Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to capture important conversations, whether it’s a conversation with a bank, ordering a pizza, or talking to their bosses. However, after upgrading the operating system to MIUI 12, MIUI 13 or the latest HyperOS, many users find that the standard recording feature has disappeared or is not working correctly, due to Google’s tightening privacy policy, which implements its restrictions even into manufacturers’ shells.
To make matters worse, the algorithm for calling differs across regions and across device models, with the recording button hidden in the menu during a conversation, and the need to change the region of the phone or install third-party apps, and in this article, we will detail all the current ways to activate call recording, including hidden methods for those who have a global version of firmware with Google Dialer.
Don't panic if you don't find a button. Android is evolving, and circumvention techniques are becoming more sophisticated. We're going to look at both the standard tools and the time-tested third-party solutions that are guaranteed to work in 2026. It's critical to understand that on global firmware versions, writing through a standard interface is often blocked at the system level, requiring a change of region to activate.
Why the recording of conversations on Xiaomi was missing
The main reason for the loss of the feature lies in the security policy of Google.Beginning with Android 9 and especially active with Android 10 and higher, the search giant banned third-party and system applications from accessing the audio stream of the phone line, this was done to protect users’ personal data from unauthorized eavesdropping.
In the past, MIUI was able to record conversations automatically and unobtrusively, but now, if you have a Google Phone on your phone, you have to alert everyone in the conversation with a loud voice message, a requirement that is (strictly enforced) at the software level.
However, devices shipped to CIS countries, China and India often pre-installed their own MIUI Dialer, which has no such strict restrictions and allows you to record without notifying the interlocutor, the problem arises when, after resetting or updating, the system automatically tightens the global version of the call from Google, replacing the native functionality.
- 📱 Google Dialer – a standard call on global firmware with write restrictions.
- 📞 MIUI Dialer is Xiaomi’s native app that allows full recording without restrictions.
- 🌍 Regional settings – determine which application and with what rights will work by default.
Verification of the built-in recording function
Before installing third-party software or changing the region, you need to make sure that the feature is really missing in your current configuration. Sometimes users simply do not notice the write button during a conversation, as it can be hidden in the optional menu.
Make a test call to any number, such as your carrier's support. When the connection starts, look at the screen carefully. If you have a native call, the recording button can be located on the home screen or hidden under the More button (three dots or arrow down).
You should also check the settings of the app itself. Go to the call menu, select Settings, and look for Call Record. If there is one, but the feature doesn't work, it may just be disabled. Some versions of HyperOS require you to manually enable permission to write in the privacy settings.
☑️ Checking the staffing record
If the button is missing completely and the settings don’t have a corresponding section, then Google restrictions are activated in your region, in which case move to the next section, where we will describe a method of relocating the region, which often helps to return functionality.
Replacement method for activating recording
One of the most effective ways to get back the ability to record without installing any unnecessary software is to change the region in your smartphone settings, which works because the Xiaomi Security app and system services load different configuration files depending on the country you choose.
To activate the feature, it is recommended to choose regions where the law allows recording conversations or where Xiaomi has historically retained this functionality, most often countries like India, Singapore, Pakistan or Ukraine help. After changing the region, the phone may require a reboot or simply update the list of available features in the background.
⚠️ Note: Change of region may affect the operation of some system applications, for example, topics may become unavailable, and the browser will change the default search engine.
The way you change is to go to Settings, find Additional (or Advanced Settings), select Region. Find the country you want in the list. After the shift, try re-entering the call settings or making a test call.
What if the change in the region did not help?
Automatic recording in MIUI and HyperOS
If you've managed to activate the recording function, it's important to set the recording behavior correctly. Manually turning on the recorder is uncomfortable and there's a high risk of forgetting to do it in a stressful situation. Xiaomi's system allows you to set up automatic recording for all incoming and outgoing calls.
To do this, open the Phone app, click three dots in the corner of the screen, and select Record Settings. Here you will see the Automatic Write Switch. Activate it. Below you can choose which numbers to record: all calls, only unknown numbers, or numbers from certain contact groups.
| Setup parameter | Description of action | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| All the calls | Records every conversation without exception. | It takes a lot of memory. |
| Unknown numbers | Only records those who are not in contact. | Optimal for protection from fraudsters |
| Selected contacts | Entry only for a specific group of persons | Useful for working with clients |
| Notification | Audible signal at the beginning of recording | Better to turn it off for stealth. |
You can also turn off the audio notification when recording starts (if your version of the call allows it), find the notification sound and switch the switch to the off position, which will make the recording process completely hidden to the interlocutor.
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Recorded conversation files are saved in the folder MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec. To find them faster, open the recorder, click on the list of records and select the tab "Calls".
Use of third-party applications for recording
In cases where standard methods of activating the recording fail (for example, on some European versions of POCO), third-party applications come to the rescue, but due to the limitations of Android, they require special settings to access the microphone and audio stream.
One of the most popular and reliable solutions is Call Recorder, ACR or TapeACall, and when you first install it, it's going to ask for a lot of permissions, and it's not just about clicking OK, it's about looking at what you're allowing, and it's often about enabling Accessibility Service in your system settings to work properly.
Once installed, open the app and follow the customization wizard, which will check compatibility with your Android version and suggest the optimal sound source. Often you have to change the source from Microphone to Voice Call or VoIP to record high quality and without echoing.
- 🎙️ Call Recorder - ACR — powerful application with flexible configuration of sound sources.
- 📼 Cube ACR — Can record calls from messengers (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram).
- 🔊 Blackbox is a minimalist recorder with good compatibility with new versions of Android.
⚠️ Note: Third-party applications may not work correctly if there are multiple calling apps installed on the system. Make sure that the application settings by default select the exact application through which you make calls, or set up integration in the recorder itself.
Where are the records stored and how to transfer them
By default, all conversation records are stored in the device's internal memory. The path to files usually looks like internal memory./MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec. The files are formatted.m4a or.mp3, This allows you to play them on any device without converting them.
The volume of records can quickly exhaust the free space, especially if you record long conversations in high quality, it is recommended to regularly transfer important files to your computer or to the cloud storage. In the voice recorder settings, you can specify a folder to save, so as not to search for files in the depths of the system directories.
Automatic backups can be made using the built-in sync function with Xiaomi Cloud or set up to sync the folder with records via Google Drive or Dropbox, which ensures that even when you lose your phone, important information is not lost.
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Regularly cleaning the folder with call records or setting up autodelete records older than 30 days will help keep the smartphone running faster and free up gigabytes of memory.