Antispam on Xiaomi: where is it and how to set up MIUI 12-14

Spam in SMS, annoying advertising calls and notifications from applications are a headache for owners of Xiaomi smartphones on any version of MIUI. The manufacturer has built powerful tools to combat unwanted content into the firmware, but many users do not know exactly where antispam is hiding in new versions of MIUI 13/14 and how to set it up correctly for maximum protection. The problem is aggravated by the fact that the location of functions changed with each major update, and in some regional firmware options are completely absent by default.

In this article, you will find up-to-date information on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models (including Xiaomi 13/14 flagships and the budget Redmi Note 12), we will analyze not only the standard anti-spam settings in the Phone and Messages app, but also hidden features for blocking spam in Security Settings, and also tell you how to circumvent restrictions in global firmware. All instructions are tested on MIUI 14.0.5 (Android 13) and adapted for Russian, European and Chinese versions of the software.

Where is antispam in standard Xiaomi apps

The basic spam filtering tools are integrated into two key applications: Phone (to block calls) and Messages (for SMS), which vary by version of MIUI, but the general logic is maintained. It is important to understand that these settings work independently of each other - locking a number in Messages does not automatically transfer to Phone, and vice versa.

In MIUI 14, the path to anti-spam became easier but less obvious to beginners, for example, in the Phone app, the option is hidden under three dots in the upper right corner, and in Messages it was moved to the Spam section. On older versions (MIUI 12 and below), anti-spam could be called the Blacklist or the Spam Filter.

• 📱 Phone app: Tap on three points → "Settings" → "Number locking" (or "Spam and locking")
• 💬 Messages app: Open the menu (three lines or points) → "spamming" → "Filter settings"
• ⚙️ System settings: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Telephone/Messages → Permits → spamming

On POCO and some Redmi with custom firmware, the path may be different. For example, in POCO Launcher, anti-spam is sometimes duplicated under the "Security" section. If you don't find the option on these paths, check the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone - it may be that your device is running on outdated firmware with a different interface.

Step-by-step setting up antispam for calls

Filtering unwanted calls on Xiaomi is implemented through a combination of a cloud database and a local blacklist. The cloud database (if active) automatically blocks known spam numbers, but does not work in all regions. Local blacklist allows you to manually add numbers that pass through the cloud filter.

To protect against spam calls:

1. Open the Phone app (the phone icon on the home screen)
2. Slip to three vertical points in the upper right corner → Select Settings
3. Go to the section "Number Lock" (or "Spam and Lock" in MIUI 14)
4. Activate the Spam Filter Switch (if it is in your firmware)
5. In the Blacklist section, add numbers manually or import from the call log.

On Xiaomi with global firmware (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Global), the cloud filter option may not be available due to regional restrictions, in which case installing an alternative call app (e.g. Google Phone) that has its own spam number database will help.

Activate the spam filter in the phone settings

Add known spam numbers to the blacklist

Check for spam number database updates (if available)

Install alternative software for calls in the absence of a filter

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⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI for Russia (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T Pro RU) The cloud-based spam number database can be disabled by default due to legal restrictions, and to activate it, you will need to change the region in the Mi Account settings (instructions in the section on hidden features).

SMS Filtering: How to Block Spam Messages

Spam in SMS on Xiaomi is filtered separately from calls, and settings are more flexible. MIUI 14 has the ability to automatically sort messages into categories (Transactions, Alerts, Spam), but this requires activation of additional permissions, without the right setup, even obvious spam messages will fall into the main drawer.

Instructions for setting:

1. Open the "Messages" app.
2. Slip on three horizontal lines (menu) → Spam
3. Turn on the spam filter switch
4. In the filter settings section, select the level of aggression: 🛡️ Low – only blocks obvious spam 🔍 Medium – filters messages from unknown senders 🚫 High – blocks everything except contacts from the phone book

Filtering rules

On the POCO M5 and other budget models, the Spam section can be hidden. To open it, first access the Developer Settings (7 times tap the MIUI version in your phone information) and activate the Show All Settings option.

Hidden anti-spam features in MIUI: what is silent Xiaomi

In addition to the standard settings, MIUI also has additional anti-spam tools that the manufacturer does not mention in the official documentation, which are available through the Security Settings or Engineering Menu, but require caution when activated.

One of the most effective methods is to use Android-level system antispam, which blocks unwanted notifications from apps, which works even for messages that pass through standard filters.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management
2. Select the app that spams notifications (such as AliExpress or Wildberries)
3. Tap on Notifications → Turn off the switch Show notifications
4. For full lock, go back and select Battery → Limit background activity

When using third-party anti-spam apps, disable the built-in MIUI filters to avoid conflicts. Also check the permissions for these apps: they must have access to Call Log, SMS and Notifications. Xiaomi with Android 13+ will require manual permissions to read SMS via Settings → Apps → Special Access → SMS Reading.

FAQ: Frequent questions about anti-spam on Xiaomi