Where to find locked numbers in Xiaomi: the complete guide

Spam calls and intrusive offers from banks or telemarketers have become a real problem for many smartphone users. Android device owners often face the need to restrict access to unwanted subscribers to maintain peace of mind and personal space. In the ecosystem of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, this feature is implemented deep in the system and does not require the installation of third-party applications.

The interface of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS may vary slightly depending on the version, but the logic of the work remains the same. Users often get lost in the menu, not understanding where the previously added contacts disappeared and how to manage them. This article will help you to understand in detail where to find the lock list, how to edit it and what subtleties exist in the operation of the built-in filter.

We will look not only at standard paths through the Phone app, but also at alternative methods of access through system security settings. This is especially true if the app shortcut has been removed from the desktop or the standard launcher has been changed.

Using the Phone app to manage the list

The fastest and most obvious way to get to the right section is to use a standard call app, pre-installed on every device, and has priority access to the contact database. Open the Phone app (usually a green handset) and pay attention to the dialing interface.

In the upper right corner of the screen, you'll see a three-dot icon or a gear, depending on the firmware version. Clicking on this element opens the drop-down menu where you need to select Lock Settings or Antispam, and that's where all the functionality of managing incoming calls and messages is hidden.

After you go to the anti-spam menu, the system will offer you several options, including a blacklist and filtering settings, which displays the total number of blocked numbers and statistical calls. To view a specific contact list, click on the corresponding icon or text link.

• 📞 Open the phone app on the home screen.
• ⚙️ Click on the menu (three dots) in the upper right corner.
• 🚫 Select “Blocking Settings” or “Antispam».
• 👥 Go to the “Black List” section to view the numbers.

It's important to note that in some regions, the shell may be called something else, like "Call Security." If you don't find the exact names match, look for the sections related to spam protection. The functionality remains identical regardless of the language localization of the interface.

Access to the MIUI Security Center

If you can't log in through the call app, there's a second, deeper path, and Xiaomi's Android system has a Security app (a green icon with a lightning bolt or a shield) that combines antivirus, memory cleanup and locking tools.

Launch the Security app and scroll down to the Tools section, where you will find the Antispam option, and clicking on it will take you to the same lock control menu that was discussed in the previous section, but with more advanced filtering settings.

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Enable the update of spam databases in the Antispam settings so that the system automatically flags new fraud numbers.

This method is especially useful if the standard Phone app has been replaced by a third-party app (like Google Phone or Truecaller) and the menu items are hidden in it. The system security module remains unchanged and guarantees access to lock settings at the core level of the system.

Inside the Antispam section, you can set up not only a manual blacklist, but also automatic rules, like blocking any hidden numbers or contacts that are not in your phone book, a powerful tool for those who want maximum silence.

• 🛡️ Launch the System Application “Security».
• 🔍 Find and open the Antispam tool».
• ⚙️ Click on the settings icon (cog) in the corner of the screen.
• 📝 Select “Black List” to edit the number database.

It also has a whitelist feature that allows you to skip calls from favorite contacts even when you have Do Not Disturb mode on, and the flexibility of settings allows you to create a personalized filter that will not miss any extra.

Set up automatic lock and filters

Manually adding numbers to the blacklist is effective, but time consuming if spam comes from different SIM cards. MIUI offers smart filters that work automatically. From the Antispam menu, go to settings and find the Filters section.

You can activate blocking by keywords in SMS or by number prefixes, for example, if you get a lot of calls with codes of certain operators or short numbers, you can create a rule to cut them off automatically, which eliminates the need to constantly monitor the call log.

Special attention should be paid to the function of blocking SMS. Often spam comes in text form. In the settings of the message filters, you can specify trigger words such as "credit", "win" or "promotion". All messages containing these words will automatically fall into the spam folder.

⚠️ Note: When you turn on aggressive keyword filters, you risk missing an important notification from your bank or delivery service if the message accidentally contains a prohibited word.

Also in this section, you can adjust the behavior of the phone when a call comes from a blacklist, you can choose whether to drop a call right away, reset without sound, or simply not display the notification, depending on whether you want to know about communication attempts at all.

Synchronization and cloud-based lock settings

For users using multiple Xiaomi devices, the problem of migrating blacklist settings is relevant. Fortunately, the Mi Account allows you to synchronize lock data between smartphones and tablets, which provides a single protection on all your gadgets.

To activate sync, go to Settings → Mi Account → Sync. Make sure the slider opposite the Antispam or Blacklist is activated. When you change your phone, you just need to log in to your account, and all the locked numbers will automatically pull up from the cloud.

If you switch to a phone from another brand, your MIUI blacklist settings will not be automatically transferred, in which case it is recommended to back up or export your contact list in advance.

Cloud-based storage of the block list also serves as a backup. Even with a full Hard Reset and subsequent recovery from the cloud, your blacklist will be restored to its original form, saving time to reset.

Table: Comparison of locking methods on Xiaomi

Different methods of blocking control have their advantages and disadvantages. Below is a comparison table that will help you choose the most convenient way to interact with the list of unwanted contacts.

As you can see from the table, embedded system tools cover 95% of the needs of the average user. Third-party applications require additional permissions and can consume more battery power, so their installation is justified only in specific cases.

Using operator commands (USSD) is often a paid service and depends on the tariff plan, whereas system locking on Xiaomi is completely free and does not consume mobile network traffic.

Frequent problems and their solution

Despite the system’s fine-tuning, users may encounter situations where a locked number still passes, most often because the call is made via a messenger (Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram) rather than a regular cellular network.

To solve this problem, you need to set up a lock inside the messenger app itself, for example, WhatsApp needs to open a contact chat, click on a name, and select “Block” — this action isolates the contact only within the app.

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Xiaomi’s blacklist only blocks the usual ones GSM-challenge SMS, It does not work with VoIP calls over the Internet.

Another common problem is that you can't add a number because of the format of the record. The system may require a specific format (for example, with a country code of +7 or 8). If the number is not added, try changing the format of the record in the phone book or when you manually enter.

⚠️ Warning: After updating the firmware, the blacklist settings may reset to factory ones. Always check the lock list for the time of the major system update.

Also worth mentioning is the Guest Mode or Second Space feature, which, if you use these features, the blacklist is set up separately for each space, and the lock on the main profile will not work in the second space, and vice versa.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions