The situation of an important call being missed because of a randomly blacklisted number is familiar to many smartphone owners. MIUI shells and the new HyperOS have powerful built-in spam protection tools that sometimes work too hard. The user may not remember exactly how the subscriber was blocked, and now wonder how to fix the situation and return the ability to communicate.
In this article, we’ll take a look at all the possible ways to unlock contacts on Xiaomi devices.We’ll look at standard methods through the System Security app, call settings and even hidden menus that may be required in difficult cases.The instruction is relevant for most modern models, including the Redmi Note series, Poco and the flagship Mi.
Reconnecting with a subscriber is a process that requires no technical knowledge, but requires attention to detail. Sometimes a number may not be hidden in an explicit blacklist, but in a third-party application or blocked by a network-level operator, and understanding these nuances will help you quickly solve the problem.
Check the built-in blacklist through the Security app
The main tool for filtering incoming calls and messages in Xiaomi smartphones is the system application “Security”, which is where most often stored a list of locked numbers, added by the user manually or automatically by the security system, to start work, you need to find an icon on the desktop called “Security” (usually green) and run it.
Once you open the app, scroll down to the Antispam section and click on it. In the menu that opens, you'll see lock settings and statistics of blocked events. The blacklist in this shell is integrated deep into the system, so deleting the number from here is guaranteed to unlock it for calls and SMS. The interface may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same.
In the upper right corner of the screen, you often have a gear icon or three dots that indicate the settings menu, and if you click on this, you'll be taken to the lock control section, and you'll want to select "Blacklist" or "Blocked," which will show you a list of all the numbers that can't reach you.
- 📱 Open the Security app on the home screen.
- 🛡️ Go to the Antispam section at the bottom of the interface.
- ⚙️ Click on the settings icon (cog) in the upper right corner.
- 🚫 Select the “Black List” option to view blocked subscribers.
When you find the right number in the list, click on it to highlight. Usually, a context menu or an "Unlock" button (often indicated by an open lock symbol or an "cross") appears. Confirm the action, and the system immediately removes the restrictions. Deleting from the blacklist in the "Security" application is a priority, since this filter works at the system level before the call arrives on the screen.
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If you can’t find the Security app, use the search system by pulling your finger down your desktop and typing the name into the search bar.
Unlocking through the standard phone application
An alternative and often faster way to manage locks is directly in the call app. In newer versions of MIUI and HyperOS, the blacklist functionality is partially duplicated in the call settings for user convenience, a technique that is especially relevant if you just blocked a number and want to quickly cancel the action.
Open the standard Phone app (green handset) and go to the contacts or settings tab. The top right corner usually has a menu button represented by three dots or horizontal lines. Click on it, select Settings or Lock, and here you can see a list of numbers that have been locked through the call interface.
In some cases, the number may be marked as spam automatically by Xiaomi cloud services or third-party databases. The lock menu often has a separate tab, "Block Keyword" or "Block Hidden Numbers," to make sure that the contact you want is not subject to these general filtering rules.
If you use Google Phone (standard call on global versions), the path will look different: click three dots → Settings → Locked numbers. Here the unlocking process is similar: click on the cross next to the number or select "Unlock." This action will instantly update the call database.
⚠️ Note: If the number is locked in the Phone app but continues to be blocked when an incoming call is made, check the Security app as well. Duplicating settings in different system modules can create a rule conflict.
Contact management and account synchronization
Sometimes the problem is not with the lock system settings, but with the contact itself stored in the phone's memory. If you previously blacklisted a number inside the contact card, or if the contact syncs with an account where it's marked as unwanted, it can cause problems. Checking the contact card is an important diagnostic step.
Go to the Contacts app and find the right caller by name or number. Open the contact details. At the top of the screen or in the menu (three dots), there may be a blacklist option or a crossed-out phone icon. If the switch is active, just deactivate it. This is typical of contacts saved in a Mi Cloud or Google account with extended rights.
It’s also worth checking if the “Favorites Only” or “Do Not Disturb” function is enabled for specific contact groups. Contact profile settings can have a special “No Sound” ringtone or vibration mode, which the user mistakenly takes for locking, and synchronization can return a deleted number back to the blacklist if it is stored there in the cloud.
It is recommended to perform the following steps to completely clean the contact data:
- 👤 Open the contact card and click "Change».
- 🗑️ Remove the phone number completely and save the changes.
- ➕ Enter the number again, making sure there are no hidden symbols or prefixes.
- ☁️ Check the synchronization settings in the Accounts and Synchronization section».
What if the contact returns after removal?
Third-party applications and software conflicts
Many users install additional number determinants and antiviruses, such as Truecaller, NumBuster or Kaspersky.These applications often intercept incoming call management and have their own blacklist databases that work independently of Xiaomi's system settings.
If system methods don't work, open the installed antivirus app or number detector. Find the "Block", "Antispam" or "Black List" section in its settings. Often times, the number has been flagged as spam by the community of users of this application, and it automatically blocks calls, even if the phone number is clean.
To solve the problem, it is necessary to:
- Find the application in the list of installed programs.
- Open his lock settings.
- Find the number you want and remove it from the list of prohibited.
- In extreme cases, temporarily disable the application to check if calls will pass.
Conflicts between MIUI system antivirus and third-party software can lead to unstable phone performance. If you do not use third-party antivirus constantly, it is better to remove it after cleaning the lists to avoid double filtering traffic.
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Third-party apps take precedence over system settings for calls. If a call is blocked, check for active antiviruses first.
Specific settings of "Do Not Disturb" modes
Special attention should be paid to the regime “Do not disturb» (DND). While it doesn’t lock a number in the classic sense (the subscriber hears the beeps, but your phone is silent), users often see it as a lock.In Xiaomi, this mode has flexible settings that allow you to create exceptions or, conversely, hide calls from everyone but a select few.
Check the active profiles in Sound and Vibration → Do Not Disturb. Make sure that Start Mode or Scheduled Auto Enablement is not activated. In this mode settings, there is a "Allow Calls From" option. If it selects "Contacts Only" or "Favorites" and the caller is not on these lists, you will not hear the call.
There is also a Repeat Call feature that misses a call if the same number rings a second time within 3 minutes.This is a useful feature in case of emergencies, but it does not replace full unlocking of the contact. To guarantee that a call is missed, you should add a number to Favorites in the phone book.
Table: Comparison of locking and unlocking methods
For a better understanding of the differences between Android lock levels and MIUI, a comparison table below will help you determine where the contact might have been stuck.
| Locking method | Wherever | Priority | Difficulty withdrawal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Systemic blacklist | Security annex | High-pitched | Low. |
| Locking the bell. | Phone appendix | Medium. | Low. |
| Third-party antivirus | Applications (Kaspersky et al.) | Very tall. | Medium |
| Do Not Disturb mode | Sound settings | Depends on the rules. | Low. |
| Blocking by the operator | Network of the operator | Maximum | Tall. |