How to set up anti-spam on Xiaomi: a complete guide to blocking annoying calls and SMS

Spam calls and SMS-The problem with mailings has become a real scourge of modern smartphones, and owners of Xiaomi devices often face this problem more often than others, the reason lies in the popularity of the brand and the openness of the platform. MIUI, But the user's arsenal has several tools to deal with unwanted contacts, from built-in features to specialized applications.

In this article, we will discuss 5 Proven ways to set up anti-spam on Xiaomi, including hidden system features that the manufacturer does not advertise. You will learn how to block not only obvious spam, but also β€œgray” numbers with swapped identifiers, and also learn how to filter notifications from suspicious applications. MIUI 14/15 newest Redmi/POCO, where the security algorithms have been substantially improved.

It's important to understand that there's no one-size-fits-all solution. Fraudsters are constantly adapting, so effective protection requires a combination of methods. We've tested every way on real devices, from the budget Redmi 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra, and we're ready to share the results. If you're tired of calling from the bank or SMS every day with loan offers, this guide will help you regain control of your phone.

1. Built-in antispam in MIUI: Hidden opportunities

The manufacturer has integrated a powerful anti-spam tool into MIUI, but many users are unaware of its existence, a feature called Protection and Anti-Spam, which is hidden in the depths of security settings to activate it:

  1. Go to Settings β†’ Applications β†’ Security
  2. Select Protection and Antispam (some firmware may call Antispam and Blocking)
  3. Activate the Switch Blocking Spam Calls and Message Filtering
  4. In the section Filter Settings, set the level of protection to Strict (recommended for most users)

The feature of this tool is the use of a cloud database Xiaomi, which is updated in real time, the system analyzes not only numbers, but also message templates, which allows you to block even new spam mailings, for example, if fraudsters have started using a new number to distribute phishing SMS, information about it will appear in the database in 12-24 hours.

πŸ’‘

After activating anti-spam, check the Block Log section after 2-3 days, where you will see all blocked attempts and you can add false positives to the whitelist.

The MIUI 15 models have an option called Fraudulent Call Recognition, which uses AI to analyze the voice of the interlocutor and can interrupt the conversation if the system suspects an automated robot call, which only works for incoming calls and requires an Internet connection.

2 Manual addition of numbers to the blacklist

Xiaomi's built-in database covers about 80 percent of spam traffic, but some numbers may slip, and there's a blacklist for those cases where you can add contacts manually.

  • πŸ“ž From the call log: click on the number β†’ Lock down β†’ confirm
  • πŸ’¬ Isa SMS-Chat: Open the dialogue β†’ three-point β†’ Lock down
  • βš™οΈ Through Settings: Settings β†’ SIM-maps and mobile networks β†’ Number locking

The important detail is that the blacklist in Xiaomi works at the system level, not on a single application, which means that the blocked number will not be able to:

  • πŸ“± Call you (call will be dropped automatically)
  • πŸ“© Send. SMS (messages will not be delivered)
  • πŸ”” Send notifications via messengers (if the number is linked to the account)

On two-device devices. SIM-cards (Dual) SIM) The blacklist is separate for each card, and if you want to block the number globally, add it to the list for both. SIM.

How to check if the lock is working?
To make sure that the number is indeed locked, try calling your phone from another device using a locked number. You should hear short horns (as with a busy number), and your Xiaomi will not show any notifications about a missed call. For SMS, checking is more difficult - ask a friend to send a test message from a locked number. If everything is set up correctly, the message will not appear in the Inbox folder and will not be marked as spam.

3. Third-party anti-spam apps: TOP-3 for Xiaomi

If the built-in MIUI tools aren't enough, you can use specialized applications, and we tested dozens of solutions and selected the three most effective for Xiaomi devices:

AnnexFeaturesConsRatings.
Truecaller300 million numbers Real-time Spam Call Recognition Integration with MIUI (on some models)Registration is required, sometimes wrong with the "gray" numbers4.8/5
Kaspersky Who CallsCall analysis by 20+ parameters Block SMS with malicious links Low battery consumptionPremium version for full functionality4.6/5
HiyaMinimalist Interface Geolocation Blocking (e.g. all numbers from Nigeria) Reports of blocked callsSmaller number base compared to Truecaller4.5/5

When choosing an app, consider the features of your Xiaomi model. For example, on devices with MIUI 14 and below, Truecaller may conflict with system anti-spam, so turn off the built-in protection in the security settings before installing.

⚠️ Note: Some anti-spam apps request access to your phone book and call history. Check the developer's privacy policy before installing. For Xiaomi models with Chinese firmware (China) ROM) We recommend using only official applications from the Mi App Store, as third-party solutions may work unstablely.

4. Filtration setting SMS-message

Spam in SMS is often disguised as legitimate messages from banks or delivery services. MIUI has a separate module for filtering such messages, which works independently of the anti-spam for calls, to configure it:

  1. Open the Messages app
  2. Slip on three points in the upper right corner β†’ Settings
  3. Select Spam Filter β†’ Enable Filtering
  4. In the section Filtering Rules add keywords (e.g., "credit", "winning", "renewal")

Starting with MIUI 13, the system can analyze not only text, but also attachments to SMS. If a message contains a suspicious link (for example, to a phishing site), it is automatically marked as spam and hidden in a separate folder to view blocked messages:

  1. Open the Messages app
  2. Swipe left on the main screen
  3. Select the Spam folder (shield icon)

For users of Redmi Note 12 and later, the Smart Filtering feature is available, which uses machine learning to recognize spam by writing style, for example, if a message is written with many typos or contains a currency emoji (πŸ’°πŸ’³), The system automatically reduces the priority.

