Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face intrusive calls from advertising agencies or scammers. The standard MIUI shell and its modern version of HyperOS have powerful built-in protection tools, but they are not always activated by default. Many users simply do not know where to look for the necessary switches to effectively combat unwanted calls.
There are several layers of protection, from simply manually locking a particular subscriber to connecting cloud databases that automatically detect spam. Ignoring this issue can lead not only to time loss, but also to financial risks if you accidentally answer a call from a scammer. In this article, we will take a detailed look at all the available methods so that you can customize your gadget as efficiently as possible.
It's important to understand that there's no universal stop spam button, because scammers are constantly changing numbers. However, a competent call filtering setting can cover up to 95% of junk traffic. We'll look at both the regular system tools and third-party solutions that work perfectly in conjunction with the Chinese manufacturer's devices.
Use of built-in call blocker
The first and most reliable step is to activate the standard functionality that is already integrated into Phone and Messages. MIUI is based on the security engine from Avast or Tencent (depending on the firmware region), which allows you to effectively sift through known spam databases. To start working, you need to go to the Phone application and click on three dots in the upper right corner, selecting Settings.
In the menu that opens, you're interested in the "Block" section, and that's where the basic controls for incoming traffic are hidden, you can manually blacklist a specific contact or activate automatic rules, for example, the system can automatically reject calls from hidden numbers or from anyone who's not in your phone book.
- 📱 Go to the Phone menu and select Lock Settings».
- 🚫 Add a specific number to the Blacklist for eternal locking.
- ⚙️ Activate the “Block Hidden Numbers” switch if you don’t care about anonymous calls.
- 📂 Use the “Keyword Block” function to SMS-spam.
Special attention should be paid to the setting “Keyword Blocking”, which is indispensable for filtering. SMS-Just add the words “credit”, “winning” or “promotion” and the system will automatically delete or hide such messages without disturbing you with notifications.
Setting up antivirus and cloud databases
In order for a smartphone to know about new fraud numbers, it must have access to an up-to-date database. The built-in Security app (green lightning icon) allows you to connect cloud-based number verification, a critical step, as manually adding each spam call is inefficient.
Open the Security app and find the Antispam section, where you need to enable the option “Update databases automatically” to allow your Xiaomi device to check incoming numbers against a global list of known scammers in real time. If a caller is tagged by thousands of users as spam, your phone will simply keep it from ringing.
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Enable the “Show Definition Number” option in the Antispam settings to see the “Advertising” or “Fraud” mark before you even answer the call.
You can also fine-tune filters in this section, you can adjust the aggressiveness of the lock, if you're waiting for an important call from an unfamiliar number (such as a courier or a doctor), you better set the average level of protection to avoid missing the call, and if the spam is completely tortured, you can turn on the "Only from contacts" mode.
⚠️ Note: When you turn on Contact Only mode, you may miss important calls from delivery, taxi or emergency services if their numbers are not saved in your notebook.
Remember to check the lock log periodically, and sometimes legitimate calls can be made because of database errors, and the Security app has a log tab where you can see who tried to reach you and unlock the number if necessary.
Manual locking and blacklist management
Often times, when a harassing caller calls from different numbers or you want to block a particular person, manual control of the blacklist in the shell of MIUI is implemented quite conveniently, you can block the number directly from the history of calls or through contacts.
For quick lock, open your call history, tap the "i" icon or arrow next to the number, and select "Block." Then the caller will hear the beeps, but your phone won't vibrate or ring. To the caller himself, it will look like a normal reset or busyness, depending on the operator's settings.
☑️ Checking settings
Control of the blocked contacts list is also available through the phone's settings menu, where you can import and export lists, and add entire ranges of numbers if spam comes from a specific series of codes, especially in regions where scammers use virtual numbers with the same prefixes.
However, in the context of the Xiaomi smartphone itself, they will be completely isolated from being able to contact you via standard communication channels.
Third-party applications for spam protection
Staff funds are sometimes not enough, especially if spam comes from new numbers that have not yet been entered in the database, in which specialized applications from Google Play come to the rescue, with Truecaller, Kaspersky Who Calls and Call Blocker leading the niche.
Truecaller has one of the largest databases of numbers in the world, and it detects callers even when they're not in your contacts by showing you a name or organization, but it's worth considering that these applications require extensive permissions, including access to contacts and call history, to work.
- 🛡️ Truecaller is a market leader with a huge number base and call recording feature.
- 🇷🇺 Kaspersky Who Calls is a great solution with an emphasis on the CIS and Russian number databases.
- 📵 Call Blocker is a lightweight application that specializes in blocking, not determining.
When installing third-party software, Android will request permission to use the application as the default number detector, a mandatory procedure without which the program will not be able to intercept an incoming call before you pick up the phone. Once confirmed in the number definition and spam settings, the functionality will be activated.
Impact on the battery
Comparison of methods of protection against unwanted calls
To make it easier for you to choose the best strategy, we have compiled a comparative table of different methods, each with its own advantages and disadvantages depending on your needs and level of paranoia about spam.
Xiaomi’s regular tools are good because they don’t require additional software and are deeply integrated into the system, consuming minimal resources. Third-party applications provide more detailed information about the caller, but require trust in the developer and access to personal data.
| Protection method | Efficiency | Impact on the battery | Difficulty setting up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacklist (manually) | Low. | Absent. | Minimum |
| MIUI Antispam (cloud) | Tall. | Low. | Medium |
| Third-party applications (Truecaller) | Maximum | Average. | Tall. |
| Do Not Disturb mode | Medium | Low. | Minimum |
As you can see from the table, the middle ground is the use of built-in MIUI anti-spa with connected cloud bases, which gives you an excellent result without the need to install “heavy” applications from third parties. However, if you are in a region with a high level of phone fraud, the combination of staff funds and Kaspersky Who Calls will give you the best result.
Do Not Disturb Mode and Sound Profiles
Another powerful tool in Xiaomi’s arsenal is the Do Not Disturb mode, which, unlike simple locking, allows you to flexibly adjust schedules and exceptions, and you can set your phone to keep silent at night or during meetings, only missing repeated calls.
To activate, go to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Don't Disturb. You can create a schedule, for example, from 23:00 to 07:00. In this time interval, all calls except those marked as "Favorites" will be ignored. The caller will hear the beeps, but the phone will not make a sound.
The Repeat Call feature is especially useful, and if someone calls you a second time within 3 minutes, the system treats it as an emergency and misses the call even if silence is on, it's insurance in case you really need to contact your loved ones.
⚠️ Warning: Do Not Disturb mode may hide notifications from messengers and social media.Make sure to add important apps to the exclusion list so you don't miss a message from work or family.
Hidden codes and engineering settings
There are advanced users. USSD-codes and hidden menus that allow you to manage forwarding and other network functions. Although you can't remove a number directly from spam through an engineering menu, you can set up a redirection of occupied numbers to voicemail or another phone, which indirectly helps filter calls.
One of the useful codes for checking the status of the redirect is *#21#. It shows where your calls, SMS and data are being redirected, and if you see an unknown number there, it's possible that your phone has been attacked or the setting has been changed by malware.
Also worth mentioning is the *#67# command, which shows the number a call goes to when the line is busy, and knowing these codes helps you control where your calls go in various situations, and make sure the operator doesn't connect you to paid services without knowing.
Remember, the engineering menu (##6484##) is designed to test hardware components, so you don't have to go in there without accidentally knocking the sensors or the screen down, and you can use the standard phone settings to fight spam.