Modern smartphones, and in particular Xiaomi devices, are equipped with powerful built-in tools to protect against unwanted communication. Users often look for a way to block spam calls or intrusive contacts without installing third-party applications. In the MIUI operating system or the new HyperOS, this functionality is implemented at the system level, which ensures high efficiency.
However, finding the right settings the first time is difficult because of the localization of the menu and the structure of the shell interface. Many owners of Redmi and Poco are lost in the abundance of points, not not noticing the hidden security sections. This article will help you understand where exactly the blacklist is hiding, how to get there in different ways and how to properly filter incoming calls.
We're going to look at not only the standard paths through the contact menu, but also the deep-seated system settings that you can access through the engineering menu or special codes, and you're going to learn how to manage locks, add numbers manually, and analyze the log of blocked events, so you can have full control over who can reach you.
Search through the standard “Contacts” application
The most obvious and quick way to get into lock settings is to use the regular call app. In most versions of MIUI firmware, the blacklist path is integrated directly into the dialing interface, so you need to open the Phone app and pay attention to the settings menu, which is usually hidden under a three-dot or gear icon.
After you go to the menu, select the item associated with the lock, which can be called "Blocked numbers", "Antispam" or "Blacklist". Importantly, the name can vary depending on the version of the system and regional settings. Within this section, you will see a list of all the numbers that have been added to the lock, or a button to add new ones.
It also often has a feature called import numbers from call history or SMS, which is convenient if you need to quickly block an aggressive caller, and the system will prompt you to select a contact from a recent list, after which it will be automatically moved to the isolation center.
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If you don’t see “Blocked” on the menu, try pressing and holding your finger on any number in your call history – the context menu that appears often has the option of “Add to Blacklist.”
Managing the list in this section allows you not only to add, but also delete numbers, and adjust the system's response to calls from blocked contacts. You can choose whether the subscriber will hear the beeps or immediately receive the "busy" signal.
Use of the Security App
The deeper filtering settings are in the system application Security, which is pre-installed on every Xiaomi device, and this is where all the security tools, including antivirus, memory cleanup and, of course, call blocker, are concentrated. Find a green icon with a shield on your desktop or in the Tools folder.
Inside the app, look for the Antispam or Lock section, where the interface is more detailed and provides enhanced control, and you can set the lock not only by specific numbers, but also by category, for example, hiding any unknown numbers or numbers from other regions.
- 📞 Blacklist: Manually enter numbers for full lock.
- 🚫 Smart Blocking: Automatic Detection of Spam and Advertising Calls.
- 🔇 Do Not Disturb: Temporary Limitation of All Notifications.
The Antispam section often includes the cloud database of spam numbers by default, and it is recommended to check whether the update of this database is activated, as this greatly improves the effectiveness of fraud protection, the system will check the incoming number with the global database and block suspicious calls automatically.
You can also set exceptions in this section, for example, you can add important numbers to a whitelist to make sure that a call from a doctor or relative won't be missed even when there's active silence, a critical feature for those who can't afford to miss an urgent call.
Settings through the call menu
There is an alternative path that works even if the standard contact menu has been changed in the new version of HyperOS. Try to navigate to the settings of the Phone app itself through the system menu of smartphone settings. To do this, open Settings → Apps → All Apps → Phone.
Here, in the permissions and notifications section, additional filtering options are sometimes hidden, although the main functionality is still in individual applications of the system, but this is where you can check whether it is worth noting if you are not allowed to display notifications about missed blocked calls.
If you want to change the behavior of your phone when you call from a blacklist, you need to find the appropriate switch. The key point is that by default, the phone can simply reset the call without leaving a trace in the log, or, conversely, fix the connection attempt.
⚠️ Attention: Changing your locking behavior may cause you to stop seeing who was trying to call you.
Some versions of the shell have code for logging into the engineering menu or hidden call settings, such as ##4636##, but it is more often used to diagnose the network rather than to manage contacts.
Managing the list of blocked numbers
Once you get to the list, you're going to have to manage it effectively. The blacklist in Xiaomi allows you not only to store numbers, but also to sort them, and you can use mass action, and you can add numbers manually, by entering the country and operator code, or copy them from the clipboard.
To add a new contact, click on the plus or Add button, and the system will offer you several options: choose from contacts, enter a number manually or select from a call history, and the flexibility of this tool allows you to quickly respond to new threats.
☑️ Checking the lock settings
There's also a mask lock feature, which means you can lock a whole range of numbers, like all numbers starting with a certain prefix, which is especially true for dealing with robotic callers that change the last digit of a number.
Remember to check the list periodically, sometimes important numbers get there because of an error or change in the number of the organization, and regular cleaning and updating of the list will ensure a balance between security and availability of communication.
Analysis of the blocked call log
One of the most useful features of MIUI security is to keep a separate log for blocked events, and unlike regular call history, only calls and SMS that have been filtered by the system get accessed, and you can find this log in the Security app under Antispam.
The log shows the time of the call attempt, the subscriber number and the type of lock (manual or automatic) that allows you to understand how effective your settings are and whether something extra is blocked. Analytics helps to identify patterns in the calls of fraudsters.
The system can also send you SMS-notifications of blocked calls, if enabled, which allows you to stay aware of communication attempts, even when the phone is in Do Not Disturb mode or completely locked.
| Type of event | Where it's displayed | Can be rebuilt | Notification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual lockdown | Lock log | Yeah, in the magazine. | By tuning. |
| Autospam. | Lock log | Yeah, in the magazine. | Yes. |
| Hidden number. | Not showing. | No. | No. |
| SMS spam | Spam folder in SMS | Yes, by moving. | No sound. |
When you study a log, you can quickly decide whether to unlock a number if it was a bug, or to strengthen the security by adding a new prefix to the list of prohibited, a dynamic process that requires user attention.
Synchronization and cloud functions
Xiaomi’s ecosystem has the ability to sync a blacklist through a Mi Account, meaning that if you lock a number on one device, it can automatically be locked on your tablet or second phone if they are tied to one account.
To activate this feature, you need to log into your account in the system settings and enable synchronization of security data. Data privacy is ensured by encryption, but users who are extremely sensitive to it should read the company's privacy policy.
What happens when you reset your settings?
Also worth mentioning is the data transfer feature when you upgrade to a new phone. When you initially set up a new Redmi, the system will suggest migrating data from the old device, and lock settings will also be copied, saving you time.
Using cloud features makes security management more convenient, but requires a stable internet connection. Make sure your device is enabled with data transfer for system applications.