Recording phone conversations on Xiaomi Redmi 9 can be required in a variety of situations, from fixing important business agreements to preserving evidence in controversial moments. However, not all users know that the smartphone’s capabilities in this regard depend not only on the version of MIUI, but also on regional restrictions. In some countries, the default call recording feature is disabled due to legal regulations, and in Russia it is available, but hidden in non-obvious settings.
In this article, we will look at all the current ways to record conversations on Redmi 9, from standard MIUI tools to third-party applications with advanced features, learn how to enable embedded recording, which programs are safe to use, and how to avoid common errors (for example, when a recording is interrupted or not saved), and pay special attention to the legal aspects: when recording a conversation is permissible under the law, and when it can become a cause for legal action.
Important: the instructions in the article are relevant for Xiaomi Redmi 9 (models M2003J15SC, M2003J15SS) based on MIUI 12-14. If you have a different version of the firmware, some menu items may differ - we will warn you about this separately.
1. Built-in call recording in MIUI: where to look and how to turn on
Starting with MIUI 12, Xiaomi integrated the conversation recording feature directly into the standard Phone app, but by default it can be disabled or hidden — especially if you upgraded your smartphone from an older firmware version.
Open the Phone app, then go to Recent (the icon at the bottom of the screen) and tap the three-point menu in the top right corner and select Settings.
Settings → Record conversations → Enable recordingIf the item Record conversations is not in the menu, then the function is blocked for your region, in this case, resetting the phone application settings or installing an alternative dealer (we will talk about it in the section about third-party applications).
- 🔹 Automatic Recording: Enable the “Record All Calls” option – then the fixation will begin immediately after the call is answered.
- 🔹 Manual mode: during a conversation, click on the microphone icon in the call interface to start/stop recording.
- 🔹 File Storage: Records are saved in a folder MIUI/sound_recorder/calls These can be accessed through the Records app or any file manager.
⚠️ Attention: Built-in recording in MIUI It doesn't work for VoIP calls (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram) and you'll need specialized applications.
2.Why the record may not work: 4 typical problems and solutions
Even if you have enabled the recording function correctly, it can fail for several reasons, and consider the most common scenarios and ways to eliminate them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Record button is inactive | The function is disabled in the settings or blocked by the operator | Check the settings of the phone application → reset the settings to the factory |
| Recording ends in 5-10 minutes. | Limitation of MIUI on recording duration | Use third-party apps (such as Cube Call Recorder) |
| No audio from the interviewee in the recording. | Incorrect microphone or volume settings | Turn on speakerphone while talking or use a headset |
| Record files are not saved | Insufficient space on the device or an access permission error | Clear the memory or reconfigure the save path in the recording settings |
If after all the manipulations, the recording still doesn’t work, check if there are battery-saving apps on the smartphone (such as Greenify or Battery Doctor).They can block background activity of the Phone application, which causes the recording to be interrupted. Add the application to the exception list:
Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Consumption Management → Select Phone Application → Without Limitations💡
Before an important call, reboot your smartphone – this will reset temporary MIUI errors that can interfere with recordings.
3. Third-party applications for recording: TOP-3 with pros and cons
If you don’t like the built-in MIUI tools (for example, due to a time limit or no VoIP record), look for third-party solutions. We tested dozens of applications and selected the three most reliable ones for Redmi 9:
- 📱 Cube Call Recorder ACR: ✅ Records all types of calls, including VoIP (WhatsApp, Skype). ✅ Automatic Save to the Cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox). ❌ Requires additional permissions for VoIP (in-app instructions).
- 🎤 Call Recorder – Automatic Call Recorder: ✅ Simple interface with sorting records by contact. ✅ Ability to exclude certain numbers from the record. ❌ In the free version, the duration of recording is limited (up to 30 minutes).
- 🔊 Truecaller (with a recording function): ✅ Combo: number-definition + call-up. ✅ It works without root rights. ❌ The recording is only available to premium users.
