How to record phone conversations on Xiaomi Mi 9: all ways with pros and cons

Xiaomi Mi 9 is the flagship smartphone of 2019, which is still relevant thanks to the powerful hardware and support for updates. However, the feature of recording conversations in it is not as obvious as in the newer models of Redmi or POCO. In this article, we will analyze all the working methods, from built-in tools to circumvent the limitations of MIUI, as well as legal aspects that many forget about.

It's important to understand that the recording capabilities depend on the firmware version (MIUI 10/11/12/13/14) and the regional modification of the phone. For example, on the Chinese versions of the Mi 9, the function can be blocked at the software level, and on the global versions it is available, but hidden in the settings. We tested all methods on current firmware and selected those that work stably.

1. Built-in recording of conversations: where to look and how to turn on

Starting with MIUI 12, the Xiaomi Mi 9 has a native recording feature, but it is often “hidden” due to legal restrictions in some countries.

1. Open the phone application (pipe icon).
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Settings.
3. Scroll to the Record of Conversations section (if not, read the next section).
4. Activate the switch and select the save format (internal memory or Google Drive).

If you don't have a record, your firmware doesn't support it, and it's going to help:

• 🔄 Update MIUI Up to the latest version (sometimes the function appears after the upgrade).
• 🌍 Change of region to India or Russia (via Settings) → Additionally. → Region).
• 🛠️ Installation of a patch through Magisk (for advanced users).

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Before changing the region, back up the data – changing the location may reset some application settings.

Note: the built-in record saves files in.amr format (mono, 8 kHz), which saves space but reduces quality. For important conversations, it is better to use third-party applications (about them below).

2. Hidden recording via engineering menu (for MIUI 10/11)

On older versions of firmware, the recording function can be disabled, but it can be activated via an engineering menu. This method does not work on all devices, but it is worth trying:

1. Open the phone app and dial the combination: ##36446337###
2. In the menu that appears, select CALL → Call Recording.
3. Set Enable Call Recording to ON.
4. Save the settings and restart the phone.

After that, the Phone app should have a recording button during the call, and if the menu doesn't open or the settings don't, your version of MIUI doesn't support them.

⚠️ Warning: Changing the settings in the engineering menu can cause the phone to run unstable.Do not edit other settings unless you are sure of their purpose.

3. Record conversations via Google Drive (automatic save)

If the built-in feature is not available, but you need a reliable solution without third-party apps, connect the automatic recording via Google Drive:

1. Open Phone → Settings → Record conversations (if there is no item, skip this method).
2. Select Save to Google Drive and log in to your account.
3. Specify the folder to save (we recommend creating a separate folder, for example, “Phone Recordings”).
4. Enable Automatic Record for all or selected contacts.

Pros of the method:

• 🔒 Files are synced to the cloud and do not take up space on the phone.
• 📁 It is easy to access records from other devices.
• 🔄 Automatic backup.

Cons:

• 📶 Requires a stable Internet connection during the call.
• 🕒 Recording can start with a delay of 5-10 seconds.
• 🔊 The quality of the sound depends on the speed of uploading to the cloud.

4. Third-party apps: TOP-3 for Xiaomi Mi 9

If native tools don't work, Google Play apps come to the rescue, and we tested dozens of options and selected the three most stable ones for the Mi 9:

Before installing, check the permissions of the application: it must request access to the Microphone, Warehouse and Log, and if there is no permission, the recording will not work.

Install the app from the official store |Provide all the permissions requested |Check the available space on the phone (minimum 500 MB) |Configure exceptions for important contacts-->

⚠️ Note: Some applications (such as Truecaller) may conflict with recording calls. If inboxes stop working after installing the recorder, turn off Smart Blocker in Truecaller's settings.

5. VoIP call recording (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram)

Calls via messengers (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram) are recorded differently than regular phone calls, neither the built-in feature nor most recorders will help. There are two working ways:

Method 1: Enabling screen recording with sound

On the Mi 9, you can record the screen along with the sound of the call:

1. Activate Screen Recording in the notification curtain.
2. Enable the option to Record sound (select Microphone + system sounds).
3. Start recording before the call starts.

The downside: the file will be large (up to 100MB in 5 minutes), and the sound quality depends on the loudspeaker.

Method 2: Use of the second device

For important negotiations:

• 📱 Put the second phone next to you and record the sound through the recorder.
• 🎧 Connect headphones with a microphone to the Mi 9 and record on another gadget.
• 💻 Use a computer with a microphone (for example, via Audacity).

On the Xiaomi Mi 9, it is impossible to record VoIP calls directly through recorder apps due to the limitations of the Android API. The only reliable way is to record a screen or an external device.

Legal aspects: can conversations be recorded without consent

In Russia, the recording of telephone conversations is regulated by Article 138 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Violation of the secrecy of correspondence”) and FZ-152 (“On personal data”).

• ⚖️ For personal use, the recording is allowed without the consent of the interlocutor, if you are a participant in the conversation.
• 🚫 It is forbidden to distribute a recording without the consent of the second participant (even if you have made it legally).
• 📢 In business correspondence (for example, with a bank or support service), companies are often warned about the record - it is legal.
• 🌍 In other countries (EU, USA) the rules are tougher – there recording without consent can be a violation of the law.

If you are recording a conversation for a trial, make sure that:

• 📄 The entry is not edited (original file).
• 🕒 The file has time stamps (most recorders add them automatically).
• 🗣️ You can confirm that the voice on the recording belongs to the defendant.

💡

Even if the recording is permitted by law, its use in controversial situations (such as blackmail or public disclosure) may result in liability.

7 Where records are stored and how to recover them

By default, the records files are saved in the folder:

/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/

or (for Google Drive):

/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.google.android.apps.docs/files/

If the records are missing:

1. Check the Recycle Bin in the Files app (files are stored there for 30 days).
2. Use recovery software such as DiskDigger or Recuva (requires root access for deep scanning).
3. If the records are synced to Google Drive, check the Call Recordings folder in the cloud.

To avoid data loss:

• 🔄 Set up automatic backup to the cloud.
• 📂 Regularly transfer important records to your computer.
• 🚫 Do not use the “Waste Cleanup” function in MIUI — They can delete records as "unnecessary files».

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording conversations on Xiaomi Mi 9