How to record calls to Xiaomi: official and hidden ways

Why do we need to record calls and what the law says

Recording phone conversations on Xiaomi can be useful in dozens of situations, from fixing important business agreements to proving in court or simply saving memorable conversations with loved ones. However, before you click the Record button, it is worth remembering the legal nuances. In Russia, recording a conversation is allowed only with the notification of the interlocutor (Article 23 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation on the right to privacy of correspondence), except for cases when the recording is conducted in self-defense or to protect your rights (for example, when threats or blackmail).

Xiaomi doesn’t technically block the recording feature, but in the latest versions of MIUI 14/15, it had to be removed from the standard toolkit due to the tightening of Google Play policies. However, you can circumvent this restriction — at least 5 ways, which we’ll discuss below. Importantly, some methods require root rights or install third-party applications, which can affect the device warranty.

If you are recording a conversation for work purposes, check the company’s internal rules – many organizations prohibit recording conversations without customer consent. For personal use, a verbal warning is enough (“I’m recording our conversation, is that okay with you?”).

Method 1: Integrated entry in MIUI (for older versions)

Before we go. MIUI 12 Xiaomi firmware had a built-in call recording feature that automatically saved conversations to a folder MIUI/sound_recorder/calls. It is currently only available on Chinese-based devices (e.g. Xiaomi). 13 Ultra for the domestic market) or on smartphones with MIUI 11 And below, it's easy to check for it:

Open the phone application

Dial the number and wait for the connection.

Look at the screen – if there is a Record button (mic icon), the function is active

After the call is completed, the file will appear in the files. → Internal memory. → MIUI → sound_recorder-->

If there is no button, but you are sure that the firmware supports recording, try to enable it through the engineering menu:

##4636## → Testing → Phone settings → Enable call recording

⚠️ Attention: Activation via the engineering menu can cause a malfunction of the communication module. on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ This method does not work for new models – Xiaomi has blocked access to the function at the software level.

Method 2: Apps from Google Play (with notification)

The easiest and most legal way is to use specialized applications. Google Play has hundreds of them, but we selected those that are guaranteed to work on Xiaomi with MIUI 14/15 and support Russian. An important nuance: since 2022, Google requires developers to notify the interlocutor about the recording, so the hidden mode is available only in bypass solutions (about them in the next section).

Top.-3 tested applications:

• 📱 Cube Call Recorder ACR — record.mp3 Or.aac, supports cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox).
• 🎤 Call Recorder by Lovekesh automatically saves files with date/time stamps, there is a filter by contacts. POCO F5 last-fixed.
• 🔊 Automatic Call Recorder – allows you to adjust the recording quality (from 64 to 192 kbps) and exclude certain numbers from the recording.

How to set up Cube Call Recorder ACR:

1. Download the application and provide access to the Microphone, Contacts and Warehouse.
2. In settings, select Sound Source → Loud Communication (this will improve the quality of your voice recording).
3. Activate Auto Record for all incoming/outgoing calls.
4. In the Format section, install MP3 with a bitrate of 128 kbit / s – this is enough for clear sound.

Cube Call Recorder ACR|Call Recorder by Lovekesh|Automatic Call Recorder|Other |Not used-->

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi with MediaTek processors (e.g. Redmi) 10C or POCO M5) Some applications may not capture the voice of the interlocutor due to the limitations of the chipset, in which case only rooting or an external voice recorder will help.

Method 3: Hidden recording without notifications (for advanced)

If you want a completely hidden recording without telling the other person, the standard Google Play apps don't work, they have to send a notification, and there are two ways around this limitation:

1. Install a modified firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu or PixelExperience) where the recording function is built in without restrictions.
2. Using API bypass applications that masquerade as system services (e.g., SkvalEx’s Call Recorder – Automatic).

The second option would require:

• 🔓 Allow installation from unknown sources (Settings) → Annexes → Special access → Installation of unknown applications).
• 📥 Download APK-A file from a developer’s website (not from Google Play!).
• 🛠️ Grant the application the rights to access the Phone, Microphone and Overlay windows.

The advantage of this approach is that it's recorded in the background, without an icon in the status bar, but there are risks.

Method 4: Recording through the second SIM-map IP-telephony

If your Xiaomi does not support recording calls in any of the above ways, you can go for the trick – use the second one. SIM-card IP-Telephony, the essence of the method:

1. Install the second in the smartphone SIM-Card (or activate eSIM if the model supports, for example, Xiaomi) 13T Pro).
2. During a conversation from the main number, call the second number with the speakerphone on.
3. On the second phone (or the same Xiaomi with another SIM) run the recorder.

Alternatively, services like Zadarma or Sipnet, which allow you to record conversations on the operator side, do this by:

• 📞 Register with the service and get a virtual number.
• 🔄 Configure call forwarding from the main number to the virtual number.
• 🎧 Enable the option "Recording conversations" in the personal account of the service.

The downside is the dependence on quality of communication and the delay of sound (echo), plus the recording is on the server, and it can not be deleted accidentally, suitable for business users who want to keep an archive of negotiations.

💡

If you use Zadarma, turn on the option “Write only incoming” or “All calls” in the settings – this will help save space on the cloud (free 1 GB is given).

Method 5: Hardware solutions (dictophone or headphones)

The most reliable, but not always convenient, way is to use an external voice recorder or headphones with recording function, which is true for Xiaomi owners who can not record a call software (for example, on the Redmi A2 with a stripped down firmware).

Device options:

• 🎙️ Digital voice recorder (e.g. Sony) ICD-UX570 or olimpus WS-853) — fastened to clothes, records from a distance of up to 5 meters.
• 🎧 Headphones with microphone (for example, Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earphones 3) – connect via Bluetooth, but the recording quality depends on the codec.
• 📱 Second smartphone – put it next to you and turn on the recorder (for example, the standard application Record on Xiaomi).

How to improve the quality of the recording:

• 🔇 Use a speakerphone on the main phone.
• 🏠 Keep the conversation quiet (noise from the street or office will ruin the recording).
• 🔊 Adjust the sensitivity of the microphone in the voice recorder application (optimally: 70-80%).

⚠️ Note: When using Bluetooth headphones to record, you may experience a delay of up to 0.5 seconds (latency), which is critical if you want to synchronize your replicas (for example, for transcription).

Where records are stored and how to protect them

By default, call records files are saved in different folders depending on the method:

To protect records from accidental deletion or leakage:

1. Move files to a closed folder (on Xiaomi this is done through Files → Personal Storage).
2. Archive password records (use 7-Zip or RAR with AES-256 encryption).
3. Sync with the cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud), but only if the files do not contain sensitive information.

For long-term storage, you can convert files to.flac or.wav, which are not lost in quality when copied repeatedly, and you can do this through applications like Audio Converter or Lexis Audio Editor.

💡

Never keep records of important conversations only on your phone. Use the 3-2-1 rule: 3 copies on 2 different media, 1 of which is out of the house (for example, cloud + flash drive + external hard drive).

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording calls to Xiaomi