Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 9 smartphones often face an unpleasant situation when after buying the device they find the lack of the usual feature of recording telephone conversations, which is puzzling, since previous models of the brand, such as the Redmi Note 8 or older versions of MIUI, had a built-in voice recorder out of the box, users begin to look for this option in the settings, update the firmware, but standard methods can not activate it.
The main reason is not hardware limitations of the MediaTek Helio G80 processor or Android 10/11 operating system, but legal and political changes by Google. Global versions of MIUI Global firmware are now equipped with the standard Google Phone app, which by default blocks the ability to record without warning or even prohibits it in some regions, in response to the tightening of privacy laws in Europe and the United States.
To make matters worse, even if you have a built-in voice recorder on your system, it can be hidden or deactivated at the software level for specific sales regions. In this article, we will detail the technical reasons for blocking, look at the differences between firmware versions, and suggest working methods for solving the problem for your device.
Technical reasons for blocking the function in MIUI
The main culprit behind the feature’s disappearance is Xiaomi’s move to use Google Dialer in global builds of the operating system. The company previously used its own app, “MIUI Phone,” which allowed recording automatically and without audible notifications. However, Google’s policy requires strict privacy rules, which led to restrictions on the native set of GMS applications (Google Mobile Services).
Unlike Chinese firmware versions, where legislation allows for freer handling of audio data, international releases of MIUI Global and EEA (European Economic Area) are required to comply with GDPR. This means recording a conversation without the explicit consent of the second party or without a loud beep is considered a violation. Xiaomi engineers were forced to remove the possibility of hidden recording from the standard interface to avoid multi-million dollar fines.
In addition, the Android architecture itself, beginning with version 9 and especially version 10 and above, restricts third-party apps from accessing the microphone during a phone call. The system blocks audio capture unless the application is system-based and has no special privileges. That is why installing third-party software from the Play Market often proves useless - they either record silence or require complex manipulation of root rights.
- 📱 Transition to Google Dialer in global firmware MIUI 12 and newer.
- ⚖️ Compliance with international laws on the protection of personal data (GDPR).
- 🔒 Blocking access to the microphone at the Android core level for third-party applications.
- 🌍 Separation of Functionalities for China (CN) Global Market (Global Market).
⚠️ Warning: Attempting to flash the Chinese version of the firmware to the global model (or vice versa) without unlocking the bootloader can lead to locking the device on the Internet. IMEI (Mi Account Lock).
Differences between firmware versions: Global, EEA and China
Understanding the differences between regional versions of the software is key to solving the problem: Redmi 9 can come with one of three main types of firmware, and the call recording functionality is implemented in different ways. The Chinese version (CN) is devoid of many of Google's restrictions, since in China the search giant's services are blocked and Xiaomi's own ecosystem is used there.
Global and European (EEA) versions are almost identical in terms of Google’s restrictions, but in some cases, MIUI code for certain regions (such as India or Russia in older builds) may have left loopholes or older versions of dialer where the feature worked, but with Google security updates, these loopholes are being gradually closed.
It's also important to consider that even within one firmware version, the functionality may differ depending on which application is installed by default to make calls. If you have a Google Phone, the recording will work only with a voice warning. If you manage to save or install MIUI Dialer, the function can work normally.
| Type of firmware | Call appendix | Automatic recording | Audible notification |
|---|---|---|---|
| China (CN) | MIUI Dialer | There is. | No (usually) |
| Global / EEA | Google Phone | Only manually. | Loud "The recording has begun" |
| Global (old) | MIUI Dialer | There is. | No. |
| Global (new) | Google Phone | No (no mods) | N/D |
How do I find out my version of the firmware?
Activation methods via Google Phone
If you don't want to risk the stability of the system, you can try to activate the feature in the standard Google Phone app. In some regions and versions of the application, a hidden setting allows you to turn on the recording, but it always comes with a voice notification for both interlocutors.
To check for availability, open the Phone app, click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings. Find Call Record. If you have one, you can turn on automatic recording for all numbers or only for favorites. However, if you don't, then your region or carrier version is blocking even this option.
There is a method of changing the region in the phone settings that sometimes helps unlock hidden features. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Region and select a country where the laws are milder (for example, Indonesia or India). After rebooting, check for the feature again. This method works unstable and depends on the version of MIUI.
- 📞 Open the settings of the Google Phone application.
- 🔍 Search for the "Call Record" section (may not be available).
- 🌏 Try to change the region in the general settings of the smartphone.
- 🗣️ Remember to give a loud voice warning to the interlocutor.
⚠️ Warning "This call is being recorded" is heard by both interlocutors and it cannot be disabled by software methods in the standard Google Dialer.
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Use the speakerphone and the second device with the voice recorder if the quality of the built-in recording does not suit you or if the function is completely blocked.
Installation of a modified Google Dialer
The most effective way to return a full record without restrictions is to install a modified version of the Google Phone app. Enthusiasts create patched versions of apk files that remove regional restrictions and add hidden recording capability, which requires removing updates to the standard app and manually installing the modified file.
Before starting the procedure, you need to find an up-to-date version of the modified dialer that is compatible with your version of Android and MIUI. Often these files are distributed on forums like 4PDA or on Telegram channels dedicated to Xiaomi.
The installation process is as follows: first, you need to remove updates to the standard Phone application through the application menu, then turn off automatic updates to this application in Google Play. After that, you install a downloaded modified apk file. Full functionality should appear in the new application settings, including automatic recording.
☑️ Installation of the modified Dialer
It’s worth noting that after major updates to MIUI or Google Play services, the system can automatically return the stock version of the application, and the procedure will have to be repeated, and there is a risk that Google will delete your account for using modified software, although in practice this is extremely rare and mainly for gaming services.
Use of third-party voice recorder applications
If you don't want to mess with modified system applications, you can try third-party solutions from the Play Market. However, as mentioned earlier, modern versions of Android (10, 11, 12+) have severe restrictions on access to the audio stream during a call, most of these applications either record silence or require the speakerphone to be turned on.
One of the few working solutions is the Call Recorder app - Cube ACR. It often requires the installation of a special support application (App Connector) and the provision of wide permissions through the Special Features menu. Even in this case, the result is not 100% guaranteed, as it depends on the specific chipset and version of the Redmi 9 kernel.
Other popular applications, such as TapeACall or Recordator, often use conferencing, and they connect a third number (record server) to your conversation, which is convenient, but these services are usually paid and require a stable Internet connection, as well as charging an outgoing call to the record server.
- 📱 Cube ACR — Requires access rights and App Connector.
- 📞 TapeACall – works through conference call (paid).
- 🔊 Blackbox Call Recorder – can run on some versions of Android.
- ⚙️ Maximum permissions are required in the system.
⚠️ Warning: When using third-party applications, always check where the record is stored. Some programs may send your conversations to their servers for processing, which is not secure.
Change of region and hidden settings MIUI
There are many hidden features in the MIUI shell that can be accessed through an engineering menu or region change, and sometimes simply changing the region to India or Nepal in the phone's standard settings can activate the native recording feature if it has been blocked only geographically.
A more advanced method involves using SetEdit (which requires installation via APK, since it is not in the Play Market) to change system settings. With this tool, you can try to change the region string in the settings database without changing the overall region of the phone. However, this method requires caution: changing the wrong parameters can lead to unstable system operation.
It's also worth checking if you have Google Assistant mode activated, which can intercept call management. Disabling some voice assistant features sometimes returns call management to the native MIUI interface if it's been replaced.
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Changing the region is the most secure software method that does not require installing third-party software and rarely leads to system errors.