How to permanently block SMS on Xiaomi: from spam to scams

Spam, intrusive advertising, or fraudulent SMS from unknown numbers is a problem faced by every second owner of Xiaomi. According to Kaspersky, in 2023, the share of phishing SMS in Russia increased by 43%, and mobile operators record up to 12 billion spam mailings every month. If you receive messages with suspicious links, offers of “good loans” or threats to block a bank card, they need to be blocked urgently.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to block SMS on Xiaomi smartphones, including the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO X5 Pro, Mi 11 Ultra and others based on MIUI 12-14.

• 🔒 Set up a built-in blocker in the Messages application (works without root)
• 📱 Use third-party apps to filter spam (comparing 3 popular services)
• 📡 Block numbers through the operator (MTS, Beeline, Tele2, MegaFon)
• 🛡️ Apply radical measures to fully protect against SMS-scammer

All methods are tested on current firmware and do not require technical skills. If you are using Xiaomi on Android 12/13 with a MIUI 14 shell, the instructions will fit unchanged. For older models (for example, Redmi 4X or Mi A2), the refinements are given in separate blocks.

1. Block SMS through the standard application "Messages"

The fastest way is to use the built-in MIUI functionality. It works on all Xiaomi smartphones, including the budget Redmi 10A and the flagship Xiaomi 13 Pro. The main advantage is that you do not need to install additional programs.

To block the number:

1. Open the Messages app (an envelope icon).
2. Find a dialogue with an unwanted number and tap it.
3. In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) → select Details.
4. Scroll down and click Lock the number.
5. Confirm the action in the pop-up window.

After that, messages from the blocked number will be automatically deleted and will not appear in the chat list.Limitation: in MIUI you can not block numbers for keywords (for example, "credit" or "winning") - this will require third-party applications.

Open dialog with number |Clicked three dots in the corner |Clicked item "Details" |Number added to the blacklist-->

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI 12.5 or lower, the lock may be reset after the phone restarts. To avoid this, upgrade to the latest version or use the method in the operator section.

2. Blocking through a mobile operator: instructions for MTS, Beeline, Tele2, MegaFon

If spam comes from different numbers (for example, scammers use a change of sender), blocking through the phone will not help, in this case it is more effective to connect the filtering service from your operator, most providers provide it for free or for a nominal fee (1-5 rubles per month).

Once connected, spam SMS services will automatically be filtered at the operator level and will not reach your phone. Importantly, the filtering is not perfect, some messages may slip, for example, scammers often use numbers registered to individuals that are difficult to block en masse.

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If after connecting the service spam continues to come, send a complaint to the operator through your personal account, specify the sender number and text of the message - this will help improve filtering.

3. Third-party SMS blocking apps: Comparison of the top 3

If MIUI is not built in, you can install specialized applications, which offer advanced features: keyword blocking, whitelisting, phishing link analysis, and we tested 3 popular solutions and compared their capabilities.

• 🛡️ SMS Block & Filter (free, no ads) Blocks numbers and words (e.g., "credit", "win"), logs blocked messages, supports backup of rules. Minus: no Russian.
• 🔍 Truecaller (free, premium) Identifies spammers from a database of 300 million numbers. SMS And the downside is, it requires access to contacts and sends data to the company's servers.
• 📱 Messages by Google (official, free) Google's built-in spam filter, works on all Android. Can recognize phishing links. Minus: not all features are available in Russia due to sanctions.

To install any of these applications:

1. Go to the Google Play Market.
2. Enter the name of the application in the search.
3. Click Install and wait for the download to be completed.
4. Open the app and follow the setup instructions.

⚠️ Note: Apps like Truecaller collect data about your contacts and messages. If privacy is more important than functionality, use this. SMS Block & Filter or embedded tools MIUI.

4. Radical methods: complete blocking of SMS from unknown

If you are overwhelmed with spam and none of the previous methods did not help, you can apply tough measures:

• 🚫 Turn off reception. SMS from all numbers except contacts B MIUI There is no such feature, but it can be implemented through the Tasker app (requires automation skills).
• 📵 Change phone number The last step if you are being pursued by scammers. Operators provide this service for free 1 time per year.
• 🔄 Use a virtual number to register Services such as SMS-Activate or 5sim allow SMS to temporary numbers without revealing their primary.

Important: Full blocking of SMS can prevent the receipt of confirmation codes from banks and services. Before using radical methods, make sure that you have backup channels (for example, push notifications in a mobile bank).

5. Frequent problems and solutions

When you block an SMS on Xiaomi, users experience typical errors. Here's how to fix them:

If after blocking you have stopped receiving important notifications (for example, from Sberbank or Public Services), add their numbers to the exceptions.

1. Open the messages. → ⋮ → Settings → Lockdown.
2. Select the Exceptions.
3. Add numbers manually or import from contacts.

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Before blocking spammers, always check if your bank or other important service uses their number, for example, Sberbank often sends notifications from 900 or 9200 numbers.

6. Features for older Xiaomi models (Redmi 4X, Mi A1, Mi 8)

On smartphones with MIUI 10-11 or Android One (like Mi A1/A2), the SMS lock interface is different.

For MIUI 10/11:

1. Open Messages → Select a dialogue with a spammer.
2. Slip on the sender's avatar. → Lock down.
3. Confirm action. The number will be added to the blacklist in Settings → Lock.

For Xiaomi on Android One (without MIUI):

1. Use the standard Google Messages app.
2. Open the dialogue. → ⋮ → Details. → Lock the room.
3. For advanced filtering, install Messages by Google from the Play Market.

If your Xiaomi does not have the ability to block SMS through settings, update the firmware to the latest version of MIUI. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone → System Update.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions