Owners of budget and popular smartphones often face intrusive advertising that comes in the form of regular text messages. Xiaomi Redmi 5 device, despite its age, remains in demand, and the issue of protection from spam is relevant for it. Blocking unwanted senders helps to save nerves and not miss really important notifications from banks or delivery services.
There are several effective ways to limit the flow of junk messages: you can use the built-in tools of the MIUI operating system that work without installing additional software; more advanced methods are also available through third-party applications or manipulation of the SIM card; the choice of the specific method depends on how aggressively you want to filter incoming traffic.
In this article, we will take a look at all the options available, learn how to create a blacklist, configure smart filters and use special operator commands, and the right configuration will turn your smartphone into a reliable shield from information noise.
Use of built-in antivirus and MIUI security
The first and most logical step is to turn to native MIUI shell tools. Xiaomi smartphones already have a Security app pre-installed, which includes antivirus and call blocker functionality, which is optimal because it is deeply integrated into the system and requires no battery resources.
To get started, you need to open the Security app on the home screen, you need to find the Antispam or Blacklist section in the feature menu, and that's where you can find all your filtering settings for incoming connections and messages, and you can flexibly set your rules by blocking both specific numbers and entire categories of senders.
⚠️ Note: When activating hard filters, be sure to check the Spam folder so that important confirmation codes from banks or public services do not accidentally get there.
Inside the anti-spam menu, you have a switch to activate the lock, you can choose a mode where messages from unknown numbers are hidden or deleted automatically, and you also have a log of blocked events, which is useful to periodically review.
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Enable notifications about blocked messages in the Security app settings to know when the system has gone off, but not be distracted by every event by sound.
Set up a blacklist for specific numbers
If you're concerned about a particular sender, the easiest way to blacklist it is to ban any attempts to communicate on your part, including texting and calling. On Redmi 5, this is done in literally a few taps through a standard messaging app or phone book.
Open a dialog with an unwanted person or find their number in the call log. Click on three dots in the top right corner of the screen or select Detail. The menu that opens will have the option to Block or Blacklist. Confirm the action and the number will be entered in the lock database.
You can also manually manage the list through security settings, which displays a full list of prohibited contacts, you can add numbers manually by typing them from the keyboard, or import them from the history of calls, which is convenient if the spam mailing is from different SIM cards of the same operator.
- 📱 Open the Messages app and find a dialog.
- ⚙️ Click on the menu (three dots) and select Settings.
- 🚫 Go to the Black List section and add a number.
- ✅ Save the changes and check the blocking status.
It’s important to understand that the sender won’t receive a notification that their message is blocked.It will leave as usual for them, but it won’t appear in the shared feed on your Xiaomi device.This creates an illusion of ignoring, which often causes spammers to stop sending.
Filtering messages by keywords
A more advanced method is to use content filters, which, if you're annoyed by messages with specific words like "loan," "win," or microfinance names, can be cut off automatically, a feature that's especially useful for mass mailings from multiple numbers.
In the Security app, go to the anti-spam settings and find Keyword Filter, where you can create your own list of stop words. Any message containing those phrases will be automatically moved to the spam folder or deleted, a powerful tool for cleaning up the information space.
☑️ Setting up a Keyword Filter
When making a keyword list, try to use word roots or unique combinations, such as the word “bank” may be too generic and “superloan” more specific. Keep this list updated regularly, as spammers are constantly changing the wording of their sentences.
| Type of filter | Efficiency | Risk of missing important SMS | Difficulty setting up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacklist of numbers | Tall. | Low. | Low. |
| Keyword filtering | Medium | Medium. | Medium |
| Blocking of unknowns | Maximum | High-pitched | Low. |
| Third-party annexes | Tall. | Low. | Tall. |
Using keyword filters requires periodic maintenance. Once a month, check the spam folder to make sure the system doesn't block the necessary notifications from delivery services or stores where you place orders.
Blocking messages from unknown numbers
The most radical but effective method is to prevent receiving messages from all numbers that are not in your phone book, a feature often called Quiet Mode or Unknown Lock, which is ideal for those who only expect calls from loved ones and colleagues.
You can activate this mode in the same section "Antispam": find the switch "Block messages from unknowns." Once you turn on all SMS from numbers not saved in contacts will be hidden. You will not see pop-up notifications, and the sound will not play.
⚠️ Warning: By enabling this feature, you risk missing confirmation codes when logging into new accounts or messages from couriers who call from unknown numbers.
For Redmi 5, this method can be a rescue from aggressive spam, which often masquerades as normal numbers. However, use it with caution. If you are expecting an important call or message, it is better to temporarily turn off this filter or add a waiting number to contacts in advance.
Third-party applications for spam protection
The built-in MIUI is good, but sometimes inferior to specialized solutions. Applications like Truecaller, Yandex (with the function of a detector and blocker), or SMS Blocker have huge databases of spam numbers, they are updated in real time by the community of users.
Installing such an app on Xiaomi Redmi 5 requires careful permissions, it must access your SMS and calls to be able to filter them, and once installed and initially configured, it will automatically detect and block known spam numbers.
Third-party solutions have the advantage of being intelligent: they can analyze the sender's behavior and flag messages as spam, even if the numbers aren't already blacklisted, and they often have a user-friendly interface for managing locks and statistics.
Popular applications for blocking
You don't need to install multiple apps at once, they can conflict with each other, cause system failures, and quickly land the battery. Choose one reliable solution and customize it to suit your needs.
Services of telecom operators as an additional barrier
Keep in mind that mobile operators also offer spam protection services. The Big Four (MTS, Beeline, MegaFon, Tele2) have paid and free services that filter traffic at the network level, even before it reaches your Redmi 5.
For example, many operators have an antispam service that automatically detects and blocks advertising and fraudulent calls and messages, and you can connect it through the operator’s personal application, USSD-It's a level of protection that doesn't burden the processor of a smartphone.
To activate, it is often enough to send a short command, for example, type a certain code in the dialer. Information about current commands is always available on the official website of your operator in the service section, This is especially important for combating paid subscriptions.
- 📞 Go to your operator's app.
- 🛡️ Find the “Services” or “Protection” section».
- 🔍 Select the option “Antispam” or “Protection against fraudsters».
- ✅ Confirm the connection (the service may be paid).
Combining operator-level protection with the phone's settings is the best thing to do, because the network sifts out the obvious debris, and the smartphone filters out what's gone through the grid, and this dual control virtually guarantees a clean message feed.
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A comprehensive approach (operator + phone settings + common sense) provides 100% protection against most types of mobile spam.