How to turn on anti-spam calls on Xiaomi: all ways to protect against scammers

Spam calls have become a scourge of modern smartphones, with scammers, intrusive marketers and automated informers distracting at the most inopportune moment. Xiaomi owners have several tools in their arsenal to combat this problem, from built-in MIUI features to hidden settings and third-party solutions, but many users are not even aware of the existence of these capabilities or do not know how to use them correctly.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to enable anti-spam on Xiaomi, including little-known tricks for advanced users, SIM-Maps and applications, and how different the features on different versions MIUI (We will focus on common errors that negate all protection and give recommendations on optimal configuration for maximum safety.

Built-in protections in MIUI: an overview of the possibilities

The manufacturer has integrated multiple layers of unsolicited call protection into the MIUI shell, the main tools are concentrated in the standard Phone app, but some of the features are hidden in the security settings. Let's take a closer look at them.

The most obvious way is to blacklist, but it works reactively: you first have to get a call from a spammer to block it. More advanced mechanisms analyze numbers in real time, comparing them to fraud databases. Recent versions of MIUI 14/15 have introduced Spam Recognition, which uses Xiaomi cloud services to identify suspicious numbers.

• 📱 Blacklist – Manually locking specific numbers
• ☁️ Cloud-based spam – automatic identification of scammers
• 🔍 Keyword Filtering – Blocking calls with specific tags (e.g., “credit”, “winning” or “blocking")
• 🛡️ Protection SIM-cards - operator services (MegaFon, Beeline, MTS)

It is important to understand that the effectiveness of embedded tools depends on the region and version of the firmware. For example, in European versions of MIUI, the cloud verification function can be disabled at the request of the GDPR. In such cases, you will have to rely on third-party solutions or manual settings.

Step-by-step: how to turn on antispam in the standard application "Phone"

Start with basic customization through the standard Phone app, which works on all modern Xiaomi smartphones, including Redmi, POCO and flagship series. Follow the instructions carefully - some menu items may vary depending on the firmware version.

Open the Phone app and go to Recents, and tap the three-point menu in the top right corner and select Settings.

Settings → Blocking and Spam Protection → Enable “Spam Protection”

After activating the main switch, we recommend setting additional parameters:

Insert "Show a spam warning"|Activate "Block spam calls"|Add the journal to the blacklist (if necessary)|Insert "Message filtering" (if available)-->

Important detail: In some regional versions of MIUI (e.g. EU), the cloud verification function may be disabled by default due to GDPR requirements. In this case, you will have to manually add numbers to the blacklist or use third-party applications.

Hidden anti-spam settings: what can be enabled through the engineering menu

For advanced users who are willing to dive deep into the system's settings, there is the option to activate additional layers of protection through an engineering menu, which are not officially documented, but can greatly improve the filtering of unwanted calls.

Warning: Incorrect changes to the engineering menu can cause malfunctions in the phone, and if you are not sure about your actions, you should skip this section or back up your data before experimenting.

In the engineering menu, we are interested in the parameters related to call processing. Go to the Telephony section (or similar) and find the following settings:

• 🔧 Call Blocking Mode – Call Blocking Mode (set 1 for aggressive filtering)
• 📞 Spam Call Rejection – Opt out of spam calls (enable if available)
• 🌐 Network Spam Protection – Network Spam Protection (works with operator support)

Be careful with the Call Blocking Mode option — at 2, it can block even legitimate calls from unknown numbers. The optimal value for most users is 1.

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Before you change the settings in the engineering menu, write down the initial values on paper, which will help you return the settings to their original state if you have problems.

Use of operator anti-spam services on Xiaomi

Many Russian telecom operators provide their own spam protection services that can be integrated with Xiaomi’s smartphone, which are often more effective than those built into MIUI, as they use current fraud databases and operate at the network level.

Each operator has its own connection mechanism:

• 📶 MTS: service "Spam Protection" (connected via USSD-team *111*789# or in a private office)
• 🟠 Beeline: Antispam option (activated via *110*789# or the "My Beeline" app")
• 🟢 MegaFon: Service "Protection against fraudsters" (connection through the *105*789#)
• 🔴 Tele2: Antispam function (configured in the personal account)

Once you have the operator’s anti-spam, your Xiaomi will have an additional tag for incoming calls, such as MTS labeling spam calls as “Suspicious Number” and Beeline labeling them as “Possible Spam” and duplicated them in the standard Phone app.

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Operator anti-spam services work independently of the MIUI version and smartphone model, filtering calls before the signal reaches your phone, making them more reliable than software solutions.

It is worth noting that some operators charge a small fee for these services (usually 3-5 rubles per month).

Third-party apps to block spam: what works better on Xiaomi

If MIUI and carrier services are not enough, you can use third-party apps. Google Play has dozens of spam blocking solutions available, but not all of them are optimized for Xiaomi. We tested the most popular options and selected the ones that show the best results.

When choosing an application, pay attention to the following criteria:

• 🔄 Relevance of spammer database – how often the list of scammers is updated
• 🛡️ Security level – does the app block not only calls, but also SMS
• 📊 Performance statistics – percentage of spam calls successfully blocked
• 🔋 Battery impact – some anti-spam apps severely drain the battery

When installing third-party anti-spam applications, be prepared to give them access to call logs and contacts, which is necessary for proper operation, but poses potential privacy risks, and we recommend using only proven solutions with high ratings and a large number of installations.

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Before installing third-party anti-spam, disable the built-in protection in MIUI to avoid conflicts between filtering systems.

Common Mistakes When Setup Anti-Spam on Xiaomi

Many users are faced with anti-spam either not working at all or blocking the right calls, and 90% of the time, the problem is incorrect settings or conflicts between different security systems, and we've collected the most common errors and ways to fix them.

The most common problem is that multiple anti-spam systems are activated simultaneously, for example, if you turn on both the built-in MIUI protection and the carrier service and the third-party application, they can interfere with each other, and as a result, spam calls pass, and important calls are blocked.

• ❌ System conflict – multiple anti-spam solutions work simultaneously
• ❌ Important database – spammer lists have not been updated for a long time
• ❌ Too aggressive settings – even legitimate numbers are blocked
• ❌ Lack of rights – application is not given the necessary permissions

Another common mistake is ignoring updates: both system and third-party anti-spam solutions require regular database updates, and if you haven’t updated MIUI firmware or a spam-blocking app in a long time, its effectiveness is significantly reduced.

Pay special attention to setting up the whitelist. Many users forget to add important numbers (banks, delivery services, work) to it, which then wonder why they can not get an important call. In MIUI, the whitelist is configured in the section Blocking and spam protection → Whitelist.

Additional Protection Measures: How to Minimize Risks

Even the most advanced anti-spam system doesn't guarantee 100%, and scammers are constantly improving their methods, so it's important to take a holistic approach, and we recommend combining technical protections with simple digital hygiene rules.

Start by setting up caller identification, and MIUI has a feature that shows the name of an organization or a person, even if the number is not saved in the contacts, which helps you quickly assess whether to answer the call, and it's activated here:

Settings → Applications → Phone → Identification of the caller → On.

Additional security measures:

• 🔐 Two-factor authentication – enable it for all important accounts
• 📵 Do Not Disturb – Set a schedule to block all calls at night
• 🔄 Backup Contacts – Keep Contacts in the Cloud Regularly
• 📞 Alternative number – use the second number for registration and public contact

If you frequently encounter spam calls to a specific number (such as a workman), consider using virtual phone calls. SIM-Maps or services like Google Voice, which will separate personal contacts from public ones and significantly reduce unwanted calls.

FAQ: answers to frequent questions about anti-spam on Xiaomi