Constant calls from unknown numbers annoy every smartphone owner, but the situation becomes critical when the subscriber hides his ID. On Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices with a shell MIUI or HyperOS, the security system has its own features that do not always allow you to solve the problem with standard methods. Many users find that the settings menu simply does not have a switch to cut off anonymous calls, and this is puzzling.
The problem is that the lock function often depends not only on the phone’s software, but also on the capabilities of your mobile operator. However, there are proven ways to minimize unwanted contacts using built-in Android tools, USSD codes or specialized software. In this article, we will discuss all the options available, from simple settings in contacts to complex manipulations through the engineering menu.
It is worth understanding that a complete lock of all hidden numbers can lead to the fact that you miss an important call from a doctor or emergency officer who uses a corporate PBX. So before implementing hard filters, you need to weigh all the risks and choose the optimal balance between silence and availability.
Use of built-in functions of the “Phone” application
The first and logical step is to check the capabilities of the standard calling app that is pre-installed on your device. Depending on the region, Xiaomi smartphones can either have their own MIUI dialer or a standard Google Dialer. The interface and options available in them can vary significantly, so it is important to determine which version works for you.
Most modern Android 10 and higher models use Google’s interface, where the hidden number lock feature is often hidden in additional settings. To find it, you need to open the Phone app, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings. Next, go to Locked Numbers and carefully examine the options list.
If you're lucky enough to have your carrier or firmware support this at the system level, you'll see a switch called "Block Unknown Numbers" or "Block Unknown Callers," which automatically rejects all incomings that have CLIR status, but it's been shown that many devices may not have this option or may not be active.
- 📱 Open the Phone app and go to the settings menu through three points.
- 🚫 Find the section “Blocked numbers” or “Blocking calls».
- ✅ Look for the “Block Unknowns” option and activate the switchboard if it is available.
- 🔄 If you don’t have an option, try switching to dialing mode via Google in the settings. SIM-map.
⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI activation of the "unknown" lock can mistakenly cut off not only hidden numbers, but also any contacts that are not in your phone book.
Configure through the system menu of blocking calls
In older versions of the shell or in Chinese MIUI firmware, lock settings are often placed in a separate system menu, accessed through the Security app, a powerful tool that allows you to create complex rules for filtering incoming traffic, and you can configure not just locking by number, but whole scenarios of smartphone behavior.
To access these settings, look for a green shield app on your desktop or in the Tools folder -- Security. You'll need to find an Antispam or Blacklist section inside. That's where the most flexible settings are to manage who can reach you. The system offers multiple layers of protection, from simply locking specific numbers to cleverly analyzing caller behavior.
The anti-spam menu often has a Settings tab or gear tab where you can find the item "Block Hidden Numbers." If the standard path through the Phone app failed, this method is the most likely solution to the problem, and you can set up a "Do Not Disturb" mode that will silence all calls except those in the contacts.
☑️ Checking the anti-spam settings
It is important to note that updating the spam databases in this menu is automatic, but sometimes requires manual intervention. Make sure the application has permission to access contacts and calls, otherwise the filtering will not work.
Application USSD-operator codes and commands
Often the reason for not blocking an anonymous call is not in the phone, but in the tariff plan or network settings of the mobile operator. The number service can be disabled on the provider side, or vice versa, the number hiding service is activated by default. Special parameters are used to control these parameters. USSD-Requests that are sent directly to the network.
The most universal way to check status is to use the code #30#. The set of this combination allows you to know whether the definition of the number on your computer is included. SIM-If you want to deny your number (be anonymous to others), code #31# is used, and to force the definition (be seen by everyone) *31# is used.
