Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to limit incoming calls from intrusive subscribers or advertising agencies. Despite its age, the Redmi 5 remains popular due to the availability and functionality of the MIUI shell, which offers built-in tools for filtering traffic. However, finding a list of those numbers that you previously blacklisted is not obvious due to the nature of the menu.
Android, in conjunction with the manufacturer’s proprietary shell, hides this data in several menu levels, which sometimes confuses users. You do not need to look for third-party applications, since all the necessary functionality is already integrated into the standard call and security settings. In this article, we will discuss in detail the ways to access and manage hidden lists.
Understanding where the lock data is stored will allow you to quickly check if you have accidentally blocked an important person, which is especially true if you have stopped receiving calls from loved ones or courier services. Next, we will look at step-by-step algorithms for different versions of the firmware.
Search through the standard phone application
The fastest way to check the blacklist on a Redmi 5 device is to use the regular call app. MIUI Dialer has a built-in settings menu that is available immediately after the program starts. You do not need to go to the general system settings, everything is at hand.
Open the Phone app and look at the top right or left corner of the screen, where the three-dot icon or gear usually sits. When you click on this item, you'll see a drop-down menu where you need to select Settings or Antideterminer, and that's where call filtering is hidden.
In the window that opens, look for a section that could be called Blacklist or Lock, and clicking on it will display a complete list of numbers that are not allowed to access your device, and if the list is empty, there are no locks at the call level.
⚠️ Note: In some versions MIUI If you don't see the "Blacklist" right away, look for the "Block" tab or shield icon in the call settings menu.
Managing the list is as simple as possible: you can add a new number manually or delete an existing one by clicking on it and selecting the appropriate action, a basic layer of protection that works even without an Internet connection.
Use of the Application Security
A deeper level of control over incoming traffic on Xiaomi smartphones is implemented through the system application Security, which is the central node for managing permissions, antivirus and call filtering, and this is where the main list of blocked contacts for Redmi 5, which works at the system level, is stored.
Find an application on your desktop or in the Tools folder called Security and a green shield icon. Once you run it, scroll down to the Antispam or Lock section. Depending on the regional version of the firmware, the name may vary, but the functionality remains identical.
Inside the anti-spam menu, you'll see a few tabs: "SMS Lock" and "Call Lock." Switch to the call tab, click on the settings button (usually a gear or three dots in the corner), and you'll see a complete list of numbers that have been locked by the system or added manually.
The advantage of using the Security app is that it has smart filters, and it can automatically detect spam and block it by adding numbers to the same list, and you can set the rules to block all hidden numbers or subscribers from other regions.
Locking settings in MIUI
The MIUI shell provides flexible settings to manage the unwanted contact list. Once you log in to the lock menu through the Security app, you have additional options that go beyond just adding numbers. You can create complex filtering rules.
The lock settings section often has a Blacklist feature where you can select the source of the lock, for example, you can block all unknown numbers or numbers that start with a certain code, which is convenient for combating automatic calls.
You can also set up Do Not Disturb mode, which temporarily blocks all incoming contacts except for selected contacts, which is not a blacklist, but the feature is closely related to it and is often used in the complex for silence.
What happens to blocked calls?
It is important to check this section regularly, as automatic filters sometimes make mistakes and blacklist delivery or taxi numbers, and visually monitoring the list once a month will help avoid missing important calls.
Procedure for adding and deleting numbers
To effectively manage the blocked list, you need to understand the mechanism of adding and deleting records. Redmi 5 has a unified process, but has its own characteristics in different versions of Android.
To add a number manually, in the blacklist menu, click the + or Add button. You will be asked to enter a phone number or select a contact from the phone book. Once confirmed, the number immediately enters the lock list.
Delete is even easier: find the number in the list, click on it and hold your finger until the context menu appears. Choose Delete or click on the basket icon. The number will be unlocked immediately and calls will start coming from it.
☑️ Checking the lock settings
There is also the option of importing and exporting lists, which is useful when changing phones. Files are usually saved in.vcf or text format in the root directory or MIUI folder.
Comparison of blocking methods
Xiaomi users have multiple levels of locking available, and it’s important to understand the difference between them. Each method has its own advantages and limitations that affect how incoming calls are handled.
Below is a table comparing the main locking methods on Redmi 5:
| Method | Wherever | Efficiency | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacklist (MIUI) | Security Annex | Tall. | Low. |
| Phone lockdown | Call settings | Medium | Low. |
| Don't disturb mode. | Sound settings | Temporary. | Medium |
| The operator | USSD codes/Personal Account | Maximum | Tall. |
As you can see from the table, MIUI is the most convenient and efficient solution for everyday use, it is cost-effective and it works autonomously.
However, if you want a guaranteed network-level lock when the call doesn't even reach the phone, it's better to use the operator's services. It's a paid service, but it's completely noise-free.
Decision and advice
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the number seems to be blocked, but the calls still pass, or vice versa - important subscribers cannot reach, this can be due to synchronization or failures in the Security application.
Try clearing the app's cache through the application management menu. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Security → Memory → Clear the cache. This won't delete your settings, but it can fix filter errors.
Also make sure the app has the necessary permissions. In the access rights menu, check that Security has the right to read the contact list and manage calls. Without this, the lock functionality may not work properly.
💡
If you unlocked the number but the calls still don't go, ask the caller to call back in 1-2 minutes.
Regular updates to MIUI are also important, as new firmware versions often fix bugs related to spam detection and blacklisting.