How to Enable and Set Up a Blacklist on Xiaomi Phones: A Complete Guide

Why you need a blacklist on a Xiaomi smartphone and how it works

Spam calls, annoying collectors or ex-acquaintances who don’t want to leave you alone are the problems that almost every smartphone owner faces. The blacklist on Xiaomi solves them radically: blocks unwanted numbers at the system level, preventing them from calling or sending SMS. Unlike third-party applications, the built-in feature works stably, does not consume battery and does not require additional permissions.

The lock mechanism on Xiaomi devices (including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark) is integrated into the standard Phone app and syncs with the Mi Account. This means that after changing your phone or resetting your settings, you can restore the blacklist from the cloud in 2 clicks without adding the numbers again. However, there are nuances: for example, on some models with MIUI 14+, the lock algorithm has become “smarter” – it automatically filters suspicious numbers through the Xiaomi database, but this is not always convenient.

It is important to understand the difference between blacklisting and spam filtering:

• 📵 Blacklist – manually locking specific numbers (you add them to the list yourself).
• 🤖 Spam filtering – automatic blocking on the Xiaomi database (bank numbers, fraudsters, mass mailings).

In this article, we will talk about the first option – how to manually manage the list of blocked contacts.

Supported models and versions of MIUI: where to look for settings

The blacklist feature is available on all Xiaomi smartphones released after 2016, but its location on the menu depends on the version of the MIUI firmware. Below is a table with current paths for different versions:

If your model is running MIUI Global or MIUI Europe, the interface will be identical. On Chinese firmware (MIUI China), the path may be different - for example, on Xiaomi 12T with Chinese firmware, the blacklist is hidden in Phone → Profile → Lock.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14+ and installed application Security (Security) part of the functions of the blacklist duplicated in the Protection section → Call blocking. Changes made there may conflict with settings in the Phone app.

Step-by-step: how to add a number to the blacklist

Adding a number to the blacklist on Xiaomi can be done in three ways: from the call log, from contacts, or manually.

Method 1: Blocking from the call log

The fastest method is if you are bored with a specific subscriber who has already called:

1. Open the Phone application and go to the Journal tab.
2. Find the number in the list and tap it.
3. In the window that opens, press three points (⋮) top-right.
4. Select Add to the blacklist (or Block in English firmware).
5. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

Method 2: Blocking from contacts

If the number is saved in the phone book, but you want to block it:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Find the right contact and tap it.
3. Press three points (⋮) → Add to the blacklist.
4. Confirm the lockdown.

Method 3: Manual number entry

If you want to block a number that has not yet been called or saved in contacts:

1. Open the phone. → ☰ → Settings → Blacklist.
2. Click Add (+ in the lower right corner).
3. Select Manual and enter the number in the format +79XXXXXXXXXX or 89XXXXXXXXXXXXX.
4. Press Ready.

Make sure the number is entered correctly (without spaces and dashes)

Check if this number is already blocked (duplicate records may cause crashes)

Keep a backup of your contacts (in case of an error)

Turn off sync with Google Contacts (unless you want to block the number on all devices)-->

Once added, the number immediately enters the blocked list. To check that the lock is working, try calling from another phone to the locked number - you will hear short horns, and there will be no notifications on the Xiaomi screen about the incoming call.

How to Manage a Blacklist: Editing and Exclusions

The blacklist on Xiaomi is not just add and forget it, you can flexibly customize it to your needs: temporarily unlock numbers, add exceptions, or vice versa, tighten filtering.

• 🔄 Temporary Unlocking: If you need to take a call from a locked number (such as a colleague who was accidentally added to the list) without deleting it permanently, go to the Blacklist, swipe the number left and select Unblock for 1 hour (available on the MIUI 14+).
• 📋 Exceptions for SMS: By default, calls and messages are blocked. SMS from the blocked number, tap it in the blacklist and turn off the switch Block messages.
• 🗑️ Cleaning the list: To delete all numbers at once, click ☰ → Clear the list (on older versions) MIUI This option is not available – you will have to remove one by one).

On devices with MIUI 13/14, the Smart Lock feature has been introduced, which automatically blacklists numbers marked as spam by other users to enable it:

1. Go to the phone. → ☰ → Settings → Blacklist.
2. Activate the Smart Lock switch.
3. Select the level of filter aggressiveness: Low (only obvious spam), Medium or High (can block legitimate numbers).

⚠️ Note: If you use Google Messages or Truecaller instead of the standard Messages app, their lock settings may conflict with Xiaomi's system blacklist.

Synchronize the blacklist with Mi Account and recover from a reset

One of the most useful features of Xiaomi is cloud-based blacklist synchronization via Mi Account, which means that after changing your phone or resetting to factory settings, you don't have to re-add all the numbers.

• ☁️ How to enable synchronization: Go to Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account. Make sure the switch Sync contacts and blacklist active. in the Blacklist section (in the Phone app) should appear the words Synced.

How to restore the list after resetting:

1. After the reset, log in to your Mi Account on your phone.
2. Open the phone. → ☰ → Settings → Blacklist.
3. Click Restore (if the list is not automatically loaded).

If the synchronization is not working, check:

• 📶 Internet connection (sync only via Wi-Fi or mobile data).
• 🔒 Privacy settings in Mi Account (sometimes sync lock is manually enabled).
• 📱 The firmware version is on MIUI 11 and below cloud blacklist synchronization is not supported.

💡

If the lock is unstable, try disabling the Wi-Fi Calling feature in the settings. SIM-On some models (Redmi Note 9 Pro, POCO X3 NFC) It is in conflict with the system call lock.

Alternative ways of blocking: third-party applications and operator services

Xiaomi’s built-in blacklist is suitable for most tasks, but if you need advanced features (like locking on keywords in an SMS or locking schedule), it’s worth considering alternatives.

Third-party annexes

Popular solutions with additional chips:

• 🛡️ Truecaller: Globally-based spam blocking, identifying unfamiliar numbers.

Operator services

Russian operators offer their own blocking services: