How to record phone conversations on Xiaomi Redmi 9: all ways with instructions

Recording phone conversations on Xiaomi Redmi 9 may be necessary to record important agreements, interviews or just save memorable conversations. However, standard MIUI capabilities in this regard are limited — especially if we are talking about new versions of firmware, where the call recording function is often absent out of the box. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways, from hidden system settings to third-party applications that work even on the latest updates.

It is important to consider that the legality of recording conversations depends on the legislation of your country: in some regions, you need to notify the interlocutor about recording, in others, unilateral consent is enough. We do not give legal recommendations, but we will give technical methods that will help implement the feature on the Redmi 9 (models M2003J15SC, M2003J15SS and other modifications).

1. The regular call recording function in MIUI: where to look and how to turn on

Older versions of MIUI 11 and partially MIUI 12 on Redmi 9 had a built-in conversation recording option, but newer firmware (starting with MIUI 12.5) often lacks it, but you can try to activate it via hidden settings:

1. Open the phone application (pipe icon).
2. Go to Settings → Record conversations. If there is no item, read on.
3. In some regional firmware, the option is hidden. Try typing call records in your phone's settings search.

If the built-in feature is not available, don't despair: we'll look at alternative methods below, and in the meantime, the table with the versions of MIUI, where the recording of calls worked out of the box:

⚠️ Note: On the firmware for the European market (EEA) Call recording can be blocked at the system level, in which case only installing a global or Indian version will help. MIUI (But it requires unlocking the bootloader).

2. Hidden recording via the engineering menu (for advanced users)

If the standard methods don’t work, you can try activating the recording via the Engineering Mode, which is suitable for the Redmi 9 based on the MediaTek Helio G80 processor (model M2003J15SC):

1. Open the phone app and dial the combination: ##36446337###
2. In the menu, select Audio → Normal Mode → Type.
3. Find the Voice Call Recording option and set the Enabled value.
4. Save the settings and restart the phone.

After that, the Phone application should appear a recording button during the call, note that this method does not work on all firmware and may reset after the system update.

An important nuance: on some versions of MIUI, after activating the recording through the engineering menu, the sound can only be recorded from your side (the interlocutor’s microphone is not fixed), this is due to the limitations of MediaTek drivers.

3. applications for recording calls: TOP-5 proven options

If the built-in methods didn't work, third-party apps will come to the rescue, and we've tested dozens of programs and selected those that work well on Redmi 9 with MIUI 12/13/14:

• 📱 Cube Call Recorder ACR — It records automatically, supports cloud storage. MIUI.
• 🎤 Call Recorder by Lovekush is a simple interface that works without root, but requires you to configure access rights.
• 🔊 Automatic Call Recorder by Appliqato – the best choice for business users (there are tags for important calls).
• 📲 Truecaller – in addition to the number detector has a built-in record (does not work in all regions).
• 🛡️ Boldbeast Call Recorder is the only app that records both ends of a conversation on MediaTek without root (requires manual codec customization).

To install any of these applications:

1. Download APK from the official website (not from the Play Market – many recording apps have been removed from there due to Google’s policies).
2. Allow installation from unknown sources in Settings → Applications → Special Access → Install unknown applications.
3. Launch the application and provide all the permissions requested (microphone, access to calls, auto-start).

Insert the option “Fix recording issues"|Select a codec "AMR" or "AAC"|Activate Record from Bluetooth (if you use a headset)|Disable battery optimization for the application in the settings MIUI-->

⚠️ Note: Call recording applications are often blocked by an optimizer MIUI. After installation, be sure to add the program to Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications and select No Limitations.

4. Record calls via Google Drive (no root)

Little-known life hack: Google Drive can record phone calls if you turn on Call Recording in your account settings, a method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones, including the Redmi 9, but has limitations:

1. Open the Phone app and go to Settings → Call Record.
2. Select Record all calls or Record only selected numbers.
3. Enable the option to Save entries in Google Drive.
4. Once the call is complete, the recording will automatically be uploaded to your cloud storage.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔒 Records are stored in the cloud and do not take up space on the phone.
• 🔄 Automatic synchronization between devices.
• 📅 Convenient search by date and number.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Your voice is recorded (the interviewee is not heard).
• ❌ It doesn’t work in all regions (depending on Google’s policies).

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If you don’t save a record to Google Drive, check if sync is enabled in your Google account settings, and make sure there’s enough free space on the Drive (15GB is available for free).

5. Alternative methods: from headset to second phone

If the software isn't right, you can use hardware solutions, which are less convenient, but they work on any smartphone, including the Redmi 9:

• 🎧 Recording through a headset with a microphone: Connect your headphones with a microphone, start a voice recorder and put the microphone next to the phone speaker.
• 📱 Second phone: Put a second smartphone next to you with the recorder on, which is reliable but inconvenient for constant use.
• 🔌 Phone line recording adapter: Professional devices (e.g. Olympus) TP-8) connect to a 3.5mm connector and record the conversation with high quality.
• 💻 PC Recording: Connect Redmi 9 to your computer USB, Turn on File Transfer mode and use programs like Audacity to capture sound.

To record via PC you will need:

1. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times on the line with the version, then go back to Additional Settings → For Developers).
2. Install ADB drivers and scrcpy program for screen broadcasting.
3. Run screen recording with audio capture via OBS Studio or Audacity.

⚠️ Note: When recording via PC, the sound may be delayed by 1-2 It's better to use hardware for critical conversations.

Legal aspects: when recording conversations is legal

Technical ability to record is only half the question, and it's equally important to understand the legal implications.

• 🇷🇺 Russia: Recording a conversation without the consent of the interlocutor is allowed if you are a participant in the conversation (Article 23 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation.
• 🇺🇦 Ukraine: Consent of at least one of the interlocutors is required (Article 31 of the Constitution), recording without notice is possible, but its publication is not.
• 🇪🇺 EU: In most countries (Germany, France) recording without consent is prohibited and punishable by a fine.
• 🇺🇸 U.S.: Laws vary by state, California requires consent of all parties, Texas requires consent of one party.

General recommendations:

• Always notify the person you are using if you plan to use it for official purposes.
• Keep records in a secure place – their leak could violate the law on personal data.
• Do not distribute the recordings without the consent of the participants (even if the recording is legal in itself).

At Xiaomi Redmi. 9 All call records are saved by default in the folder /MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec. Remove them if they are no longer needed – this will reduce the risk of accidental leakage.

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording calls on Redmi 9

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On Xiaomi Redmi 9 with MIUI 13+, the call record is disabled, but it can be returned via an engineering menu, third-party apps (Boldbeast, Cube ACR) or hardware methods.