How to unlock a phone number from the blacklist on Android Xiaomi

When an important call does not arrive and the subscriber hears short horns or a message about employment, it often occurs due to a randomly activated lock function. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones face this regularly, as built-in spam protection algorithms sometimes work too aggressively. Unlocking a number from a blacklist on Android is a simple procedure, but requires care, since the paths to settings can vary depending on the version of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS.

The main reason for blocking is the system application Security, which is integrated deep into the operating system, and it is this module that controls the filtering of incoming calls and the use of the system. SMS-If you or someone you know has previously added a contact to the stop list, the standard methods of calling will stop working until the settings change.

In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can restore communication, from simple actions through the contact menu to using engineering codes and resetting your phone’s system settings, and learn how to find hidden lock lists and why some numbers may not appear in the standard interface.

Search and Remove Through Security Application

The most reliable and commonly used method of returning a contact to the whitelist is to use the system application Security.This software is pre-installed on all devices of the brand and has a green icon with a shield. This is where all the tools for managing calls and messages, including antivirus and memory cleaning, are concentrated.

To get started, you need to open the app and find the communications section. Depending on the regional firmware (Global, Chinese or Russian), the interface may have slight visual differences, but the logic remains the same. You need to find an item called "Antispam" or "Blacklist", which is usually located at the bottom of the screen or in the tool section.

Once you log into the Antispam menu, you'll see a list of all the numbers and messages that have been blocked, and you can not only delete a particular contact, but also adjust filtering rules to avoid similar situations in the future, and you can create contact exceptions from the phone book, which is a useful feature for protecting against accidental blocking of loved ones.

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Check the Locked Messages folder in the Security app periodically, as important codes from banks or delivery services may be coming there and you won't know about it in time.

If a number has been added manually, it will take a few seconds to delete it, however, if the locking occurred automatically due to the identification of the number as spam, the process may require additional confirmation. Always check if the tick on "Block Hidden Numbers" is worth checking if you expect calls from unknown identifiers.

Control of lockdown through standard call interface

An alternative and faster way to unlock a caller is available directly from the call menu, which is convenient because it does not require searching for individual applications and allows you to solve the problem when you try to make a call. The MIUI dialing interface has advanced functionality hidden in additional menus.

To use this method, open the Phone app and click on the menu icon, which is usually represented by three dots or stripes in the upper right corner of the screen. In the drop-down list, select Settings, and then go to the Lock section, which displays a brief stats and access to the full list of restrictions.

In the window that opens, you'll see a Blacklist switch and a button to view all blocked contacts. By clicking on the list, you'll be taken to the full control menu, where you can delete one number or clear the entire list, which is especially true if the device has been transferred to you from the previous owner or was purchased from hand.

  • 📞 Open the Phone app and click on three dots in the corner of the screen.
  • 🛡️ Select “Settings” and go to “Blocking” section».
  • 🗑️ Click on the “Black List” and remove the desired contact with a cross or a long tap.
  • ✅ Make sure the lock switch is active if you want to continue filtering spam.

It's important to note that the changes take effect instantly, and once you delete the number from the list, you can immediately receive incoming calls and SMS from that subscriber, and if the problem persists, it may be at the carrier level or at the subscriber's smartphone level, not at your device level.

Unlocking through the contact menu and subscriber card

The third way is to manage the lock list directly from the contact card, which is the most logical way if you know that a particular person can't reach you and want to check their status. The contacts interface in Xiaomi is synchronized with the system security settings.

Find the number in the phone book and open the detailed card. Scroll down to the end of the page. Where the message buttons or video calls are usually located, there may be a special icon or inscription indicating the status of the lock, in some versions of the firmware this appears as a crossed-out phone or text "Blocked".

Clicking on this item will prompt the system to unlock the number. If there is no explicit instruction, try clicking on the three dots in the top corner of the contact card. The drop-down menu often hides the item "Unblock" or "Delete from the blacklist", which duplicates the functions of the main security menu.

⚠️ Warning: If you don't see the lock option in the contact card, it doesn't guarantee that the number is free.Always double-check the status through the main Security app, as the contact card may not display system filtering rules.

This method is especially useful when you need to quickly reconnect with several specific people without going through the long list of locked numbers in the settings, it minimizes the risk of error and allows you to act targeted.

📊 How do you block unwanted numbers most often?
Through the Security App
Through the call menu
Through the contact card
I use third-party apps.

Using system codes to reset call settings

For advanced users who prefer hidden menus and engineering settings, there is the ability to manage locks through special devices. USSD-However, it is worth noting that in modern versions of Android, access to the deep engineering menu is often limited by the manufacturer for security reasons.

However, trying to enter the code ##4636## or #4636## can open the Testing menu. Here, under Phone Information, you can sometimes find a network preference reset that indirectly affects the processing of incoming connections. This is not a direct way to remove from the blacklist, but an effective method of resetting network settings if the lock is caused by a software failure.

A more direct method involves clearing the phone and contact data, which will return the call settings to factory settings, which will ensure that all user locks created through the standard interface are removed, and it is recommended to save important contacts to your Google or Mi Cloud account before performing this operation.

Settings → Applications → All applications → Phone → Memory → Clean

Once the cache and data of the Phone application are cleared, the blacklist stored in the app’s local database will be reset, a radical but powerful method where standard buttons fail to respond or the interface is not working properly.

