Recording phone conversations on Xiaomi Redmi 9 may be necessary to record important agreements, evidence in controversial situations, or simply to store valuable information. However, standard MIUI capabilities in this regard are limited, especially after the privacy policy updates. In this article, we will discuss all working methods for recording calls on Redmi 9, including hidden system functions, third-party applications and circumvention of restrictions.
It's important to understand that the legality of recording conversations depends on the laws of your country, most jurisdictions require notifying the second subscriber of the record, and we don't call for breaking laws, because the article is purely technical.
The material is relevant for Xiaomi Redmi 9 (models M2003J15SC, M2003J15SS, M2003J15SG) based on MIUI 12-14 and Android 10-12. Methods tested on firmware V12.5.3.0.RJCMIXM and later.
1. Built-in MIUI recording function: where to look and how to turn on
In some regional versions of MIUI, call recording is present by default, but hidden in settings. On Redmi 9, it can be activated through an engineering menu code or a configuration file change.
The first step is to check for the option in the standard interface:
- π Open the phone application (green handset).
- βοΈ Click on three dots in the upper right corner β Settings.
- π Scroll down to the Record of Conversations section (if any).
If there is no item, try activating it through the engineering menu:
- Open the phone app and enter the code: ##4636##
- Go to the phone information (or phone information) section.
- Scroll to Turn on/off call recording and turn on the option.
- Save the changes and restart the phone.
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If the engineering menu does not open, check if it is blocked by antivirus or the function of Fraud Protection in the security settings MIUI.
When activated during the call, a "Record" button will appear on the call screen. MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec inner-memory.
2. applications for recording calls: TOP-5 proven options
If the built-in feature is not available, use third-party apps. We tested the top 5 on Redmi 9 with MIUI compatibility and bypassing the limitations of Android 10+.
| Annex | Ratings. | Features | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cube ACR | 4.7β | Recording from both sides, cloud storage, automatic saving | Paid version for VoIP recording (WhatsApp, Viber) |
| Call Recorder by Lovakara | 4.5β | Free version without restrictions, integration with Google Drive | Advertising, sometimes not recording outgoing |
| Truecaller | 4.3β | Record + block spam, number determination | Requires registration, time limit for recording |
| RMC: Android Call Recorder | 4.6β | Support for root, high quality recording (320 kbps) | A complex setup for beginners |
| Call Recorder β Automatic | 4.4β | Automatic recording on white/black list | It doesnβt work on some MIUI firmware. |
For installation:
- Download APK from an official website (such as Cube ACR) or from Google Play.
- Allow installation from unknown sources in Settings β Applications β Special Access β Install unknown applications.
- Launch the application and grant rights to Microphone, Warehouse and Calls.
- In the application settings, select the write format (.mp3 or.amr) and the folder to save.
β οΈ Attention: MIUI 13+ Android can block recording through third-party apps due to privacy policies. MIUI 12 or use ADB-commands to unlock the functionality.
3. Record calls via Google Drive (no root)
A little-known way is to use Google Drive to record conversations automatically, and it works on Redmi 9 by integrating with Google services, but requires pre-setting.
Instructions:
- π± Install the Google Drive app from the Play Market.
- π§ Go to Settings. β Backup β Backup of calls.
- π€ Enable the option to record incoming/outgoing.
- βοΈ Select a folder on Google Drive to save records.
Advantages of the method:
- π Records are automatically uploaded to the cloud and do not take up space on the phone.
- π‘οΈ No need for root rights or complex manipulation.
- π Easy to search for records by date/number via the web interface of the Disk.
Disadvantages:
- β οΈ Only your voice is recorded (one-way recording).
- πΆ Requires a stable internet connection during the call.
How to circumvent the restriction of unilateral recording?
4. Recording via second telephone or recorder
If the software methods don't work, use hardware solutions, which are guaranteed to record the conversation in high quality, but require an additional device.
Implementation options:
- π±π± Second smartphone: Put next to the second phone with running voice recorder (for example, iPhone with the application Voice notes).
- π€ External voice recorder: Connect through USB-C 3.5 mm audio input (if any) professional recorder (e.g. Sony) ICD-UX570).
- π₯οΈ Computer: Use Audacity with microphone aimed at Redmi 9 speaker.
For better quality:
- π Reduce the volume of the Redmi 9 speaker to 70% to avoid distortion.
- π Place the recording device 10-15 cm away from the phone.
- π« Eliminate extraneous noise (fan, air conditioning).
Confirm the charge of the second device|Check the free space for records|Disable notifications on the recording phone|Make a test call to check the quality-->
On the Redmi 9 with a 3.5 mm connector, you can use a USB-C β 3.5 mm adapter and connect the recorder directly to the audio output, but the recording quality will be worse due to the phoneβs ADC.
5. Root access: Full control of recording
If you're prepared for radical measures, getting root permissions will open up access to system recording features, a technique that's suitable for power users and allows you to record calls at the Android kernel level.
Steps to write from root:
- Unlock the bootloader on Redmi 9 through the official Xiaomi tool.
- Install Custom Recovery (TWRP) and scrolle Magisk to get root.
- Download the Call Recorder for Magisk module from the Magisk repository.
- Activate the module in Magisk Manager and restart the phone.
After installation:
- The records will be retained in /sdcard/CallRecordings/.
- You can set up automatic recording for specific contacts.
- The formats.wav (without compression) and.mp3 are available.
β οΈ Attention: Root access cancels Xiaomi warranty and may lead to blocking of banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff.
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Root method is the only way to record calls in VoIP messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) at the system level.
Legal aspects: what the law says
Before recording conversations, study the laws of your country, and in most cases, the consent of the interlocutor is required, otherwise the recording will not have legal force.
Country summary:
- π·πΊ Russia: Recording without notice is allowed if you are a participant in the conversation (Article 23 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation), however, in court it may be necessary to prove that there is no violation of the confidentiality of correspondence.
- πΊπ¦ Ukraine: second subscriberβs consent is required (Article 31 of the Constitution), except for fixing threats or crimes.
- π°πΏ Kazakhstan: Recording without consent is prohibited (Article 18 of the Constitution), but allowed for personal use.
- πͺπΊ EC: Regulations GDPR requires the interviewer to inform about the recording.
Recommendations for legal entry:
- π’ Start the conversation with the phrase: βThe conversation is recorded to capture informationΒ».
- π Keep a consent log (for example, in phone notes).
- π Keep records in a secure place (encrypted folder, cloud with a secure location) 2FA).
If the record is to be used in court:
- π Record the date and time of the conversation (automatically added to the file metadata).
- π Save the subscriber number (you can use the screenshot of the call screen).
- π Make the record as evidence with a cover letter.