Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro smartphone often face the need to save important phone conversations. Whether it is business agreements or personal correspondence by voice, the call recorder function becomes an indispensable tool. However, after a conversation is completed, many users are lost, not knowing exactly which folder the system saved the audio file. Standard navigation on the MIUI file system can confuse even an experienced user because of its multi-level structure.
Finding the right track is complicated by the fact that the paths to system directories can vary slightly from one firmware to another. In addition, many people confuse the built-in call recorder with third-party applications that store data in completely different directories. Understanding the logic of the Android file system will allow you to quickly find the right files, sort them and create backups. In this article, we will examine in detail all possible ways where the recording of a conversation may lie, and consider the nuances of working with them.
It’s worth noting that by default, the system doesn’t hide these files from the user, but hides them deep in the system folders to avoid accidental deletion. Xiaomi uses standard Android logic, but adds its levels of protection and categorization. If you plan to use call recording often, you need to know the exact address of the directory, which will allow you not only to listen to files, but also to forward them, edit or archive them.
The Standard Path in the Android File System
By default, when you make or receive a call with the recording feature enabled, the system automatically creates an audio file. In most cases, on the Redmi Note 8 Pro, this file is stored in the internal memory of the device. The path to it is standardized for most versions of the MIUI shell and is based on the root structure of Android. You need to open any file manager, for example, the standard “Conductor” from Xiaomi or a third-party Total Commander.
The main directory to which it is necessary to go is called MIUI. This is where all the specific data in the shell is stored. sound_recorder. Despite the name, which translates to "sound recording," that's where the phone records come in, unless you're setting it up otherwise, and you'll see a few subfolders inside, but we're interested in the one where the tracks are.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to rename or move system folders inside the directory MIUI, as this may cause the recording to fail and stop recording new calls.
Often users search for files at the root of internal memory and can't find them because they forget to look at hidden or system partitions. → MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec. In the file. call_rec All your conversations are stored. Files usually have an extension.m4a or.mp3, depending on the recording quality settings.
Why can a folder be empty?
Storage settings: internal memory or SD-map
One of the key features of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is the flexibility to configure storage space. Model owners often use microSD cards to expand the volume, as built-in 64 or 128 GB may not be enough to store a large amount of media.
To change the way you save, you need to go to the Dictophone app (an orange icon). In the upper right corner, you can find a three-dot menu or a gear settings. Go to the Record settings section, you will find Memory. Here you can select the storage option: “Inner memory” or «SD-The switching between media is instantaneous, and new records will be created at the new address.
If you chose a memory card, the path to the files will change. Now you'll need to look them up at the address: SD-map → MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec. The folder structure remains identical, only the root disk changes, which is convenient for those who are used to sort files manually and do not want the call records to take up space in the system partition.
It is important to note that the speed of reading and writing on SD-If the memory card is of poor quality or damaged, the writing process may be interrupted or the file will be corrupted. Therefore, for critical negotiations, it is better to use the internal memory of the device, where the data storage reliability is higher.
Differences in audio file formats on MIUI
The quality and format of the stored audio directly affect how the voice of the interlocutor will sound when playing. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, the user can choose between several encoding formats. The most common is M4A (AAC), which provides good quality at a relatively small file size.
The second popular option is MP3, which is a universal standard that will open on any device, even on older push-button phones or car tape recorders. However, an MP3 file size with a similar bitrate can be larger than an AAC file size, and the format selection is made in the same voice recorder settings menu where memory is selected.
There is also the AMR format, which is often used in older versions of Android or when written through some third-party apps.It provides a minimum file size, but the sound quality leaves much to be desired, especially if the conversation is conducted in a noisy room. For Xiaomi, it is recommended to use M4A as the optimal balance between quality and volume.
| Format | Sound quality | File size | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4A (AAC) | High. | Medium. | High (Android, iOS, PC) |
| MP3 | Good. | Big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big | Maximum (All devices) |
| AMR | Low. | Minimum | Medium (Requires conversion) |
| WAV | No loss. | Very big. | High (PC, Mac) |
When you change the format, the old files are not automatically converted; the settings are only for future records; if you need to change the format of an existing file, you will have to use third-party converters, which can be found in the Google Play store.
Search for records through a standard conductor
Not only can you find the right conversation by wandering through folders for a long time, but you can also use built-in search tools. The standard Explorer app on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro has a convenient file search feature. You just need to click on the magnifying glass at the top of the screen and type in the folder name or file extension.
Enter the search bar call_rec It will quickly scan the internal memory and display all the folders that contain these words in the title, which is especially true if you have previously changed the settings and do not remember where the files are stored. You can also search by date of creation if you remember when an important conversation took place.
Another way is to sort files inside a folder. sound_recorder, Select the "Date of Change" sort, and the most recent entries will be at the top of the list, so you can instantly find the file you just wrote, without having to remember its exact name or number.
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Use the “Favorites” function in the folder explorer call_rec, Always have quick access to conversation records without a long search.
Remember that it can take a while to search if there are several thousand files on the phone, in which case you should go directly along the way. MIUI/sound_recorder, Because this folder usually doesn’t have a huge number of junk files, it takes seconds to find.
Use of third-party applications for recording
Many Xiaomi users prefer to install third-party applications for recording calls, such as Call Recorder - ACR or TapeACall.This is because in some regions or firmware versions, the built-in feature may not work stable or be available.
Usually, third-party programs create a folder at the root of internal memory with a name that matches the developer's name or the application itself. For example, this could be an ACR folder, CallRecorder or Recordings. The path to files in this case will look like Internal Memory → ACR → Recordings.
⚠️ Note: When installing third-party recorders, be sure to give them all the permissions you request, including access to the microphone and phone, otherwise the recording will be without sound or will not start at all.
The advantage of third-party applications is that they have advanced functionality: cloud sync, only auto-recording certain numbers, file encryption, but they can consume more battery life, and if you use an application like this, it's pointless to search for files in the MIUI system folder, because they won't show up there.
☑️ Checking the work of a third-party recorder
It is important to check the settings of the third-party app itself periodically, as after Android updates, folder paths may change due to Google's security policy restricting access to system resources.
Recovery and transfer of recorded files
Recorded files are often of important legal or personal importance, so losing them can be a serious problem.To protect yourself, it is recommended to regularly back up. call_rec on a computer or in cloud storage, such as Google Drive or Yandex.Disk.
When you transfer files to another device, it's important to keep their structure or at least their names, and the system assigns names to the files that contain the date and time of the call, as well as the subscriber number, which makes it easier to search the archives, and if you plan to transfer the records to a new phone, just copy the files to the corresponding folder on the new device, and they are likely to be determined by the system.
In the case of accidental deletion, you can try to recover files. Until you write new data over remote memory sectors, the chance is high. Use specialized software to recover data by connecting your phone to your PC in USB debugging mode.
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Regular copying of the folder call_rec On the external media or in the cloud is the only guaranteed way not to lose important conversations in case of a system failure.
Recycle bin apps can also help to recover deleted files if they were installed at the time of deletion.The standard shopping cart in Xiaomi Explorer stores deleted files for up to 30 days, after which they are erased irrevocably.