The issue of saving important telephone conversations remains relevant for millions of users, despite the tightening of privacy policies in mobile operating systems. Android 9 Pie it was a turning point when Google officially limited the access of third-party applications to the audio stream during a call, which made the usual recording methods inoperable on "clean" devices. However, this does not mean that the feature has completely disappeared; it has only been transformed and is now often hidden in the depths of system settings or depends on the specific manufacturer of your smartphone.
For owners of devices with custom shells, the situation is more optimistic, since many brands have retained the native ability to record conversations, implementing it directly into the standard “Phone” application. If you have a device with a stock version of the OS, the process may require the use of specific engineering menu codes or the installation of specialized software with special access rights. In this article we will analyze in detail all the available methods, from simple switches in the menu to complex technical solutions.
Understanding how it works audio recording at the system kernel level in the ninth version of Android will help you choose the right path and avoid installing useless apps. We will look at the differences in the implementation of this function among different vendors and provide clear action algorithms for each case.
Checking for the presence of a built-in function in a standard application
The first and most logical step is to check for the presence of a built-in tool in your current set of applications. Smartphone manufacturers such as Xiaomi, Huawei, Samsung and Meizuoften ignore Google's restrictions and leave users the ability to record conversations out of the box. You need to open the application Phonethat is used to make calls by default, and carefully study its interface.
During the conversation, look at the screen: often the record button is presented in the form of a voice recorder icon or the text “Record”. If there is no such button in the active call window, go to the settings of the application itself. To do this, click on the three dots in the corner of the screen or the gear icon to get to the Call settingssection. This is where the switch automatic recording or the manual activation option is most often hidden.
It is worth noting that in some regions, due to legal restrictions, this function can be software disabled even on devices of well-known brands. In this case, the settings interface will look standard, but the item you are looking for simply will not appear in the list. This is a common situation for devices intended for the European or US market, as opposed to models for the Asian region.
- 📞 Open the “Phone” application and make a test call to the second number.
- ⚙️ Find in the call menu a button with a picture of a microphone or the inscription “Record”.
- 🔍 Log in in the application settings through the menu (three dots) and look for the “Call Recording” section.
- 🌍 Consider the region of purchase of the device, as this affects the availability of the function.
Activating recording on Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones with MIUI
The shell MIUI from Xiaomi is one of the most user-friendly in terms of call functionality. On Android 9, this function is implemented as conveniently as possible and does not require the installation of additional software. To activate it, go to the application Phone, click on the menu button in the form of three stripes or dots and select the item Settings.
In the list that opens, find the section Call recording. Here you will see some important switches. The first allows you to enable recording automatically for all incoming and outgoing calls, eliminating the need to press a button during a call. The second switch makes it possible to record conversations only with certain numbers, which is convenient for filtering important information from spam.
Particular attention should be paid to setting up notifications. By default, the system can play a voice warning to the other party that the conversation is being recorded. This is a legal requirement in some countries, but you can often disable this sound in the MIUI settings if local laws in your region allow it. The files are saved in the internal memory in a folder MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec.
On Xiaomi devices, recording files can be listened to directly through the Voice Recorder application, where they are sorted by date and contacts.
If you do not find these settings, your firmware version may be cut down for the global market. In this case, sometimes changing the region in the phone settings to “India” or “China” helps, after which the function may appear in the menu, but this action may affect the operation of other system services.
Features of recording calls on the Samsung Galaxy
The situation with devices Samsung based on Android 9 is ambiguous and highly depends on the model and country of sale. The flagship models of the series Galaxy S and Note, as well as some devices of the series A, have a built-in recording function, but it is often hidden from the user in the standard firmware version for the European and American markets. The availability of the function is determined by the region code (CSC) hardwired into the device.
To check the availability of the option, open the standard application Phone from Samsung, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings. Scroll down the list to Call recording. If this item is missing, it means that in your version of the software the function is blocked by the manufacturer. Enabling it through simple settings is impossible in this case.
There is a way to activate it by changing the region code using special utilities on a PC (for example, SamFw Tool or Change CSC), but this requires a computer and certain technical knowledge. After changing the region to, for example, Vietnam or Thailand, where recording is allowed, the treasured menu item will appear. However, please be aware that changing the region code may void your warranty or cause some local Samsung Pay services to not work properly.
⚠️ Attention: Changing the region code (CSC) on Samsung smartphones is an interference with the system software. Incorrect actions may result in loss of warranty or software failures. Perform these steps only if you understand the risks.
For users who are not ready for complex region code manipulations, the option of using third-party solutions remains, although their effectiveness on Android 9 with One UI shell may be limited due to aggressive power saving policies and microphone access restrictions.
Usage third-party applications on pure Android
Owners of smartphones with “pure” Android 9 (for example Google Pixel, Nokia, Moto) face the greatest difficulties. Google has blocked the API for recording the interlocutor's voice, so most applications from the Play Market only record your voice or silence. However, some developers have found workarounds using accessibility services (Accessibility Service).
