Constant calls from advertising agencies, bank collectors or scammers can drive any smartphone owner mad. Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco device owners face this problem as much as others, but they have powerful built-in protection tools at their disposal. The standard blacklist in the shell of MIUI and HyperOS works at the system level, which allows you to cut off unwanted calls even before the beeping.
Many users do not even realize that to effectively protect against intrusive subscribers, you do not need to download third-party applications that often overload RAM. Built-in Antispam functions are integrated deep into the system and only require the right configuration. Understanding the principles of the System Security Application will allow you to forget forever about interrupting your rest or work because of a phone call.
In this article, we will take a look at all the methods available, from manually locking a particular contact to automatically cutting off all hidden numbers. We will look at the intricacies of working with a spam database and redirect codes that provide the maximum level of silence.
Use of built-in antispam in MIUI and HyperOS
The main security tool in Xiaomi smartphones is the pre-installed Security app. This is where all the key filtering settings for incoming calls are concentrated. To get started, you need to run an application that usually has a green icon with a shield and find the Antispam section. The interface may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same for all models.
When you go to the lock menu, you'll see a control panel that allows you to activate protection against unknown numbers, and it offers flexible settings that allow you to block not only specific numbers, but also entire groups of subscribers, for example, you can ban calls from hidden numbers, which is often used by fraudsters, activating this function through a switch in the corresponding menu section.
⚠️ Warning: When enabling locking all unknown numbers, make sure that important contacts (couriers, doctors, schools) are saved in your phone book, otherwise you may miss a critical call.
Inside the Antispam settings, there is also a Keyword Block feature for SMS, but the most effective mode for calls is Block Numbers from Other Regions, which is especially true if you receive offers from other cities or countries with which you are not connected.
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Turn on the call log locks to periodically check who has tried to reach you, which will help identify new active spammers.
Manual lock through call log and contacts
The fastest way to block a particular number is to do it directly from your call history. This is the perfect method when you just got an unwanted call and you want to prevent a recurrence. Open the standard Phone app and go to the call log tab. Find the troublemaker's number on the list.
Click on the information icon (usually the letter i in a circle or an arrow) next to the number. In the action menu that opens, you must select the option Block or Add to a blacklist. Once confirmed, this subscriber will no longer be able to contact you, and when you try to call, he will hear short horns or a message about employment, depending on the operator's settings.
An alternative way is through the Contacts app. If the number is already saved or you want to make it to the stop list proactively, open the contact card. At the bottom of the screen or in the menu (three dots), a lock function will be available, which is convenient in that you can manually create a list of unwanted persons, even if they have not called you yet.
- 📞 Open the call log, click on the “i” icon next to the number and select “Block».
- 📱 Go to the contact card, click the three-point menu and activate the “Blocked” switch».
- 🛑 Use a number search in the Security app to quickly lock without logging in.
- 🔢 For mass blocking, you can use the import of a list of numbers from the file in the Antispam settings.
☑️ Checking the number lock
Blocking all hidden and unknown numbers
A special category is calls where the subscriber hides his number. On Xiaomi devices with a MIUI shell, this feature is implemented through system codes or engineering menu settings, since the standard interface does not always have a separate button for this.
One of the most reliable ways is to use USSD-Do Not Disturb mode activation for hidden numbers often uses *31# or carrier-dependent combinations. However, there is a more direct way through call settings in the Xiaomi smartphone itself. → Annexes → System applications → Phone. → Incoming challenges.
Here, it's important to find the filtering item, which is called "Block Unknown Numbers" in some versions of the firmware, and activating this parameter causes the phone to reset any calls that have not been transmitted to the network, a radical but effective measure for those who are spammed from swapping numbers.
⚠️ Warning: Blocking all hidden numbers may result in you being unable to receive calls from emergency services or some government agencies using secure lines of communication.
The command **62* voice mail number # (number depends on the operator) can redirect inaccessible calls, but it is better to use antispam system filters to completely block them. The combination of these methods gives almost 100% guarantee of protection against anonymous terrorization.
What if the code doesn't work?
Set up a blacklist through system codes
For advanced users who want maximum control, there are special codes for logging into the engineering menu or setting up redirects. However, the most effective code method for Xiaomi remains to activate unconditional forwarding to a non-existent number or voicemail for specific contacts, although this is less convenient than a built-in blacklist.
However, there is a universal code for checking the status of redirects: *#21#. It shows where your calls are being redirected. If you want to temporarily block all incoming calls, you can use the command to forward all voice calls to a number that does not exist or is always busy, but remember that this will affect important calls.
A milder option is to use codes to disable the waiting for a call *#43#, which makes the line busy during the conversation, but does not block the incoming ones as a whole. For this, it is better to rely on MIUI software methods, since they are more flexible and do not require remembering complex combinations of numbers.
| Code. | Action. | The effect |
|---|---|---|
| *#21# | Verification of forwarding | Shows the status of call forwarding |
| *#43# | Status of waiting | Shows if the “Waiting Call” service is included |
| *31# | Hiding a number | Hiding your number when you make an outgoing call |
| ##002# | Resetting diversion | Cancels all types of call forwarding |
Automatic blocking of spam database
One of the strengths of Xiaomi’s ecosystem is its integration with cloud-based spam databases. The phone can automatically detect and block numbers that have been flagged as spam by thousands of other users. To activate this feature, go to Settings → Antispam → Update the database.
In the lock settings menu, you can select the categories of numbers that you should lock automatically. Usually, the options are: Advertising, Finance, Real Estate, Fraudsters. When a call arrives, the system checks the number against the downloaded base and, if it matches, silently resets the call without disturbing the owner.
It is important to update this database regularly, as spammers are constantly changing numbers. Turn on the Auto Update option so that your smartphone always has up-to-date information about new call patterns, which turns your Redmi or Poco into a smart filter that learns from the experience of millions of users.
- 🔄 Regularly update the spammer database in the Security for Up-to-date Protection app.
- 🏷️ Select the blocking categories (e.g., Taxi or Delivery) if you do not need these services.
- 🌐 Enable network identification to see the names of organizations when calling.
- 📉 Analyze the statistics of blockings to understand which categories of spam are most active.
Third-party applications and additional methods
If there is not enough built-in, the market offers powerful alternatives: apps like Truecaller or GetContact have huge numbers databases of their own, but installing them on Xiaomi requires careful permissions, and MIUI aggressively manages memory and can kill the background processes of such applications.
To make the third-party blocker work correctly, you need to go to Settings → Applications → Application Management, find the blocker installed, and select the “No Limits” mode in the Battery section. You also need to enable autorun, so that the application can intercept calls in real time.
Another method is to use carrier functions, and many cellular companies offer antispam services for a small fee or free, they block calls at the network level before the signal reaches your phone, and this is especially effective against robotic calls that can slip through the filters of a smartphone.
⚠️ Note: By installing third-party number detectors, you often consent to transfer your contacts and those of your friends to the developer's servers.
Combining methods yields the best result: Use Xiaomi’s built-in Antispam as the first line of defense, connect the operator’s service for network-level filtering, and for complex cases, keep a specialized application with an extended base ready.