Recording calls to Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite: 3 working methods (MIUI 12-14)

The Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite’s phone recording feature is often a necessity, whether it’s saving important business information, fixing agreements, or simply backing up conversations. However, the standard MIUI settings aren’t always obvious: some versions of the firmware have hidden options, others require additional activation, and even more so, menus may change after system updates, and users face errors like no audio in recordings or automatic deletion of files.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to enable Mi 9 Lite (M1904F3G) call recording, including the built-in MIUI 12-14 tools, Google Phone alternative calling, and trusted third-party applications. We’ll focus on the nuances of why recording might not work, how to save files to the cloud, and what to do if someone else doesn’t hear your voice in the recording. All instructions are tested on firmware from 2020 to 2026.

Important: Recording capabilities depend on the regional version of MIUI. In some countries (e.g. the EU), the feature may be blocked due to privacy laws. Check your firmware version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.

1. Method 1: Built-in call recording in a standard MIUI call

On the Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite with MIUI 12-14 firmware, the call recording is implemented at the system call level. However, by default, the option can be disabled or hidden.

1. Open the Phone app (the tube icon on the home screen).
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → select Settings.
3. Go to the Record of conversations section (if there is no item, see the next paragraph).
4. Activate the Write automatically switch or select Write manually.
5. Specify which calls to save: All, outgoing or only incoming.

If you don't have Record Conversations in your settings, your version of MIUI doesn't support out of the box.

• 🔄 Update your firmware to the latest version through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 📱 Install an alternative caller (see Method 2).
• 🔧 Activate hidden settings through the engineering menu (power users only).

Update the firmware to MIUI 14+

Check for the "Recording conversations" item in the call settings

Clear the cache of the Phone application (Settings → Applications → Phone → Storage)

Reboot your phone after the changes-->

Where are the records stored? Files are saved in a folder. MIUI/sound_recorder/calls/ You can listen to them through any audio player or send them to the messenger. MIUI Automatically deletes older records 30 Days – this period can be changed in the settings of the call.

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To quickly find a record of a specific call, open a call log, tap on the contact → recorder (🎤) top-right.

2. Method 2: Recording via Google Phone (for MIUI with GMS)

If a standard MIUI call doesn't support recording, the best alternative is the Google Phone app (only available on Google's firmware), which not only records conversations, but also transcribes them into text.

1. Download Google Phone from the Play Market.
2. Make it the default call: go to Settings → Apps → Default → Phone App and select Google Phone.
3. Open the app, tap on three points → Settings → Record calls.
4. Enable the option to Always Write or Write selectively.
5. Agree with the notice of compliance with the laws (in some countries, recording conversations without notifying the interlocutor is prohibited).

The advantages of Google Phone:

• 📝 Transcribing conversations into text (available in English and some European languages).
• ☁️ Automatic synchronization of records with Google Drive.
• 🔍 Search by entries (you can search for keywords in transcription).
• 🛡️ Encryption of files (records are stored in a secure format).

Important: Google Phone does not record calls via VoIP (WhatsApp, Telegram, Skype) and requires specialized applications (see Method 3).

Standard MIUI

Google Phone

Truecaller

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Method 3: Third-party applications for recording (without root)

If the first two didn't work, third-party software would come to the rescue, and we tested 5 popular apps and selected the two most reliable ones for the Mi 9 Lite:

How to set up Cube ACR (Step-by-step):

1. Install the application and open it.
2. Enable permissions: Record audio, Access to contacts, Access to notifications.
3. In the settings, select Record Mode → VOIP + Normal calls.
4. Specify the folder to save (we recommend choosing Internal Memory/CallRecords).
5. Activate the AutoRun option to make the application work in the background.

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 14 applications to record may require additional permission Display over other apps → Special facilities → Display over other apps. Without this, the recording will be interrupted.

4. Problem Solving: Why is the record not working?

Even when set up correctly, recording calls on the Mi 9 Lite can fail, and here are the most common reasons and ways to fix them:

• 🔇 No audio in the recording: Check if the microphone is turned off during the conversation (click on the microphone icon in the call interface). Clear the cache of the calls: Settings → Annexes → Phone. → Warehouse → Clear the cache. Turn off Noise Reduction in the call settings.
• ⚠️ Recording ends: Make sure your phone has enough free memory (at least 1GB). Turn off power saving mode for the call app. Try another recording format (e.g., try a different recording format, AMR instead MP3).
• 📵 The interviewee can't hear your voice on the recording: This is a typical problem MIUI Solution: just write it in handset mode. Update the firmware to the latest version, in the MIUI 14 bugs partially fixed.

If the problem persists, try resetting your network settings:

→ SIM-maps and mobile networks → Network reset

5 Legal nuances: can I record calls?

Before you activate the recording, make sure you do not violate local laws. Most countries have the following rules:

• 🇷🇺 Russia: It is allowed to record conversations without notifying the interlocutor if you are a participant in the conversation (Article 23 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation.
• 🇪🇺 European Union: In most countries (Germany, France) it is mandatory to notify the interlocutor of the recording, otherwise it is considered a violation of the law. GDPR.
• 🇺🇸 Laws vary by state, California requires consent of all participants, Texas only one.
• 🇺🇦 Ukraine: Recording is allowed without notice, but it is forbidden to distribute it without the consent of the interlocutor.

How do you notify someone? Most calls (including Google Phone) have an automatic notification option, such as Cube ACR, which allows you to set up a voice message like, "Conversation is being recorded" at the beginning of a call, which will protect you from legal risks.

⚠️ Note: Even if the recording is permitted, its publication on the Internet or distribution to third parties may be considered a violation of the right to privacy (Article 152.2 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation.

Alternative methods: recording via second phone or computer

If the software isn’t right, you can record the conversation hardwarely with a second device, which is true for the Mi 9 Lite with custom firmware or stripped-down versions of MIUI (for example, in the Chinese market).

Method 1: Recording via second phone

1. Put the second phone next to the Mi 9 Lite and turn on the recorder.
2. Use headphones with a microphone for better sound quality.
3. After the call, cut the recording in any audio editor (for example, Lexis Audio Editor).

Method 2: Recording via computer (for VoIP calls)

• 💻 Connect the Mi 9 Lite to your PC via USB-Debugging (developer settings).
• 🎤 Use programs like this. OBS Studio or Audacity to capture sound from a phone's microphone.
• 🔊 For better quality, set up an input source on Stereo Mix in Audacity (if available).

These methods are universal and work even on phones without support for recording calls, but they have downsides: extraneous noise, the need to synchronize devices, and manual file processing.

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Hardware recording is the only way to record conversations in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) if applications like Cube ACR do not support VoIP.

7 Storage optimization: how to manage records?

Call records are fast-paced, especially if you're doing a lot of business, and here's how to optimize storage on the Mi 9 Lite:

• ☁️ Automatic upload to the cloud: In Google Phone: Settings → Recording calls → Backup to Google Drive. In Cube ACR: Settings → Cloud. → Dropbox/Google Drive.
• 🗑️ Autocleaning: In a standard call MIUI: Settings → Recording of conversations → Auto-removal → 7/30/90 In the Cube. ACR You can set up the deletion of records older than a certain size.
• 📂 Manual sorting: Move important entries to a separate folder (e.g, Work_Calls). Use tags in file names (for example, 2026-05-15_Ivanov-the treaty.mp3).

How to compress recordings? If memory is critically low, convert files to AMR (takes up 10 times less space than MP3) using applications like Audio Converter, while still maintaining sound quality for voice notes.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Mi 9 Lite call recording