How to block Moscow numbers on Xiaomi: the complete guide

The problem of intrusive calls with codes 495 and 499 has become a real scourge for smartphone users across Russia. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices often face a situation where the phone is torn by offers of loans, insurance services or fraudulent schemes. Locking Moscow numbers is not just a convenience, but a necessary measure of digital hygiene, which allows you to save nerves and time.

Android, which is the foundation of MIUI and HyperOS, provides powerful tools for filtering calls. However, standard settings do not always allow for flexible rules covering entire prefix ranges. In this article, we will discuss how to effectively configure cutting-off calls with capital codes using built-in functionality and third-party solutions.

It’s important to understand that the methods can vary depending on the version of the operating system. If you have an old MIUI 12 or the latest HyperOS 1.0, the paths to settings may vary slightly. We’ll look at the universal ways that work on most current Xiaomi smartphone models.

Use of built-in lock by prefix

The easiest way to get rid of calls is to use the built-in lock-in at the beginning of the number. Xiaomi's standard Phone app (or Google Dialer, depending on the region) has the ability to create rules. You need to go to the call settings and find the Lock section, which is where the key functionality for managing incomings is hidden.

To create a rule, click on “Block by Keyword” or similar. In the input field, you need to enter the region code. To cover the whole of Moscow, you will need to create two separate rules: one for 495, the other for 499, which will prevent calls starting with these numbers if the operator transmits a number in an international format.

⚠️ Note: Prefix blocking can cut off not only spam, but also important calls from courier services or organizations using Moscow virtual PBX.

Remember, some spam services change the last digits, but the prefix is kept standard, so locking at the beginning of the number is a pretty effective but crude method, perfect for those who do not expect calls from the capital.

Set up a blacklist through the Security app

The unique feature of Xiaomi smartphones is the deeply integrated Security app, which works at the system level and has rights that are not available to regular programs from the Play Market. First, open the application and find the Antispam section, where you can manage all incoming calls and messages.

From the anti-spam settings menu, select the option Blacklist. Click on the gear icon or menu, you will be placed in the advanced settings. Here you need to activate the switch Block unknown numbers or add specific masks. Although a direct mask of the form +7(495)* in the standard interface may not be available, you can manually add numbers here.

If you need to block a specific range that attacks frequently, it is better to use the import or manual addition function. 495/499 This method can be time-consuming if you don't use automation. MIUI updated regularly.

Application of third-party applications for filtering

When built-in tools are scarce, specialized applications come to the rescue, with market leaders including Kaspersky Who Calls, Yandex (with a determinant), and Truecaller, which use huge databases to label numbers as spam or telemarketing, and often have their own databases of Moscow fraud numbers.

Once you install this app, you have to give it the rights to manage calls. In the app settings, find the Lock section and enable the mask lock option. Enter codes 495 and 499. The advantage of third-party solutions is that they can analyze the behavior of the caller and block even new numbers if they look like spam.

But privacy is important, because if you give your data to third-party services, you risk leaking your contact information. Truecaller, for example, is known for collecting user phone books, so choosing a trusted app is a matter of personal security.

Manual creation of a contact-blocker

There's a clever way to use the standard contact lock mechanism, so you can create a new contact in the phone book and call it, for example, "Block 495," and you can type a mask in the number box if your firmware version supports the substitution symbols, or you can add specific numbers.

Unfortunately, the standard Android phone book doesn't always allow you to type in asterisk (*) or grille (#) characters at the beginning of a number to create a range mask, but you can add dozens of spammer numbers to that contact. Once you save the contact, click on it, select Also, and then Block.

This is good for its simplicity and lack of need to install additional software, it works even in flight mode (if calls are through Wi-Fi Calling, although there are nuances here), and does not consume battery on background processes. This is a native solution always at hand.

Services of telecom operators as an alternative

And remember, you can configure filtering on the carrier side, and MTS, Beeline, MegaFon, and Tele2 offer services like Antispam or Blacklist, which are often paid services, but they block a call before it even reaches your Xiaomi.

Some operators have the opportunity to set up a lock on the mask in the personal account or through the USSD-For example, you can block all numbers that start with a specific code, which is the most reliable way, because the call simply does not go to the device, and the battery is not consumed.

⚠️ Attention: Operators' services are often paid subscriptions. carefully study rates to avoid unexpected charges for blocking spam.

Networking is especially important if you are often in areas of poor reception, where each connection spends a charge on resetting a call, and it frees up the smartphone processor from the unnecessary work of analyzing incoming calls.

Log analysis and identification of spam Patterns

It's helpful for advanced users to analyze the call log. Often spammers use serial numbers. If you see that you're being called from numbers...01,...02,...03, that's a clear sign of automatic calling, and in such cases, you can block the entire range if the app allows you to use regular expressions.

Some third-party dialers have Regex blocking, for example, the ^\+7(495|499)\d{7}$ template will block all Moscow numbers in international format, the most powerful tool in the Android user's arsenal.

Regular call analysis helps to update filtering rules in time. Spamers are constantly changing tactics, and static rules may stop working. Be alert to new prefixes that may appear in your call history.

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Save screenshots of lock settings before major MIUI updates. After the system update, some user rules may reset to factory values.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The combination of built-in MIUI and services of the operator provides maximum protection against Moscow spam.