Antispam on Xiaomi Poco X3: how to turn on and configure protection against unwanted calls and messages

Spam calls and messages have become a real problem for smartphone owners, and the Xiaomi Poco X3 is no exception. Despite the fact that this model runs MIUI, a proprietary shell with advanced security features, many users do not know how to properly activate built-in protection or supplement it with third-party solutions. In this article, we will analyze all the available ways to combat spam, from basic system settings to advanced tools that will help minimize the risk of getting into fraudulent tricks.

The Poco X3 is unique in that its anti-spam system is integrated not only into the standard Phone app, but also into Messages, as well as the MIUI security manager. However, by default, many features are disabled or run in minimal mode. For example, basic spam filtering in calls is active but does not block numbers from the gray lists, and SMS protection often skips advertising mailings. To work, it needs to be configured correctly - and we will show you how to do this.

It’s important to understand that spam evolves: scammers use spoofing, messaging, and even imitating service notifications. So built-in tools alone may not be enough. In this article, we’ll also look at top-3 third-party spam blocking apps that are compatible with Poco X3 and do not conflict with MIUI, and give you recommendations for additional security measures, from checking suspicious links to setting up two-tier authentication.

Built-in anti-spam features in MIUI: what is out of the box

The MIUI shell on Xiaomi Poco X3 includes several layers of spam protection, but these are often hidden in the depth of the menu or require manual activation.

• 📞 Phone app: filtering incoming calls, blocking numbers, identifying spam through Xiaomi database.
• 💬 Messages app: Automatically sort SMS into Spam and Important, blocking shipping reports.
• 🛡️ Security Manager: scanning the system for viruses, checking installed applications for suspicious activity.

The most effective feature is Phone Number Identification, which is based on Xiaomi’s cloud database, where users around the world report spam numbers, and when you receive a phone number marked as fraudulent, a warning of “Suspicious Call” or “Spam” appears on the screen, but this feature may be disabled by default in some regions due to legal restrictions.

Another useful tool is to block unwanted numbers, which, unlike identification, completely stops calls from SMS from contacts added to the blacklist, but here's the caveat: if the spammer uses different numbers (for example, through SIP- telephony), blocking will be useless, in which case only regular updating of the spam number database or using third-party applications will help.

Step-by-step setting up antispam in the “Phone” application

To enable basic spam protection on Poco X3, follow the following steps:

1. Open the Phone app (the tube icon on the home screen).
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to the number identification and spam section.
4. Activate the switches: 🔍 Number identification shows Spam or Fraudster labels when a call is in. 🚫 Spam-blocking automatically resets calls from the number tagged. 📊 Showing spam reports lets you see how many users have flagged the number as dangerous.

Number locking

Once these features are activated, the system will start filtering incoming calls, but the effectiveness depends on the relevance of the Xiaomi database. If you notice that spam calls are still passing, update the database manually:

1. In the same settings (number identification and spam) click on Update database.
2. Wait until the process is completed (internet connection required).

Number identification enabled |Blocking spam calls active |Database updated |Blacklist checked for relevance-->

Important! If after updating the database, some legitimate numbers (such as banks or delivery services) become marked as spam, add them to the White List in the same settings section, this will eliminate false positives.

⚠️ Warning: Number identification may not work in some countries due to local privacy laws, such as in the EU and Russia, it is often disabled by default, in which case use third-party apps (discussed below).

SMS spam protection: setting up the Messages app

Spam in messages is no less dangerous than calls: scammers send out phishing links, offer “wins” or simulate notifications from banks. MIUI has a built-in SMS filter, but it requires fine-tuning. Here's how to activate it:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to the Spam Protection section.
4. Enable options: 🔍 Spam filtering automatically sorts messages by folder. 🚫 Spam blocking-SMS completely hides suspicious messages. 📤 Prohibit delivery reports — prevents spammers from knowing that they SMS have been read.

Once filtering is enabled, all incoming SMS will be automatically distributed into three categories:

• 📥 Important messages are from contacts and trusted senders.
• ⚠️ Suspicious - potential spam (marked with a yellow exclamation mark).
• 🗑️ Spam is plain garbage hidden from the main list.

To improve filtering, train the system: manually tag spam.

