Where to find a blacklist on Xiaomi phone: a complete picture guide

Are you tired of intrusive calls from unknown numbers or spam messages from scammers? Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi and POCO lines) have a built-in blacklist feature that allows you to block unwanted contacts once and for all, but where exactly to look for this list, how to use it, and why it sometimes doesn't work are questions that many users worry about.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways to access the blacklist on different versions of MIUI (12 to 14), show hidden settings, and explain how to get around typical problems. You’ll learn where the database of locked numbers is stored, how to export it to a new phone, and why some subscribers still break through the lock. And if you’re a user of POCO F5 or Redmi Note 12, there are separate instructions for you, taking into account the features of the firmware.

Where is the blacklist stored in the Xiaomi phone: the official way

The easiest way to blacklist is through the standard Phone app, but its location may vary depending on the MIUI version and smartphone model.

1. Open the phone app** (the phone icon).
2. Swipe on three dots in the top right corner (or swipe left on some models).
3. Select the "Settings" option» → «Number Blocking (or Black List»**).

On Xiaomi 13/14 and Redmi Note 12 Pro+ with MIUI 14, the path may look different: Phone → Profile (avatar at the top) → Settings → Lock and Identity → Blacklist.

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If you don't have "Block Numbers" displayed, update the Phone app via Google Play. On some firmware, this feature is hidden until it's updated.

Xiaomi’s blacklist works at the system level, not at the system level. SIM-This means that locked numbers will not be available even after changing the operator or rebooting the phone. SIM-cards, the lock can be triggered selectively - more about this in the section about typical problems.

Alternative ways to find a blacklist

If the standard path didn’t work (for example, due to customized firmware or regional MIUI features), try these methods:

• 📱 Through the "Settings" of the system: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Phone. → Permits → Lock numbers. Not only can you see the list, but you can also turn on/off the full function.
• 🔍 Search by system: Swipe down on the home screen, type “blacklist” in the search bar** and select the corresponding result.
• 📎 Through Contacts: Open the Contacts app, click on three dots → «Settings» → «Number locking»**.

On the POCO X5 Pro and other POCO Launcher devices, the path may be different. For example, sometimes the blacklist is hidden here: Settings → Memory → Files → System → com.android.contacts → data → blockedlist.xml.

But editing this file manually is not recommended - it is better to use regular funds.

How to add a number to the blacklist: step-by-step instructions

There are several ways to add unwanted contact to the lock, and consider each of them with MIUI in mind.

Method 1: Through a call log

This is the fastest method if you need to lock the number after an incoming call:

1. Open the Phone app and go to the Journal tab.

Method 2: Contacts through Contacts

If the number is already stored in the phone book:

1. Open the “Contact” and find the right contact.
2. Slip on it, then click "Edit"** (pencil icon).
3. Scroll down and select “Block Contact”**.

Method 3: manually entering the number

To add a number that is not in the log or contacts:

1. Go to the blacklist in any of the ways described above.
2. Click "Add"** (the "+" icon).
3. Enter the number manually or select from the contacts offered.
4. Specify the type of lock: “Calls”, “Messages” or both.

Make sure the number is entered correctly (with country code)|Check if it is already blocked.|Select the type of lock (calls/sms)|Save the changes.-->

On Xiaomi MIUI 14, the Advanced Lock feature appeared, which allows you to automatically send spam numbers to a blacklist based on the operator's database. → Memory and SIM-map → Blocking spam → Turn it on.

Where the blacklist data is stored: physical location of files

If you need to transfer the blacklist to another phone or make a backup, it’s helpful to know where exactly this data is stored. Xiaomi has a number of files that are distributed over the following files:

Important: without root rights, you can't edit these files directly, but you can copy them through ADB or specialized applications like Root Explorer (you need an unlocked bootloader).

To back up the blacklist without root, use the built-in MIUI Backup: Settings → About Phone → Backup → Create a backup.

Select “App Data” and make sure that the list includes “Phone” and “Contacts”**.

Typical blacklist problems and their solutions

Sometimes the blacklist in Xiaomi doesn't work properly: numbers aren't blocked, SMSes are passed, or the list is suddenly cleared.

Problem 1: Numbers are not blocked

If blocked subscribers can still call you:

• 🔄 Check the lock settings: Make sure that in the settings → Annexes → Phone. → All permissions are included for blocking.
• 📵 Turn off "Airplane Mode" for 10 seconds: Sometimes this resets the lock module cache.
• 📱 Update the Phone app: Go to Google Play, find the Phone** from Xiaomi Inc. and update it.

Problem 2: The blacklist has been reset after the update

After the MIUI update, the list of blocked numbers may disappear to restore it:

1. If there is no backup, try to restore the list through Google Contacts (if sync has been enabled).

Problem 3: Locking only works for one person SIM-map

On two-device devices. SIM-Cards (Redmi Note 12 Pro)+ 5G, Xiaomi 13 Ultra blacklist can be selectively used to make locking work for both SIM:

1. Activate the option “Sync lock settings”**.

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If you use two of them SIM-card of different operators, check if their services conflict with the built-in lock Xiaomi.

How to export and import a blacklist

Transferring a blacklist to a new phone or backing it up is a challenge many users face. There are several ways to do this at Xiaomi.

Method 1: Using MIUI Backup (without root)

This is the easiest method, but it requires a complete system recovery:

1. On your old phone, create a backup (Settings → About Phone → Backup).
2. Transfer the backup file to your new phone (via cloud or physical).
3. Restore data on the new device.

Cons: along with the blacklist, all contacts and phone settings will be restored.

Method 2: Through Google Contacts (partial port)

If you sync your contacts with your Google Account:

1. On your old phone, open Contacts → Settings → Contact Management**.

Note: This method only transfers contacts, not manually added numbers to the blacklist.

Method 3: Through ADB (for advanced users)

If you have experience with ADB, you can export the entire contact base:

adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/contacts2.db


adb pull /data/data/com.miui.player/shared_prefs/block_settings.xml

Use a similar command with push instead of pull to import.This method requires root rights and can lead to data loss if executed incorrectly!

Applications for extended number locking

If you don’t have a built-in blacklist on Xiaomi, you can use third-party apps, which offer additional features such as blocking keywords in SMS, lock schedule, cloud backup, and even identifying spam numbers from a database.

Before installing third-party blockers, disable the built-in lock in MIUI to avoid conflicts: Settings → Applications → Phone → Number Lock → Disable.

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If you use Truecaller, set up sync with Google Contacts so that the blacklist is automatically transferred to new devices.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the blacklist in Xiaomi

If your question isn’t covered in the FAQ, check Xiaomi’s official documentation for your model or contact support via the Feedback app** (Settings → About Phone → Feedback).