The code *67# (activation) and #67# (deactivation) are often used to block incoming hidden calls at the network level, although they depend on the specific carrier. Also popular are the codes *82# and #82#, which control the number determinant. If the codes do not work, the only way out is to contact the salon or call support, since some operators provide the service Antispam only through paid subscriptions.
| Action. | USSD-code | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Status check | #30# | Shows if the determinant is included |
| Disabling the transfer of the number | #31# | Your number is hidden while outgoing |
| Enabling the transfer of the number | *31# | Your number is visible to all subscribers |
| Blocking incoming hidden | *67# | Attempt to activate the filter on the network |
⚠️ Attention: USSD-codes may vary from operator to operator (MTS, Beeline, MegaFon, Tele2). Before entering commands, make sure they are relevant to your region so you don’t turn off important communication services.
What if the code doesn't work?
Blocking through third-party applications
When Xiaomi’s built-in tools and operator capabilities are exhausted, third-party apps from the Google Play store come to the rescue, with more flexible filtering algorithms and often their own spammer databases, with Truecaller, Calls Blacklist and Should I Answer being the most popular solutions.
Calls Blacklist is minimalist and has no advertising, and it allows you to create a rule that automatically resets any calls marked as “Hidden Number” or “Private Number,” and once installed, you must give the app the rights to manage calls and access contacts, otherwise it will not be able to intercept the incoming call.
A more advanced option is Truecaller, which not only blocks hidden numbers, but also identifies them by a huge user base. If someone is hiding but calls you from a number that is labeled spam by other users, the app will alert you or drop the call. However, it is worth remembering that such applications require constant access to your call data, which can raise questions about privacy.
- 📥 Download the proven application to block calls from Google Play.
- 🔐 Provide the necessary telephone permits at the first start.
- ⚙️ In the application settings, find the “Block” or “Blacklist” section».
- 👻 Activate the option “Block Hidden Numbers” or “Block Unknown Numbers».
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When installing applications to block calls, be sure to add important numbers (police, ambulance, work) to the whitelist inside the application so as not to lose contact in an emergency.
Use of the "Do Not Disturb" mode
One of the most radical but effective ways to get rid of hidden number calls is to use Do Not Disturb, a mode built into Android that allows you to only allow calls from a certain number of people, such as contacts or favorites, and everyone else, including anonymous people, will receive a busy or reset signal.
To set this mode, go to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Don’t Disturb. Under People or Calls, select Contacts Only or Favorites. Once activated (usually through a notification curtain or schedule), the phone will ignore any calls from numbers not saved in your address book.
This is particularly useful because it can be automated, such as setting a schedule so that you can filter hard at night or on weekends, and that the phone can take all calls during the day, so you don't have to manually turn the lock on and off every time spammers start pestering you.
The main drawback of this method is that you can miss a call from a courier, taxi or a new customer whose number is not yet in the contacts, so it is best to use this method during periods when you are guaranteed not to wait for important calls from strangers.
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Do Not Disturb with Contacts Only filter is the only guaranteed way to 100% get rid of hidden numbers without installing additional software, but it requires discipline in maintaining a phone book.
Advanced Methods: Engineering Menu and ADB
For power users who are not afraid to experiment with Android system settings, there is the option of using an engineering menu or commands from the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which allows accessing the deep settings of the phone’s radio module that are hidden from the average user. However, using these tools requires caution, since improper actions can lead to unstable network operation.
You can get to the engineering menu by typing in a special code, for example, in dialer-e, ##4636## (Inside the Phone Information menu you can try to find settings related to (call forwarding) or locking, but most often it shows only statistics and switching modes of the network (LTE/GSM). More effective method of using ADB.
And if you plug your phone into your computer and you enable USB debugging, you can type in a command that forces the system lock function to activate, and you can say this:
adb shell settings put global block_unknown_number 1This command tries to change the system parameter that locks unknown numbers. If the phone firmware allows you to change this flag, the lock will be activated immediately. If the parameter is blocked by the manufacturer, the command will not work or issue an error. There are applications that require root rights that can edit the system files build.prop or database calls, but this is the level of deep modification of the system.
⚠️ Note: Making changes through ADB or an engineering menu may disrupt the mobile network. Before experiments, it is strongly recommended to make a full backup of the data.