Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 9T smartphones often face the need to save an important conversation for subsequent listening or transfer to third parties. the standard shell MIUI installed on this device has built-in functionality for automatic or manual recording of calls, but the storage system of these files has its own features that can confuse the inexperienced user.
By default, the Android system that runs Redmi 9T tends to hide system files from being accidentally deleted, so it is not always possible to find audio files in a standard gallery or music list. Understanding the logical structure of the file system is necessary in order to quickly extract the necessary information or transfer it to the computer.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the physical and logical paths that keep records, and the nuances of working with a file manager in different versions of firmware, so you will learn not only to find files, but also to manage them correctly, avoiding common errors when cleaning the memory of the device.
Standard Ways to Save in a File System
When using the standard Phone app from Google or Xiaomi, which is preinstalled on Redmi 9T, The system automatically creates a special directory for storing audio archives. /MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ or /Recordings/call_rec/, Depending on the version of the installed operating system and regional firmware.
Files in this folder usually have an extension.m4a or.mp3, And that allows them to play on most media players without having to convert. USB-cable, you will need to turn on file transfer mode to see the internal memory and go down the specified path.
It is worth noting that in some cases, especially after the MIUI update, the path may change or become hidden for third-party applications for security purposes. In this situation, a standard Explorer may not display the folder immediately, and you will need to enable the display of hidden files in the settings of the Explorer itself.
It is important to remember that when cleaning the app cache or using aggressive power saving modes, the system may restrict access to these directories, so regularly backing up important conversations to an external medium is a reasonable precaution.
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Use the built-in Cleanup function with caution: always check which folders are marked for deletion so as not to accidentally erase the archive of conversations along with temporary files.
Use of the built-in voice recorder and its folder
Special attention deserves the application "Dictophone", which is on Redmi. 9T It's often confused with the call recorder, although technically they're different tools. If you recorded a conversation through a voice recorder manually (putting your phone on speaker), the files will lie in the way. /MIUI/sound_recorder/, but not in the subfolder call_rec.
The difference between these folders is significant: call records made automatically by the system often have a phone number and date in the title, while voice recorder files are called users.>
Redmi 9T users may find that the call record is not shared but stored in an isolated app store if privacy settings have been changed, and that searching for the file through a global search by device may be the only quick solution.
To access the record storage settings, go to the recorder menu, click three dots in the corner of the screen and select the settings. Here you can see the current save path and, if you have the rights, change it to a memory card if your Redmi 9T supports external drives via OTG or installed microSD.
Search for records through built-in conductor
The most convenient way to find the desired record without connecting to your computer is to use the built-in File Manager app, which is pre-installed on every Redmi 9T and has a user-friendly interface for navigating file categories, not just folders.
Open the app and look at the top of the screen where the category icons are located, and you're interested in the Audio section or the Records folder, and when you go to the audio category, the system will filter all the audio files, and you'll just have to sort them by the date of the change to find the recent conversation.
If there are too many music and podcasts in the audio category, use the search function inside the explorer. Type in the search box the record keyword or part of the phone number if it appears in the file name. Redmi 9T indexes the contents of internal memory quickly enough.
It also has a feature called Recent, which shows files created or changed in the last few minutes or hours, and it's the perfect way to quickly find a conversation you just finished without wandering through the deep directories of the file system.
☑️ Search algorithm through the Explorer
Access to computer records
For large-scale work with archives of conversations, for example, to sort them or transfer them to the cloud, the most convenient way to use a computer. 9T PC through the original USB-cable, making sure that the file transfer mode is selected (MTP), not just charging.
On your computer, open "My Computer," find your device in the disk list, and go to internal memory: MIUI -> sound_recorder -> call_rec. Here you will see all the saved dialogues in chronological order.
If the folder call_rec Empty or absent, check out the alternative path of Recordings -> Call_rec. Folder structure can cook
When copying files to a computer, it is recommended to save the folder structure or rename files by adding context (for example, the name of the interlocutor), since it will be impossible to remember after a while what the conversation with an unknown number was about.
Storage settings and operation with SD-card
Xiaomi Redmi 9T supports microSD card installation, which is a great solution for users who are actively recording conversations and are afraid of overloading internal memory.
To change this behavior, go to the settings of the recorder or the phone application (depending on what is recorded), find the option "Save path" or "Storage" and select a memory card, after which all new records will be automatically sent to an external medium.
Use of the SD-The card has its advantages: even when resetting your smartphone to the factory settings (Hard Reset), the files on the memory card will remain intact unless you choose the option of complete cleaning of all data including the following: SD-map.
⚠️ Attention: The memory card runs slower than the internal memory of the smartphone. If the card has a low speed class, the recording of the conversation may be interrupted or the file may be corrupted. UHS-I higher.
What to do if the recording is interrupted?
Access problems and hidden files
Modern versions of Android (10, 11, 12 and above), on which Redmi 9T software is based, have enhanced security measures, and applications are prohibited from freely accessing the file system, which can lead to situations where the file physically exists but does not appear in the list.
If you can't see the folder with records, check the display settings in Explorer. Often you need to activate "Show hidden files." Also, access may be restricted by access rights, especially if you are trying to view files through a third-party file manager downloaded from the Play Market.
In some cases, cleaning the Explorer app cache or restarting your smartphone can help. If the problem persists, try using a computer access method, as when connecting via USB, access restrictions are often removed.
It’s also worth checking if the Privacy Protection feature is enabled in MIUI settings, which can hide the contents of certain folders from prying eyes without entering a password or fingerprint.
Table of conservation methods for different scenarios
For ease of navigation, we have systematized the main paths to files depending on how the recording was done and which version of the software is installed on your Redmi 9T.
| Script of the recording | Type of application | The path to the file | File extension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard call recording. | System phone (Google/Xiaomi) | /MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ | .m4a / .mp3 |
| Recording through a dictaphone | Dictator appendix | /MIUI/sound_recorder/ | .m4a |
| Alternative path (old firmware) | System phone | /Recordings/call_rec/ | .mp3 |
| Recording by a third-party application | Third-party software (Cube, ACR) | /Name Appendices/Recordings/ | .wav / .mp3 |
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The main way to search is a folder call_rec inside MIUI, Always check alternative paths if the file is not found the first time.
Recovery of deleted records
If you accidentally deleted an important conversation, don't panic. On Redmi 9T, like many modern smartphones, deleted files don't disappear instantly, but end up in a shopping cart that's stored for 30 days.
Open the Explorer app, find the Recycle Bin section (usually in the Explorer settings menu or in a separate folder) and check the contents. If the file is there, it can be restored with a single click.
If the cart is already cleaned, the chances of recovery are reduced, but they remain, and this will require specialized data recovery programs that work with Root rights, or contacting a service center, although the guarantee of success is not absolute.
The best way to protect is to regularly sync important files with cloud services such as Google Drive or Xiaomi Cloud, the settings of which allow you to automatically reserve a folder with records.
⚠️ Note: When using data recovery software, do not write new information to your smartphone, as new files can overwrite the memory sectors where the deleted record was stored, making it impossible to restore it.