Where are locked numbers stored on Android Xiaomi Redmi

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face intrusive calls from advertising agencies or scammers. The MIUI shell lock feature allows you to effectively solve this problem, but sometimes you need to check who is on this list, or restore an accidentally blocked contact. Many users get lost trying to find a system file or a hidden folder where technically stored data about the ban of calls.

In fact, you don't need to search for a specific text file in Explorer, because Android uses a secure database to store that information, and it's accessed exclusively through the standard Phone or Security apps. In this article, we'll take a look at how to manage a list of unwanted subscribers, where to look for lock settings, and what to do if the number you want isn't on the explicit list, but calls still don't go through.

Understanding the logic of blacklisting on Xiaomi devices will help you avoid situations where important calls are lost due to too aggressive filtering settings. We will not only look at the software interface, but also address the issues of synchronization with the cloud, as well as the differences in the function on different versions of the firmware, this knowledge will be the key to complete control over incoming communications on your device.

System Storage of the Blocking Database

Technically, locked numbers on Xiaomi smartphones are stored in a system database that is restricted by superuser rights. A typical user cannot simply open a file manager and find a file called blacklist.db or similar root system without obtaining root rights. Android security isolates application data, so direct file editing is impossible and not recommended.

Instead of searching for files, the interaction takes place through the software interface of the Security application, and it's the system component that is responsible for filtering traffic and managing restriction lists. When you add a number to the blacklist manually or automatically, the record is stored in a local database that synchronizes with the call interface, which ensures that the system responds instantly to an incoming call.

It is important to understand that the lock database is part of the system application MIUI. When resetting to factory or deep cleaning the system through Recovery, this data can be deleted if you have not synchronized with your Mi Cloud account.

How to find and view a list through the Security app

The main tool for managing bans is the built-in Security app, which has a green icon with a shield and is pre-installed on all Redmi and POCO devices. To view the list of blocked contacts, you need to follow a sequence of actions that may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but the overall logic remains the same.

First, open the app and find the filtering section. In modern versions of the shell, it is often hidden in the optional tool menu. Click on the three-dot icon or the gear in the upper right corner to open the settings or feature menu.

Once you log in, you'll see a complete list of all the numbers that have been locked by the system, and you'll see not only the contacts that have been added, but also the ones that have been automatically listed under anti-spam rules, and the interface allows you to quickly delete the records or, conversely, make new ones.

⚠️ Warning: Removing the number from the blacklist in the Security app instantly lifts the ban on calls and SMS. Make sure that the subscriber is no longer a threat or a source of spam.

Managing prohibitions through a standard call

For those who are more comfortable working directly with the call log, Xiaomi has the ability to manage locks directly from the Phone app, a method that is especially handy when you need to quickly check the status of a particular number or unlock someone without going to the deep security settings menu.

Open the Phone app and pay attention to the top of the screen or settings menu. Depending on the version of the interface, the lock button can be located in the drop-down menu (three dots) or be displayed as a separate tab. In some versions of MIUI, you just need to click on the icon of a person with a minus or a shield.

In the window that opens, you'll see the same data as the security app, which is convenient for tracking the history of attempts made by blocked subscribers, which can show when a call was received and whether it was rejected automatically, and which helps you analyze the activity of spammers.

Search by contact number or name if the list is large, and the blacklisting function works instantly and allows you to quickly find the desired entry among hundreds of blocked advertising numbers, especially for users who are actively using automatic filtering.

Set up the rules of automatic locking

The effectiveness of protection against unwanted calls on Xiaomi depends not only on manually adding numbers, but also on the competent setting of automatic rules. The system allows you to block calls based on various criteria, which eliminates the need to constantly monitor incoming connections.

You can activate filtering by number type in the lock settings menu, for example, you can disable all calls from hidden numbers or from unknown subscribers that are not in your phone book, which is a powerful tool, but it should be used with caution to avoid missing an important call from a courier or doctor.

The function of blocking keywords in the SMS-If you frequently receive spam emails with certain phrases (e.g., “credit”, “winning”), the system will automatically hide such messages and may block the sender.

• 📞 Hidden numbers: Complete call ban if the number is identified as "Unknown».
• 📚 Not from Contacts: Blocking everyone who is not in the phone book (only your own mode»).
• 🌏 International: Ban calls from certain country codes unless you are waiting for calls from abroad.
• 🕒 Scheduled: Automatically activate Do Not Disturb or lock at a predetermined time.

The flexibility of the settings allows you to create a personalized filter that will work in the background, and it is important to periodically check the logs of blocked calls to make sure that the rules work correctly and do not weed out the right interlocutors.

Synchronization and backup of the list

One of the critical features of Xiaomi’s ecosystem is the ability to sync data through the Mi Cloud, and this includes the list of blocked numbers, so if you use a Mi Account, you can protect yourself from losing your lock settings when you change your device or reset your system.

To activate sync, go to your smartphone Settings, select Mi Account and then Sync. Make sure the switch opposite to Blacklist or Lock is activated, which will allow the system to automatically download and update the database of prohibited numbers in the cloud.

When you switch to a new Redmi phone, you simply log in to your account, and all previously blocked numbers will automatically appear in the list, eliminating the need to manually recreate a database of hundreds of spam numbers, and cloud storage allows you to update spam databases centrally.

💡

If you plan to reset your phone to factory settings, be sure to perform forced Mi Cloud sync right before you do so to keep the current lock list up to date.

It’s worth noting that synchronization can take some time depending on the size of the list and the speed of the Internet connection. Make sure the device is connected to stable Wi-Fi for fast data transfer. In some regions, cloud synchronization functions may work with restrictions due to local data laws.

Comparison of locking methods on different versions of MIUI

The interface and location of lock controls can vary significantly depending on the version of the installed MIUI firmware. Users of older versions (for example, MIUI 11 or 12) and the latest (MIUI 14, HyperOS) may encounter different navigation paths.

In older versions, the shell settings were often taken to a separate application or had a more complex path to access via the call menu. Newer versions seek unification and simplification by hiding complex settings in the Security section so as not to overload the main user interface.

Regardless of the version, the principle of data storage remains the same: it is a secure database. If you can not find the right option, search the phone settings by entering the request "Black List" or "Block". System search MIUI usually finds the desired menu item without error.

⚠️ Note: When updating the firmware with MIUI 12 to 14 or HyperOS lock settings can be reset to factory values.We recommend checking the list of locked numbers immediately after a major system update.

💡

The path to settings may change with the shell update, but the Security app remains the central lock management node on all versions of MIUI.

Frequent Number Lock Questions (FAQ)