How to permanently block unfamiliar numbers on Xiaomi: from blacklist to hidden MIUI settings

Every day, owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones face dozens of unwanted calls, from intrusive mobile operators to scammers masquerading as bank employees. According to the Fraud Investigation Commission (2023), 68% of Android users receive at least one spam call a week, and 12% are victims of phone phishing. In this article, we will examine all the available methods of blocking, from standard MIUI functions to hidden settings and third-party applications that work even on older models like the Redmi Note 5.

Xiaomi’s smartphones feature a built-in Security system that not only blocks numbers, but also analyzes incoming calls using a database of fraudulent schemes. However, many users do not know that MIUI 14+ has a Smart Lock feature that automatically adds suspicious numbers to the blacklist without notifications, we will show how to turn it on, and also talk about little-known tricks – for example, how to block all numbers from a certain prefix (for example, +375 for Belarusian spammers) or how to configure SMS filtering from fraud banks.

If you are tired of constantly vibrating and interrupting important tasks, this guide will help you get rid of spam forever without installing additional programs. And for those who want maximum protection, we have prepared an overview of the best anti-spam applications with support for Russian and integration with MIUI.

1. Standard lock through the MIUI "Blacklist"

The easiest way to do this is to use the built-in Blacklist feature that's found in all Xiaomi smartphones since MIUI 8, which is suitable for locking down specific numbers that are already bothering you.

1. Open the Phone app (the phone icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the Call Log and find the unwanted number.
3. Click on the number, then select ⋮ (three-point) → Lock down.
4. Confirm the action in the pop-up window.

You can also add the number manually:

1. In the "Phone" app, go to ⋮ → Settings → Blacklist.
2. Click + Add and enter the number manually (e.g. +79991234567).
3. Select the type of lock: Calls, Messages or both.

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 12 and later blocked numbers are automatically deleted from the call log after 30 days.To avoid this, turn off the Autoclean option → Delete blocked numbers in the settings of the "Black List".

Update MIUI to the latest version (check in Settings → About phone)

Backup your contacts (via Google Contacts or Mi Cloud)

Check if an important number is blocked by accident (on the blacklist)

Turn off the "Car Cleaner" for locked numbers-->

2. “Smart lock” – automatic spam filtering in MIUI 14+

Starting with MIUI 14 (and all Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5), the Smart Lock feature, which analyzes incoming calls from a database of fraudulent numbers, runs in the background and does not require manual addition of contacts.

To turn it on:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Phone → Smart lock.
2. Activate the switch to block fraudulent calls.
3. Select the level of protection: 🛡️ Basic – only blocks confirmed fraudulent numbers (recommended). 🔒 Strict – filters suspicious numbers (can block legitimate calls, for example, from courier services). 🚫 Aggressive – blocks all numbers not saved in contacts (risk of missing an important call).

Show notifications about blocked calls

💡 Useful advice: If you are often called from the type of numbers +375xxxxx (Belarus) or +994xxxxx (Azerbaijan, in the Smart Block settings, you can add these prefixes to the Block Exclusion List, which will help cut off most international spammers.

Every day.

Several times a week

Once a month or less

Never encountered it.-->

3. Blocking through the application "Security" (Security)

Xiaomi’s Security app not only scans viruses, it also blocks unwanted calls, a method that is useful if the standard Blacklist doesn’t work (for example, on custom firmware).

Instructions:

1. Open the Security app (if not, download from Google Play at Mi Security).
2. Go to Call Blocking (or Privacy Protection → Call Blocking in older versions).
3. Select Add to the blacklist and specify the number.
4. Activate the option to Lock Unknown numbers if you want to filter out all calls from unsaved contacts.

🔹 How to set up Truecaller on Xiaomi:

1. Download the app from Google Play and register.
2. In the settings (⋮ → Settings → Blocking) Enable: Block spam Block scammers Block hidden numbers

Identification of challenges

Show the name of the caller

Whitelist

💡

If the built-in MIUI lock functionality stops working after installing Truecaller, turn off the option “Use as the default phone app” in Truecaller settings.

5. Hidden settings: lock by prefix and regular expressions

Few people know, but Xiaomi can block not only specific numbers, but also entire ranges. +7495xxxxxxx (Moscow spammers, they can be blocked all at once:

1. Open the phone application and go to ⋮ → Settings → Blacklist.
2. Press + Add and enter the prefix (e.g. +7495).
3. In the Lock Type field, select All numbers starting with...
4. Keep the rule.

🔹 Advanced method (for MIUI 13+): If you're a regular, you can create complex locking rules, like locking all numbers with repeating numbers (like the one you see). +79998887766), use a template:

^\+7\d{3}(\d)\1{2,}\d{4}$

To apply it:

1. Install the Tasker or Automate app from Google Play.
2. Create a task with the condition Event → Phone → Incoming call.
3. Add the action If → The number corresponds to regex and insert the template.
4. As an action, indicate to complete the call.

6.Blocking SMS-spam and phishing messages

Numbers that send out SMS-Spam, blocked separately from voice calls. MIUI There's a built-in filter for this, but it doesn't always work on Russian-language messages:

📌 Method 1: Through the "Messages" appendix"

1. Open the Messages app and find spam-SMS.
2. Hold the message with your finger, then press. ⋮ → Lock down.
3. Choose Block this number or Block all messages with similar content (if spam comes from different numbers but with the same text).

📌 Method 2: Security (Security)

1. Open Security → Privacy Protection → Blocking Messages
2. Activate the Spam Filter option.
3. Manually add numbers or keywords (e.g., “you won,” “renew the card”).

🔹 Extreme method: If nothing helps, you can completely disable incoming calls from unfamiliar numbers:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Incoming challenges.
2. Choose yours. SIM-activate the card and block all incoming contacts except for the.

💡 Tip: Before blocking all unfamiliar numbers, keep important organizations in contact (bank, delivery service, clinic), otherwise you risk missing an important call.

FAQ: Frequent questions about locking numbers on Xiaomi