1. Open a suspicious message.
2. Click on the three dots in the top corner and select Mark as spam.

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If you often receive spam from one number, add it to the blacklist from the message: click on the sender number → “Block”.

MIUI Security Manager: Hidden Opportunities

The security manager (the shield icon on the home screen) is the central Poco X3 security node, but many users are limited to basic virus checks.

1. Open the Security Manager.
2. Go to Antispam (may be called Privacy Protection depending on the version of MIUI).
3. Activate: 🛡️ Fraud Protection – blocks known phishing sites and numbers. 🔄 Threatbase updates – automatic spammer list updates. 📵 Blocking malicious calls – advanced filtering for SIP and VoIP calls.

Fraud Protection is especially useful, analyzing not only the numbers but also the contents of the SMS for suspicious links or key phrases (e.g., “your account is blocked,” “you won a prize”). If you find a match with scam patterns, the message is marked as dangerous and the links in it become inactive.

Critical feature: in MIUI 12.5 and later, the security manager may conflict with some third-party antiviruses (for example, Avast or Kaspersky). If after installing third-party software, spam filtering stops working, disable duplicate functions in one of the applications.

Side of the application for blocking spam: TOP-3 for Poco X3

If the built-in MIUI tools aren't enough, install one of the specialized applications, and we tested them on Poco X3 and selected the three best ones:

1. Truecaller 🌍 A database with over 300 million numbers. 🔍 Recognizes spam even in messengers (WhatsApp, Viber). ⚠️ Requires registration by phone number. How to configure: Once installed, allow access to calls and SMS, enable Spam Blocking in the app settings.
2. Hiya 🛡️ Blocks Robbbrakes and SIP-spamers. 📊 Shows Trust Rating for Unknown Numbers. 🔄 Updates the Base Automatically. Feature: Can integrate with the standard Phone app as an add-on.
3. SMS Shield 💬 Specializes in filtering SMS and MMS. 🔍 Analyzes the contents of messages for phishing. 📵 Blocks sending notifications about reading.

Plus: It does not require registration and works offline (the database is updated when connecting to Wi-Fi).

When choosing an application, consider:

• 🔋 Battery consumption: Truecaller and Hiya consume more energy due to background activity.
• 📶 Data access: All three apps request permissions for calls, SMS and contacts. Check the privacy policy.
• 🌐 Regional support: Hiya performs better in the US and Europe, while Truecaller performs better in Asia and Russia.

⚠️ Warning: Don't install multiple anti-spam apps at the same time! This will lead to conflicts in call handling and SMS, and will also increase the load on the Poco processor X3, which can cause overheating or rapid battery discharge.

Additional Security Measures: What to Do When Spam Continues

If even after setting up all the filters, spam continues to arrive, use these tips:

• 🔄 Update MIUI to the latest version. New builds improve the spam identification algorithm. Check the Settings Update → About Phone → System Update.
• 📵 Turn off missed call notifications from unknown numbers. This will reduce visual noise. You can do this in Settings → Notifications → Phone.
• 🔍 Check for suspicious links. Use services like VirusTotal or Google Transparency Report before you click on them.
• 🛡️ Set up two-factor authentication (2FA) that will protect your accounts even if spammers gain access to SMS. Enable 2FA for banks, social media and email.

If spam comes through messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram), set up a lock in these applications:

• On WhatsApp: Open a spammer chat → click on three dots → More → Block.
• In Telegram: Open a user profile → click on three points → Block.

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Spam calls often use spoofing, so blocking individual contacts can be ineffective, and only cloud databases (Truecaller, Hiya) or completely disabling incoming numbers from unknown numbers help in such cases.

What to do if antispam doesn’t work: Diagnosing problems

Sometimes Poco X3 users find that anti-spam functions are not activated or not working properly.

If none of the methods helped, reset the settings of the applications “Phone” and “Messages”:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the phone or messages.
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the data.
4. Reboot your phone and set up your anti-spam again.

Last chance: If the problem persists, check to see if the phone has superuser (root) rights installed. Some root-access firmware disrupts system applications, including anti-spam, in which case only flashing the device to an official MIUI will help.

FAQ: Frequent questions about anti-spam on Poco X3