How to completely disable the recording of conversations on Xiaomi: 5 proven ways

Recording phone conversations on Xiaomi smartphones is a useful feature for business negotiations or storing important information, but not all users need it. Many people face the fact that the system automatically saves audio files of calls, taking up device memory or creating privacy problems, especially for owners of devices on MIUI 12-15, where the recording function is integrated at the firmware level.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can disable conversation recordings, from standard settings to hidden developer settings, how to delete stored records, why the feature can turn on itself, and what to do if standard methods don’t work. The instructions are suitable for all modern Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and Black Shark models, including flagship and budget series.

Why Xiaomi Records Conversations Automatically

The MIUI call recording function is activated for several reasons, and it is not always consciously activated.

• 🔧 Default setting – on some firmware (especially in regional versions for India or China), the record is included out of the box.
• 📱 Update the system after upgrade to MIUI 13/14 The function can be activated automatically, even if it was previously disabled.
• 🤖 Google Services – If you use Google Phone as a call app, recording can be managed through its settings.
• 🔄 Resetting – after resetting to factory parameters, some functions return to default values.

It is important to understand that recording conversations on Xiaomi works at the system application level com.android.incallui.This means that simply removing the Phone app from the menu will not help – it will require deeper manipulation, and some mobile operators (for example, in India) can force the recording to comply with local data retention laws.

Method 1: Disable recordings via standard MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in options of the system, which is suitable for most users and does not require superuser rights:

1. Open the Phone app (the phone icon on the home screen).
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to the Call Recording section (some firmware may call it Call Recording or Call Recording).
4. Turn off the Automatic Recording (or Record Calls Automatic) slider.
5. Make sure that the list below does not contain any active rules for individual contacts (e.g., “Write down all inboxes”).

If you don't have a "Talk Record" option on your menu, it means that the function is managed through another app.

• 📞 Contacts app – sometimes the recording settings are hidden in the profile of a particular subscriber.
• 🔍 Search by settings - enter in the search bar MIUI call-record".
• 🛠️ Developer Settings – If the standard method didn’t work (more on this below).

⚠️ Note: Some of the firmware for India (MIUI INDIA) The call recording function may be blocked at the system level, in which case it will require a change in the region of the device or use of the device. ADB-team.

Method 2: Delete the recording through the settings of the "Phone" application

If the record is already enabled and you want to not only disable it, but also delete all saved files, follow the following steps:

1. Launch the phone app.
2. Go to the Call log (the tab with the clock or the call list).
3. Find any recorded conversation — next to it will be a microphone icon or the inscription “Recorded”.
4. Click on the record and hold your finger for 2-3 seconds until the context menu appears.
5. Choose Delete or Delete (to delete one file) or Delete All (to clean up the entire history).

Saved records are usually stored in a folder /Internal Storage/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec or /sdcard/Recordings/Call. You can manually delete them through any file manager (such as Mi File Manager), but keep in mind:

• 🗑️ The files are.amr or.mp3 and take from 500 KB to several MB depending on the duration.
• 🔄 After deleting the folder can be created again at the next recorded call.
• 🔒 Some files may be hidden – enable the display of hidden folders in the file manager settings.

Method 3: Disconnect through the developer settings

If the standard methods don't work, try using the developer mode, which requires activating the hidden menu:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and click on it 7 times in a row until the notification “You became a developer” appears.
3. Go back to the main settings menu and open a new Developer Options section.
4. Scroll down and find the option to Disable call recording or Force disable call recording.
5. Activate it and restart the device.

Some firmware (MIUI 14+) may not have this option, so try an alternative path:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Phone → Permissions → Microphone → Ban

⚠️ Warning: Disabling microphone access for the Phone app will block all voice-related features, including voice dialing and commands for Google Assistant via the power button.

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If the developer settings feature still works after disabling the recording, try resetting the Phone app settings through Settings → Apps → Phone → Warehouse → Clear the data. Note that this will delete the call log!

Method 4: Use ADB-Teams (for experienced users)

If none of the previous methods worked, the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) option remains, which requires connecting the smartphone to the computer and executing commands through the terminal.

1. Download and install ADB Tools on PC.
2. Turn on your smartphone debugging over USB in the developer settings.
3. Connect the device to the computer and confirm the debugging permission.
4. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
5. Follow the command to check the connection: Adb devices Make sure your device appears in the list.
6. Enter the command to disable the record: adb shell settings put global call_recording_disabled 1
7. Reboot your smartphone.

Use the same command to return the write function by replacing 1 with 0. This method works on most MIUI firmware, but may require super-user (root) rights on some models.

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ADB-commands are the most reliable way to disable recording at the system level, but it requires caution. ADB It can cause malfunctions in the smartphone.

Method 5: Install an alternative call app

If the built-in recording function is not disabled, you can completely replace the standard Phone application with a third-party one.

• 📞 Google Phone – Google’s official app with minimalist interface and no automatic recording (available on Play Market).
• 🔄 Truecaller is a popular solution with spam identification, but call recording is also available here (it can be turned off in the settings).
• 🛡️ Simple Dialer – lightweight application without unnecessary features, ideal for privacy.

To install an alternative application:

1. Download the selected application from Google Play.
2. Go to Settings → Applications → By default → Phone App.
3. Select the new app as the standard for calls.
4. Disable or remove updates for the standard MIUI Phone app (via Settings → Apps → Phone → Three Dots → Remove Updates).

Important: On some firmware, Xiaomi blocks the replacement of the Phone system application without root rights, in which case, after rebooting the device, the standard application can become active again.

What to do if the recording of conversations turns on by itself

If the recording function is activated again after the shutdown, the problem may be:

• 🔄 Auto-updates MIUI — After installing the new version of the firmware, the settings are reset.
• 📱 System cache failure – cleaning the cache through recovery can help.
• 🤖 Third-party applications – some programs (e.g. Call Recorder or Cube) ACR) They may conflict with the system record.

Decisions:

1. Reverse to the previous version of MIUI via Settings → About Phone → System Update → Three Points → Select an Service Pack (if you have an old firmware file saved).
2. Clear the cache: Turn off the phone → Press the power button + volume up → Select “Wipe Cache Partition” → Reboot.
3. Check the autoload of applications through Settings → Battery → Autorun and disable suspicious programs.

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording conversations on Xiaomi