How to permanently lock a person in a Xiaomi phone: instructions for MIUI

You can block a annoying person on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO in seconds if you know where to look for the settings you want. The manufacturer hides this feature in different sections depending on the version of MIUI, and in some cases the lock doesn't work as expected. For example, a blocked contact can still leave voice messages on WhatsApp, if you haven't limited it there separately.

This article provides the latest ways to block MIUI 14 and 15 (including global and Chinese firmware), as well as answers to frequent questions: what does a blocked user see, how to unlock a contact and why sometimes the lock doesn’t work. If you need to not just limit calls, but also hide your status in messengers or deny access to your profile in Mi Account, there are solutions for all these tasks.

1. Blocking through the standard application "Phone"

The fastest way is to use the built-in Phone app (the handset icon), which works on all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi Note. 12, POCO X5 and flagships of the Xiaomi series 13/14. The lock is applied to all incoming calls and SMS from the selected number.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and go to the Log tab (the icon of the clock at the bottom of the screen).
2. Find the number you want to block and tap it.
3. In the window that opens, press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Block the number.
4. Confirm the action by clicking Block in the pop-up window.

After that, the number will be added to the blacklist, and you will no longer receive calls or messages from it. To check the list of blocked contacts, go to Settings → Lock numbers.

The number disappeared from the call log |SMS from the contact does not come |No notifications of missed calls |Contact is not displayed in the favorites list-->

⚠️ Note: If the contact has multiple numbers (e.g. mobile and work), the lock applies only to the one you have selected.

2. Block through MIUI settings (blacklist)

If you need to block a number that is not in the call log, or you want to manage the entire blacklist centrally, use the MIUI system settings. This method is suitable for Xiaomi Mi 11, Redmi 10 and other models with MIUI 12-15 firmware.

How to add a number to the blacklist:

1. Open the settings (cog icon).
2. Go to the Appendix section → Phone. → Number locking.
3. Click Add to the blacklist and select the contact from the list or enter the number manually.
4. Confirm the addition.

The same section may include:

• 📱 Remove the number from the blacklist (slip on it and select Unblock it).
• 🔍 View the history of blocked calls (enable the option to Show log).
• 🛡️ Set up the lock of unknown numbers (option to Block Unknown numbers).

Important: On some models (for example, Xiaomi 12T with Chinese firmware), the path to lock settings may be different. If you do not find a section, use the settings search (the magnifying icon at the top).

3. Blocking messages (SMS/MMS)

If you get annoyed. SMS-With spam or messages from unwanted contact, you can set the lock right in the Messages app. This method does not affect calls, only text messages.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Messages app and find a dialog with the right contact.
2. Slip on the avatar or contact name at the top of the screen.
3. Choose Block (on some firmware - Block and delete).
4. Confirm the action.

After the lockdown:

• 📩 Messages from this number will not appear in the main list.
• 🔔 Notification of new SMS stop coming.
• 🗑️ Old messages can be deleted automatically (Option Delete all messages when blocked).

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If the SMS lock fails, check if you have a third-party messaging app (like Google Messages) in which case you need to set the lock up.

4. Blocking in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber)

The system lock on Xiaomi does not apply to messengers - you need to set the restrictions separately.

WhatsApp

To block your WhatsApp contact:

1. Open a chat with the user.
2. Put three points on it (⋮) → More. → Lock down.
3. Confirm the blocking and choose whether you would like to report spam.

Telegram

In Telegram, the lock works differently: the user will not be able to write to you, but will see that you are online (if you did not hide this status).

1. Open the user profile.
2. Press three points (⋮) → Block the user.
3. Choose to Block or Block and Delete.

Viber

In Viber, the lock hides your online status and prevents you from sending messages:

1. Open the contact chat.
2. Tap by name. → Information → Lock down.
3. Confirm the action.

⚠️ Note: In Telegram, a blocked user can see your latest online if you have not disabled this setting in Privacy → Last visit.

5. How to unlock a number on Xiaomi

If you change your mind or the lock is wrong, you can unlock the number through the same settings where you added it, and the methods depend on how the contact was blocked.

Through the phone app.

If the lock was through the call log:

1. Open the phone. → Journal → ⋮ → Settings → Number locking.
2. Find the number in the list and swipe it left (or tap it and select Unblock it).

Through MIUI settings

To unlock through system settings:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Phone → Lock numbers.
2. Select a number and press Unblock.

In messengers.

In each messenger, unlocking is customized individually:

• 📱 WhatsApp: ⋮ → Settings → Account. → Confidentiality → Blocked. → Select contact → Unlock.
• 📘 Telegram: Settings → Confidentiality → Blocked users → Unlock.
• 💬 Viber: More → Settings → Confidentiality → Blacklist. → Remove from the list.

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Unblocking a number does not restore deleted messages or call history – you will have to look for them in backups (if any).

6.What the blocked user sees

Many people fear that the blocking will be too obvious for the interlocutor, but in fact MIUI and messengers hide this fact in different ways:

In most cases, the user does not receive an explicit notification of the blocking, but may suspect it on indirect grounds:

• 📞 Calls are always reset after 1-2 beeps.
• 💬 WhatsApp messages are left with one tick (not delivered).
• 👁️ In Telegram you do not respond to messages, although you were online.
• 📱 Viber does not receive messages (message not delivered").

7 Why the lock doesn't work: frequent problems

Sometimes users complain that the lock on Xiaomi is not working, and here are the main reasons and solutions:

Problem 1: The calls still go away.

• 🔹 Check if the number is added to the Favorites – they can bypass the blacklist.
• 🔹 Update the firmware: in older versions MIUI (Below 12) there were locking bugs.
• 🔹 Make sure the lock is on for everyone. SIM-Cards (if you have dual-SIM).

Problem 2: SMS is still coming.

• 🔹 Lockdown SMS Separately set up from calls (see Section 3).
• 🔹 Check if you are using a third-party app for SMS (For example, Google Messages).

Problem 3: In messengers, the lock is not applied.

• 🔹 System lock does not affect WhatsApp, Telegram and other applications.
• 🔹 Set up the lock separately in each messenger (see section 4).

Problem 4: After resetting the settings, the blacklist cleared.

• 🔹 No blacklist is saved with Hard Reset.
• 🔹 To restore the list, use a backup copy of the Mi Account (if it was created).

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If the lock doesn’t work on Xiaomi with Chinese firmware, try installing a global version of MIUI or use apps like Truecaller for additional spam filtering.

FAQ: Frequent questions about locking on Xiaomi