How to avoid calling from unknown numbers on Xiaomi

Constant calls with ads, banking offers or outright spam can turn a smartphone owner’s life into a nightmare, especially for users of the Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO ecosystem, where standard settings may not be obvious to the beginner. Fortunately, the MIUI and HyperOS shell has powerful built-in tools for protection from uninvited guests, which is often more effective than third-party applications.

In this article, we'll look at all the ways you can do it, from simply turning on a silent mode for hidden subscribers to using hidden operator codes, and you'll learn to set up a Blacklist so that the phone only rings for the people you're really waiting for, so you can regain your peace of mind and focus on the important things without being distracted by annoying beeps.

Use of the built-in MIUI call filter

The first thing to start with is to activate standard security features. Unlike pure Android, Xiaomi devices have a deeply integrated protection module that works at the system level, and to access it, you need to open the Security app (green icon with lightning) and find the Antispam partition.

This is where the basic functionality for managing incoming traffic is hidden, where you can flexibly adjust responses to different types of numbers, for example, you can choose a mode where hidden number calls are automatically reset without notifying the user, which is ideal for those who want complete silence.

It is important to note that Xiaomi’s algorithms are constantly updated through cloud databases, which allows you to effectively identify new phone numbers, but for maximum efficiency, it is recommended to manually check the lock settings.

⚠️ Warning: When you turn on the “Block All Unknown Numbers” mode, make sure you don’t expect an important call from a courier or doctor whose number is not stored in your phone book.

For detailed settings, go to the anti-spam settings menu (usually the gear in the corner of the screen) and activate the option “Block Hidden Numbers” here. Once activated, any calls where the number detector is not transmitting data (so-called No ID or Anonymous) will be instantly interrupted.

⚠️ Note: If you use a corporate communication where the number may be hidden for security reasons, enabling this feature may result in missing work calls.

Set up a blacklist and smart filters

The Blacklist functionality of Xiaomi smartphones goes far beyond simply blocking individual contacts. It is a smart system that can analyze behavioral factors and spam databases. To access advanced settings, open the Phone app, click three dots in the corner, and select Settings → Lock.

In this section, you will find switches for different categories of calls, the system offers to block not only hidden numbers, but also numbers of other countries, if you do not plan to communicate internationally, and the feature of blocking keywords in SMS is also available, which is useful for filtering advertising messages.

• 📞 Hidden numbers: Ignoring calls without identifying a number.
• 🌍 International Challenges: Blocking codes that do not match your region.
• 🤖 Automatic spam: Using a cloud base to cut off known scammers.

The feature, Quiet Mode or Do Not Disturb, is particularly noteworthy for strangers, and some firmware versions offer an option where calls from numbers that are not in contacts simply don't make a sound, but are recorded in a missing log, a compromise for those who are afraid of missing something important.

Remember to check the log of blocked calls periodically, which will help you understand how effective the settings are, and if necessary, make adjustments. If you see important calls blocked, just add a number to the Whitelist.

Hidden codes and forwarding through the operator

If the built-in system is not enough, you can turn to deeper network settings. USSD-This allows you to redirect unwanted calls to voicemail or simply reset them at the network level before the phone has time to ring.

One of the most effective methods is to use an activation code to redirect all voice calls when the line is busy or unavailable to a number that does not exist or immediately drops the call, but a softer option is to configure through the call menu.

To access advanced call settings, type ##4636## in the caller. This will open the test menu. Select Phone Information and find the section related to call forwarding. Here you can see the current status and change it if necessary.

*#31# - Checking the status of the number


*#43# - Checking the status of waiting for a call

Using operator codes (e.g. 90 or **61* depending on the operator) allows you to set up unconditional forwarding.Be careful: misconfiguring may result in you stopping receiving any calls.

⚠️ Attention: Redirect service may be paid from your carrier. Before activating the codes, check the rates in your personal account or support service.

Third-party applications for spam protection

Despite the power of MIUI's built-in tools, it sometimes requires "heavy artillery." Third-party applications like Truecaller, Yandex.With a number detector or Kaspersky Who Calls have huge databases that are replenished by users themselves, and they can identify the caller even if he is not in your contacts.

The main advantage of these applications is crowdsourcing, where if a thousand people tag a number as “Sales”, you will be notified of this before you answer the call, and integration with Xiaomi is usually smooth, but requires broad permissions.

• 📱 Truecaller: World leader, huge base, but requires careful privacy setting.
• 🇷🇺 Yandex: Works well in Russia and CIS, defines delivery organizations and services.
• 🛡️ Kaspersky: Focus on security and fraud protection, minimalism.

When installing such an application, Xiaomi’s system can request permission to “Stop” and work in the background. Be sure to confirm these requests, otherwise the operating system will “kill” the number determination process to save battery life, and the protection will stop working.

It is worth remembering that installing a third-party number detector means transferring your phone book to the developer servers. If the confidentiality of contacts is more important for you than fighting spam, it is better to limit yourself to built-in tools or paid versions of services with a guarantee of non-disclosure.

The “Do Not Disturb” Regime as a Radical Measure

In situations where absolute silence is required, such as during sleep, a meeting or a movie, it is best to use Do Not Disturb mode. In Xiaomi, this mode has flexible settings, allowing you to make an exception only for selected contacts.

You can activate it through the control panel (swipe from top to bottom) or in the Sound and vibration settings. → Don't bother. You can set a schedule here so that the phone goes into that mode automatically at certain times of the day.

The key setting for our theme is in the exception settings: You can only allow calls from Favorites or Contacts, in which case all unknown and hidden numbers will be locked for the duration of the mode, without making a sound or vibrating.

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Set up automatic Do Not Disturb mode from 23:00 to 07:00 to prevent late-night erroneous calls or spam from waking you up.

There's also a recalling feature, which is that if the same number rings twice in 3-5 minutes, the phone will miss that call, thinking it's an emergency, and it's a useful insurance policy in case someone actually tries to reach you.

Log analysis and leak prevention

Call blocking is a fight against the consequences, and to reduce the number of unwanted contacts in the future, it's worth analyzing where these numbers come from, and often we leave our data on dubious sites, in questionnaires or when we register for applications.

It is recommended to have a second, dirty number for registering on forums, participating in promotions and receiving discount cards. Keep the main number secret and let only close and official services (bank, public services), This drastically reduces the flow of spam.

Periodically check which apps have access to your contacts and calls. Revoke extra permissions. Go to Settings → Privacy Protection → Permissions Manager and check the list of apps with access to your phone.

If spam calls come from a specific organization, you have the right to file a complaint with Roskomnadzor (for Russia) or the relevant regulator in your country, and large companies are afraid of fines and may remove your number from the call database.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The comprehensive approach – a combination of Xiaomi’s built-in filter, Do Not Disturb mode and caution when leaving a room – guarantees maximum spam protection.