Virtually every smartphone owner faces the problem of intrusive calls from spammers, telemarketers or just unwanted interlocutors. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, this issue is solved quite deeply, but users are often lost in the variety of settings of the MIUI operating system or the new HyperOS. The standard call interface can hide the necessary functions in non-obvious places, especially after major firmware updates that change the logic of the menu.
Finding the partition responsible for blocking requires understanding the structure of the Security app and the system phone book. The blacklist in the devices of this brand is integrated at the system level, which allows you to effectively filter incoming calls and the system book. SMS-This saves battery life and increases data privacy, since all processes occur locally.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the hidden locking algorithms, the differences between regional firmware versions, and how to configure filters correctly. You will learn how to make sure that calls from certain subscribers are not just reset, but do not disturb you at all with sound or vibration. Understanding these mechanisms will allow you to take full control of your digital space.
Access via the Phone and Settings menu
The fastest and most obvious way to find the right partition is to use the standard dialing interface. Open the Phone app and look at the three dots in the top right corner of the screen. When you click on them, you'll see a drop-down menu where "Block" or "Settings" is often hidden. However, the path may differ depending on the version of the shell.
If you don't have the right call menu, you should go to the system settings menu. Find the Settings section, then scroll down to the Apps category. Here you need to select App Settings, find the Phone list, and look inside it for the lock section, which may seem redundant, but it allows you to flexibly manage access rights.
In some versions of MIUI (especially in Chinese or global builds for India), the logic of the work is different: here, the filtering is responsible for a separate system application Security, which is the focus of all the security tools, including antivirus, memory cleanup and, of course, a blacklist, this is a centralized security hub of your device.
📊 Where do you most often look for lock settings?
In the appendix Phone
In general Android settings
In the Annex Security
I'm putting third-party apps in.
It's important to note that the menu interface can vary visually. If you don't find an item right away, try using the search bar at the top of the settings screen by typing in "Block" or "Blacklist," and the system will redirect you to the desired section, no matter where it's physically located in the menu structure.
Use of the Security Application to Manage the List
The central element of call management in Xiaomi smartphones is the Green Shield Security app, and when you run it, you'll see a number of tools, and we're interested in the Antispam or Lock section, and that's where the full blacklist is, with all the statistics and fine-tuning.
Inside the Antispam section, tabs are available to manage blocked numbers, SMS-You can manually add a number to the blacklist by clicking on the appropriate button (usually a plus or add button) and the system will prompt you to enter the number manually or select it from the phone book, which greatly simplifies the process.
⚠️ Note: In some regions (e.g. Europe) due to legal restrictions, anti-spam functions may be limited or require downloading additional components.If the section is empty, check for updates for system applications in the GetApps store.
One of the key features is the ability to import and export lists. If you're switching from another phone or want to back up your filters, use the settings menu inside the Antispam section, where you can find options to work with databases of blocked contacts, which is useful when changing your device.
- 📱 Manual addition of numbers through the menu «+».
- 📂 Import a list from a file or other device.
- 🔍 Search for call history for quick lockdown.
- ⚙️ Set up lockdown scenarios (only calls or only) SMS).
Blocking Unknown and Hidden Numbers
A special category is calls from unknown numbers or when a subscriber downloads his ID. The Xiaomi blacklist settings have a separate feature for dealing with such calls, which allows you to automatically reject calls if the number is not saved in your phone book or if it is determined to be hidden.
To activate this feature, go to the anti-spam settings (cog in the corner of the screen). Find the "Block Unknown Numbers" or "Block Hidden Numbers" switch. Activating this mode is useful for those who expect calls only from familiar contacts, but can lead to missing important calls from couriers or doctors.
How to unlock an important number if you have unlocked unknowns?
