Constant calls from advertising agents, intrusive offers from banks or just talking to an unpleasant interlocutor can piss off any smartphone owner. Fortunately, the MIUI shell, which is installed on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, has powerful built-in functionality to filter incoming calls. The user does not need to look for complex solutions, since the basic tools of the system allow you to effectively manage the list of contacts from which you do not want to receive information.
There are several ways to limit unwanted subscribers from accessing your device: you can use the standard phone book interface, consult the hidden settings of the engineer or install specialized software from the Google Play Store. The choice of the specific method depends on the version of the Android operating system, regional firmware and personal preferences of the owner of the gadget. In this article, we will discuss all the available options in detail so that you can forget about phone spam forever.
Before you start setting up a lock, it is important to understand that modern security algorithms work at the system services level, which means that the blocked subscriber will hear horns or a message about employment, but your phone will not even vibrate or light up with the screen. Complete isolation from the contact occurs instantly after the call arrives, which ensures comfort and silence at any time of the day.
Use of the built-in "Security" application
The most reliable and energy-efficient way to lock is to use a pre-installed system component. In Xiaomi smartphones, the Security app is responsible for this, which combines antivirus, memory cleanup and call management tools, which is preferable because it works at a deep level of the system and does not require the installation of additional software.
To get started, you have to run the app and find the partition that's responsible for communications. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but the logic remains the same. You have to go to the lock menu and activate the desired list. This action will take only a few seconds, but will provide reliable protection against repeated calls.
- 📱 Launch the Security app (lightning or shield icon).
- 🚫 Select “Blocking” or “Blacklisting».
- ➕ Press the add button (usually a plus or three dots in the corner).
- 📞 Select “Add number” and enter data or select from contacts.
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Periodically check the lock log in the same menu to make sure that the system correctly handles incoming calls and does not miss spam.
Once added, the number is automatically entered into the database of prohibited contacts, and the system will ignore any attempts to communicate from this address, whether it is a voice call or a voice call. SMS-that in some versions of the firmware functionality can be hidden under the name "Antispam", which is essentially the same tool for filtering traffic.
⚠️ Note: If you add a number to the blacklist through the system application, the subscriber will still be able to send you messages in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram), since the lock only applies to the standard telephone network and SMS.
Blocking directly through the “Phone” application
A faster way to limit contact is to take action right during or immediately after a call. The standard MIUI shell call app has integrated quick access to a blacklist, which is especially handy when you need to urgently block a persistent interlocutor without going into deep menu settings.
So let's look at the call log algorithm, and open the standard caller, and go to the log history tab, and find the number that's causing the inconvenience, and click on it to open the extra menu, and you'll see a button that shows you a crossed-out circle, or you'll see "Block," and clicking on that will instantly put the caller on the ignore list.
Alternatively, lock from the contact book. If you have a number saved in your notebook, open the contact card. At the bottom of the screen or menu (three dots in the corner), you will have a lock option, which is convenient because you can block the entire group of contacts at once, if they are combined into a single profile or marked with a specific tag.
☑️ Checking lockdown
Importantly, once locked through the Phone app, the number can be displayed with a special icon of the crossed-out phone handset, a visual marker that helps quickly identify blocked entries in the shared list, and you can delete the number from the list there, in the settings of a particular contact or through the general lock menu.
Some users prefer to use codes to quickly activate functions. USSD-There is no code to add to an emergency, you can use commands to forward calls if your operator provides such services.
Configure through a hidden engineering menu
For advanced users who want to access advanced filtering settings, there is an engineering menu, a hidden part of the system designed to test hardware, but also containing useful call management features, accessed through a special set of commands in dialer code.
