To switch from Google Dialer (the Google Phone app) to the Xiaomi dialer, open Settings > Apps > Default apps > Phone app and choose the Xiaomi or MIUI phone app. If it isn’t listed, your phone’s global ROM shipped with only Google Dialer, and the Xiaomi dialer isn’t available as a normal download. In that case the only way to get it is an ADB method that removes Google Dialer for your user account and restores the hidden Xiaomi phone app. It works on many phones but isn’t officially supported, so read the cautions first.
Most people want the Xiaomi dialer for its built-in call recording, which doesn’t announce itself the way Google Dialer’s recording does in many regions. Note that newer Xiaomi phones run HyperOS, Xiaomi’s successor to MIUI, but the steps are the same.
Method 1: Change the default phone app in Settings
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps > Manage apps or Default apps. You can also search Settings for default.
- Tap Phone app (sometimes called Calling app).
- Choose the Xiaomi Phone app if it appears.
If only Phone by Google is listed, move on to Method 2 or decide whether a different approach suits you better (see the alternatives below).
Before you try the ADB method
- It’s unofficial. Xiaomi doesn’t support swapping dialers on global ROMs. A future update can undo it or cause problems.
- Back up first. Back up contacts and call logs to your Google or Xiaomi account.
- Know your local law. Recording calls without telling the other person is illegal in some places. Check the rules where you live.
- You’ll need a computer with Google’s free Android SDK Platform-Tools (ADB) and a USB cable.
Method 2: Replace Google Dialer with the Xiaomi dialer using ADB
Turn on USB debugging
- Go to Settings > About phone and tap OS version (or MIUI version) seven times until you see “You are now a developer.”
- Go to Settings > Additional settings > Developer options.
- Turn on USB debugging.
Connect your phone
- Extract Platform-Tools on your computer and open a terminal or Command Prompt in that folder.
- Connect the phone by USB and tap Allow on the USB debugging prompt.
- Run
adb devices. Your phone’s serial number should appear with the word “device.”
Run the commands
Run adb shell, then enter these one at a time:
pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.dialer
pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.contacts
pm install-existing com.android.contacts
pm install-existing com.android.incalluiSome guides add a command to remove a carrier or region overlay package as well. Package names can vary by model and ROM version, so if a command reports “not installed,” skip it.
Set the Xiaomi dialer as default
- Restart the phone.
- Open Settings > Apps > Default apps > Phone app and select the Xiaomi Phone app.
- If it doesn’t appear, some users reinstall Phone by Google from the Play Store, then return to Default apps, where the Xiaomi app now shows up as an option.
- Open the Phone app, go to its settings, and turn on Call recording if you want it.
How to undo the change
Connect again with ADB and run:
adb shell pm install-existing com.google.android.dialer
adb shell pm install-existing com.google.android.contactsThen set Phone by Google as the default phone app in Settings. A factory reset also restores the original apps.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
adb devices shows nothing |
Try another cable or port, set USB mode to File transfer, and re-allow debugging |
| “unauthorized” next to the device | Unlock the phone and tap Allow on the debugging prompt |
| No dialer opens for calls | Set a default phone app in Settings, or restore Google Dialer with the undo commands |
| Contacts are missing | Make sure your account sync is on; the contacts are stored in your account, not the app |
| Changes reverted after an update | System updates can restore Google Dialer; repeat the steps if you still want the swap |
Alternatives to swapping dialers
- Use Google Dialer’s recording if it’s available in your country. It announces to both parties that the call is being recorded.
- Keep Google Dialer and simply customize it: it offers spam filtering, caller ID, and Call Screen in supported regions.
- Buy a phone with a ROM that includes the Xiaomi dialer, if call recording is essential to you.
Related: How to turn off Google Assistant on Android.
Related: How to disable Google Play services.
Frequently asked questions
Can I download the MIUI dialer from the Play Store?
No. Xiaomi’s Phone app is a system app and isn’t offered in the Play Store for global devices.
Do I need root for this?
No. The ADB commands work without root because they only remove or restore apps for your user account.
Will I lose my call history?
You may lose call history stored by Google Dialer. Back it up first if you need it.
Does this void my warranty?
The ADB commands don’t unlock the bootloader or root the phone, but they are unsupported changes. If anything goes wrong, a factory reset restores the original setup.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.