocks audio stream capture for recording applications.

Once done, restart your smartphone and check the recording app you selected. If the method didn't work, try an alternative command:

adb shell pm grant com.app.package android.permission.CAPTURE_AUDIO_OUTPUT

(Replace com.app.package with your app’s identifier, such as com.cube.callrecorder for Cube ACR.)

Install Platform Tools on PC

Enable the developer mode on Xiaomi

Connect your phone to USB (file transfer mode)

Allow debugging over USB in a pop-up window

Start the command line on behalf of the administrator-->

4.Alternative methods: Google Voice and external devices

If the software methods are not suitable, consider alternative options:

• 🎧 Google Voice (US only): The service allows you to record incoming calls after pressing the 4 key during a conversation. Minus - only works with US numbers.
• 📻 External recorder: Connect a second phone or digital recorder next to the Xiaomi speaker (record quality will be worse, but legally).
• 🔗 Calling via messenger: If the interlocutor agrees, use the voice recording in WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber (the feature is built into these applications).
• 🖥️ IP-Telephony: Services like Zoom or Skype automatically record conversations (internet connection required).

For business users, a cloud-based PBX (such as Mango Office or Zadarma) is suitable, where the recording of calls is enabled in the personal account, which is a legal way, since the interlocutor is notified of the recording by voice message.

5 Where records are stored and how to keep them

By default, files with call records are stored in the smartphone’s internal memory along the way:

/storage/emulated/0/CallRecordings/ or /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/

To move them to the PC or cloud:

• 📁 Connect your phone to your computer and copy the files manually.
• ☁️ Upload it to Google. Drive/Yandex Disk via Files application.
• ⚙️ In the recording app settings, enable Autoexport to the cloud (if supported).
• 🔄 Use it. MIUI Cloud (if written with built-in function): Settings → Xiaomi Cloud → Synchronization → Calls.

Record formats:

• .amr is compact but low quality.
• .mp3 is a balanced option.
• .wav is the best quality, but big size.

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Clean your records folder regularly, which can take up several gigabytes of memory. In the application settings, set a storage limit (for example, “Delete records over 30 days”).

6.Problems and Solutions: Why Calls Are Not Recorded

If the recording is not working, check the following points:

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 🔄 Update the firmware to the latest version MIUI (Sometimes bugs are fixed in new builds).
• 🛠️ Reset the settings of the application Phone: Settings → Annexes → Phone. → Warehouse → Drop it.
• 📱 Install custom firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu) where the record is unlocked.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+ 5G) Call recording is blocked at the hardware level due to the Dimensity chipset, in which case only an external recording device will help.

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording calls to Xiaomi