One of the most working solutions is the application Call Recorder - ACR or Cube ACR. After installing such an application, you will need to grant it advanced permissions. In the phone settings, you need to go to the Special capabilities section and activate the service for the installed recorder. This allows application to intercept the audio stream in a different way than the standard API.
The effectiveness of this method is not 100% guaranteed for all devices, since manufacturers may implement audio routing differently. In some cases, the recording will go through the speaker, which will require increasing the volume of the interlocutor during a conversation for high-quality audio capture. the appearance of extraneous noise or echo.
| Application | Recording type | Requires Root | Stability on Android 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Call Recorder - ACR | Via Accessibility Service | No (desirable) | High |
| Cube ACR | Audio stream interception | No | Medium |
| TapeACall | Conference calling (paid) | No | High |
| Blackbox Call Recorder | System level | Yes | Excellent |
☑️ Preparing to install the recorder
Engineering menu and hidden activation codes
For advanced users, there is a method for activating recording through the device’s engineering menu. This method works primarily on processors MediaTek and some versions Qualcomm. It allows you to enable a hidden system function that is not displayed in the regular settings interface. To enter the menu, a special USSD code is used, which may differ depending on the model.
Try entering the code ##3646633## or ##4636##in the dialer. If the menu opens, go to the Hardware Testing -> Audio -> Audio Enhancement or Speech Enhancementsection. Here you need to find the parameter responsible for recording (often it is called Call Record or has an index INT), and change its value to Enable.
Be extremely careful when changing settings in the engineering menu. Unjustified changes in parameters related to the radio module or voltage can lead to unstable network operation or complete failure of the device. Change only those parameters whose purpose you are 100% sure of.
What to do if the code does not work?
If standard codes do not open the menu, try to find a specific code for your model on the Internet by searching for “engineering menu [phone model]”. There are also applications like "MTK Engineering Mode" that can provide access to these settings without entering codes.
After activating the function through the engineering menu, a new recording button may appear in the Phone application, or recording will begin automatically without notification. You can check the result by making a short test call.
Sound quality problems and their solutions
Even with successfully enabled recording, users often complain about low audio quality: the interlocutor’s voice is heard very quietly or with severe distortion. On Android 9, this is often due to the fact that the application does not have direct access to the digital audio stream and is forced to record audio from the microphone, picking it up from the speaker. In this case, the main source of the problem is insufficient speaker volume.
To improve the situation, try manually increasing the volume to maximum during a call. Some recorder apps have an Audio Source setting. Experiment with the options: Mic, Voice Call, Voice Uplink or Voice Downlink. Choosing the right source can dramatically change the situation by sending the recording directly from the communication line, rather than from the microphone.
Another reason for poor quality may be the active noise reduction system, which perceives the interlocutor’s voice as background noise and tries to drown it out. In the engineering menu or sound settings, you can sometimes temporarily disable noise reduction for testing, but for everyday use this is not recommended, as the quality of a normal conversation will deteriorate.
⚠️ Attention: The legislation of many countries requires mandatory warning of the interlocutor about the recording of the conversation. Using covert recording for commercial or legal purposes without the consent of the other party may result in legal consequences.
If software methods do not produce an acceptable result, the only reliable option is to use a second device (a voice recorder or other phone) to physically record the sound from the speaker. Although this is inconvenient, this method guarantees that you will receive a copy of the conversation regardless of software versions and locks.
On Android 9, the recording quality directly depends on the ability of the application to access the system audio stream, and not the microphone.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why did the recording disappear after updating to Android 9 calls?
Google has introduced strict restrictions on access to the call recording API starting with Android 9. Third-party applications have lost the ability to record the voice of the interlocutor directly. The built-in function could disappear if the manufacturer updated the privacy policy or changed the firmware region.
Are root access needed to record conversations on Android 9?
Not always. Modern applications use accessibility services to work around restrictions. However, having root access (SuperUser) gives applications full access to system files and audio streams, which guarantees the best recording quality and stability.
Where are the files of recorded conversations stored?
Usually the files are saved in the internal memory of the device. The path may differ: Internal Storage/Call, Internal Storage/Recordings/Call or Internal Storage/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec for Xiaomi. You can find the exact path in the settings of the recorder application itself.
Will the interlocutor hear a warning about recording?
This depends on the settings of your phone and the application. The built-in tools of some brands (for example, Xiaomi) allow you to disable the voice notification. Third-party applications may not have this feature, and then the standard system warning will be played automatically.
Is it possible to recover an entry if it is accidentally deleted?
If a file has been deleted from the recycle bin of an application or file manager, it is difficult to restore it without using special data recovery software on a PC. The chances of success depend on whether the phone's memory was overwritten with new data after deletion.