White list on Xiaomi: how to set up for calls, SMS and notifications

Why Xiaomi’s whitelisting is a must-have for every user

Have you ever missed an important call from a bank or a message from a relative because your smartphone blocked it as spam? MIUI have a powerful system of filtering unwanted calls and SMS, But sometimes it works too zealously, and here comes the whitelist, a tool that ensures that a call or a message from a selected contact will pass through any lock.

In this article, we will learn how to properly configure the whitelist on Redmi devices, POCO and other Xiaomi lines (including models from 2023-2026:

• 🔹 How to Add Contacts to a Whitelist through Standard Settings MIUI
• 🔹 Why some notifications are blocked (and how to fix them)
• 🔹 Features of the white list in the MIUI 14 and the latest firmware
• 🔹 How to Check if the White List Works on Xiaomi

Important: instructions are suitable for most modern models - from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. MIUI 12 or older, some menu items may be different, but the logic remains the same.

What is a white list and why you need it in Xiaomi

A whitelist (or exception list) is a list of contacts, calls, and messages that will never be blocked by the system, even if:

• 📵 You've got a "Do Not Disturb" mode on» (DND)
• 🚫 Number marked as potential spam in Xiaomi database
• 🔔 The application (e.g. Truecaller) blocks incoming
• 📱 The phone is in energy saving mode

For example, if you add a bank number to the whitelist, you will:

⚠️ Note: SMS with a confirmation code or a call from the security service will pass even when active mode DND or if the number has previously been blacklisted.

The whitelist on Xiaomi works on three levels:

1. Calls – misses incoming from selected contacts.
2. SMS — Ensure delivery of messages.
3. Notifications – allows apps to show alerts (such as from WhatsApp or Viber).

Without this tool, you risk missing:

• 💳 SMS from banks with confirmation codes
• 🚑 Calls from the emergency services
• 📬 Important Notifications from Employer or School
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Messages from loved ones if their numbers have previously been spammed

How to add a contact to the white list on Xiaomi: Step-by-step instructions

The process of setting up the white list depends on the version MIUI We'll look at the universal method that works on most devices (including the Redmi Note 13 Pro).+, POCO F5, Xiaomi 13T etc.).

Step 1. Open the “Settings” of the phone

Go to the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen) and select the section:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Application Settings (⚙️) → Special Permissions → Whitelist

Step 2. Select the type of exclusion

V MIUI 14 you'll see three tabs:

• 📞 Calls - to pass incoming
• 💬 Messages for SMS and MMS
• 🔔 Notifications – for notifications from applications

Step 3: Add contacts or apps

Click Add and select:

• 📇 Contacts from the phone book (for example, “Mom”, “Bank”, “Work»)
• 📱 Applications (for example, Telegram, Sberbank Online)
• 📞 Manual numbers (if contact is not saved)

Contact saved in the phone book|Number is in international format (+7...)|The app has access to contacts|Regime. DND test-off-->

Step 4: Set up additional settings

V MIUI 14: Allow repeat calls — if you turn it on:

⚠️ Warning: If the same number calls twice within 3 minutes, the second call will pass even if the contact is not on the whitelist.

For SMS You can also turn on the option to Show notifications on the lock screen so you do not miss important messages.

Features of the white list in MIUI 14 and new firmware

With the exit. MIUI 14 (and subsequent updates) the logic of the whitelist has changed:

V MIUI 14 also introduced the function Priority contacts, which:

• 🔔 Shows notifications from selected individuals even in mode DND
• 📞 Allows repeated calls from them within 15 minutes
• 💬 Highlights their messages in the chat list

Important: If you have updated with MIUI 13 to MIUI 14, the whitelist will reset - it needs to be reconfigured.

💡

To quickly find the whitelist settings, search Settings (the magnifier icon at the top). Enter the whitelist request and the system will show the desired section.

Xiaomi’s whitelist issues and how to fix them

Sometimes even after adding a contact to a whitelist, calls or SMS They're still blocked. Here are the most common causes and solutions:

1. Calls do not go through "Do Not Disturb" mode» (DND)

Check it out.

• 🔕 Is the regime on? DND (swipe down from the top edge of the screen → bell-mark)
• 📵 In the settings DND Is it allowed to skip calls from contacts from the white list (Settings) → Sounds and vibrations → Don't disturb. → Permits)

2. SMS They do not come from banks or services.

Possible causes:

• 📵 Bank number not added to whitelist for SMS (You need to add separately from the calls!)
• 🔄 In the settings SIM-The service "Premium" is disabled-SMS» (relevant to MTS, Beeline)
• 📱 The Application Messages have no rights to send/receive SMS (Settings → Annexes → Application management → Communications → Permits)

3. Notifications from applications are not shown

If you have added WhatsApp or Viber to the whitelist, but notifications still don’t come:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management
2. Select the desired application (for example, Telegram)
3. Go to Notifications and turn on all switches
4. In the Battery section, disable Charge Optimization for this application

4.The whitelist is reset after the update

It's a known problem. MIUI. To avoid losing settings:

• 📱 Before updating, make a backup through Settings → The phone. → Backup
• 🔄 After the update, check the whitelist settings and add contacts again if necessary.

💡

If the problem persists, try resetting the Phone and Messages app settings to factory (without deleting data).

How to Check if the White List Works on Xiaomi

To make sure that the whitelist is functioning correctly, do a simple test:

Test 1: Call checks

1. Add your second number (or friend number) to the whitelist.
2. Turn on the Do Not Disturb mode (DND).
3. Call from the test number - the call must pass.

Test 2: Testing SMS

1. Send. SMS to your phone from a number added to the whitelist.
2. Make sure the message appears in the Messages app and the notification arrives.

Test 3: Verifying Notifications from Applications

1. Add Telegram or Viber to the whitelist.
2. Send a message to yourself via another device.
3. Check if the notification appears on the lock screen.

If at least one of the tests fails:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📱 Check permission settings for Phone and Messages apps.
• 🔧 Reset the settings. DND before the factory (Settings) → Sounds and vibrations → Don't disturb. → Resetting settings).

Alternative ways to manage calls and SMS Xiaomi

If the standard whitelist fails, consider alternative methods:

1. Spam filtering applications

Popular solutions:

• 🛡️ Truecaller – Blocks spam, but can conflict with whitelist MIUI.
• 📵 Calls Blacklist – allows you to create complex rules for calling and SMS.
• 🔒 Should I Answer? – Real-time analysis of numbers.

Warning: Before installation, disable the built-in spam lock in MIUI (Settings → Annexes → A challenge → Blocking numbers to avoid conflicts.

2.Setting up the rules in "Do Not Disturb" mode

V MIUI 14 can be flexibly configured DND:

Settings → Sounds and vibrations → Do not disturb → Rules → Add a rule

Here you can:

• 🕒 Set a schedule (for example, night time)
• 📞 Allow calls only from selected contacts
• 🔔 Disable notifications from all applications except important ones

3.Use of two SIM-stream-sharing

If you have Xiaomi with two support SIM:

• 📱 Set one up. SIM-Card for important calls only (bank, work).
• 💬 Use the second for personal contacts and the Internet.
• 🔔 In the Dual Apps settings (Settings) → Annexes → Dual Apps can be duplicated messengers for each SIM.

Emergency emergency number

Some banks and services allow you to link a backup phone number, and if the main number is locked, notifications will come to the backup.

• 🏦 Personal account of the bank (for example, Sberbank Online, Tinkoff)
• 📧 Two-factor authentication settings (Google, Apple) ID)

FAQ: Frequent questions about the whitelist on Xiaomi