Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones are equipped with powerful tools to protect against unwanted calls, which are built directly into the system shell of MIUI or HyperOS. Locking a number is an effective way to protect yourself from spam, scammers or intrusive interlocutors, but sometimes there are situations when contact needs to be returned to the list of allowed. Users often forget how they activated the ban, or change the decision regarding a particular subscriber, and then there is a need to quickly find the desired menu item.
The Chinese manufacturer’s interface may differ from standard Android, which sometimes causes difficulties when finding security settings. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the current ways to remove contact from the blacklist on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices. We will look at both classic methods through system settings and working with the Security application, which is a key element of the manufacturer’s ecosystem.
It takes only a few minutes to recover calls and SMS from a previously blocked subscriber, if you know the correct path in the menu. It is important to understand that once unlocked, the history of calls and messages that came during the lock period is usually not restored automatically, since the system either did not record them or deleted them depending on the settings. Deep integration of lock functions into the shell allows you to flexibly manage access, but requires careful navigation on numerous sub-items.
Use of the Security App to Unlock
The central element of the ban control on Xiaomi smartphones is the system application Security. This is where all the call and message filtering settings are aggregated, so to get started you need to find an icon with a green shield on your desktop or in the Tools folder. This application has deep access rights to the system, which allows it to intercept incoming connections even before they arrive on the lock screen or in the call log.
Once you run the utility, you scroll down to the Antispam or Lock section. Depending on the MIUI version, this item may be called differently, but the icon usually looks like a banning sign shield or a black square list. Inside this menu, you can see the filter's logic: you can see the statistics of blocked calls, you can set up smart rules and, most importantly, you can manually manage the blacklist. If you previously added a number through this menu, you need to delete it from here.
⚠️ Attention: In some global firmware versions, the path to lock settings may be hidden in the depth of the Antispam menu.If you don't see the list of numbers right away, look for a three-dot button or a gear in the corner of the screen.
The interface of the application may vary depending on the firmware region (China, Global, Indonesia, etc.), but the logic remains the same. At the top of the screen, there are often tabs to switch between locks (calls, SMS, messenger messages). In order to unlock the number, you need to go to the appropriate tab, find the desired contact in the list and select the deletion or unlock action.
Removing contact through call log and contacts
There is a faster way to manage locks that doesn't require you to log in to deep security settings. If you lock a person directly from the incoming or outgoing call log, you can unlock them from the same place. Open the standard Phone app and go to the Journal or Contacts tab. Find the number on the list that's marked with a special icon (usually a crossed circle or a red ban sign next to the name).
Click on the contact name or phone number to open the subscriber card. The action menu that opens up when you press long or click on the "i" button (information), should include the option "Unblock" or "Delete from the blacklist." This method is especially convenient when you need to urgently restore communication with a person, and you remember that the lock was made recently. However, if the list of blocked is large, it can be inconvenient to search for a specific number in the total mass of records.
- 📞 Open the Phone app and find the locked number in the log.
- 👆 Click on the information button or hold your finger on the number to call the context menu.
- ✅ Select the "Unblock" or "Remove from the emergency" option».
- 🔄 Check if the lock icon next to the subscriber's name has disappeared.
It is worth noting that the standard Xiaomi call sometimes hides the details of the lock if the number was added through third-party apps or system rules "Antispam". In this case, even if you see the number in the log, the unlock option may be inactive or absent. Then the only sure solution is to return to the first method through the "Security" application, where the master list of all restrictions is stored.
☑️ Checking before unlocking
Configure the rules of blocking in MIUI and HyperOS
MIUI shells and the new HyperOS offer advanced filtering mechanisms that go beyond a simple list of banned numbers. The Antispam menu allows you to create rules that block calls according to certain criteria: for example, all hidden numbers, all calls not from a notebook or numbers starting with a certain code. If you delete a specific number from a blacklist, but calls still don't pass, it may be screened out by one of these automatic rules.
