Users of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often encounter intrusive spam or calls from unwanted interlocutors, which requires immediate intervention in the security settings of the device. The lock function is implemented quite deeply and can be located in different parts of the system, which sometimes causes confusion among owners of gadgets. In the shell of MIUI or its modern version of HyperOS, bans management is made in a separate service module, which is not always obvious when you first get acquainted with the menu.
To effectively manage incoming traffic, you need to understand where the blacklist is stored and how to access it without installing third-party programs. Standard system tools allow you not only to view numbers, but also flexibly configure the rules for filtering calls and other incoming programs. SMS-In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible paths to lock settings so that you can quickly find the information you need and clear the list or add a new troublemaker.
It’s important to note that the layout of interface elements may vary slightly depending on the firmware version and regional modification of your device. However, the overall logic of the security system remains the same for the entire ecosystem of the Chinese manufacturer, you will learn to find hidden menus and manage bans at the system application level, which is a more reliable way of protection than using third-party number detectors.
Using the Phone app to access the blacklist
The fastest and most obvious way to find a list of locked numbers on Xiaomi Redmi is to use the standard call app. This is where users often look for the ability to restrict unwanted subscribers, and developers have provided direct access to these settings. Open the Phone app, which usually has a green phone icon, and look at the top right corner of the screen.
In this corner, there's a button with three vertical dots that indicates the option menu, and if you click on it, you'll see a drop-down list where you'll want to select Settings or Call Settings, depending on the version of the interface translation, and inside that menu, you'll find a section that filters incoming traffic, which may be called differently in different versions of the shell, but always contains a lock-related keyword.
- 📞 Open the Phone app and click on three dots in the corner.
- ⚙️ Select Settings in the drop-down menu.
- 🚫 Find the Blocking or Blacklist section.
- 👁️ Click on Blocked to view the full list.
Once you go to the lock section, you'll see the ban control interface, which displays all the numbers that have been blacklisted manually or automatically by the security system, you can delete numbers from the list, add new ones, or set exceptions for favorite contacts, and this is the primary and most commonly used method of access control for your device.
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The standard Phone application is a central lock control node where all the basic call and message filtering settings are stored.
Configure through the Security app
The second, deeper level of security control on Redmi smartphones is the dedicated system app Security, which has a green shield icon and serves as a single control center for antivirus, memory cleanup and spam protection, and this is where the most delicate filtering settings are concentrated, which may not be available or hidden in a simple call menu.
To enter the desired section, run the Security app and wait for the automatic scanning of the system to be completed. On the home screen, you will see a number of tools, among which you need to find the Antispam icon or Lock. Clicking on this element will open an extended menu where you can not only see the list of blocked contacts, but also customize the behavioral patterns of the system when a call from an unknown number comes.
⚠️ Note: Do not delete the system application Security and do not disable its operation, as this may disrupt the functionality of the spam blocking and lead to malfunctions in other system modules.
Inside the anti-spam menu, tabs are available for separate management of call blocking and SMS-This allows you to flexibly configure the device so that, for example, calls from certain numbers are blocked and messages from them come, or vice versa. Also available here is the function of "Quiet" mode, when calls from blocked subscribers are not displayed on the screen, but are recorded in the log.
Managing SMS and MMS Message Blocking
Text filtering is particularly important, as spam in the form of SMS and MMS is often even more intrusive than voice calls. On Xiaomi and Redmi devices, the message lock settings are integrated into the common anti-spam module, but have their own lists and rules. To find the list of blocked senders, you need to go to the messaging management section within the Security app.
Unlike voice calls, SMS blocking can work by keyword, which means that the system can automatically screen out messages containing certain phrases specific to advertising or fraud, and the user can edit this list of keywords by adding current terms that spammers often use in their mailings.
- 📩 Go to the Security app and select Antispam.
- 🔑 Go to Settings Keywords for Text Messages.
- ➕ Add new words or phrases to automatically lock.
- 🗑️ View the log of blocked messages in the appropriate tab.
It is important to check the blocked message folder regularly, as important notifications from banks or delivery services that the system mistakenly classified as spam may be getting there. Keyword filtering is a powerful tool, but it requires periodic manual adjustments by the user to exclude false positives.
How does a smart SMS lock work?
Search for hidden settings in the system menu
Sometimes standard paths through applications do not give full access to some hidden lock options, especially if it is a specific function or reset settings. In such cases, you may need access to an advanced system settings menu. Redmi has the ability to find these options through a general search in the settings, which is often faster than wandering through the menu.
Open the Settings app and find the search bar at the top of the screen, enter the "lock" or "blacklist" request. The system will offer you direct links to the desired sections, bypassing the need to open intermediate menus. This method is especially useful if the interface has been changed in the new version of MIUI or HyperOS, and you can not find the usual items.
There is also an engineering menu, but it is not recommended for the average user to log in without having to. Standard tools are enough to manage contacts. If you reset your phone settings, then all previously stored locked numbers in the device memory will be deleted, since they do not sync with the account automatically in the basic version.
| Access method | Location. | Functional | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application Phone | Call menu. | Basic lockdown | Low. |
| Security Annex | Main screen screen | Extended filtration | Medium |
| Search in settings | System menu | Direct access | Low. |
| Engineering menu | Special teams. | Deep diagnostics | Tall. |
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Use a Settings Search if you can’t find the right menu item – this is the fastest way to navigate the confusing interface of new MIUI versions.
Differences in MIUI and HyperOS Interface
Xiaomi is actively implementing a new HyperOS shell, which replaces the usual MIUI. Owners of new Redmi models it is important to understand that the visual design and logic of the location of some elements may differ. HyperOS is a trend towards minimalism, and some lock management functions have been moved or renamed for greater intuitiveness.
In newer versions of firmware, lock settings can be integrated directly into the contact card or have a more modern design with large switches. However, the functional essence remains the same: protecting the user from unwanted intrusion. If you upgraded from MIUI 14 to HyperOS, you may need to recheck the blacklist settings, as some user rules may have been reset or changed during the update process.
Regional features should also be considered: Global ROMs may have different or limited features related to numbering and locking compared to China ROMs, due to different national data protection laws, so screenshots from the Internet may be slightly different from what you see on your screen.
⚠️ Warning: When upgrading to a new version of the operating system, always check the blacklist as system migrations sometimes result in resetting user security configurations.
Frequent problems and ways to solve them
Despite the system’s fine-tuning, users may experience situations where locked numbers are still passed or important calls are blocked. One common reason is the conflict between third-party number-defining apps and Xiaomi’s system lock, and if you have GetContact, Truecaller or their counterparts installed, they can intercept call management.
To solve this problem, you need to check application permissions. Go to Settings → Apps → All applications, find your number detector and check if it is the default application for handling calls. If so, try disabling this feature or uninstalling the application, leaving only system protections that are more stable and do not require permanent permissions.
- 📱 Check for third-party number detectors on the device.
- 🔒 Make sure that the system lock is active in the Security app.
- 🔄 Restart your smartphone after making changes to your settings.
- 🗑️ Clear the phone app cache if there are glitches.
Another problem could be overflowing the lock list, which is quite high, but it is theoretically possible to fail to process very long lists on older phones, in which case it is recommended to audit and remove from the blacklist those numbers that are no longer active or threatening, which will free up the system resources and speed up the filtering module.