Blocking unfamiliar numbers on Xiaomi Redmi: the full guide 2026

Spam calls and messages from unfamiliar numbers have become a real problem for smartphone owners. According to Kaspersky 2023, one in three Android users encounter fraudulent calls every week, and 18% receive more than 10 spam SMS per month. Xiaomi Redmi smartphones based on MIUI offer several built-in tools to combat this - from a simple blacklist to smart filters based on a database of scammers.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can block unknown numbers, from standard MIUI 12/13/14 features to advanced third-party applications, and focus on the nuances of working with different Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro+ vs Redmi 10C), and explain why some methods may not work on firmware for global and Chinese markets. If you’re tired of intrusive call centers or suspicious SMS asking for “confirm data,” this guide will help you regain control of incoming calls.

Before you get to the settings, check the version of MIUI on your device: Setting path → About phone → MIUI version. This affects the availability of certain features. For example, MIUI 14 introduced a mode called "Silent hour for strangers", which is not available in earlier versions.

Blacklist in the standard appendix "Phone"

The easiest way to block a number is to blacklist it through the built-in Phone app, which works on all Redmi models regardless of the MIUI version and does not require any additional software installation.

To add a number to the blacklist:

1. Open the Phone app (the tube icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the magazine tab and find the desired number.
3. Click on the number, then select Block (the barring circle icon).
4. Confirm the action in the window that appears.

Alternative path: Telephone → ⋮ (three-point) → Settings → Blacklist → Add a number. You can manually enter a number or select from contacts/call logs.

Check the version of MIUI|Save important numbers in contacts |Make sure the number does not belong to the bank / support |Make a backup of contacts-->

Limitations of the method:

• 📵 Do not block SMS from this number (only calls).
• 🔄 Numbers in the blacklist are not synchronized with the Xiaomi account – when you reset your phone, the list will be cleared.
• 📊 Maximum 500 numbers in the list (limitation) MIUI).

⚠️ Note: If you block a bank or delivery number, you will not receive important transaction or order status notifications. Before blocking, check the number through a search engine (for example, type in Google: "phone number" +79XXXXX who").

2. Spam filtering through "Protection and Privacy"

Since MIUI 12, Xiaomi has integrated a “Protect and Privacy” module into the system, which automatically detects spam calls and fraudulent SMS, a feature that uses Xiaomi’s cloud database, which is updated daily.

To enable filtration:

1. Go to Settings. → Protection and confidentiality.
2. Choose Spam Protection.
3. Activate the switches: 📞 Call Filtering – Blocks known spam numbers. 💬 Filtering messages – hides SMS from scammers. 🔍 Number check – shows a warning when an incoming call from a suspicious number.

How it works:

• 📱 When an incoming call comes from a number marked as spam, a red warning will appear on the screen: “Suspicious call".
• 📉 Call automatically resets after 3 seconds (default setting).
• 📤 Spam SMS moves to the Spam folder in the Messages app and does not show notifications.

Xiaomi’s database includes numbers:

⚠️ Attention: Spam Protection requires an internet connection to check cloud numbers (MIUI China, databases may differ – some Russian spam numbers are missing.

Mode "Silent hour for strangers" (MIUI 14+)

MIUI 14 introduces a new mode called Silent Hour for Strangers, which automatically disables the sound for all incoming calls from numbers not stored in contacts, which is useful if you want to avoid calls from strangers but not block them completely (for example, to later check the log for missed important calls).

How to turn on:

1. Open the Settings. → Sound and vibration.
2. Choose Quiet Hour.
3. Activate the Quiet Hour option for strangers.
4. Set up exceptions (for example, allow calls from Favorite Contacts).

Features of the regime:

• 🔔 Calls from strangers are not blocked, but simply muffled (no sound/vibration notification will appear on the screen).
• 📱 It works even if the phone is in "Do not disturb" mode".
• 🔄 You can set a schedule (for example, turn on automatically at night).

💡

If you are frequently called from hidden numbers, add the prefixes of important services (for example, +7495 for Moscow taxis or 900 for bank notifications) to the exceptions.

