Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to quickly find saved dialogue, but standard navigation in the shell of MIUI can confuse the inexperienced user. The location of files depends on the version of the Android operating system and the specific interface modification installed on your device. In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible ways in which the system saves audio recordings, and explain how to change these settings for yourself.
Finding the right file can be complicated by the fact that system applications sometimes hide folders with sensitive data from public access, this is done for security reasons so that third-party programs can not access your personal correspondence without knowing. However, knowing the exact structure of the directories, you can easily get to the information you need through any file manager.
It should be borne in mind that the Redmi Note 9 model can have different versions of firmware, ranging from the old MIUI 11 and ending with new updates based on Android 11 or 12. The logic of the system recorder and Phone in them may differ slightly, so we will consider all the current options for placing files.
Standard Ways to Save in a File System
The fastest way to find an audio record is to use the built-in Explorer. Android has a strict folder hierarchy, and phone conversation files are no exception. By default, they fall into the root directory of internal memory, but the path can vary depending on the settings of the region.
The most common way is to use the standard path, which is relevant for most global firmware versions, and you need to open the Explorer app and proceed to the following structure:
- π Internal memory.
- π MIUI
- π sound_recorder
- π call_rec
In the file. call_rec All your records are stored, sorted by date and time of creation. Files usually have an extension.m4a or.mp3, So you can play them on any media player, if you can't see the folder. MIUI immediately, make sure that the conductor settings include the display of hidden system files.
β οΈ Note: On some versions MIUI Privacy-protected access to the folder sound_recorder If you try to open a folder and see an access error message, try using the system application "Dictorphone" to view the list.
In rare cases, especially on custom builds or older versions of software, the path may be shortened. Files may lie right at the root of the internal memory in the folder. MIUI/sound_recorder without call_rec. It is also worth checking the Recordings folder in the root if the standard paths did not give a result.
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If you can't find a file through Explorer, open the Dictator app, click on the list icon (three bars) and select the Phone category, and from there you can immediately go to the file or open its location.
Search through the application Dictophone and Phone
You don't have to dig deep into the file system to listen to a conversation. Xiaomi's shell provides convenient tools for managing audio recordings directly through system applications, which is especially convenient when you need to quickly find a dialogue with a specific contact.
The Dictaphone app automatically sorts all the recordings into categories. Run the program and pay attention to the top of the screen or the side menu. There you will find a switch between Dictaphone (records from the microphone) and Phone (conversations), and select the category Phone, you will see a chronological list of all the calls that have been recorded.
Alternatively, use a call log. Open the standard caller and go to the recent tab. Find the contact you were talking to, and click on the arrow next to the number or the number itself to reveal details. If you were recording, there will be a recorder icon or a separate tab called Record.
For users who are used to long contact lists, a name search is convenient. The Recorder app has a search bar where you can type in a contact name or part of a phone number. The system will instantly filter the list and show the corresponding audio files.
It's important to note that when you delete a contact from a phone book, the records don't automatically disappear, they stay in the device's memory until you manually decide to delete them or clear the app cache, which allows you to store important information even after you change the device. SIM-contact-card.
Configure automatic recording and formats
Before you search for files, make sure that the recording function is activated at all. On Redmi Note 9, settings may be lost after the system update. To enable automatic recording of all incoming and outgoing calls, you need to go to the settings of the Phone application.
Click on the three dots in the top right corner of the dialing screen and select Settings. In the menu that opens, look for Call Record. Here you can activate the "Automatically Record Calls" switch. There's also an option to record only certain numbers, which saves space in memory.
You should pay special attention to the format of the save, and in the same settings, you can choose the quality and format of the file:
- ποΈ MP3 β Universal format, takes up more space, but is compatible with all devices.
- ποΈ M4A (AAC) β Modern format with better compression, ideal for long conversations.
- ποΈ AMR β The old format used on very old versions of Android is of poor quality.
The choice of format affects not only the quality of the sound, but also how quickly the internal memory will fill up, and for ordinary conversations, AAC format is quite enough, which provides a good balance between file size and speech intelligibility.
βοΈ Checking the recording settings
File location table in different versions of MIUI
Since folder structure can vary depending on the software version, below is a summary table for the various MIUI modifications that are relevant to the Redmi Note 9.
| MIUI / Android version | The way to the folder | File extension | Features of access |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI 11 (Android 9/10) | /MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec | .mp3 /.amr | Open access |
| MIUI 12 (Android 10/11) | /MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec | .m4a | Permission required |
| MIUI 12.5 (Android 11) | /Android/data/com.android.soundrecorder/files/sound_recorder/call_rec | .m4a | Restricted access to Android 11+ |
| MIUI 13/14 (Android 12+) | /MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec | .m4a | Strict access rights |
Pay attention to the line for Android 11 In this version, Google has tightened its Coped Storage policy, so some conductors may not see the folder. Android/data. In this case, use only the system conductor Xiaomi or the application βDictorphoneΒ».
β οΈ Note: After upgrading to Android 11 and up, the old paths may stop working for third-party applications.If you use a third-party file manager, it will need special permission to manage all files, which is requested when you first start.
Access and rights issues in Android 11+
Since the eleventh version of Android, security has tightened control over applicationsβ access to the file system, a phenomenon known as Scoped Storage, which Redmi Note 9 users who upgrade to new versions of the software may find that the record folder exists but is empty or unopenable.
Often the problem is not the absence of files, but the permissions of the Explorer itself. If you use a third-party file management application (for example, Total Commander or ES Explorer), it may not have the rights to read the system directories, in which case the system will offer special permission, which must be confirmed.
Itβs also worth checking if the Sandbox mode for the Dictaphone app is turned on. In rare cases, after resetting settings or failing to update, the rights of the apps may be stripped down. Go to Settings β Apps β All Apps β Dictaphone β Rights and make sure that access to Memory or Files and Media Content is allowed.
What do I do if the folder is empty?
Transfer and backup of records
Talk recordings take up space in internal memory, which can be limited on the Redmi Note 9. To avoid losing important data and free up space, it is recommended to make regular backups. The easiest way is to transfer files to your computer or to the cloud.
To transfer to a PC, connect your smartphone with a cable USB. Select the "File Transfer" modeΒ» (MTP) You can find the device on the computer, go to the folder. MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec And you copy the files you want, and then you can delete them from your phone.
Automatic synchronization can be configured through cloud services such as Google Drive or Mi Cloud. However, standard photo and video sync tools do not always cover the folder with conversation records. To automate the process, you can use third-party synchronization applications such as FolderSync, configuring the task to copy a specific directory.
Regular backups will protect you from data loss in the event of a smartphone breakdown or factory reset. Don't neglect this, as it's almost impossible to recover deleted conversation records without a backup.
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Regularly migrating recordings to an external medium or to the cloud is the only reliable way to save important conversations when you flash or break a device.