Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the challenge of restricting access to their device or hiding information about themselves during a conversation. The question of how to lock a call can involve completely different scenarios, from a banal blacklist to hiding your own number when an outgoing call. Understanding the differences between these features is critical to properly configuring privacy.
The modern MIUI shell and the new HyperOS provide extensive communication management tools, but many users don’t know where to look for the right switches. Some features can be hidden in the depth of the menu or depend on the operator’s settings. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the ways to limit calls available on the Chinese giant’s devices.
Before you get to specific instructions, you need to define your ultimate goal: Do you want to stop hearing spammers? Do you want to make sure no one can reach you at a certain time? Or is it just to keep your number from being determined by the person you're talking to? The answers to those questions will determine which section of the guide you need.
Hiding the number when an outgoing call
One of the most common tasks is to make an anonymous call. In Xiaomi smartphones, this feature is built directly into the call settings, but its work depends on the support of the service by the mobile operator. To activate CLIR mode, you need to go to the dial menu.
Open the Phone app and click on the three dots in the top corner, then select Settings. From the list of options, look for Accounts or Additional Settings (location depends on the version of MIUI). Here you will see a list of your SIM cards. Select the one you want and find the Show Number option.
⚠️ Note: If you select Hide the number, if you have a request error or the configuration is not saved, then your operator is blocking this function at the network level.
Standard codes can be used to activate USSD-commands that operate independently of the phone model but require operator support:
- 📞 #31# – Hiding a number for one specific call (dial the code, then the subscriber number).
- 🔒 #31# – Permanently prohibiting the display of the number (requires confirmation from the operator).
- ✅ #30# – Check the current status of the display number.
This is a security requirement that cannot be circumvented by software at the smartphone level.
Setting up a blacklist and filtering spam
Blocking incoming calls from unwanted subscribers is done through the Blacklist function. Unlike hiding your number, you act as a filter. Xiaomi-based Android allows you to block not only specific contacts, but also entire groups, such as hidden numbers or users from other regions.
To access these settings, go to the Security app (green zipper icon), which is preinstalled on all the brand devices. From the bottom menu, select Blacklist. This is where the inbound restrictions control center is located, you can add a number manually or select from your call history.
The feature that deserves special attention is the "Hidden Number Block" feature, which, by activating it, will stop you from receiving calls from those who use the concealment codes we talked about above, a powerful tool against anonymous spam that is often used by scammers or intrusive marketers.
☑️ Set up call filtering
In addition to manual addition, Xiaomi offers smart filtering, which can analyze a database of spam numbers and automatically reject calls from advertising agencies or telemarketers, a feature that requires an Internet connection and sometimes an additional antivirus module from the manufacturer.
Do Not Disturb and the Silence Schedule
Sometimes you don't just have to lock a particular number, you have to shut down the soundtrack and vibrations when you call for a certain amount of time, and Xiaomi has a "Do Not Disturb" mode, which is different from turning off the phone completely, because the caller hears the beeps, but your phone is silent.
You can set this mode up via Settings → Sound and Vibration → Do Not Disturb. There's a flexible scheduler available. You can set time slots, like 23:00 to 7:00, when the phone automatically goes quiet, which is ideal for night time or meetings.
An important nuance is setting exceptions. Even in silence mode, you can allow calls from a select circle of people. To do this, in the Do Not Disturb settings, find Calls and select Only from the Favorites or Repeat Calls. The Repeat Call option will miss the call if the same number calls twice within 15 minutes.
| Parameter | Description of action | Influence on the caller |
|---|---|---|
| Blacklist | Total communication ban | Hears horns or resets |
| Don't disturb. | No sound or vibration. | Hears the usual horns |
| Air mode | Disconnection of communication modules | "Subscriber unavailable" |
| Hiding a number | Anonymity of outgoing | Sees "Private Number" |
What does the caller see on the blacklist?
Use of forwarding codes to block
There is a more radical method of blocking all incoming calls, redirecting to a non-existent number or voicemail, which works at the operator network level, so it does not depend on battery power or smartphone condition, which is often called hard locking.
This method uses forwarding codes, which can be entered directly in the dialing interface, for example, a command to forward all voice calls looks like a sequence of characters starting with an asterisk and ending with a grid, and after you type in the command, you will receive a notification from the network about the successful activation.
**21* number for redirect#To cancel all types of unconditional redirects and return the ability to receive calls, you need to enter a universal reset code, which is relevant for most Big Four operators and virtual MVNOs.
##002#⚠️ Note: Additional charges may be charged when redirected to another number according to your operator's rates.
💡
Use the ##002# code to quickly reset all redirects if you forget which settings you activated earlier, which will bring back the phone's standard behavior.
Blocking through third-party applications
MIUI is sometimes not enough for advanced users, and Google Play apps come to the rescue, offering more flexible scenarios, such as a number mask or a geographic lock, but installing them requires careful permissions.
Popular solutions like Call Blocker or Should I Answer integrate into the system and can intercept calls before a regular call, use crowdsourcing databases to detect spam, installing such software can significantly improve protection against fraud, but can also lead to increased battery consumption.
When installing a third-party blocker, Android will request permission to access calls and contacts, without which the functionality will not work, and you may need to assign a default application to handle calls, which will temporarily disable a standard Xiaomi call.
- 📱 Call Blocker – simple interface, blocking by lists.
- 🛡️ Should I Answer – a huge database of spam numbers, user reviews.
- 🚫 Blacklist is a minimalist, open source application.
Solving Challenge Blocking Problems
Often, users are faced with a situation where the settings are not applied or work incorrectly, most often the problem lies in the conflict between the settings of the phone and the services of the operator. For example, you try to hide the number, but the service "Anti-determiner" is not connected on the side of the SIM card.
Another common problem is the overflowing memory of the call log or cache of the Phone app. If blacklist doesn't work, try clearing the app data. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps, find Phone and click Clear. This won't delete your contacts, but resets the call settings.
If nothing works, check to see if your carrier’s Parental Control or Safe Family service is activated, and these services can force you to block certain types of calls or numbers, ignoring the settings of the Xiaomi smartphone itself.
💡
Most of the problems with blocking are solved by checking services with the operator or cleaning the cache of the Phone application.