To check, go to the Antispam settings and select Lock Rules or Lock Settings. Here you will see switches for different scenarios. For example, the Block All Unknown Numbers feature can be activated, in which case removing a person from a personal blacklist will not work until they are saved in your phone book, a common cause of confusion when users think that unlocking did not work.
| Type of rule | Description of action | Where to find out. | Impact on ESF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keyword Blocking | Reject SMS with a certain text | SMS filter settings | Doesn't affect calls. |
| Blocking hidden | Rejecting calls without numbering | Lockdown rules | Priority over the contact list |
| Blocking of unknowns | Rejecting everyone who is not in the book | Lockdown rules | Requires maintaining contact |
| Do Not Disturb mode | Silence at a given time | Sound settings/DND | Temporary blocking of notifications |
It's important to distinguish between a personal blacklist and system rules. The first one works as an exception: you manually put in those who are not allowed in. The second one works as a filter sieve: they let everyone except those who meet the criteria go. If you want to guarantee that you unlock a person, make sure that they don't fall under general rules like "Block everyone except contacts." In which case, just add a number to the phone book, and the filtering rules will no longer apply to them.
What to do if the number is not deleted?
Working with third-party applications and synchronization
Many users install additional number determinants, such as GetContact, Truecaller or Yandex.Phone.These applications often intercept incoming call management and create their own blacklist, independent of the system. If you delete the number from Xiaomi's settings but the lock continues, check the settings of the installed determinant. Often these applications take precedence over standard shell features.
To check, open the ID app, look for the Lock or Blacklist section, if the subscriber is there, delete it manually, and look at the settings of the app itself: it may include the Block Spam feature, which automatically lists the numbers on the list of prohibited on the basis of the cloud database, in which case the deletion of a particular number can be temporary if the algorithm considers it suspicious again.
⚠️ Note: When using third-party number detectors, Xiaomi’s system settings may stop showing the full picture. Always check both sources of locking: built-in MIUI/HyperOS and the installed determining application.
Synchronizing with your Mi Cloud account can also be a cruel joke: If you deleted a number from a blacklist on one device but it was saved in the cloud, when synchronized, the list can update and return the prohibited contact back. To avoid this, after cleaning the list on your phone, it is recommended to go to the cloud settings of the Mi Cloud through the browser, check the Security or Contacts section and make sure that the changes are applied globally for all devices associated with your Mi Account.
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Tip: After removing the number from the blacklist in both third-party apps and the system, make a trial call from another phone to make sure that the connection is restored completely.
Specifics of unlocking in different versions of MIUI
The lock management procedure can vary significantly depending on the operating system version. On older versions of MIUI (e.g. 10, 11, 12), the Antispam menu was often located directly on the first screen of the Security app. In newer versions, such as MIUI 13, 14 and especially in HyperOS, the interface was redesigned for minimalism, and some features were moved to the submenus or combined with other privacy settings.
Owners of Chinese firmware (CN ROM) devices should be especially careful: they have a Security app called Security or have characters, and locking functions are often more aggressive and integrated with local services. Global ROMs have adapted translation and a simplified structure, but sometimes lack some of the finer settings available in China. If you can’t find the right item, try searching through phone settings.
Search in settings is a universal tool for any version of the software. Click on the system settings gear and enter "Blacklist", "Block" or "Antispam" at the top of the search bar. The system will prompt you to go to the desired section, regardless of where it is physically located on the menu. This is the fastest way to navigate if you have updated to a new version of MIUI and have not yet memorized the location of the items.
- 🔍 Use the search in the settings on the request “Block” for quick access.
- 🌏 Consider the differences between the global and CN Firmware versions when searching for menus.
- 🆕 In HyperOS, some functions are moved to the Privacy section».
- ⚙️ Update to the Security app via GetApps could change the interface.
Solving problems if the number is not unlocked
Sometimes software crashes happen when the number seems to be removed from the list, but the calls still do not go through, and in this situation, the first thing you need to do is check whether Do Not Disturb (DND) mode is activated, which can block all sounds and notifications, creating the illusion of locking the number. Check the DND mode settings, especially the "Exceptions" section, where you can add important contacts to make their way through the silence.
Another possible reason is that the lock system log or app cache overflows. Try to clear the Security app data. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Security and click Clear Data. This operation will reset the antivirus and blocker settings to factory ones, but it won't delete your personal files or contacts. After that, the blacklist will be cleared completely and you may have to configure it again, but the hanging number problem will be solved.
If nothing works, check if the subscriber is locked at the carrier level. Some carriers provide antispam or parental control services that filter traffic on the network side. In this case, the phone settings do not matter. Contact your carrier support or check your personal account to make sure that the lock service is not activated there.
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If standard methods don’t work, resetting the Security app settings or checking the locks with the carrier are two of the most effective ways to solve the problem.