Is spam filter enabled in message settings

Have keywords added to your region?

Has the Spam folder been checked for false positives?

Is the firmware updated to the latest version (the spam rule database is updated with MIUI)

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5. Blocking spam notifications from applications

Not many people know, but spam can come not only through calls and SMS, but also through push notifications from installed applications, especially those that are sinning games and services with subscriptions. Xiaomi has a separate mechanism to combat such notifications:

  1. Go to Settings β†’ Notifications and Status bar
  2. Select Notification Management
  3. Find an application that sends spam (such as AliExpress or Wildberries)
  4. Turn off the switch Allow notifications or set priority to Low

For more flexible settings, use Do Not Disturb:

  • πŸ”” Settings β†’ Sounds and vibrations β†’ Don't disturb.
  • πŸ“± Select Apps and add to the list those that send spam
  • ⏰ Set up a schedule (for example, block notifications from 22:00 to 8:00)

On devices with MIUI 15, App Behavior Analysis has been introduced, which automatically reduces the priority of notifications from applications sending more than 5 messages per day. This option is enabled by default, but it can be turned off in Settings β†’ Special Features β†’ Application Behavior Analysis.

6.Additional measures: protection against β€œgray” spam

Some types of spam are hard to identify as obvious fraudulent activities, such as calls from call centers with offers of services or SMS from legitimate companies with which you have interacted.

  • πŸ“΅ Contacts Only Mode: in Call Settings (Settings) β†’ SIM-map β†’ Incoming calls, you can turn on the contact only option, and then only those who are in the phone book can call you.
  • πŸ”„ Change the virtual number: if you use the second SIM For registrations, consider services like Numo or DingDing that provide temporary numbers.
  • πŸ›‘οΈ VPN for SMS: Applications like TextNow allow you to receive messages to a virtual number, protecting the main.

Xiaomi owners with MIUI 14+ have a Private Mode feature that masks your real number when outgoing calls.

  1. Go to Settings. β†’ SIM-maps and mobile networks
  2. Choose yours. SIM-map β†’ Additional settings
  3. Activate Hide Number (some firmware may call Private Call)

This feature is useful if you have to call unfamiliar numbers (for example, when selling things on Avito), your real number will be hidden, which will reduce the risk of getting into the spammer databases.

πŸ“Š What type of spam is most often bothering you?
Calls from scammers
SMS-mailing
Notifications from annexes
Spam in messengers
Another option

7. firmware update: why it's important for anti-spam

Many Xiaomi users neglect firmware updates, unaware that with each new version of MIUI, anti-spam algorithms improve.

  • MIUI 13 has support for blocking calls with swapped numbers (spoofing)
  • MIUI 14 adds analysis of voice messages in messengers for fraud
  • MIUI 15 Integrated Neural Network to Recognize Social Engineering in SMS

To check the relevance of your firmware:

  1. Go to Settings β†’ About the phone β†’ System update
  2. Click Check for Updates
  3. If a new version is available, download and install it.

On POCO and Redmi devices with Global ROM, anti-spam updates are more common than on the Chinese versions. If your phone doesn't offer new firmware, check the region in the settings:

  1. Settings β†’ Additional β†’ Region
  2. Choose Europe or Russia (if available)
  3. Restart the device and check for updates again.

⚠️ Note: On devices with unlocked bootloader (unlocked bootloader) updates OTA It can be unstable. If you use custom firmware, anti-spam features. MIUI In this case, we recommend installing a third-party solution like Truecaller or Hiya.

FAQ: Frequent questions about anti-spam on Xiaomi

Can I block all numbers with unknown identifiers?
Yeah, in MIUI There's a function. Go to Settings. β†’ SIM-map β†’ Number locking β†’ Block unknown numbers, and note that even legitimate subscribers who are not in your phone book (e.g. couriers or colleagues) will not be able to call you after that).
Why some spam-SMS They're going through the filter anyway?
This happens for two reasons: either the spammer uses new templates that are not yet in the Xiaomi database, or the message comes through a messenger (for example, Viber or WhatsApp).
How to export a blacklist when changing your phone?
MIUI does not have a built-in blacklist export feature, but you can use a workaround: Install the Backup & Restore app from Google Play Make a backup of the Contacts app data (there is a blacklist) Move the backup to a new phone and restore the data Alternatively, manually write down the numbers from the blacklist (they can be seen in Settings β†’ Lock numbers).
Will anti-spam work if I use two? SIM-map?
Yes, but you have to configuring separately for each SIM. Built-in anti-spam MIUI specific SIM-If you block the number on the first card, SIM, If you want to block the number globally, you can blacklist it for both of them. SIM.
Can I turn off notifications about blocked calls?
Yes, these notifications can be disabled. Go to Settings β†’ Notifications and Status bar β†’ Notification management, find the Phone app and turn off the Locked Calls option. Note that after that you won't see how many calls have been blocked.