To get into the menu, open the Phone app and dial the combination ##4636##. If the code is suitable for your model and Android version, the Testing menu will open. Here you need to select "Phone information." In this section, you can find redirect and lock settings that are not visible in the normal interface.
| Parameter | Description of function | Default status |
|---|---|---|
| Call Barring | Blocking all outgoing/incoming | Off. |
| Voicemail | Redirection to voice mail | Depends on the operator. |
| Preferred Network | Selection of network type (LTE/3G) | Auto |
| SMS Service Center | Communications centre | Active. |
Risks of using the engineering menu
It should be understood that the interface of the engineering menu may differ on different models of Redmi and POCO. On new versions of Android 12-14, access to certain features may be limited by the manufacturer for security reasons. If the code does not work, try the alternative ##3646633##, which is often used in MediaTek devices.
This method is justified if the standard methods do not give the desired result or if you need to configure specific scenarios of network behavior, however, for a simple lock of one number, it is better to use the standard tools described in the previous sections to avoid accidental breakage of the software part of the phone.
Application of third-party applications for filtering
The MIUI tools are good, but sometimes they don't work well enough, like masked numbers or updated spam databases, and third-party apps that you can find on the Google Play Market come to the rescue.
One of the most popular solutions is the Calls Blacklist app, which allows you to create complex rules: block all hidden numbers, all unknown contacts or numbers that start with a certain combination of numbers, and it runs in the background and intercepts calls before the system has time to show a call notification.
- 🛡️ Calls Blacklist – a powerful tool with flexible rule settings.
- 📞 Blacklist Plus – a simple interface and the ability to block SMS.
- 🚫 Should I Answer? – crowdsourcing database of spam numbers with automatic locking.
When installing these apps, Android will ask for a number of permissions, you will need to give access to the phone book, call history, and most importantly, permission to "Master Over Other Windows" and "Call Management." Without these permissions, the application will not be able to technically reset the call, because this is a limitation of the security of the operating system itself.
An important advantage of third-party apps is the availability of databases, which can automatically detect and block numbers that other users have flagged as “Spam,” “Call Center,” or “Crackers,” eliminating the need to manually blacklist each new ad number.
Use of mobile operator services
If you don’t want to load your smartphone with additional apps or configure complex menus, you can shift the task to the shoulders of your mobile operator. Large companies (MTS, Beeline, MegaFon, Tele2) offer services “Anti-Definition” or “Black List”, which work on the network side.
The main advantage of this approach is that it's device-independent, and locking will work even if the phone is off, out of range, or you have a button call, and there's no charge for incoming blocked calls, but there's a subscription fee for the service itself.
Activation most often occurs through USSD-For example, adding a number to a list often looks like sending a message with numbers to a short number. The exact commands depend on the tariff plan and the region, so it is better to check the current information on the provider's website.
⚠️ Attention: When the operator-side lock is blocked, the caller may hear different signals: “subscriber is busy”, “unavailable” or long horns.
The operator service is ideal for older people or those who do not want to understand the settings of the Xiaomi smartphone. Just send one SMS, and the problem is solved. However, it is worth considering that the databases of spam numbers for operators are often less relevant than for specialized applications.
Frequent problems and their solution
Despite the ease of setting up, users sometimes face situations where the blacklist does not work correctly, the number seems to be added, but calls continue to arrive, or, conversely, important contacts are blocked, most often the problem lies in a conflict of programs or malfunctions in the system application "Security".
One common reason is aggressive energy saving: MIUI is known for its strict control of background processes. If the application responsible for blocking (even the system) is “sucked” by the system, it will not be able to process the incoming call in time, you need to check the battery settings and set the operating mode for the corresponding applications on “No restrictions”.
It’s also worth checking if Do Not Disturb (DND) is enabled, which can conflict with blacklist settings or block all calls except favorites. Make sure that the DND settings don’t tick “Block All” if you want to receive calls from other people.
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If the blacklist has stopped working, first of all, clear the cache of the Security and Phone app, and check for system updates.
In rare cases, the problem may be related to the format of the number record: the system may perceive the number +7... and 8... as two different addresses. If the lock does not work, try adding the number to the blacklist in an international format by removing the eight and adding the country code.
By following these guidelines, you can effectively manage your communication space. Xiaomi smartphones provide all the necessary tools for this, making the process simple and understandable even for inexperienced users. Competent filtering settings will allow you to focus on the really important things without being distracted by information noise.