How to see the blacklist on Xiaomi: lock management

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face intrusive spam calls or unwanted messages that disrupt their personal space. To combat this, a powerful filtering tool is built into the shells of MIUI and the new HyperOS that automatically sifts out unwanted traffic. However, to effectively manage this process, the user needs to know where the list of blocked numbers is stored and how to edit it.

Searching for this information may not be obvious, as developers hide data in deep menus of the system applications Security and Phone. In this article, we will detail the paths to settings that will allow you to look at the blacklist and make sure that the desired number is indeed locked. We will look at various methods of access, including standard menus and hidden engineering codes.

Understanding the lock structure on Xiaomi devices is critical for those who want to protect themselves from scammers.We will study not only standard listings, but also specialized SMS filters and hidden settings that are often overlooked even by experienced users.

The main path through the Security application

The most reliable and versatile way to find all lock settings is to use the system application Security, which is the central node for access rights management and call filtering in the Xiaomi ecosystem, and this is where all the data about blocked contacts is aggregated, regardless of which application the call was made through.

First, you need to run an app with a green shield icon, and in the menu that opens, you need to scroll down to the Tools or Antivirus section, where the Blocker item is located, and clicking on it, you will be taken to the main ban control menu.

At the top of the screen, you'll see tabs or icons that are responsible for different types of locks. You're interested in the Blacklist section, which is usually located in the lower right corner or in the settings menu (three dots or gear), which displays a complete list of numbers that you have added manually or that the system has identified as spam.

• 📱 Access to the list is made through the “Black List” tab in the Security app.
• ⚙️ To edit the list, click on the three dots in the corner of the screen and select “Blocking Settings».
• 🔍 Search for a specific number is possible through the built-in search bar at the top of the list.
• 🛡️ You can also activate the Do Not Disturb mode for all unknown numbers.

It's important to note that depending on the version of the MIUI shell or HyperOS, the interface may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same: Security app -> Blocker -> Blacklist. If you can't find this item, try searching the phone's settings by typing in "Block."

⚠️ Warning: Deleting the number from the blacklist in the Security app will automatically unlock it for incoming calls and SMS. Be careful when cleaning the list so you don’t accidentally miss an important subscriber you’ve previously blocked by mistake.

💡

If you can’t find the Security app on your desktop, use a global search by swiping down the home screen and entering “Blocker.”

Checking through standard dialing

An alternative and often faster way to view blocked contacts is available directly from the Phone app, which is especially useful when you need to quickly check the status of a particular number or add a new contact to the stop list without going to system settings.

Open the standard "call" and notice the menu hidden behind the three dots or menu button. In the drop-down list, select Settings or Call Settings. Next, the interface will suggest finding the Block or Blacklist section.

In some versions of the firmware, the path may look different: after opening the “caller” go to the “Contacts” or “Journal” tab, where there may also be a lock settings button, clicking on it, you will see a list of all numbers whose calls are currently rejected by the system.

The good thing about this method is that it's integrated directly into the dialing process, and you can immediately check if the person you want is locked, just by trying to find them in the log or contacts, if they're labeled with the appropriate icon.

• 📞 Open the Phone app and click on three dots in the corner.
• 📝 Select the "Settings" option» -> «Lockdown».
• 👁️ View the list of blocked numbers and remove the extra ones if necessary.
• ➕ Add a new number manually by clicking on the plus or the "Add" button».

Control of lockdown SMS-message

Special attention should be paid to filtering text messages, as spam often comes in the form of SMS. On Xiaomi smartphones, this functionality is also tied to the application “Security”, but has its own lists and rules.

To view the blacklist for messages, you need to go back to the Security app and select the Blocker section. Inside you will find a separate tab or button responsible for SMS, which stores the history of blocked messages and the list of numbers from which they come.

You can set more flexible rules in SMS blocker settings, such as disallowing messages from all unknown numbers or from numbers containing certain keywords, a powerful tool for combating emails.

Users often forget that call blocking and message blocking are two different processes, although managed from the same center.Make sure the number you want to lock is added to both lists if complete isolation is required.

Using engineering code to verify

For advanced users, there is a way to check and even edit some locking options through an engineering menu, which is a hidden interface designed to test hardware, but it also gives access to deep network settings.

To get into this menu, open the Phone app and enter a special combination: ##4636##. Once you enter the last star, the Testing menu will open.

In this menu, you can find forwarding and call blocking settings that depend on the carrier and network settings, but it is worth remembering that this method does not always display the local blacklist of the phone, but rather shows network settings.

##4636##


(Introduced in the annex Telephone)

Be very careful in the engineering menu. Changing the settings in the Radio Information section or other technical sections can lead to loss of communication or disruption of the work network. Use this method only to view information if you are not sure about your actions.

• 🔧 Enter the code ##4636### in the dialer.
• 📡 Select "Phone Information».
• 👀 Look for sections related to Call Barring or Forwarding.
• ⚠️ Do not change the meaning of the fields if you do not know their purpose.

Third-party applications and synchronization

In some cases, embedded tools may not seem flexible enough, and users are turning to third-party solutions. Apps like Truecaller, GetContact or Kaspersky Who Calls may have their own databases and blacklists.

If you use these apps, you should be viewing the blacklist inside them. Often, these apps intercept calls before the Xiaomi system blocker. To check the list, open the settings of a particular application and find the "Block" or "Blacklist" section.

It is important to consider that having multiple blockers can create conflicts. If a number is blocked in a third-party app, it may not appear in the Xiaomi system blacklist, and vice versa.

Also, check your sync with your Google or Mi Account, sometimes your contacts are flagged as cloud-based spam, and this affects your phone’s behavior, and check your account settings under Security and Privacy.

⚠️ Note: Third-party numbering apps often require access to your entire phone book and call history. By sharing this data, you agree to their privacy policies, which may carry the risk of personal information being leaked.

Frequent problems and their solution

Even if set up properly, users may find that the blacklist doesn’t work or numbers from it still ring, which may be due to the Android operating system and the aggressive energy savings of MIUI.

Often, the system kills the blocker's background process as inactive, so to fix this, you have to go to the battery settings, find the Security or Phone app, and select No Limits or Auto Start mode, which will allow the application to run constantly.

Another problem is double standards, where if you have an application from a carrier (such as MTS or Beeline’s Number Defineer), it may conflict with the built-in blocker, in which case calls may pass because the carrier’s application intercepts them earlier.

💡

For stable blacklist operation, be sure to allow the Security app to auto-start and remove background restrictions in battery settings.

It is also worth checking whether the “White List” mode is enabled (only a select few) and if the mode that allows calls only from contacts is activated, the blacklist may be ignored or not work correctly for unknown numbers.