Have you accidentally blocked an important number on your Xiaomi and now can't find it? or want to check which contacts are blacklisted on your Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5? Unlike iPhones, where locked subscribers are displayed directly in the contact settings, on MIUI-enabled smartphones, the process is organized differently - and often causes confusion among users.
In this article, we will discuss in detail where the locked numbers are physically stored in the device’s memory, how to find them through standard and hidden menus, and what to do if the list suddenly disappears after the MIUI 14 update. Particular attention will be paid to the differences between models – for example, on Black Shark, the path to settings may differ from the Redmi line.
1. Standard method: where to look for blocked numbers in MIUI
On most Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi 10C, POCO F4 and Mi 11 Lite), locked numbers are stored in the Settings → Applications → Calls → Blacklist. However, the path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version and regional build of MIUI.
Here is a step-by-step guide for the latest shell versions (relevant to MIUI 13/14):
- 📱 Open the Phone app (the tube icon on the home screen).
- 🔍 Click on the three dots in the upper right corner (menu) and select Settings.
- 🚫 Go to the section Blocking numbers or Blacklist (name may vary).
- 📋 Here you will see a complete list of blocked contacts with the date of addition.
Important: If you have a global version of MIUI installed (e.g. MIUI Global 14.0.5), the path may look like Settings → Memory → Blacklist.
2. Alternative methods: where else can locks be stored
If the standard way didn't work, don't panic. In MIUI, locked numbers are duplicated in multiple places -- this is done to back up and sync between Xiaomi devices.
- 🔄 Sync with Mi Account: If you are logged in to a Xiaomi account, the blacklist is automatically saved to the cloud. → Synchronization of data.
- 📁 Local database: The file with the locks is stored along the way /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/contacts2.db. Access is only possible with root rights.
- 📱 Contacts app: In some versions MIUI (Like Redmi. 9A) blocked numbers are displayed in the application Contacts → Settings → Contact management → Blacklist.
On devices with MIUI for Russia (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G) may be an additional section Security → Lock and Protection → Blacklist.
What if the blacklist is empty but the calls don’t go through?
3. How to export and reserve blocked numbers
Many Xiaomi users face a problem: once you reset your settings or update your firmware, the blacklist is reset, and to avoid this, you need to back up regularly. Here's how to do it:
- Open Settings → About the phone → Backup.
- Select Local Backup and tick the Call Settings (or Blacklist, if any).
- Click Create a backup and wait for the process to complete.
- The backup file will be saved in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder on internal memory.
Important nuance: In some versions of MIUI (e.g., on the POCO X3 Pro), backup of the blacklist is not working properly, in which case it is recommended to use third-party applications like Super Backup or manually export the list through ADB:
adb shell content query --uri content://call_log/blacklistThis command will display all locked numbers in a format suitable for saving to a text file.
Connect your phone to charge (the process can take 5-10 minutes)
Check the available space on the device (needs a minimum of 50 MB)
Turn off the power saving mode
Remember the password from the Mi Account (required for recovery)-->
4. Where the lock data in the device memory is physically stored
For tech-savvy users, it will be interesting to know where exactly the locked number data is stored in the Xiaomi file system, which will come in handy if standard methods do not work or you need to restore the list after a crash.
| Type of data | The path in the file system | Storage format | Do you need root rights? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacklist (MIUI) | /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/contacts2.db | SQLite database, blacklist table | Yes. |
| Lock log | /data/data/com.miui.securitycenter/databases/security.db | SQLite, table call_block | Yes. |
| Synchronized data (Mi Account) | Xiaomi Cloud (Access via API) | JSON/Protobuf | No (authorization token needed) |
| Cash of the Phone app. | /data/data/com.android.dialer/cache/ | Binary files | Yes. |
Access to these files will require:
- Unlock bootloader on your Xiaomi (instructions are available on the official website).
- Install custom recovery (e.g., TWRP).
- Get root rights through Magisk.
- Use a root-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer).
⚠️ Warning: Changing system files without proper experience can result in data loss or device blink.On Xiaomi models with Anti-Rollback protection (e.g. Mi Mi). 10T or Redmi K40) Incorrect manipulation of the section /data Can lock the loader permanently.
5. Features on different Xiaomi models
Due to the fragmentation of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO lines, the location of the blacklist settings may differ, and here are the key differences for popular models:
- 📱 Redmi Note 10/11/12: The standard path is through the Phone app. Some firmware has a backup option in Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Phone. → Permits → Number locking.
- 🎮 Black Shark 4/5: The blacklist is integrated into game mode. To find it, go to Settings. → Special facilities → Turbo-play mode → Blocking notifications.
- 💎 Xiaomi 12/13 Series: This uses an advanced blocking system with AI spam filtering. A list of blocked numbers can be found in Settings → Memory and RAM → Blacklist.
- 🔥 POCO F3/F4/F5: These devices often don’t have a separate menu for the blacklist, instead being blocked through Google Settings. → Account management → Personal data → Blocked numbers (if you use Google Phone).
On devices with MIUI for Russia (e.g. Redmi) 10 2022) There may be an additional blocking option by category (e.g., Spam, Fraudster, Advertising) and these categories are stored separately from the main blacklist in the file. /data/data/com.miui.securityadd/databases/security_add.db.
💡
If you can't find a blacklist on your model, try searching by settings. Type in the search bar (the magnifier in the upper right corner of the settings) a request for "blacklist" or "locked numbers" in Russian and English.
6.Recovery of deleted blocked numbers
Did you accidentally clear the blacklist? Don't despair -- there are a few ways to get back lost data:
- Restore from backup: Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup. Select the last backup where the tick tick indicates "Call Settings." Click Restore and confirm action.
Use of Mi Cloud
If sync has been enabled, go to i.mi.com, log in and check the Devices section → [Your phone] → Backups.
Third-party utilities
Programs like Dr.Fone or Tenorshare UltData can scan a device’s memory for deleted blacklist records, but this requires USB debugging and sometimes root access.
⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 and later, recovering a blacklist from a backup may not work if you changed the firmware version after you created the backup. contacts2.db new-assembly.
If none of the methods worked, the last option is to manually add the numbers back to the blacklist.
- Open the call log (Phone → Journal).
- Find the desired number, click on it and select Block.
- Confirm the action in the dialog window.
7. Frequent problems and their solutions
Xiaomi users often experience room lock issues, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Blacklist resets after reboot | Failure of the storage system settings | Clear the cache of the Phone application (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Phone → Clear the cache) |
| You can't add a number to the blacklist. | Operator restrictions or regional settings | Try adding via Google Settings → Blocked numbers or using third-party software (e.g. Truecaller) |
| Locked numbers still ring. | Conflict with optimizer applications (e.g. Security or Cleaner) | Disable optimization for the "Phone" application in the battery settings |
| There is no option "Black List" on the menu. | Outdated version of MIUI or custom firmware | Update firmware to the latest stable version or install an official global build |
On devices with MIUI China (such as imported Xiaomi 13 Ultra) there may be no Russian translation for the lock section, in which case, look for the option (blacklist in Chinese) or use an interpreter to navigate the menu.
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If all locks are missing after the MIUI update, try resetting the Phone app to factory settings. Go to Settings → Apps → App Management → Phone → Storage → Settings Reset. This will not delete your contacts, but will restore the standard lock settings.