Specifics of the blacklist in HyperOS and new MIUI

With the release of the HyperOS operating system, which replaced MIUI 14, the security menu structure has changed. Xiaomi is striving to unify the interface, so some items have been renamed or moved, and users of new devices need to be more careful when looking for the right settings.

In HyperOS, anti-spam functionality is often integrated directly into Google’s Phone app, which is now the standard for global versions, or remains in the native MIUI Dialer app for Chinese versions. If you have a Google call, the path is this: open the app, click three dots, select Settings → Locked numbers.

This is a different interface from the classic MIUI, which is managed through simple switches and a list that can be edited by a swipe, and it also offers smart spam filtering that can automatically block suspicious numbers without you, and you can also turn it off in this menu.

Why are numbers back on the blacklist?
Some users notice that deleted numbers reappear in lockdown, which can occur when synchronization is activated with a cloud security service (Mi Cloud or third-party antivirus), which stores a backup copy of the blacklist and automatically restores it when you update the database.

It is important to understand that in new versions of the OS, spam detection algorithms have become more aggressive, and if an unlocked number is labeled as spam again, it may be entered into the global database of malicious numbers that the system uses, in which case unlocking at the device level will not help while the number is listed in the global registry.

Table of Differences in the Blockchain Applications of Xiaomi and Google

Since Xiaomi smartphones can use two types of dialing interface (native MIUI and standard Google), it is important to understand the differences in lock management.This will help you navigate faster if you upgrade your phone or reset your settings to factory settings.

The table below shows you a comparison of access paths and blacklisting features across interfaces, which will help you find the right item regardless of the firmware version.

Function/ParameterMIUI native interfaceGoogle Interface (G Dialer)
Location of the menuSecurity annexThe settings of the "Phone" application
Title of sectionAntispam/BlacklistLocked numbers
Blocking hiddenA separate switch on the menuThe "Block Hidden" Switch
NotificationsCome to the Security AppSeparate tab in the Phone application

If you switch from one interface to another, the old blacklist settings may not be automatically transferred, so the old list remains in the native app database, but the new interface doesn't see it. To avoid confusion, it's best to clear the settings of both apps completely.

Problems with the operator and external blocking

Sometimes users try to unlock a number on their phone without knowing that the restriction is set on the operator’s side. Large operators (MTS, Beeline, MegaFon, Tele2) have their own services “Antispam” or “Black List”, which work regardless of the settings of your Android smartphone.

If you deleted the number from the blacklist on your phone, but the calls still don't go through, the problem is most likely in the tariff or the connected options. USSD-For example, often used code *111# or similar for managing services.

Also, some carriers provide paid lock services that take precedence over phone settings, in which case unlocking is only possible through operator service codes or a call to support, and smartphone settings are powerless because the call is cut off before it even arrives on the device.

⚠️ Attention: Operator services for blocking numbers are often paid. Before connecting or disabling such functions, carefully study your operator's rates to avoid unexpected charges.

There is also the concept of “parental controls” or corporate restrictions, where a network administrator can prohibit calls to certain numbers. If the phone is corporate or is operated by a family group, check the settings in the appropriate controller application.

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What to do if unlocking doesn’t help

There are times when all settings have been checked, the number has been deleted from all lists, but the connection is not restored, in which case deeper system errors or program conflicts may be the cause. First of all, perform a complete reboot of the device, as this updates the network modules and rereads the configuration files.

If the reboot didn't work, try temporarily shutting down the Internet and Wi-Fi, and then turning on the flight mode for 10-15 seconds, which will force the SIM card to re-register in the operator's network, sometimes "sticking" network settings, and this procedure helps reset the state of the communication module.

In extreme cases, if the problem is only with one particular number, ask the subscriber to check your settings, they may have blocked your number thinking it's spam, and mutual blocking is a common cause of misunderstanding in such situations.

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If nothing helps, try inserting yours. SIM-If the phone is calling, the problem is with your Xiaomi's settings or hardware, and if it's not, it's on the operator or subscriber side.

Also, you should not rule out the possibility of damaging the system files responsible for the phone book. If you have recently installed third-party calls or modified the system, try to delete them. Xiaomi standard applications work most stable and have the least priority conflicts.

Why don’t you call them after they’re removed from the blacklist?
This may be due to a delay in synchronizing settings in the system. Try rebooting your phone. It's also possible that the number is locked in the messenger app (Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram) rather than in the regular phone book. Check the lock settings inside these apps separately.
Can I unlock the number if the phone is locked by the screen?
No, you need access to your phone's menu to change the blacklist settings, but if you have either "Respond Volume button" or "Voice control" enabled, you can try to take the call, but you can't change the lock list without unlocking the screen.
Are your blacklist settings reset when you update Android?
Usually when updating the operating system version (OTA-updates, user data and settings, including the blacklist, are saved, however, when switching between major versions (e.g., with MIUI 12 by 13) or if you change the firmware region, the settings can be reset.
How to add a number to the blacklist if it is not in the contacts?
Go to the Security app → Antispam → Blacklist. Press Add button (usually a plus on the bottom or menu). Choose Enter number and manually dial the phone number you want, which will block calls even without saving contact to the phone book.