Constant calls from advertising agents, scammers and just obsessive organizations make life a real nightmare for the owner of a smartphone. Owners of Xiaomi devices running on the shells of MIUI or HyperOS often face a situation when the phone is torn from numbers that were not even saved in contacts. This is not only annoying, but also creates serious security risks, as behind the innocuous number can hide social engineering.
Fortunately, the built-in tools of Android and MIUI features allow you to effectively stop this flow. You don't have to be a technician to set up a hard filter. We'll look at all the methods available, from simple menu settings to using secret operator codes.
Before you start taking drastic measures, it’s worth figuring out which types of numbers are bothering you. Often users confuse “hidden number” (when a subscriber hid his or her ID) with “unknown number” (just not recorded in the phone book), and understanding this difference will help you choose the right filtering method.
Use of the built-in MIUI call filter
The most effective and safe way to deal with unwanted contacts is to use native functionality that has already been sewn into the firmware of your smartphone. Xiaomi developers have provided a powerful locking tool that is often hidden from the eyes of the average user in the depths of the settings menu.
To activate basic protection, you need to open the standard Phone app and click on three dots or a gear in the corner of the screen. Find the Lock Settings (or Lock) section. This is where the switch works wonders. By turning on the Block Unknown Numbers option, you automatically cut off anyone not in your notebook.
- 📞 Complete isolation: calls from numbers not in contacts will be dropped automatically without sound or vibration.
- 📂 Lock Log: All rejected calls are saved in a separate folder so you can check if you missed something important.
- ⚙️ Setting flexibility: You can set exceptions for certain prefixes or allow repeat calls from one number in a short time.
⚠️ Warning: Enabling the lock function for all unknown numbers may cause you to miss an important call from a courier, doctor or employer whose number you have not yet saved.
It is important to note that the locations of the items may vary slightly from one version of the MIUI shell to another, so if you don't find the right switch right away, search the settings by entering the word "lock" and check if the "Do Not Disturb" mode is on, which may conflict with the call filtering rules.
Setting up a “Black List” and managing contacts
If blocking all strangers seems too radical, you can go a slimmer way: The blacklist on Xiaomi smartphones allows you to create personalized filtering rules, and this is especially true when you are pestered by specific organizations or number types.
To add a number to the blacklist, open your call history, find the contact you want, click on it, and select the option "Add to the blacklist." However, manually entering each spammer is a thankless task. It is much more effective to use lock patterns. You can add rules to the lock settings menu, for example, block all numbers that start with a certain code.
☑️ Checking the blacklist settings
Special attention should be paid to the Smart Dial feature, which is often integrated with cloud databases, which can label numbers as Ads or Telemarketing, and by enabling automatic blocking of marked numbers, you will significantly reduce the amount of junk traffic.
| Type of rule | Description of action | Risk of missing a call |
|---|---|---|
| Block all hidden things. | Cuts off calls where the subscriber has hidden the number (No Caller ID) | High (can be called from banks) |
| Not from contact. | Only saved numbers are missing. | Medium (couriers, delivery) |
| Blocking by Keywords | Filters SMS and MMS content | Low. |
| Quiet mode for strangers | The call passes, but without sound or vibration. | Minimum |
Using a combination of blacklisting and smart sorting, you can create a balance between silence and accessibility, and remember to check the blocked list periodically so you don't accidentally bring important services or new contacts.
Blocking hidden numbers through operator codes
Sometimes the software settings of the smartphone itself are not effective enough, especially if the caller uses special services to change the number or hide his identifier, in which case the services of mobile operators who work at the network level come to the rescue.
There is a universal code that allows you to prevent calls from subscribers who hide their number. GSM-The #31# command is used in the module, however, to completely block incoming numbers from hidden numbers, it is often necessary to activate the service from the operator or use the command. USSD-forwarding.
**61* your voicemail number #This command redirects busy or unavailable numbers, but to block Unknown numbers, it is better to use specific settings for your tariff. For example, some operators have an Anti-AON service that blocks incoming from those who have hidden their number.
What if the code doesn't work?
It's important to understand the difference between phone-side locking and network-side locking. Network locking is more robust, because the call won't even reach your device, saving battery life and time, but it's less flexible in managing the exception list.
Use of third-party applications for protection
Android’s built-in tools are good, but spammer databases aren’t updated as quickly as you’d like. For maximum protection, many Xiaomi users turn to specialized apps, with Truecaller, Kaspersky Who Calls and GetContact leading the way.
These apps use cloud-based databases that are generated by users themselves, and if a number is labeled by thousands of people as "Spam" or "Credit Broker," the app will automatically defuse or alert you with a loud signal before you pick up the phone, and installing the software will significantly improve digital hygiene.
- 🛡️ Cloud Base: Instant updates on new fraudulent schemes.
- 🔍 Identification: Identifying the name of an organization or person without even keeping in touch.
- 📊 Statistics: analysis of incoming traffic and identification of the most active sources of spam.
⚠️ Note: When you install number-defining apps, you often give them access to your phone book, which means that your friends and colleagues' contacts can be uploaded to a shared database!
When installing a third-party blocker on Xiaomi, you need to give it all the necessary permissions. MIUI aggressively manages memory and can kill background processes. To make the blocker work correctly, fix it in memory and allow auto-start in the battery settings.
Do Not Disturb as a Temporary Measure
In situations where absolute silence is required, but no complete lock-down is possible (e.g., you are waiting for an important call from one particular person), Do Not Disturb mode is ideal. This tool is built into any version of Android and allows you to create whitelists.
You can activate mode through the notification panel (curtain) or in the Sound and Vibration settings. The main advantage is the ability to configure exceptions. You can disable all calls except those from selected contacts, or only allow calls if the subscriber calls again within 3 minutes (Recall feature).
This is good for its timeliness and flexibility, it doesn't require additional software or conflict with the system lock settings, but as a permanent solution to fight spam, it doesn't work, as it requires manual activation every time.
💡
Set up a Do Not Disturb schedule in your settings so that it turns on automatically at night, which will save you from morning calls from robots and save your nervous system.
Global Network Settings and 5G
With the development of fifth-generation (5G) networks and the introduction of new communication protocols, methods to combat spam are also evolving. Operators are implementing the STIR/SHAKEN standard, which allows you to verify the authenticity of a caller’s number. Although in Russia and the CIS this technology is implemented slowly, Xiaomi owners should keep an eye on firmware updates, since support for these standards is often added at the modem level.
In addition, in some regions, the operator’s own “Number Definer” service is available, which integrates into the Google Dialer or MIUI Dialer system call. Check in your operator’s personal account if you have basic spam protection, which often comes with the tariff.
Remember that some types of spam come via Internet Protocols (VoIP). Call blocking via Viber, WhatsApp or Telegram is set up separately in the apps themselves. In the messenger privacy settings, be sure to limit the ability to call only to contacts from your phone book.