How to disable spam calls on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Daily usage of Xiaomi’s smartphone can be marred by sudden promotional messages or intrusive service offers that come at the most inopportune moment. Users often face a situation where MIUI system or installed apps begin aggressively promoting content, interrupting work or rest. This is not just an annoyance, but also a potential threat to the security of personal data, as spam often hides phishing attempts.

Solving the problem requires a holistic approach, as the sources of noise can be different from embedded advertising in system applications to malware that hit the device. In this article, we will examine all available methods, from standard privacy settings to deeper technical solutions, you do not have to be an expert in programming to regain the comfort of using the gadget.

Effectively combating intrusive notifications begins with understanding where they come from. Often users accidentally allow ads to be displayed by installing free apps or agreeing to the terms of use of services. Antivirus protection and the correct system configuration are your main tools in the fight for a clean screen.

Analysis of spam calls and notifications

Before you start blocking, you need to clearly identify the source of the problem. On Xiaomi smartphones, there are several levels through which unwanted content can penetrate. Most often, system applications such as Security, Conductor or Music, which are set by default to receive advertising recommendations from the manufacturer, are the culprits.

The second common reason is third-party apps you installed from Google Play or third-party sources.Many free utilities, flashlights or scanners QR-These programs use aggressive monetization, even on the desktop or on top of other windows, and they often disguise themselves as system processes, but they can be calculated from unusual behavior.

If spam calls come from unknown numbers with short horns or automatic messages, this may indicate bot activity or your number leaked to databases.

• 📱 System notifications MIUI — embedded advertising in standard applications.
• 📲 Third-party applications – programs with aggressive monetization and hidden permissions.
• 🦠 Malware – viruses, miners and trojans that generate traffic.
• 📞 Spam calls – automatic calls from telemarketers and robots.

Understanding the nature of the source allows you to choose the right method of elimination. If this is a system advertising, you can help set up your Xiaomi account. If a virus requires a deep cleaning and removal of suspicious programs. Don't ignore the first signs, as the number of notifications can only grow over time.

Advertising blocking in MIUI system applications

The most effective way to reduce digital noise is to disable the built-in MSA (MIUI System Ads) ad service, which is a system process that collects user data and displays personalized ads in the shell interface, and disabling this service does not disrupt the smartphone, but only removes intrusive banners.

First, you need to go to your account settings. Open Settings, find the Passwords and Security section, and select Access to Personal Data. In the list, find the msa process and turn off the switch. The system will ask you to wait 10 seconds, then click "Cancel." If you fail the first time, repeat the procedure several times.

Then you should turn off receiving recommendations in each system application separately. Go to the Security settings, click on the gear in the corner and find the "Receive recommendations" option by turning it off. Similar actions should be done for the "Music", "Video", "Conductor", "Downloads" and "Themes" applications.

⚠️ Note: The item “Receive recommendations” may be called differently depending on the version MIUI, For example, "Recommendations" or "Show ads." Carefully study all menu items within system applications.

Once you do this, the number of pop-ups and banners in the interface will be significantly reduced, but this does not protect against calls from unknown numbers, which requires other methods of filtering traffic.

Set up a built-in call blocker

MIUI has a powerful built-in tool for filtering incoming calls and SMS. It works on databases and spam detection algorithms, allowing you to automatically drop calls from scammers and advertising agencies. Activating this (function) is the first step to silence.

To set up the locker, open the Security app (green zipper icon). At the bottom of the screen, find and select Lock. Here you will see the current security status and a list of locked numbers. Click on the gear icon in the upper right corner to access the advanced settings.

In the lock settings menu (mainly focus) focus on the Call Filter and SMS Filter sections. You can enable the option to “Block Hidden Numbers” to help get rid of many automated calls. There is also a “Keyword Block” feature available to screen out messages with specific text, such as “credit” or “winning”.

It is important to update the blocker databases regularly. In the locking settings, there is often a “Update database” option that should be activated when connecting to Wi-Fi, which will ensure that the lists of known spammers are up to date.

Use of third-party applications for protection

Staff funds are sometimes not enough, especially when spammers are constantly changing numbers, and in such cases, specialized identifiers come to the rescue, using crowdsourcing (crowdsourcing) to identify callers, with Yandex, Kaspersky Who Calls and GetContact leading the way.

Yandex with Alice is a great way to identify advertising numbers in the Russian-speaking segment, and once installed and given the necessary permissions, it will automatically detect spam and offer to drop a challenge or mark it with the appropriate color, the main advantage is the high relevance of the databases for Russia and the CIS.

Kaspersky Who Calls offers a more conservative approach with a focus on security, not only detecting spam, but also checking numbers for fraudsters, and it’s important to note that these programs require access to your phone book and call history, which is a trade-off between convenience and privacy.

• 🛡️ Yandex is the best base for Russia, integration with voice assistant.
• 🔒 Kaspersky – High level of security, fraud check.
• 📞 GetContact – lets you see how your number is recorded by others (tags).
• 🚫 Blacklist – Simple applications for manual locking on masks.

When using third-party detectors, it is recommended to carefully monitor permissions. Some applications may require excessive rights, such as access to a microphone in the background or access to the file system, which is not necessary for their main function.

Limiting Advertising Identifiers and Personalization

Advertisers use your device’s unique advertising identifier to track interests and serve targeted ads. Resetting or restricting this identifier makes your digital profile less visible to data collection algorithms.This will not eliminate spam calls completely, but will reduce their accuracy and frequency.

To manage these settings, go to Settings → Passwords & Security → Privacy. Find Ads or Special Ad Opportunities. Here you will see the option to Remove Ad ID or Reset Ad ID. Regularly resetting this code breaks the link between your current activity and your accumulated profile.

Also in this section, you should disable ad personalization.This will prevent Google and Xiaomi system services from using your search history and geolocation to select ads. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of Android, but the essence remains the same: minimizing the digital footprint.

⚠️ Note: After resetting the advertising ID, the ads will not disappear completely, they will simply become less relevant to your interests.

In addition, check permissions for Google Play Services. In the application settings, search for Google Play Services, go to the permissions section and restrict access to location or contacts unless urgently needed.

Radical measures: the regime “Do not disturb” and the blacklist

If spam calls are massive and interfere with work, the most effective temporary solution is to activate the Do Not Disturb mode, which, unlike conventional lockdown, completely disables audio and vibration signals, allowing only calls from selected contacts to pass.

You can set the mode through the notification curtain or in Settings → Sound and vibration → Do not disturb. In the settings of the mode, be sure to set permission to skip calls “Favorites Only”. Add the numbers of loved ones, colleagues and delivery services to the favorites list in the phone book in advance so that you do not miss an important call.

For permanent protection, you can use the mask blacklist function. If you receive a call from a number that starts with a certain number (for example, +7999...), you can block the entire range. In the Phone app, click three dots in the corner, select Settings → Lock numbers and add a mask.

💡

Use Do Not Disturb mode on schedule. Set up automatic turn on from 23:00 to 07:00 so that late-night spam calls (often from automated callers) do not wake you up.

Remember that total blocking can cause you to miss a call from a courier or emergency service, so only use hard filters during periods of high spammer activity or while you are resting.

💡

The combination of the built-in MIUI blocker and the Do Not Disturb mode for selected contacts provides maximum protection against noise pollution at critical moments.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Compliance with these guidelines will allow you to significantly improve the comfort of using a Xiaomi smartphone. Regularly check the system updates and antivirus databases to ensure that protection remains relevant against new threats.