How to block numbers not from the contact list on Xiaomi Redmi Note: all ways

Why Xiaomi Redmi Notes are Called from Unknown Numbers and How to Stop It

Xiaomi Redmi Note smartphone owners (including Note 10/11/12/13 Pro models) often face intrusive calls from unfamiliar numbers, from spammers, scammers or automated robots. Unlike iPhones, where blocking everything but contacts is built in by default, MIUI is hidden deeper, and after the upgrades to MIUI 14, the settings interface has changed and the old instructions have stopped working.

In this article, current ways to block incoming calls from numbers not saved in the phone book, including hidden Xiaomi features, operator settings and third-party applications. We tested all methods on the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G (MIUI 14.0.6) and Redmi Note 10S (MIUI 13.0.12) – the results are summarized in the comparison table below.

⚠️ Important: Some methods require superuser rights (root), but we will focus on solutions without risking losing warranty. Also note that blocking everyone except contacts can miss important calls - for example, from delivery services or banks, if their numbers are not stored in your phone.

Method 1: Built-in lock through MIUI's "Blacklist"

The most reliable method is to use the built-in blacklist of the smartphone, but with a trick: instead of manually adding numbers, we will set up automatic blocking of all unknown subscribers, which works on all Redmi Notes with MIUI 12 and later.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the phone application (pipe icon).
• 🔍 Click on three dots in the upper right corner → Select Settings.
• 🛡️ Go to the section Blocking numbers (or Blacklist in old versions).
• 🔄 Turn on the switch to Lock Unknown numbers (in) MIUI 14 This option may be called Spam Filter).
• ⚙️ Additionally: activate Hidden Number Block if you want to screen out calls with the definition of "Unknown" or "Private".

💡 Nuance: In some Xiaomi firmware, the option to block unknown numbers only appears after the first number is added to the blacklist manually. If you do not have one, add any test number (for example, 1234567890), save, then return to the settings - the option should appear.

Has the test number been added to the blacklist?|Is the option "Block Unknown Numbers" enabled"?|Is the “Do Not Disturb” Regime Checked for Conflicts?|Test call made from another phone?-->

Method 2: Do Not Disturb (DND) for Unknown People

The MIUI's Do Not Disturb feature allows you to flexibly manage incoming calls, including contact filtering, and unlike the blacklist, you can configure exceptions for repeat calls or selected numbers.

How to set up:

1. Go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Do not disturb.
2. Turn on the mode and select Schedule (for example, around the clock) or Manual.
3. Press the Call Rules. → Resolve the challenges from.
4. Select Contacts Only (or Favorite Contacts if you want to tighten the filter).
5. Activate the option to call again if you want to skip a second call from the same number within 3 minutes (useful for emergencies).

⚠️ Attention: in mode DND By default, all notifications are blocked, including SMS To avoid this, go back to the settings. DND and in the Notifications section, select Allow notifications from contacts or specific apps (such as WhatsApp or Telegram).

💡

If after activation of DND SMS from banks stopped coming, add their short numbers (for example, 900 for Sberbank) to Exceptions → Messages in the settings of the mode.

Method 3: Using the Xiaomi Spam Filter feature

Xiaomi has integrated a built-in spam filter into the firmware that runs on a database of fraudulent numbers, which automatically blocks known spammers, but can be configured to filter out all unknown subscribers.

Algorithm of settings:

• 📞 Open the phone application → Settings → Spam filter.
• 🔧 Turn on the Spam Filter Switch and activate Block Fraudulent Calls.
• 🔍 In the section Additional, find the option to Block Unknown Numbers (in some versions). MIUI It's hidden - see spoiler below).
• 📊 Check the statistics of blocked calls in the same menu – here you can see all filtered calls in the last 30 days.

📌 Important: Xiaomi’s spam filter is cloud-based, so it requires an active internet connection (mobile data or Wi-Fi) to work properly. If you’re offline often, this method may be less effective.

Method 4: Applications for blocking calls (Truecaller, Hiya, Should I Answer?)

If the built-in MIUI doesn't work, you can install third-party apps, which offer advanced capabilities like region locking, real-time number analysis, and even voice recognition. We tested 3 popular solutions:

🔹 Truecaller is the most popular solution with a database of billions of numbers:

1. Register (required for the filter to work).
2. Go to Settings → Lock → Block unknown numbers.
3. Activate the option to block by community for automatic spam filtering.

⚠️ Warning: Truecaller requires access to your contacts and call history. If you're confused, use Should I Answer? -- it works locally, without sending data to servers.

Truecaller|Hiya|Should I Answer?|Embedded facilities MIUI|I don't use anything.-->

Method 5: Lock at the operator level (MTS, Beeline, Tele2, MegaFon)

Russian mobile operators offer their own services for spam filtering, and their advantage is that they block before a call reaches the phone, which saves battery life, but each operator has its own nuances:

• 📡 MTS: Spam Protection (free of charge) USSD-code *111*769# Or in a private office, locking it down. 80% fraudulent calls, but does not filter unknown numbers completely.
• 📡 Beeline: Antispam" (30 Included in the form of *110*789#. Create a white list of contacts.
• 📡 Tele2: "Protection against fraud" (free of charge) Activated in the mobile app or on *225#. ~60%.
• 📡 Megaphone: "Antispam" (free for subscription rates) Set up in your personal account or on a personal account *105*611#.

💡 Tip: Before activating the service, check if it conflicts with your phone's settings, for example, if you already have a spam filter enabled in your phone. MIUI, Some calls may be blocked twice, which causes the subscriber to hear the message "Subscriber temporarily unavailable" instead of the standard "Occupied".

⚠️ Note: operators do not block calls from numbers registered abroad (for example, from the Internet, +375, +372, +994) You'll have to use apps like Truecaller or manual settings to filter them. MIUI.

Comparison of methods: what way to choose

To help determine, we've put the key parameters of all the ways in one table: focus on your priorities: whether you need 100% lock unknowns, whether battery saving is important or you're willing to pay for additional features.

Critical recommendation: If you use the Xiaomi Redmi Note at work and can’t miss important calls, combine Do Not Disturb (for round-the-clock filtering) with Truecaller (for spam recognition), so you minimize the risk of missing an important call, for example, from a new customer or courier service.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after setting up the lock, Redmi Note users face some challenges, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

• 🔄 Calls still pass: check if the Spam Filter is turned off in the Phone settings. Also make sure the number is not added to the Exceptions in the Do Not Disturb mode".
• 📞 They don't come. SMS from banks: add short bank numbers (e.g. 900, 1234) to the Exclusions → Messages in settings DND.
• 🔋 Battery goes down quickly: If you use Truecaller, turn off background contact sync in the app settings. Also check if multiple filters are running at the same time (e.g, MIUI + Truecaller + operator).
• 🔊 Calls are blocked, but no notifications: in Settings → Notifications → Enable the option to show blocked calls.

💬 Community advice: if after update MIUI You've lost your spam filter settings, try resetting your Phone app. → Annexes → Application management → Phone. → Warehouse → Warning: This won’t delete your call history, but it will reset all custom lock settings.

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The most reliable way is to combine the built-in Blacklist (for 100% blocking unknowns) and MIUI Spam Filter (for detecting fraud), which runs without the Internet and does not consume battery.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions