How to blacklist a subscriber on a Xiaomi phone: all ways

Receiving intrusive calls from spammers, collectors or unwanted contacts is a problem that every second smartphone owner faces. On Xiaomi phones (including Redmi, Poco and Mi models), subscriber blocking is implemented through the built-in blacklist feature, but its location and capabilities depend on the version of the MIUI shell. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to add numbers to the blocklist – from standard settings to hidden functions for experienced users.

It is important to understand that the blacklist on Xiaomi works not only for calls, but also for SMS, and in the latest versions of MIUI 14/15 there is the ability to block keywords in messages. At the same time, some models (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or Xiaomi 13T) support synchronization of the blacklist with the Mi Account, which allows you to save settings when you change your device. If you have never used this feature, prepare for the fact that after blocking, the subscriber will not be able to call you, send SMS or even see the read status in messengers (under certain settings).

1. Standard method: through the application "Phone"

The easiest method is to use the built-in Phone app (the handset icon on the home screen), which works on all Xiaomi devices regardless of the MIUI version and does not require additional settings.

1. Open the Phone app and go to the Log tab (watch icon in the bottom menu).
2. Find the number you want to block in the list and tap it.
3. In the window with the details of the call, click on three vertical dots (⋮) top-right.
4. Select Block the number (or Blacklist in older versions of MIUI).
5. Confirm the action in the pop-up window.

After that, the number will be automatically added to the blacklist, and all subsequent calls and SMS from it will be blocked. On phones with MIUI 14+, after blocking, a notification will appear with a request to report spam – this is an optional step that helps improve the spam number base of Xiaomi.

Check that the number is saved in the call log|Make sure you have the latest version of the Phone app (update to Google Play)|Turn off Do Not Disturb mode – it may conflict with the lock|Sync your contacts with Mi Account if you want to keep a list for the future-->

If the number is not in the log (for example, he never called you), you can add it manually:

1. Open the phone. → ⋮ (menu) → Settings → Number locking.
2. Click Add manually and enter the number in international format (e.g. +79123456789).
3. Save the changes.

2. Blocking through “Messages” (for SMS spam)

If you're not getting calls, but text messages, you can block the number directly from the Message app, which is especially useful for fighting bank spam or emails.

1. Open the Messages app and find a dialog with an unwanted subscriber.
2. Slip on the avatar or sender name at the top of the screen.
3. In the menu that opens, select ⋮ → Block (or add to the blacklist).
4. Confirm the lock in the pop-up window.

On MIUI 14/15, the Spam Complaint option is added to the same menu, which sends the number information to Xiaomi’s database, which helps block it for other users. However, beware: abuse of complaints can lead to a temporary blocking of your reporting feature.

💡

If you block a number through Messages, check the Spam folder in the app – sometimes important notifications (e.g. from banks) get there. Set exceptions to Settings → Spam filter.

For mass blocking of spammers:

• 📱 Go to the messages. → ⋮ → Settings → Spam filter.
• 🔍 Enable the spam filtering option and add keywords (e.g., “winning”, “credit”, “renewal").
• 📊 Check the Blacklist section in the same menu – all blocked numbers and words are displayed here.

3. Blacklist management: where to find and how to edit

All locked numbers are stored in a central blacklist, which can be found in the phone settings.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slap three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Special Access → Number locking.
3. Here you will see a complete list of blocked contacts and can:

On phones with MIUI 13 and older, the Unknown Number Lock option has been added to this menu, which automatically blacklists all subscribers not saved in your phone book, a feature that is useful for spam protection but can block important calls (such as from couriers or support services).

Once a week | Once a month | Only when spam | Never blocked |Another option-->

4. Blocking through contacts (for saved numbers)

If you have already saved an unwanted number in your phone book, you can block it directly from the Contacts app, which is convenient when you do not want to delete the contact completely, but you do not plan to communicate with the person anymore.

1. Open the Contacts app and find the right contact.
2. Slip it, then tap it. ⋮ → Lock down.
3. In the window that appears, select what to block: Calls, Messages or Everything.
4. Confirm the action.

