Users of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face the need to limit communication with unwanted subscribers, whether it is intrusive advertising, a former partner or just a person whose calls cause irritation. However, after adding a number to the blacklist, many people forget where exactly the system put this record, and get lost in the wilds of MIUI settings. Searching for this information becomes especially relevant when you urgently need to unlock an important contact or check if someone has accidentally got there.
Xiaomi’s Android shell interface has its own unique security grouping logic, which is different from pure Android. Unlike other manufacturers, lock management is put into a separate system application that is integrated into the shell but can behave as an independent module. Understanding this architecture is necessary to effectively manage the list of unwanted contacts and avoid missing important calls.
In this article, we will look at all possible paths leading to the storage of locked numbers. We will look at the regular system tools, the capabilities of third-party applications and even hidden engineering menus. A careful study of each section will help you not only find the information you need, but also adjust the call filtering so that it works as efficiently and unobtrusively as possible for the user.
Staff Annex Security and Blacklist
The main tool for managing locks in Xiaomi smartphones is the built-in Security app. This is where all the basic security features of the device are concentrated, including antivirus, memory cleaning and, importantly for us, call blocking and SMS. When you first start up, the system can request permission to work with contacts and calls - this is a prerequisite for the correct display of the list.
To get to the desired section, you need to run the application and find an icon that says Antispam or Lock. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI and the firmware region (Global, Chinese, EEA). In some versions, this item is displayed on the main screen of the application, in others it is hidden in the tool menu, which opens with a swipe or click on the corresponding tab.
⚠️ Note: If you use a third-party call instead of a standard one, the path to settings may be different, but the basic blacklist functionality most often remains tied to the system application Security.
Inside the Antispam section, you'll find an interface with the statistics of blocked events, which shows the number of blocked calls and messages over a period, and then you'll need to click on the gear icon or menu button in the top right corner of the screen to get to the control of the list of numbers, and that's where the Blacklist item is hidden, which contains the complete database of unwanted contacts.
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Check the statistics section in the Security app regularly to see how active the filters are and if someone is being blocked by mistake.
Search through the standard phone application
An alternative and often faster way to get to the blocked contacts list is to use the standard Phone app. The MIUI dialer is tightly integrated with system security services, allowing you to manage locks directly from the dialing interface, which is convenient when you need to quickly check the status of a particular subscriber during a conversation or immediately after a missed one.
To access the settings, open the Phone app and find the menu icon, which is usually located in the upper right corner (three dots or a gear). In the drop-down list, select Settings or Call Settings. Next, the system will offer a list of options, among which you need to find the Locked Numbers section or the Blacklist.
Inside this section, you can see a list of all the numbers that you've added manually to the lock.
- 📱 View the full list of blocked contacts with names from the phone book.
- ❌ Remove the number from the list by unlocking it for incoming calls.
- ➕ Add a new number manually by entering it from the keyboard.
Importantly, newer versions of MIUI 13 and MIUI 14 have updated the call interface and some items may have been renamed or moved. If you don't find the right item right away, try searching inside your phone's settings by entering the word "lock" or "blacklist."
Settings SIM-map and operator
Remember that not only can the phone be locked, but also the carrier, the mobile operator’s Antispam service works regardless of your Xiaomi settings and takes priority. If the number is locked at the network level, it will not appear in the phone’s blacklist, but calls from it will not come.
To check active blocking services, you need to go to settings SIM-Open the settings for this. → SIM cards and mobile networks. Choose the right one. SIM-map and find the section related to additional services or call blocking, which may display the status of services such as "Disclaim Calls" or activated operator services.
It is also worth checking the redirect settings, as some operators use it to redirect spam calls. From the call settings menu, select Additional settings → Call forwarding. Make sure that all calls are not forwarded to an unknown number or operator voicemail, which can simulate the lock effect.
| Operator. | USSD-check-in | Shutdown command | Description of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTS | *111*442# | *111*442*0# | Protection against spam (MTS Antispam) |
| Beeline | *110*770# | *110*770*0# | Antispam (Beeline) |
| Megaphone | *555# | *555*0# | Antispam (MegaFon) |
| Tele2 | *155# | *155*0# | Blacklist (Tele2) |
Operator services are often paid, so it is important to monitor their status.In some cases, the subscriber may not remember the connected option, which automatically debits funds. USSD-codes are the fastest way to make sure there are no hidden locks on the provider’s side.
Third-party applications and their databases
Many users install third-party applications to identify numbers and protect against spam, such as GetContact, NumBuster, Truecaller or Yandex.Phone. These programs create their own filter layer that can intercept calls before they even get to the standard Android interface. If you can’t find a number in the system blacklist, chances are that it is blocked by such an application.
To check, you need to open each installed number-defining application and go to its settings. Usually the lock section is located in the user profile or in the privacy settings menu, and it stores a list of numbers that you manually blocked, as well as those that were automatically marked as spam based on the crowdsourcing database.
Why do third-party apps block calls quieter?
If you decide to abandon the use of such software, it is not enough to simply remove it - you need to go inside and clear all settings, otherwise the remnants of the configuration may conflict with the new protection system.
- 🔍 Check the permission list in Android settings for all apps in the “Phone” category".
- 🗑️ Before removing the application-blocker be sure to disable its protection functions inside the application itself.
- 🔄 After removing third-party software, restart the device to reset system hooks of interception calls.
Do Not Disturb and Sound Profiles
Sometimes users mistakenly believe that contact is blocked when in fact Do Not Disturb is triggered, in which the phone can not make sounds or vibrate when incoming calls from certain categories of contacts, creating a complete illusion of blocking, checking this mode is an important stage of diagnosis.
To check, go to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Don’t Disturb. You need to carefully study the rules and exceptions here. You may have a rule that blocks calls from everyone except the contacts on the Favorites list, or a particular contact has accidentally been marked as priority and now, when you change your profile, is no longer available.
⚠️ Note: Do Not Disturb mode can be activated on a schedule (e.g. at night) or when you run certain applications (games, videos.
Also worth checking is the audio profile settings. Some versions of MIUI have "Work," "Home," "Meeting" profiles. Switching between these can change the behavior of the phone. Make sure that the active profile does not have a restriction on incoming calls from unknown numbers or all contacts.
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Do Not Disturb does not blacklist the number, but completely ignores incoming calls, so always check this setting before searching in the blockers.
Hidden menus and engineering settings
For advanced users who have not found a solution in the standard menu, there is access to hidden settings through the engineering menu, which allows you to see the deep settings of routing calls that are not visible in the normal interface, but you should use it with extreme caution, since incorrect change of parameters can lead to unstable operation of the communication module.
To enter the engineering menu, open the Phone app and dial the combination ##4636##. Once the last star is entered, the Testing menu should open. Select Phone Information. SIM-map.
Enter the command: ##4636##
Section: Phone Information
Option: Call Barring (Call Lock)In the Call Barring section, you can see the status of the locks installed at the network hardware level. Here you can try to reset all the restrictions if the button is active. Note that on some Xiaomi models with MediaTek or Qualcomm processors, the code may differ or be blocked by the operator.
If the standard code doesn’t work, try the universal call reset code ##002#. This command sends a network request to cancel all types of redirects and locks installed through the network. USSD-This is a secure operation that does not affect personal data, contacts or files on the phone.