If you have turned on a hard filter, but are waiting for a call from a specialist whose number is not in the contacts, temporarily turn off the function of blocking unknowns. SMS Before you call, these messages often go through the filter, and you can see the number, and you have to distinguish between "Unknown Number" and "Private Number." A private number is when a subscriber specifically hides his or her number. ID Unknown is just a number that you don't have in your contacts. Filters work differently for these categories, and it's important to understand the difference so you don't cut yourself off from the outside world. MIUI It allows you to create complex lock scenarios, and you can set your phone to behave like "Do Not Disturb" at certain times or for certain categories of callers. This is done through the Settings menu inside the locking application, and you can set a schedule here. 23:00 before 07:00 All calls, except for selected contacts, will be automatically rejected, and this will implement the Night Mode function without having to manually turn on air mode or silent mode every evening. ☑️ Night mode setting Open Security: Go to Antispam: Press Settings: Select Lock Schedule: Set Start and End Time Completed: 0 / 1 There's also a "Silence Mode" feature for specific contacts, so you can add a person to the blacklist incompletely, but you can set a special mode for them: the call will come, but without sound or vibration, just showing up on the screen. This allows you to visually monitor who called, but not be interrupted at an important moment. Lock type System Action Notice Full Lock Demand Reset There is in the lock log No Only SMS Call passes Message in spam folder No Unknown numbers Reset call There in magazine No Silence Mode No Sound/vibro Missed call Visual work with SMS-Xiaomi's blacklist works not only with voice calls, but also with text messages. SMS It's often more aggressive, because spammy mailings can contain malicious links, and it analyzes the contents of messages and sender numbers, and it checks them against cloud databases. SMS not deleted irrevocably, but moved to a special folder "Spam" inside the application "Messages" or in the anti-spam section. This is done so that you can periodically check this folder for false positives, such as confirmation codes from banks or services. ⚠️ Warning: Never click on links from the Spam folder, even for curiosity. If you accidentally click on a link, immediately run a full check of the device with built-in antivirus and change the passwords from important accounts. To improve filtering efficiency, it is recommended to enable the download of spam database updates. This option is in the anti-spam settings. Regular database updates allow the phone to learn about new fraud schemes and block them before you even have time to read the message. 📩 Automatic sorting of messages by category. 🚫 Blocking messages by keywords. 🔄 Synchronization of cloud databases of spam numbers. 🗑️ Automatically clean your spam folder every 30 days. Third-party apps and synchronization Although Xiaomi's built-in tools are powerful, some users prefer third-party solutions such as Getcontact, NumBuster or Kaspersky Who Calls. These applications use crowdsourcing (data from users) to identify callers. They can identify the number as "Courier", "Advertising" or "Fraudsters." When installing such applications, the Android system will request permission to manage calls. Once activated, the third-party number detector intercepts the incoming call before the system call, checks the base and, and, if necessary, resets it or flags it to red, however, it creates additional protection. Simultaneous operation of the built-in MIUI blacklist and the third-party blocker can lead to a double reset or, conversely, to miss the call due to an error in application priorities. It is recommended to choose one main solution. Frequent questions and problem solving. Even with detailed instructions, users may have specific questions related to the features of the operating system or specific smartphone models. The answers to the most common queries that will help troubleshoot. Often the problem lies not in the absence of the function, but in its incorrect activation or caching of application data. If the blacklist stops, try to temporarily delete the phone number from your applications. This can happen if the number has changed (spamers often use a pool of numbers) or if the call is via Internet Protocol (VoIP), which the system perceives differently. Can you block the entire prefix number (for example, +7,999...)? Standard means MIUI You can't block the range of numbers (mask), only specific numbers. Mask locks (for example, all numbers starting with certain numbers) require third-party applications with advanced functionality or root rights. Where do you see the history of blocked calls? History is in the appendix Security -> Antispam. There's a separate tab called "Journal" or "Records" that shows the time, date and number of the blocked call. In the standard phone book, these calls may not appear to avoid cluttering the list. 💡Regular check of the lock log and updating of databases is the key to effective protection against intrusive advertising and scammers on your Xiaomi smartphone.