How to find and manage locked numbers on Xiaomi Mi 8: the complete guide

Xiaomi Mi 8, released in 2018, is still popular with users thanks to its powerful hardware and stable MIUI firmware. However, many owners face the problem of how to find a list of blocked contacts if the standard paths are not obvious? Unlike the new models, where the blacklist is placed in a separate menu, the Mi 8 feature is hidden deeper - and its location depends on the version of MIUI (from 9 to 12.5).

In this article, you will learn not only where the list of blocked numbers is stored, but also how to export it, restore it after resetting settings or transfer it to another phone. We will discuss official methods through Settings and Security, as well as alternative solutions for cases where standard methods do not work. MI Cloud – It is often missed even by experienced users.

1. Standard method: through the "Settings" menu of the phone

The most reliable method is to use the built-in MIUI tools. On the Xiaomi Mi 8, the path to the blacklist may vary depending on the firmware version, but the general logic is maintained.

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to All Settings → Applications → Application Management.
3. In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select Special Permits.
4. Scroll down to Blacklist (or Call Block on older versions of MIUI).

If this is not the case, try an alternative route:

• 📱 Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Blocking calls (for the purpose of MIUI 10-11).
• 🔒 Settings → Passwords and security → Blacklist (for) MIUI 12+).
• 📞 In the phone application (tube icon) click ⋮ → Settings → Number locking.

Turn off the VPN (it can block system settings)

Make sure that SIM-The card is active (without it, the list may not be displayed)

Update the Phone app via Google Play

Restart your phone if the menu does not open.-->

In the list that opens, you will see all the locked numbers with the date of the addition.

• 🔄 Unlock the number (swipe left or button Remove).
• ➕ Add a new number manually or from the call log.
• 📤 Export the list (on some firmware available through ⋮ → Exports).

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 9 and some custom firmware blacklist may be hidden.If you don't find it through the settings, move on to the next section with alternative methods.

2. Alternative method: Application "Security" (MIUI Security)

Security app (shield icon) is another official tool for lock management. It is preinstalled on all Xiaomi Mi 8 It allows not only to view, but also to analyze blocked calls./SMS.

Instructions:

1. Open the Security app (if not, download from Google Play at “MIUI Security”).
2. Go to the Blocking tab (or Privacy Protection).
3. Select Blacklist or Call Block/SMS.
4. For a detailed view, click on the number and the blocking history will open (how many times did I call when was the last message).

Advantages of this method:

• 📊 Blocking statistics (number of missed calls)/SMS week-monthly).
• 🔍 The ability to block keywords in SMS (For example, "credit", "winning»).
• 🛡️ Integration with MI Cloud for backing up the list.

Through phone settings

Annex "Security"

Third-party applications (Truecaller, etc.)

I don't block numbers.-->

3. View through the call log (hidden function)

Few people know, but the Mi 8 call log has a hidden feature that filters locked numbers, and it works even if the blacklist doesn't appear in the settings.

How to turn on:

1. Open the phone application (call log).
2. Click on the magnifying glass icon (🔍) top-right.
3. In the search bar, type ##4636## (this is an engineering code, but on MIUI it opens extended filters).
4. Select the Locked filter and all the numbers that have ever been blocked on the device will appear.

This method is useful if:

• 🔄 You reset your phone settings, but the locks are still in the system logs.
• 📱 Blacklist not displayed due to failure MIUI.
• 🔍 You need to find a number that has been blocked for a long time and removed from the main list.

⚠️ Warning: Engineering codes may differ on custom firmware. If ##4636## doesn't work, try ##2664## (display test, but sometimes opens hidden menus).

4. Use of third-party applications (Truecaller, Calls Blacklist)

If the built-in MIUI tools don't work, third-party apps will come to the rescue, not only showing locked numbers, but also adding advanced features like:

• 🌍 Global Spammer Base (Truecaller).
• 📅 Automatic locking on schedule (for example, at night).
• 🔄 Synchronization between devices.

Top.-3 applications for Xiaomi Mi 8:

How to transfer locks from MIUI to a third-party application:

1. Export the blacklist through Security → Blacklist → ⋮ → Exports (if available).
2. Save the file in.vcf or.csv format.
3. Import it to the selected application (in the settings, find Import/Export).

💡

If you use Truecaller, turn off the Shared Data feature in the app settings to avoid contact leakage.

5. Restore the blacklist after resetting settings

After hard reset or flashing Xiaomi Mi 8 all locks are reset, however, they can be restored if sync with MI Cloud was enabled in advance.

Step-by-step:

1. Sign in to your Mi Account account on your phone.
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup.
3. Select the latest backup (make sure it has a Blacklist item).
4. Click Restore and wait for the process to be completed.

If there is no backup, try:

• 📧 Check the mail – when exporting the black list could be sent to email as a file.
• 💾 Connect your phone to your PC and check the folder MIUI/backup/AllBackup backup.
• 🔄 Use apps like MyBackup Pro to recover data from local backups.

⚠️ Warning: If you haven't made backups, you can't restore the blacklist after reset. In the future, enable automatic synchronization in Settings → Mi Account → Synchronization → Blacklist.

💡

Synchronizing with MI Cloud is the only official way to keep locks locked when you drop your phone, and without it, your data will be lost forever.

6.Problem Solving: Why the Blacklist is Not Shown

If you follow the instructions but the blacklist doesn’t appear, the reasons may be:

If none of the methods worked, reset the settings of the Phone application:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Phone.
2. Press Warehouse. → Clear the data.
3. Reboot the phone.

This will return the call settings to factory, but it won't delete the call log.

7. How to lock a number on Xiaomi Mi 8 (brief guide)

To complete the picture, we will discuss how to add a number to the blacklist on the Mi 8.

• 📞 From the call log: Open the phone, find the number, hold your finger on it → Lock down.
• 👤 From Contacts: Open Contact → ⋮ → Lock down.
• ➕ Manual: through Settings → Locking down calls → Add a number.

On MIUI 12+ you can configure the extended locking rules:

• 📵 Blocking all unknown numbers.
• 🔕 Blocking by prefix (for example, all numbers with +375).
• 🕒 Time-bound blocking (e.g. 22:00 to 8:00).

💡

To check if the lock is working, ask a friend to call you from a locked number. You should not hear the call, and the log will show a record of "Blocked Call".

FAQ: Frequent questions about locking numbers on Xiaomi Mi 8