How to set up an answering machine on a Xiaomi phone: all the ways (MIUI 14/15)

Are you tired of missing important calls when you can’t answer? The voice-responder on Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi and POCO models) solves this problem — it automatically records calls when you’re busy or the phone isn’t available. But many users don’t even realize that this feature is hidden in MIUI settings and requires proper activation.

In this article, you will find 3 working ways to enable the answering machine on Xiaomi (including the 2020-2026 models), as well as solving typical problems: why the function does not work on some firmware, how to change the greeting and where the message record is stored. We tested the instructions on MIUI 14 and MIUI 15 (Android 12-14), so we guarantee relevance for most modern devices of the brand.

What is a Xiaomi answering machine and why you need it

The answering machine on Xiaomi smartphones is an integrated feature that automatically answers incoming calls and prompts the subscriber to leave a voice message. Unlike mobile operators (for example, Voicemail from MTS or Beeline), this answering machine works independently of the phone. SIM-card and does not require the connection of paid services.

Main advantages:

• 📞 Do not miss important calls – the subscriber can leave a message even if you are online, but can not answer (for example, at a meeting or while driving).
• 🔒 Privacy – messages are stored locally on the phone, not on the operator’s servers.
• 🎤 Customization – you can record a personal greeting (for example, “I’ll call you back after 18:00»).
• 📱 It works without the Internet, unlike cloud services like Google Voice.

However, there are limitations:

• ⚠️ The feature is not supported on some budget models (e.g. Redmi). A1 or POCO C50) because of the simplified firmware.
• ⚠️ Nana MIUI Global (European/Indian version) path to settings may differ from MIUI China.
• ⚠️ Some operators (for example, Tele2) can block the operation of the built-in answering machine in favor of their services.

If you have previously used an operator’s answering machine, it will automatically shut down after activating the built-in Xiaomi feature – the smartphone system will take priority.

Method 1: Enable the autoresponder through standard MIUI settings

This is the most reliable method that works on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models with MIUI 12-15 firmware.

Steps for activation:

1. Open the Phone app (the tube icon on the home screen).
2. Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to Voicemail or Autoresponder (name depends on MIUI version).
4. Activate the switch to Enable the answering machine.
5. Set up the parameters: 🔊 Greetings – choose the standard or write down yours (click Record and speak to the microphone). ⏱️ Delayed response – how many seconds does the answering machine work (by default) 15–20 sack). 📁 Folder to save – specify where to save audio files (by default, Internal Memory) → MIUI → sound_recorder).

Check out the MIUI version (Settings → About the phone)

Make sure your phone has enough free memory (at least 50MB)

Connect your headphones to check the recording of the greeting

Turn off Do Not Disturb (may block the answering machine)-->

If the Voicemail section is not on the menu, then your model does not support the feature at the firmware level.

⚠️ Note: On some devices (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T Or the Redmi Note 11 Pro.+) When you turn on the answering machine, the notifications may disappear. MIUI 14, which is fixed by a phone reboot.

Method 2: Using the Dictator app to record messages

If the phone does not have an integrated answering machine in its settings, you can use the bypass through the standard Dictaphone app, which is suitable for Xiaomi models with MIUI 13-15, where the voicemail function is hidden or disabled by default.

Instructions:

1. Open the Dictaphone app (if not, download the official Mi Recorder app from Google Play).
2. Press three lines (☰) in the upper left corner and select Settings.
3. Activate the Autoresponder option (or Record conversations → Automatic recording of incoming).
4. Set the parameters: 📞 Only for unknown numbers, unless you want to record all the calls. 🔄 Automatic save – enable that records are not deleted after listening. 📂 Save folder - select MIUI/sound_recorder/voicemail.

Dictaphone

Write down the greetings.

The downside of this is that the answering machine only works when you miss a call, not when you miss it, so you hear a standard beep, and then you reset it, and you redirect it to record a message, which is less convenient than a full-fledged answering machine, but better than nothing.

