How to check the history of calls on Xiaomi Redmi 8: all ways

Xiaomi Redmi 8, based on MIUI, stores a detailed history of incoming, outgoing and missed calls, but not everyone knows where to look for this data. Unlike modern flagships, where the interface can change with each firmware, Redmi 8 runs stable versions of MIUI 10-12, and the path to call logs remains standard. However, there are nuances: for example, after a reset or system update, the story can “disappear” if it was not synchronized with Mi Account.

In this article, we'll look at all the ways we can view Redmi 8's call history, from the basic method through the standard Phone app to recovering deleted records with backups, and why sometimes calls don't show up in the log, and how to fix it, and if you need to not just look at the history, but also export it to a file for analysis or litigation, you'll find a solution here, too.

Method 1: Standard application "Phone"

The most obvious and quickest method is to use the built-in Phone app (a handset icon on the home screen or menu). In MIUI for Redmi 8, the call log is integrated directly into this application, and accessed in one tap. Here's how it works:

• 📱 Open the Phone app (if it is not on the desktop, find it in the Tools folder or through a system search).
• 📜 In the bottom panel, click on the tab Journal (or History in some localizations) and display all calls grouped by date.
• 🔍 To find a specific number, use the search bar at the top of the screen.
• ⚙️ For additional actions (deletion, locking the number), click on the call record and hold your finger 1-2 seconds.

The journal shows:

• 📞 Outgoing calls (green arrow).
• 📵 Incoming (blue arrow).
• 🚫 Missed (red badge).
• ⏱️ Duration of the call (if the call was received).

If the story is empty, even though the calls were definitely made, check out:

• 🔄 Have you dropped your phone to factory settings.
• 📱 Is synchronization with Mi Cloud disabled (more on this in method 3).
• 🛠️ Are there third-party applications for blocking calls (such as Truecaller) that can hide records.

Method 2: Through the Contact Menu

In MIUI, the call history is duplicated in the Contacts app, which is convenient if you call the same callers often and want to see the full timeline of the communication with a particular person.

1. Open the Contacts app (an icon with a person’s silhouette).
2. Find the right contact in the list or through search.
3. Slip by name and the contact card will open.
4. Scroll down to the Log block, and you'll see all the calls with that number, including the date and time.

The advantage of this method is:

• 📊 You can see the statistics of communication: how many times called, the duration of conversations.
• 📌 You can call or send a quick call. SMS straight from the contact card.

Limitation: If the number is not saved in the contacts, this method will not work, in which case go back to the first method or use a log search.

💡

If the log doesn't show all calls, try updating the Phone app through Google Play. Sometimes bugs get fixed in newer versions.

Method 3: Recover History through Mi Cloud

If your call history suddenly disappears (for example, after a phone reset or a MIUI update), you can restore it from a Mi Cloud backup.

1. The phone was synchronized with Mi Account.
2. In the backup settings, the Log of Calls item was activated.

How to restore:

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Make sure you are logged in with the same account you used before the reset.
3. Slip on Restore from backup and select the most recent copy.
4. Check the Call Log and click Restore.

Important: Recovery will rewrite the current data. If you have already called someone after the reset, these records may be lost.

Method 4: Exporting Call History to File

If you need to save your call history for analysis, litigation, or transfer to another phone, it can be exported to a.csv or.vcf file. MIUI does not have an integrated export function, but there are workarounds:

Method 1: Through Google Contacts

If your story is synced with your Google Account:

1. Go to contacts.google.com.
2. On the left menu, select Export.
3. Specify the Google CSV format and click Export.
4. The resulting file will have a column with the history of calls (if synchronization was enabled).

Method 2: Using third-party applications

Utilities like Call Logs Backup & Restore (available on Google Play) allow you to:

• 📤 Export your history to.xml or.csv.
• 📥 Restore records on another device.
• 🔒 Encrypt backup copies with a password.

Instructions for Call Logs Backup & Restore:

1. Install the app from Google Play.


2. Open it and press "Backup" (Backup).




3. Select the format (.csv is recommended for compatibility).




4. Specify a save path (e.g., Google Drive).




5. Confirm the creation of a copy.

Check the available space on your phone (minimum 10 MB)

Connect to Wi-Fi to upload to the cloud

Disable battery optimization for export application

Keep a backup in two places (phone) + cloud)-->

Why is the call history not displayed?

If the journal is empty or does not show all the entries, the reasons may be as follows:

Pay special attention to the history storage settings. In MIUI, calls are stored for 30 days by default, and then automatically deleted.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Phone → Storage.
2. Select a storage period (maximum 2 years).

💡

If calls are missing after the MIUI update, try clearing the Phone app cache in the settings.This often helps to return hidden records.

How to hide or delete your call history?

If you need to delete individual records or the entire story, do the following:

Deletion of individual calls

1. Open the journal in the phone application.
2. Press and hold the desired recording.
3. Select Delete from the menu that appears.

Cleaning up the whole story

1. In the call log, tap on the three-point menu (⋮) top-right.
2. Choose Delete Everything.
3. Confirm the action.

For complete removal without possibility of recovery:

• 🗑️ Clear the cache and phone application data in Settings → Annexes.
• 🔄 Reset your phone (if your story has been synced to Mi Cloud, delete it there too).

⚠️ Note: Remote calls can be recovered using specialized programs (for example, DiskDigger), if the phone has not written new data (TWRP).

Additional features: analysis and statistics of calls

The standard journal in MIUI only shows basic information, but with the help of third-party applications you can get advanced statistics:

• 📊 Call Meter 3G — Traffic analysis and call costs.
• 🕒 Call Tracker – graphing activity by day/week.
• 🔍 Who Called Me? – Definition of spam numbers.

Example of the report from Call Meter 3G:

• Total duration of conversations per month.
• Top.-5 most frequently dialed numbers.
• Distribution of calls by time of day.
• Cost assessment (if the operator's tariff is indicated).

It is useful for business users to integrate call history with CRM-systems, for example, Bitrix24 Or Zoho. That's what it is:

1. Export your history to.csv (see Method 4).
2. Import the file to the CRM through the Data Import section.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi 8 call history