How to find and manage a blacklist on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7: a detailed guide

Why is the blacklist on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 so deep?

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 owners often face a paradox: the function of blocking unwanted calls is there, but finding it in the maze of the MIUI menu is not an easy task. The fact is that Xiaomi developers regularly redistribute controls depending on the firmware version. Where Android 9 blacklisted in Call Settings, where MIUI 12 moved it to Security, and in some regional firmware, this option is hidden under a layer of additional menus.

Another reason for the complexity is the duplication of features. On the Redmi Note 7, you can set the number lock in three places: through the standard Phone app, in the Security section, and even through third-party services like Google Contacts. But not all of these methods are equally effective. For example, blocking through Google only works for contacts already saved in your account, and the MIUI system blacklist intercepts all incoming calls before they get to the log — this is a key difference!

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to access the Redmi Note 7 blacklist, including hidden firmware chips and workarounds for cases where standard methods don’t work, and why some numbers keep calling intrusively even after being blocked—and how to fix it.

Method 1: Blacklist through the Phone app (fastest)

This method works on all versions of MIUI for Redmi Note 7, including global and Chinese firmware, but the main advantage is that you don’t have to go through the system settings: everything is done directly in the call interface.

Open the standard phone app. In the upper right corner, tap three dots. ⋮ and select Settings. In the menu that opens, look for the "Blocking Numbers" or "Black List" section (name depends on version). MIUI). On some firmware, this item is hidden under the submenu "Additional" or "More».

• 📱 For MIUI 10-11: The way will be the phone → Settings → Number locking.
• 🔄 For MIUI 12+: Maybe I'll have to press "More" first» → «Settings» → «Lockdown».
• ⚠️ If there is no item: check if the "Simple interface" mode is disabled in the special features settings.

Inside the section, you will see a list of already blocked numbers (if any) and the Add button** (+). Here you can manually enter a number or select a contact from the phone book. Please note: the lock through this menu is only valid for calls - SMS from these numbers can continue to come!

Make sure the number is correct twice (without +7 or 8)

Check if the contact is saved in multiple accounts (Google, Mi)

Turn off notifications about blocked calls (so as not to annoy)

Sync the blacklist with Mi Cloud (if you need to move to another Xiaomi)-->

Method 2: Through Security (MIUI System Blacklist)

This method is more versatile, as it blocks not only calls, but also SMS, and integrates with the “Spam Protection” feature of Xiaomi.

Go to the basic Settings of your smartphone (cog icon). Scroll down and find the Security section (or Passwords & Security in global firmware). Inside it, select "Number Lock" or "Blacklist"**. On some versions of MIUI, this section may be called "Spam Protection" - then the lock is hidden inside it.

In this section you can:

• 🔍 View the log of blocked calls (with date and time).
• 📵 Add numbers manually or import from the call log.
• ☁️ Sync the list with Mi Cloud (if backup is enabled).
• ⚙️ Configure lock rules (e.g., block all numbers from a specific prefix).

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If you often get spam from numbers starting with +375 or +380, add a mask of +375*** to the blacklist - this will block all Belarusian and Ukrainian numbers (except those saved in contacts).

Important: the MIUI system blacklist takes precedence over the phone app lock, and if the number is added in both locations, the security rule will apply.

Method 3: Through Google Contacts (to sync with other devices)

If you use Google Contacts to sync your address book, you can set the lock there, which is convenient because the blacklist will automatically be transferred to any other Android smartphone that is linked to the same Google account.

Open the Contacts app (if not installed, download Google Contacts from Play Market). Find the contact you want to block and open the card. In the upper right corner, click three dots. ⋮ and select "Block Contact." Confirm the action.

⚠️ Note: Blocking through Google Contacts does not block SMS — Also, if a contact is deleted from the phone book but saved to Google, the lock will be automatically removed the next time you update your contacts.

To manage the blocked numbers centrally:

1. Go to contacts.google.com.
2. On the left menu, select “More” → “Settings” → “Blocked numbers”.
3. You can add/delete numbers here, and export the list to the CSV file.

The downside of this method is the delay in sync, which sometimes only happens 5-10 minutes after adding a number, but it’s the only way that works even after you reset your smartphone to factory settings (if you restore your Google account).

Why the lock doesn’t work: 5 common reasons

You blacklisted a number, but the calls still come in, and here are the most likely reasons and ways to fix them:

• 🛠️ Application conflict: If you have third-party blockers installed (like Truecaller or Call Blocker), they can override system settings.

Especially often, problems arise with numbers that change their Caller ID (for example, spammer centers that replace bank numbers), in which case only blocking keywords in the contact name (for example, Sberbank, Gift Card) will help – but this feature is supported only by third-party applications.

Hidden blacklist features on Redmi Note 7

Few people know, but Redmi Note 7 has additional locking settings that are not advertised in the interface.

• 📊 Blocking statistics: Security section → Swipe left, you'll see a log with all the blocked calls in the last month, and you can see how many times each number has called.
• 🔊 Quiet notifications: In the lock settings, there is an option to “Notify about blocked calls.” If you turn it off, the smartphone will not vibrate and show notifications about missed spam calls.
• 🌐 Regional lock: Some firmware (e.g., Indian firmware) has a "Block International Numbers" feature that automatically cuts off all calls from foreign numbers except those stored in contacts.
• ⏱️ Temporary lockdown: Through the app MIUI Security can be set to lock numbers on a schedule (for example, only at night).

Another useful feature is automatically adding spammers to the blacklist.

1. Open Settings → Security → Protection against spam.
2. Enable the option “Automatic Spam Blocking”.
3. Select the level of aggressiveness of the filter (recommended "medium").

After that, the smartphone will automatically block numbers marked by the Xiaomi community as spam.The database is updated once a week through the MIUI cloud.

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The MIUI system blacklist blocks calls before they get to the call log, unlike Google block, which works after a call is registered.This means that the spammer will not even see that your number exists (there is no “busy” or “disabled” signal).

What to do if the blacklist is reset after the update?

One of the most common problems with a firmware update is that the blacklist disappears, because MIUI sometimes resets the phone app settings to the standard settings, and here's how to restore the lock:

⚠️ Note: If you did not back up through Mi Cloud, it will not be possible to restore the old blacklist.

Steps to recover:

1. Check if sync is enabled with Mi Cloud: Settings → Accounts → Mi Account → Sync. If yes, try manually running sync.
2. If synchronization does not help, export the call log: open the Phone application, click ⋮ → Settings → Export the magazine. You'll get the file. CSV, which can be opened on PC and copied numbers.
3. To automatically restore, use the Mi Mover app (pre-installed on all Xiaomis), which allows you to transfer settings between devices, including a blacklist.

If the problem recurs after each update, try the following workaround:

• Install a third-party app to block (such as Blacklist Plus).
• Export the blacklist from the system menu to the file.
• Import it to a third-party app – it won’t reset when you update MIUI.

In extreme cases, you can roll back on the previous version of the firmware, but it is risky - it is better to wait for a patch from Xiaomi. Usually, blacklisted bugs are fixed within 1-2 weeks after the release of the new version of MIUI.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the blacklist on the Redmi Note 7