Why you can’t see blocked contacts – and where to look for them
You've added a number to a blacklist, but you can't find it now? Or you want to check if you've accidentally blocked an important contact? In Xiaomi, the list of locked numbers is hidden deeper than in other Android smartphones -- and this is not a bug, but a feature of the MIUI shell. The fact is that the manufacturer has divided lock management between several menus: the standard Phone application, system settings, and even a separate section for messages.
Moreover, on different models Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, the path to the blacklist may differ – it depends on the version of MIUI (12 to 14) and regional firmware (global, Chinese, European). For example, on Xiaomi 13 Pro with MIUI 14, the lock menu was put in “Security Settings”, and on Redmi Note 10 with MIUI 12.5 it remained in the “Phone” application. We collected all the relevant methods, from obvious to hidden.
Method 1: through the standard Phone app (on 90% of models)
This is the most versatile method that works on most Xiaomi smartphones regardless of the firmware version, except for devices with custom firmware (such as LineageOS), where the interface may differ.
Instructions:
- Open the Phone app** (an icon with a handset, usually on the home screen).
- Tap the three-point menu (⋮) top-right.
- Select Settings (or Settings in English firmware).
- Scroll down to the Blocked Numbers section.
In this menu you will see two lists:
- 📱 Blocked numbers – those you have added manually through the Phone app».
- 🚫 Spam numbers – automatically blocked by the system (if the function of spam protection is enabled).
Make sure the “Block Unknown Numbers” switch is on (if necessary)|Check out the spam number list – sometimes legitimate contacts get there.|Click on any number in the list to unlock or add to exceptions-->
If this menu is empty, but you've locked numbers, go to the next way, and maybe the lock was set up through Security Settings or Messages.
Method 2: via Security Settings (for MIUI 13-14)
Starting with MIUI 13, Xiaomi has moved some of its locking features to a separate Security app, including flagship models (Xiaomi 12/13/14, Mix Fold) and some Redmi Note 11/12 series devices.
How to get there:
- Open Settings → Applications → Security (or find the Security app icon in the menu).
- Go to the section “Number Blocking” or “Spam Protection”.
- Tap on the Block List (may be called Blocklist).
Here you will find:
- 🔒 Numbers blocked via SMS (if you blocked them in the Messages app»).
- 🛡️ Numbers added by the system as "suspicious" (the function works if fraud protection is enabled).
- 📵 Numbers blocked through Google Messages (if you use it instead of the standard SMS application).
💡
If you have a number marked "System Lock" on the list, you can't unlock it manually, this is done to protect against fraud. To remove this number, turn off the Spam Protection feature in the security settings.
Important: on some firmware (e.g. Chinese), this menu may be hidden.
- Go to Settings → The phone.
- 5 times tap the MIUI version to activate the developer mode.
- Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable Show hidden settings.
Method 3: via the Messages app (if the blocking was by SMS)
If you've blocked a number not through calls but through text messages, you can't search for it in the Phone app. In MIUI, the locks on messages and calls are stored in different places. Here's how to find a list:
Instructions:
- Open the Messages app** (an envelope icon).
- Tap the three-point menu (⋮) → Settings.
- Choose Blocking and Spam (or Spam Protection)
- Go to the Blocked Contacts.
Here you'll see:
- 💬 Numbers blocked via SMS (including those added to the blacklist from chat).
- 📤 Numbers from which messages are automatically marked as spam (if filtering is enabled).
- 🔄 The ability to add a number to exceptions (so that SMS from him came, but calls were blocked).
What if the list does not have the right number, but SMS does not come?
On some models (e.g. POCO F4), there is an option to Block Unknown Numbers in this menu, and if it is enabled, the phone will automatically block all SMS messages from contacts that are not in the phone book.
Hidden menus: how to find locks through the engineering menu (for advanced)
If the standard methods didn’t work, and you’re sure that the number was blocked, you can try to find it through the engineering menu (or CIT), which is suitable for advanced users, as it requires accuracy.
Instructions:
- Open the Phone app and enter the code ##4636##.
- In the menu that opens, select Phone Information (or Phone Information).
- Scroll down to the Call Blocking section (could be called Call Blocking).
Here you'll see:
- 📞 List of blocked outbound calls (if you limited outbound communication).
- 🔍 Logs of locks with date and time (useful if you need to restore history).
- ⚙️ Operator lock settings (if supported by yours) SIM-card).
💡
The engineering menu allows you to see locks that are not displayed in the standard settings, but it is not recommended to change them from here - this can lead to failures in the communication module.
⚠️ Warning: Do not change other options in the engineering menu unless you know their purpose:
- 📵 Loss of net.
- 🔋 Quick battery discharge.
- 📱 Need to reset before factory settings.
Table: Where to look for locks on different versions of MIUI
To avoid confusion, we have collected current paths to the lock menu for different versions of the firmware:
| MIUI version | Phone models | Where to look for blocked numbers | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI 12–12.5 | Redmi Note 9/10, Xiaomi Mi 10/11, POCO X3 | Application "Phone" → Settings → Blocking numbers | List of spam numbers and manual locks in one menu. |
| MIUI 13 | Xiaomi 12/12T, Redmi Note 11, POCO F3 | Settings → Applications → Security → Blocking numbers | Call blocking and texting are separated. There's a Fraud Protection feature. |
| MIUI 14 | Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5 | Settings → Security → Protection against spam → List of blocked | Automatic locking on the Xiaomi database is added. |
| HyperOS (2026) | Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Redmi K70 | Settings → Privacy → Blocking and spam | A new interface combined with privacy settings. |
If your model didn’t make it to the table, try both (via Phone and Security). On some devices (such as Xiaomi Civi), the lock menu can be hidden in Settings → System → More.
MIUI 12 or older |MIUI 13|MIUI 14|HyperOS|I Don't know-->
Frequent Problems and How to Solve Them
Sometimes users experience blocked numbers disappearing from the list or the locking doesn't work, and here are the most common reasons and solutions:
Problem 1: The number is locked but keeps ringing.
- 🔄 Check if the lock function is disabled in Settings → Annexes → Phone. → Permissions (should be included “Call blocking»).
- 📱 Make sure that the number is added to the blacklist through the phone app** – blocking via SMS on calls does not apply.
- 📵 Restart your phone – sometimes the communication module “hangs” and does not apply locking rules.
Problem 2: There is no number on the list, but it was definitely blocked.
- 🔍 Check the Spam folder** in the Messages app – it is possible that the number automatically got there.
- 🛠️ If you have used third-party apps (like Truecaller), open them and check the blacklist there.
- 📊 On some firmware, locks are reset after an update MIUI. Try to block the number again.
Problem 3: You can’t unlock the number – the button is inactive.
- 🔒 This means that the number is locked at the system level (for example, as “fraudulent”). To unlock, disable Spam Protection in the security settings.
- 📲 If the number is blocked by the operator, contact support (for example, 0890 for MTS).
⚠️ Note: If you use two of these SIM-The only thing that can be locked is one of them, so that the rules apply to all of them. SIM, Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Block Calls and Choose for All SIM.