How to find a black list of contacts in Xiaomi phone

Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often face intrusive spam or calls from unwanted subscribers. The standard MIUI shell and the new HyperOS have powerful built-in call filtering functionality that works at the system level, rather than on an individual application, which allows them to block calls before they even start ringing, saving users nerves and time.

But the security interfaces in Chinese firmware or global versions can be very different, which is difficult, with many users getting lost in the menu or unaware of hidden engineering codes, and in this article, we'll go through all the ways to find a blacklist in a phone, where it hides, and how to manage it.

There are several levels of access to the registry of locked numbers: the first is the regular Security app, the second is the hidden engineering test menu, and the third is the use of third-party identifiers, and we will look at each of them so that you can choose the most convenient device for your model.

Search through the Security app

The main call management tool in the Xiaomi ecosystem is the system application Security. This is where the main filtering settings are concentrated. To get to the desired section, you need to open the application with the shield icon, which is usually pre-installed on the desktop or in the Tools folder.

Inside the program interface, you should find the "Blocklist" item. Depending on the version of the MIUI shell, this section can be immediately on the main screen or hidden in the "Antispam" menu in the upper right corner, clicking on it, you will be taken to the ban control menu, where you display the statistics of blocked events.

And there's a settings button, often denoted by a gear, and when you go to that, you can activate the smart lock, set up the Do Not Disturb mode, and most importantly, see the full list of blocked contacts, and that list is the main blacklist of your device, which is controlled by system tools.

It is important to note that the functionality may vary depending on the firmware region, and in global versions, some anti-spam features may be limited compared to Chinese builds due to local regulations.

⚠️ Warning: If you have removed the Security app or installed custom Android build without services MIUI, This way of working will not work.

Use of hidden engineering menu

For advanced users who have not found the desired item in the standard interface, there is access to the hidden engineering menu through the Internet. USSD-This is a direct path to call and lock, bypassing the graphical shell.

To log in, you need to open the standard "bell ringer" and dial the code ##4636##. However, it is worth considering that on modern versions of MIUI 12/13/14 and HyperOS, this code is often blocked by the manufacturer, in which case the system simply ignores the input or shows an error message.

If the code works, you'll see the Testing menu, and you'll select "Phone information." If you scroll down the list, you'll find the options associated with the locks, although most of the time, this path leads to network settings. It's less effective than a security application for managing a blacklist of contacts, but it's useful for diagnosing the network.

There is an alternative code ##86569726## (corresponding to the word TOLBLACKLIST on the keyboard) that in some older firmware versions opened a direct blacklist menu, and may not work on newer devices either.

⚠️ Warning: Do not change the settings in the engineering menu unless you are sure of their purpose.

Management through call log and contact

The fastest way to blacklist and check for a number is to use a call history, which doesn't require deep settings and is available in one click. Open the Phone app and go to the Journal tab.

Find the number you want to block. Make a long tap on the number or contact name. In the context menu that appears, select Add to blacklist.

To view the entire list, you can use the settings menu of the caller itself. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner (or the menu button) and select Settings. Next, look for "Block" or "Black List" and it displays all the numbers you have banned.

A similar feature is available in the Contacts app, and if you open a card of a particular person, you will see a button with a crossed-out circle or an item in the menu “More” → “Blacklist”, which is convenient when you need to block a contact from the address book, even if he has not called in a long time.

Setting up smart locks and filters

The MIUI shell offers not only manual control, but also automatic filters. In the “Block” section of security settings, you can activate the Smart Lock switch, which analyzes the spam database and blocks known fraudulent numbers automatically.

You can also have a "Block Hidden Numbers" setting, which is useful if you get frequent calls from unknown numbers, but be careful, if you turn it on, you may miss an important call from a doctor or courier using a hidden number corporate PBX.

In the filter menu, you can set up a lock for keywords in SMS. If you receive spam messages with certain phrases, add these words to the filter, and such messages will be automatically deleted or hidden.

For each type of lock, you can customize the system response, and you can choose whether the phone will just drop the call, send it busy, or just silently ignore the call without notifying the owner.

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Use Do Not Disturb mode for complete silence, but be sure to add important contacts to the White List to keep their calls going.

Third-party applications for blocking

When built-in functionality is not enough, users often turn to third-party solutions, popular applications like Truecaller, NumBuster or GetContact have their own databases and spam detection algorithms, and can find numbers that are not yet in Xiaomi’s system databases.

These apps have their own blacklists that run parallel to the system, which can cause confusion: the number may be locked in the app but not in the phone’s system setting, and vice versa.

When installing these programs, Android will ask permissions to access calls and contacts, and without these permissions, the app will not be able to analyze incoming calls and block them.

It's important to keep privacy in mind: using cloud-based number detectors, you often transfer your phone book to the developer's servers.

Table of comparison of blocking methods

For ease of perception, we will summarize the main characteristics of the different methods of control of prohibitions in a single table, which will help you choose the best option for your situation.

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The system blacklist in MIUI works more efficiently and cost-effectively for the battery than the constant running of third-party number detectors.

Frequent problems and their solution

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the number added continues to call, this can happen if the contact is kept in multiple places (SIM-Map and Google account) and only one of the profiles is blocked.

Another problem is resetting the blacklist settings after a system update. In rare cases, major MIUI updates can reset user security configurations, and it is recommended to periodically take screenshots of important settings or export contacts.

It’s also worth checking if the “Always Show Inbox” mode is on for certain contact groups, and the prioritized settings may override the locking rules.

If nothing works, try clearing the Security and Phone app cache through the Apps menu in the system settings.This often resolves software failures.

Questions and Answers (FAQ)