Blocking through the “Messages” app

If you're more concerned about spam than calls, you can set up filtering directly in the Messages app, and unlike the blacklist on the Phone, it's text messages that are blocked, not numbers.

Instructions:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Find spam text messages, hold your finger on it and select More.
3. Press Block the sender.
4. Enable the option to filter spam in the application settings (⋮ → Settings → Spam filter).

Additional settings:

• 🔍 Manual filter for keywords: you can add words like “winning”, “credit”, “confirm” – messages with them will automatically be marked as spam.
• 📁 Auto-delete spam: Messages older than 30 days in the Spam folder are automatically deleted.
• 🔔 Spam Notifications: You can turn off spam notifications so they don’t distract you.

Example of the filter by keywords:

Settings → Spam filter → Add the keyword → “free”, “gift”, “winning”

⚠️ Note: If you use third-party messengers (such as WhatsApp or Telegram), blocking in the standard Messages application does not apply to them.

5. Third-party applications to block spam

The built-in MIUI tools aren't perfect: they don't block hidden numbers, they don't always recognize new scams, and they don't work with some messengers. In these cases, specialized applications will help. We tested 5 popular solutions on the Redmi Note 11 Pro and Redmi 10, and the best results were:

Top.-3 Applications for Xiaomi Redmi:

How to set up Truecaller on Redmi:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Register (you can use Google or phone number).
3. Enable permissions: 📞 Phone - to block calls. 💬 Messages - to filter SMS. 📱 Auto-start (in settings) MIUI: Settings → Annexes → Permits → Auto-start).

Blocking spam

Important: Third-party spam blocking apps consume an extra battery (up to 5% per day) due to constant checking of incoming calls. On a Redmi with a weak processor (e.g. Redmi 9A), this can lead to slowdowns.

6.Blocking Hidden Numbers and International Spam

Hidden numbers (displayed as "Unknown" or "Private Number") and calls from abroad (prefixes) +880, +886, +375) often used by fraudsters. MIUI They don’t block them by default, but there are workarounds.

Methods of blocking:

• 🌍 Through Truecaller: Open Truecaller and go to Settings → Block. Enable the option to Block Hidden Numbers. Add country prefixes to the Blacklist. → International numbers.

Through operator settings (for MTS, Beeline, MegaFon):

• Send SMS with text 1 to 2270 (MTS) or 5502 (Beeline) to activate the service "Spam Protection".
• Cost: ~3 RUB/day, but blocks most international scams.

Through Engineering Mode (for advanced users):

Prefixes of numbers that are most often used by fraudsters:

• 🇧🇩 +880 (Bangladesh) - "You won the prize".
• 🇹🇼 +886 (Taiwan) – “Bank card problems".
• 🇧🇾 +375 (Belarus) – “Call back on important business".
• 🇺🇦 +380 (Ukraine) – Russian bank numbers are often forged.

For Chinese firmware (MIUI CN):

• 🔄 Spam Numbers Base Targets China – Russian Fraudsters May Slip.
• 📱 No support for Google services, so Truecaller may not work smoothly.
• 🔧 Solution: Install Google Services Framework with Xiaomi ADB/Fastboot Tools or use Hiya.

8. Additional protection measures

In addition to locking numbers, it is worth taking additional measures to minimize the risk of becoming a victim of fraud:

Safety checklist:

• 🔒 Turn off call redirection: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Call forwarding → Disable all Scammers can activate the forwarding of your calls to their number through USSD-team.
• 📵 Don't publish a number publicly: Check if your number is listed on sites like Avito, Yula, or social media. Use services like GetContact to see how your number is displayed on others.
• 🛡️ Install antivirus: Apps like Kaspersky Mobile or Dr.Web block phishing links in SMS.
• 📱 Set up two-factor authentication: Enable 2FA For Xiaomi account (Settings) → Xiaomi account → Security) so that fraudsters can’t remotely reset your settings.

Signs of a fraudulent call:

• 🚨 Call from an unfamiliar number and introduce themselves as a bank/tax employee.
• 💳 Please name it. CVC-card code, password from SMS or install "special application for protection".
• 🎁 Report a winning you did not participate in.
• 📞 The number starts with +7900, +7999 or foreign prefix.