Method 3: Google Voice Autoresponder (for international calls)

If you need to set up an answering machine for international calls or your carrier blocks the built-in Xiaomi feature, you can use Google Voice, a method that is suitable for users who have a number in the United States or Canada (it is available for free).

Step-by-step:

1. Download the Google Voice app from the Play Market.
2. Register and get a virtual number (available for residents of supported countries).
3. Go to Settings. → Voice mail.
4. Set up: 🎙️ Greetings – Write down your own or choose the standard. 📩 Notifications – Enable the Send option SMS new-communication. 🔗 Redirect – Link to Xiaomi’s primary number via Settings → Calls. → Redirection.

The benefits of Google Voice:

• 🌍 Works with international numbers.
• 📧 Messages are stored in the cloud and accessible from any device.
• 🤖 There is a transcription of voice messages into text.

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ Requires a US/Canada number (can be obtained through the VPN, But it violates Google's rules).
• ⚠️ Delay in call forwarding (2-5 seconds).

💡

If you travel frequently, set up the conditional redirect option in Google Voice, and the answering machine will only work when your Xiaomi primary number is unavailable (for example, roaming or offline).

Where is the voicemail record stored and how to listen to it

All voice messages left by subscribers are stored in the phone's memory. The path to the files depends on how the answering machine is configured:

• 📁 Standard answering machine MIUI: Folder: Internal memory → MIUI → sound_recorder → voicemail file format:.amr or.mp3 You can listen through the Dictaphone application or any audio player.

To listen to the messages:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Go to the Journal section (the icon of the clock at the bottom of the screen).
3. Click on the missed call with the microphone icon (🎤) — This means that there is a voice message.
4. Slip on the record to listen or save.

⚠️ Attention: If you are using MIUI 14 And you don't see the log records, check the folder. MIUI/sound_recorder Sometimes messages are saved but not displayed in the phone interface because of a firmware bug. MIUI until the latest version or use a third-party player (for example, VLC) for listening to.amr files.

Important: the voicemail record (your greeting) is kept separate from the messages of the subscribers. MIUI/sound_recorder/greeting.amr. Delete or edit this file manually is not recommended - it can reset the autoresponder settings.

Typical problems and their solutions

Even after setting up the answering machine correctly, Xiaomi may not work properly, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

If after all the manipulations the answering machine did not work, try resetting the settings of the Phone application:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the phone and press Warehouse.
3. Choose Clear Data and Reset Settings.
4. Reboot the phone and reset the answering machine.

💡

Before resetting your Phone app, export your contacts and call log (Settings → System → Backup) to prevent important data from being lost.

How to Change the Voice of Greetings on the Answering Machine

The standard greeting on Xiaomi sounds neutral: “Subscriber temporarily unavailable. Leave a message after the beep.” To make it personalized (e.g., add your name or call schedule), follow the following steps:

For the built-in MIUI answering machine:

1. Open the phone → Settings → Voicemail.
2. Press Record the greeting.
3. Hold the record button (🎤) And you can say the text, and the optimal duration is 5-10 seconds.
4. Listen to the recording and save it if everything is fine.

For Google Voice:

1. Open the Google Voice app.
2. Go to Settings → Voicemail → Greetings.
3. Choose to write new and follow the instructions.

Tips for quality recording:

• 🎙️ Use an external microphone or headphones with a microphone for better sound.
• 🏠 Write down greetings in a quiet room (without echoes and extraneous noises).
• 📝 Prepare the text in advance. Example: "Hello! You've called. I can't answer it now, but I'll call you back within an hour. Leave a message after the beep.»
• 🔊 Check the volume – your voice should be clear, but not screaming.

If you want to use music or sound effects in a greeting, record them in advance on your PC and then upload them through the file manager to a folder. MIUI/sound_recorder, Please note that the greeting.amr file should not exceed the duration of the greeting. 30 Seconds, otherwise, subscribers will not wait for the signal to record.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the answering machine on Xiaomi