Once blocked through contacts, the phone icon and message next to the name will turn grey, a visual indicator that the subscriber is blacklisted. On MIUI 14, you can also configure exceptions here: for example, allow calls from this contact at certain hours (good for working contacts).

If you block contact with multiple numbers (for example, work and personal), you will have to add each number to the blacklist separately, and note that the lock through contacts does not apply to messengers - you need to configure privacy in each application separately.

5. Hidden features: blocking by keywords and regular expressions

Few people know, but Xiaomi with MIUI 12 and later has advanced locking settings that allow you to filter not only numbers, but also the content of messages. This is useful for fighting scammers who constantly change numbers but use the same text templates (for example, "your card is blocked").

To set up filtering for keywords:

1. Go to Messages. → ⋮ → Settings → Spam filter.
2. Enable the option of Filtering by Keywords.
3. Add words or phrases (e.g., “winning”, “credit”, “pay urgently”).
4. Select the action: Block or Move to spam.

For power users, regular expression locking (regex) is available, which allows you to create complex rules, such as locking all numbers with a specific prefix or template, to activate this feature:

1. Enable Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (Tap 7 times).


2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers.




3. Find the option Advanced Message Lock and enable it.




4. Now a regex field will appear in the Spam filter.

Examples of regular expressions to block:

• 📞 Block all numbers with a code +7999: ^\+7999\d{7}$
• 💬 Block messages with the word "credit" in any register: (?i)credit
• 🔢 Block numbers with repeating numbers (e.g, 111-22-33): (\d)\1{2}

💡

Regular expressions are a powerful tool, but a syntax error can lead to important messages being blocked.

6.Sync the blacklist with the Mi Account

If you use a Mi Account (which is required for most Xiaomi features), the blacklist can be synced between devices, meaning that the locked numbers will automatically be transferred to your new phone when you change gadgets.

1. Open Settings → Xiaomi account.
2. Make sure you are logged in (if not, log in).
3. Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → ⋮ → Number locking.
4. Turn on the option of synchronizing the blacklist.

Once activated, all changes to the blacklist will automatically be saved to the cloud, which is especially useful if you have multiple Xiaomi devices (such as a phone and tablet).

⚠️ Note: Synchronization only works between devices with MIUI 11 and later. On older versions of the shell (or on phones of other brands), the list will not move, and also check that the device is on the Internet - without connection, sync is not performed.

If you are selling or transferring your phone to another person, be sure to turn off sync and clear the blacklist.

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Devices.
2. Remove your current phone from the list of trusted devices.
3. Return to Number Lock and clear the list manually.

7 Problems and Solutions: What to Do When a Lock is Not Working

Sometimes users are faced with the fact that the blacklist on Xiaomi does not block calls or SMS. Here are the most common reasons and ways to eliminate them:

If none of the methods worked, try resetting the phone and messaging app settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the phone and messages apps, tap them.
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the data.
4. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Attention: Cleaning up app data will delete the entire call and message log! Before you do so export important information or back up through Settings → Additionally. → Backup.

If the problem persists, check if the phone has third-party apps to block calls (such as Truecaller or Call Blocker) that may conflict with the built-in Xiaomi feature, in which case temporarily disable third-party programs and check the standard blacklist.

8. Alternative methods: third-party applications and operator services

If the built-in Xiaomi features do not suit you, you can use alternative methods of blocking:

• 📱 Third-party apps: Truecaller detects spammers and blocks them automatically. Call Blocker allows you to create whitelists/blacklists with flexible rules. Hiya specializes in blocking fraudulent calls.
• 📡 Operator services: MTS: Antispam service (connected by USSD-code *111*7771#). Beeline: "Spam Protection" (activated in the personal account). MegaFon: "Spam filter" (available in the mobile application). Television2: "Antispam” (connected by number 611).
• 🔒 Android Settings: In some versions MIUI You can use the standard Android blocker: Settings → Google → Personal data → Number locking.

The advantage of third-party apps is that they often have wider spam databases and can block even calls that go past the standard blacklist. However, note that these programs require access to your contacts, call logs and messages, which can be a risk to privacy.

Operator services are usually paid (from 3 to 10 rubles per day), but they block spam at the network level, so calls do not reach your phone at all.This reduces battery load and saves traffic.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)