Before installing any of these apps, check if it supports your version of Android. For example, Cube Call Recorder may not work properly on MIUI 14 due to changes in permissions policy, in which case try to roll back to the 2022 version of the app (you can download APKPure).
⚠️ Note: VoIP recording applications (WhatsApp, Viber) often require you to enable Special Options in your Android settings. This is not dangerous, but can trigger a warning about “potentially malware.” Ignore it if you download the application from an official source.
Make sure your smartphone has enough memory (minimum 500MB)| Turn off battery optimization for Phone | Download APK only from trusted sources (Google Play, APKMirror)| Check the app permissions after installation-->
4. Hidden recording of conversations: legal or not?
In Russia, the recording of telephone conversations is regulated by article 138 of the criminal code (violation of secrecy of correspondence) and article 152.2 of the civil code (protection of privacy), the main rule: you have the right to record a conversation only if you participate in it.
- ✅ You can record your conversations without notifying the interlocutor, if they do not contain state secrets.
- ❌ You can’t record other people’s conversations without their consent (for example, through a second phone).
- ⚠️ In court, a record can only be found to be evidence if you can confirm that you did not edit the file.
Exceptions:
- If the interlocutor is warned in advance about the recording (for example, through an autoinformer such as “Conversation is recorded”), this strengthens the legal force of the file.
- In business correspondence (for example, with a bank or support service), the record is allowed, but it cannot be published without the consent of the second party.
The Xiaomi Redmi 9 doesn’t have a built-in recording notification feature, but it can be added through apps like Automatic Call Recorder (the “play the audio signal at the beginning of recording” option is in the settings).
What happens if the tape goes to court?
5 Where the records are stored and how to keep them for a long time
By default, records from the built-in MIUI recorder are saved along the way:
/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/calls/The files are formatted.m4a (AAC-codec) and take about 1-2 MB per minute of conversation:
- 📁 Backup: copy files to your PC or the cloud (Google Drive, Yandex.Disk). Use the FolderSync application to automatically sync.
- 🔄 Format Conversion: If You Need to Post a Record, Convert.m4a into.mp3 via Audacity or online services like audio-converter.com.
- 🗑️ Clean: Regularly delete unnecessary records - they take up space in memory. MIUI For this, there is an option “Delete everything” in the menu of the Records application.
If you use third-party recorders, the way you save it may be different, for example, Cube Call Recorder defaults to create a CallRecorder folder in the root directory to change the storage location:
Open the application → Settings → Record folder → Specify a new path (e.g., SD- Card)⚠️ Warning: Do not store records of important conversations only on your smartphone. If you reset your settings or break your device, files can be lost without the ability to restore them.
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For long-term storage, use cloud-based versions (such as Google Drive or Dropbox) to protect files from accidental deletion or damage.
6.Alternative methods: recording via second phone or PC
If software methods are not suitable (for example, due to the limitations of MIUI or the need to record from multiple devices), you can use hardware solutions.
Method 1: Recording through a second smartphone
- 📱 Take a second phone (like an old Redmi or iPhone).
- 🎤 Turn on the recorder (standard Recording app or Voice Recorder).
- 🔊 Place it next to the main apparatus during a conversation (use hands-free mode).
Cons: the recording quality will be worse due to echoes and extraneous noises. To improve the sound, use a directional microphone (such as BOYA BY-M1) connected to the second phone.
Method 2: Recording via PC (for VoIP calls)
- 💻 Install a sound capture program on your computer (such as Audacity or OBS Studio).
- 🔌 Connect Redmi 9 to your PC via USB and enable File Transfer (MTP).
- 🎧 In Windows Sound Settings, select Stereomiksher as the recording source.
- 📞 Start a call on your phone and turn on the record on the PC.
This method is suitable for recording calls to WhatsApp, Zoom or Skype when standard recorders do not work, the main thing is to make sure that the latest drivers for Xiaomi Redmi 9 are installed on the PC (you can download it on the official website).