Modern smartphones, especially popular Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models, have powerful built-in tools to filter unwanted calls. Users often face the need to check who is on the list of ignored contacts or add a new telemarketer number. However, with the release of new versions of the HyperOS operating system and the update of the MIUI shell, the layout of the menu and the logic of security applications are changing.
In this article, we will explore all the possible ways to access the Blacklist, the differences between the Google Dialer stock call app and the branded MIUI Dialer, and the message blocking settings. Understanding the security structure will allow you to effectively manage incoming traffic without missing important calls and getting rid of spam.
We will not use third-party applications, as the built-in functionality of Xiaomi completely covers the needs of 99% of users. Below are proven algorithms of actions that are relevant for current versions of firmware.
Access through the Security app
The most versatile and reliable way to find a list of blocked subscribers on any Xiaomi device is to use the system application Security, which is the central node for managing filters, antivirus and memory optimization, and this is where the database of numbers that the system should ignore is stored.
To start, you need to find an icon on your desktop or app menu called Security or Security, which is usually green with a shield. Once you run the app, scroll down to Anti-spam. Click on this item and you'll be taken to the call filter and SMS management menu.
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If you can’t find the Security app, try using a global search by typing the word “antispam” or “Blacklist” in the search bar.
Within the Antispam menu, look at the gear icon in the top right corner of the screen, and if you click on it, you'll open the blocker settings. This section is where the Blacklist item shows all numbers you've added manually or identified as spam, and you can also manage lock modes, such as turning on Quiet Mode for unknown numbers.
- 🛡️ Open the Security app on the home screen.
- 📉 Scroll down and select the Antispam section.
- ⚙️ Click on the settings icon (cog) in the corner of the screen.
- 📞 Select the Blacklist to view all records.
⚠️ Note: Some global firmware versions (Global) ROM) The security interface can be simplified. If you don't see the antispam item, check for updates for system applications through the About Phone menu».
Search for locks in the application "Phone" (Calls)
The second way, which is often faster, is to access settings directly through the call app. Depending on the region, your Xiaomi can have a standard Google Phone or a proprietary MIUI Dialer installed on it. The logic of accessing the blacklist differs.
If you use the standard Google dial (blue handset icon), you need to open the app and click on the three dots in the top right corner. In the drop-down menu, select Settings. Next, look for the "Blocked Numbers" section, which displays a list of all contacts, calls and SMS from which Android is blocked.
In the case of Xiaomi’s proprietary dialer (usually a green handset with the Mi logo), the algorithm is a little different: Open the app, go to the Contacts tab, or click on three menu bars. In the list that appears, select Anti-Spam Settings or Blacklist, which allows you to quickly add a number from your call history: just click on the log number, and the context menu will have a lock option.
It is important to note that adding a number through the Phone app automatically syncs with the Security app database, a single system that simply has different entry points for user convenience, and changes made in one location are instantly reflected in another.
Differences between MIUI and HyperOS in List Management
With Xiaomi’s move to the new HyperOS operating system, the visual style and layout of some controls have been changed to align with the smart home ecosystem.
In older versions of MIUI (e.g. MIUI 12 or 13), blacklisting was often accessed through the “More” tab in the call app. HyperOS focuses on control cards. Now, when you log in to lock settings, you can see more detailed statistics: the number of blocked calls per day, week or month, which helps you measure the effectiveness of filters.
Hidden Locking Functions in HyperOS
HyperOS also improves integration with cloud spam databases, and can automatically tag telemarketer numbers even if they are not on your personal blacklist, but they are marked as spam by other users or in the global database. To view these numbers, you need to switch to the Antispam tab "Logon Locks", where you will see all interrupted calls.
- 🔄 V MIUI Enter often via the “More” menu or three points.
- 🆕 In HyperOS added detailed statistics and block graphs.
- ☁️ Improved synchronization with cloud spam databases.
- 👁️ Extended log of all interrupted calls.
Table: Comparison of methods of access to the Black List
For ease of perception, we have prepared a comparison table that will help you quickly navigate which access method will be most effective in your situation, depending on the version of your operating system and the type of application installed for calls.
Note that the functionality may vary slightly depending on the specific firmware region (Global, EEA, Russia, China), but the basic navigation principles remain the same for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices.
| Access method | Navigation | Available action | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through "Security." | Security → Antispam → Settings → Blacklist | View, add, delete, import/export | All versions of MIUI and HyperOS |
| Through Google Phone | Phone → 3 points → Settings → Blocked numbers | View, add, delete | Global Firmware (Global) |
| Through MIUI Phone | Phone → Menu → Anti-spam settings → Blacklist | Full functionality, settings of modes | Chinese and some EU versions |
| Through the Call Journal | Journal → Press the number. → Lock down | Quick locking of a specific number | All versions of the system |
Using the Security app gives you the most complete access to all settings, including the ability to create a blacklist schedule or activate Do Not Disturb mode for certain contact groups, and it is the most powerful tool for advanced users.
Configure the lock and exception modes
Just knowing where to look at locked numbers is not enough. It's important to be flexible in how you handle them. In the Antispam menu, you can choose different strategies for how your smartphone behaves when you receive a call from a blacklisted number.
The standard mode is "Discard Call," where the caller hears the beeps or the message about the lesson, and your phone doesn't even vibrate, but there is a softer mode called "Notifications Only," in which case the call will be displayed on the screen, but without sound and vibration, which allows you to see who is calling and decide whether to respond without disturbing others.
☑️ Checking the lock settings
Special attention should be paid to the exception function: you can set the system so that the numbers from your phone book are never blocked, even if they accidentally got into the spam database. To do this, in the Antispam settings, find the Exception and activate the option “Do not block contacts from the phone book”, which is a critical setting so that you do not miss a call from the courier or doctor whose number you have saved.
⚠️ Warning: By enabling the “Block All Unknown Numbers” mode (when there is no contact on the list, but there is a general lock of hidden numbers), you risk missing important calls from delivery services or taxis that use hidden or temporary numbers. Use this regime with caution.
Frequent problems and their solution
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the number added to the blacklist continues to dial, or vice versa, important calls are blocked, most often the problem lies in the desynchronization of databases or incorrect settings of modes.
If the blacklisted number still rings, check if it's added to Favorites or if it has a special ringtone that takes precedence over the lock system in some versions of Android. Also make sure the Security app has all the necessary permits to work in the background and access to contacts.
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If the lock doesn't work, try removing the number from the blacklist, rebooting the smartphone and adding it again.
If the system blocks the desired numbers, check the lock history in the Security app. If the desired number is there, just delete it from there or add a contact to exceptions.
- 🔄 Restart the device to update telephony services.
- 🗑️ Clear the cache of the Phone and Security app».
- 📞 Check if the number is in the "Favorites».
- 🆕 Update spam databases in settings.
Lockdown details SMS-message
Call blocking isn't the only feature. Users are often annoyed by spam.-SMS. The mechanism of their filtering in Xiaomi is closely related to the number blocking, but has its own peculiarities. All blocked messages are not deleted, but moved to a special section.
To view blocked SMS, open the Messages app (standard from Google or MIUI). Click on the menu (three dots or profile) and select Spam and blocked. This stores all messages from blacklisted numbers, as well as messages defined by algorithms as spam.
It is important to check this folder periodically, as confirmation codes from banks or services may be sent from a short number that has entered the spam database, and you can manually mark messages such as “Not spam”, and in the future messages from this number will come to inboxes.