Modern smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 8 take dozens of calls every day, and not all of them are desirable. Intrusive spam, advertising calls or contacts from detractors can seriously disturb the peace of the device owner. Fortunately, the built-in security system MIUI provides powerful tools to filter incoming connections without having to install third-party applications.
The locking process on this model is as convenient as possible and does not require deep technical knowledge. You do not need to be an expert in the field of mobile communication to restrict the access of unwanted subscribers to your device. Built-in functionality allows you to create personal lists, block anonymous calls and even set time intervals for the “Do Not Disturb” mode.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the available methods of limiting communication, learn how to quickly add a contact to a blacklist through call history, how to set up automatic locking of hidden numbers, and what the tricks of Dr.Web, an antivirus integrated into the MIUI shell, are to help you fully control who can reach you and when.
Use of the built-in Security application
The central element of protecting your Redmi 8 is the System Security app, which is installed by default on all Xiaomi devices. This is where the main traffic and call filtering settings are concentrated. To get started, you need to run this shortcut on the home screen and wait for the automatic system check to be completed.
After opening the app, look at the bottom of the screen where the tabs are located. You are interested in the Antispam section, which is often hidden in the additional menu or indicated by the corresponding icon. Clicking on it will take you to the blocker control center, where you can flexibly configure the rules for incoming calls and SMS-message.
Inside the anti-spam menu is a settings button, usually represented as a gear in the upper right corner, and when you go there, you'll see the Blacklist switch, which you need to activate so that the system starts processing incoming connections according to the rules you set, and without this slider, adding numbers to the ignored list will be useless.
⚠️ Warning: Once the blacklist is activated, the caller will hear a "busy" or beep signal and then a reset, while there will be no notifications on your phone screen about a missed call.
MIUI also offers several blacklist modes, so you can choose to lock all unknown numbers, only hidden or manually added contacts, and this allows you to create a hard filter that only lets those that are saved in your address book through.
Blocking through call log and contacts
The fastest way to restrict access to a particular subscriber is to do it directly from your call history, which is ideal when you've just received a call from an unfamiliar number and you want to prevent repeated attempts to communicate. Open the standard Phone app and go to the call history tab.
Find the number you want in the list. Depending on the version of the MIUI shell, the actions may vary slightly, but the logic remains the same. Click on the information icon (the letter "i" in the circle) or just hold your finger on the number until the context menu appears. In the action list that opens, select Block or Add to the blacklist.
Once confirmed, the number will automatically move to the database of prohibited contacts, the system will automatically reject any future attempts to communicate with this identifier, you can also go to the Contacts app, open a particular person's card and find a lock switch there, if the number is already stored in the device's memory.
- 📞 Open the call log and find the unwanted number.
- 🛑 Click on the icon “i” or hold the number to call the menu.
- ✅ Select the lock option and confirm the action.
- 🔒 Check the list of blocked in security settings.
It is important to note that when blocking through the call log, you can also send an automatic message. SMS-A response that notifies the subscriber that it is blocked, although most users prefer to simply ignore such calls silently.
Filtering Unknown and Hidden Numbers
One of the most annoying issues is calling with the definition of “Hidden number” or “Unknown.” On Xiaomi Redmi 8 there is a separate feature to combat them. In the menu Security -> Antispam -> Settings (cogs), you will find the item “Block hidden numbers”.
If you are expecting an important call from a doctor, bank or government employee who may be hiding their ID, it is better to refrain from completely blocking it, but for most users suffering from intrusive marketing, this is an effective solution.
It also has the ability to block all numbers that aren't in your phone book, often referred to as "Whitelist," although technically it's a blacklist inversion, and when you turn on this feature, the phone will only accept calls from saved contacts, and everyone else will automatically deflect.
What will the caller see when they lock?
To activate the “Contact Only” mode in the blacklist settings, select the appropriate option. This is a radical but effective measure for periods when you need absolute silence and communication only with a close circle of people.
Working with blacklist: Adding and removing
Managing a blocked list is a dynamic process, sometimes you need to add a new contact, and sometimes you need to remove a number that has been blocked by mistake or has become current.
The Blacklist section shows the chronology of all blocked events, and here you see not only numbers, but also attempts to call or SMS that have been rejected by the system, and by clicking on the add button (usually a plus-plus), you can manually enter your phone number or select it from the contact book.
To remove a number from the list, just click on it and select the option “Unblock” or use the editing mode (often called by a long press or menu button), then the contact can again call you. Regularly checking this list helps to avoid situations where you have isolated yourself from important calls.
| Action. | The way is on the menu | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Lockdown | Call log -> Info -> Block | Number added to Emergencies |
| Unlocking | Security -> Antispam -> Blacklist | Access restored |
| Cleaning the lairs | Blacklist -> Menu -> Clean | History deleted |
| Setting up the rules | Antispam -> Settings (cogs) | Changed filters |
It is worth remembering that SMS-Messages from blocked contacts will also not appear in the standard message application, but they are stored in a separate Spam folder inside the Message application or in antivirus logs, where they can be read if necessary.
☑️ Checking the lock settings
Integration of Dr.Web Antivirus and database updates
Xiaomi’s security system works closely with the well-known antivirus Dr.Web. Its databases are used to detect spam and fraudulent numbers. It is critical that the definition bases are up-to-date for the antispam function to work effectively.
In the antivirus settings, find the item responsible for updating databases. It is recommended to enable the option “Auto Update” so that your Redmi 8 independently receives the latest data about new fraud schemes and spam databases. Without updates, the filtering efficiency is significantly reduced, since new spammer numbers will not be recognized.
Dr.Web also allows you to adjust the sensitivity level, you can choose whether to block only confirmed spam or also suspicious numbers. In some regions, a cloud-based number check feature is available, which checks the incoming call against a global database of user complaints.
⚠️ Note: When you enable cloud number verification, your phone will send requests to the server to identify an incoming call, which may consume a small amount of traffic.
Regular scanning of the system for malware is also recommended, as some types of viruses can intercept call management or send SMS without the owner’s knowledge.
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Periodically clear the cache of the Security app in your phone settings to avoid slowing down the system when handling a large number of blocked calls logs.
Alternative methods and third-party applications
While MIUI's built-in tools are powerful, some users prefer to use third-party solutions for fine-tuning, with apps like Truecaller or Calls Blacklist offering advanced features such as user-base numbering and more flexible lock-in scenarios.
However, installing third-party apps requires broad permissions to access contacts and calls, which can raise privacy concerns.The built-in solution from Xiaomi is safer in this regard, as it works within the system and does not transfer your data to third parties unnecessarily.
If you do decide to use third-party software, make sure you disable Xiaomi's built-in lock to avoid conflicts.Two apps trying to intercept an incoming call at the same time can cause your phone to crash or miss important calls.
- 📱 Truecaller – a popular number determinant with a lock function.
- 🛡️ Calls Blacklist is a simple, open source app.
- 🚫 Should I Answer – a database of numbers based on community feedback.
- ⚙️ Built-in filter MIUI — Most stable and energy efficient.
For most owners of Redmi 8 is quite enough standard functionality: it does not load the processor, does not consume battery and reliably protects from unwanted attention, remaining invisible in the background.
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The built-in MIUI tools provide the optimal balance between lock functionality and battery resource consumption without requiring additional software installation.