How to Get Rid of Spam on Xiaomi Phone Forever: A Complete 2026 Guide

Spam calls and SMS-mailing have become a real scourge of modern smartphones, and Xiaomi owners suffer from them no less than others. According to Truecaller for 2023, users in Russia receive an average of 12 spam calls per month, and the number of fraudulent SMS increased by 40% compared to 2022. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that spammers are constantly improving methods of bypassing standard locks: using number swapping, sending messages from legal services (banks, government services), and sometimes even calling from foreign SIM cards.

In this article, we will look at all the available ways to block spam on Xiaomi, from the hidden features of the built-in MIUI shell to advanced settings of third-party applications. Particular attention will be paid to the unique feature “Fraud Protection” in MIUI 14/15, which automatically analyzes incoming calls using the Xiaomi database, and you will learn how to block spam numbers at the carrier level and why some “folk” methods (such as blocking all unknown numbers) can turn out to be problems.

1. Built-in tools MIUI: blacklist and spam filter

Shell MIUI (Since version 12, it has built-in anti-spam mechanisms that many users do not fully use. → Memory and SIM-map → Number locking. Not only can you add numbers manually, but you can also set up automatic keyword filtering.

To activate the basic protection:

• 📱 Open the phone app and go to ⋮ → Settings → Lockdown and identification
• 🔒 Turn on the "Block Numbers" switch and add problem contacts manually
• 📊 Activate the Spam Filter option, which automatically flags suspicious calls.
• 🛡️ V MIUI 14+ Fraud Protection (included in Settings) → Privacy → Protection against fraud)

An important nuance: the built-in spam filter in MIUI works on the basis of Xiaomi’s database, which is updated every 1-2 weeks, which means that new spam numbers can slip within a few days of their appearance.

Add known spam numbers to blacklist |Enable spam filter in phone settings |Activate Fraud Protection (MIUI 14+)|Check updates to spam number database manually (Settings → Phone → System Update)

-->

2. Advanced setting SMS-filtering

Spam in messages is often disguised as notifications from banks, delivery services or government agencies, and MIUI has a hidden feature that filters SMS by keywords, which helps filter out up to 80% of unwanted messages, to configure it:

1. Open the "Messages" app.
2. Move to the ⋮ → Settings → Spam filter
3. Enable the option "Message filtering"
4. Add to the list the keywords: win, gift, urgent, debt, lock, etc.
5. Set the action: “Move to spam” or “Delete automatically”

For MIUI 15 users, the experimental SMS Content Analysis feature is available, which uses AI to detect fraudulent messages, and to activate it, you need to:

1. Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Functions Lab


2. Find the item "Smart analysis of SMS" and include it




3. Grant permission to access messages

💡

If an important message accidentally gets into spam, it can be restored within 30 days, and to do this, open the Spam folder in the Messages app and click Restore.

3. Spam blocking at the operator level

Russian operators are obliged to provide services for blocking spam calls and SMS under the law "On Protection of Consumer Rights", each operator has its own mechanisms:

It is important to understand that operator filters operate at the network level and cannot block:

• 📞 Calls from foreign numbers (unless the option "Blocking international spam" is activated")
• 💬 SMS from legal services (banks, public services), even if they come too often
• 🔄 Calls with a changed number if the fraudster uses Spoofing technology from a legal number

MTS|Beeline|MegaFon|Tele2|The Other |I don't know-->

4 Third-party applications: Truecaller vs. embedded solutions

Third-party spam blocking apps are often more effective than built-in MIUI tools. Truecaller remains the market leader, using a database of more than 300 million numbers updated in real time.

• 🔍 Identification of unknown numbers before answering a call
• 🚫 Automatic lock top-100 spam numbers in your area
• 📊 Spam activity statistics by week and time
• 🌍 Support 200+ Countries (Important for blocking international spam)

However, Truecaller has its drawbacks:

⚠️ Warning: The app requires access to your phone book and call history. In 2022, Truecaller got into a scandal over the data breach of 47 million users. If privacy is critical to you, use alternatives like Hiya or Kaspersky Who Calls.

To install Truecaller on Xiaomi:

1. Download the app from Google Play
2. Provide all the permissions requested (contacts, calls, SMS)
3. In the settings, enable "Spam Autoblock" and "Number Identification"
4. Add regional spam databases to Settings → Blocking → Spam Sources

5. Hidden MIUI settings for power users

MIUI has several hidden features that help fight spam at the system level, and these methods require caution, as incorrect settings can lead to blocking important notifications.

Method 1: Block spam numbers through ADB

For advanced users, there is a way to add numbers to the system blacklist through ADB:

adb shell content insert --uri content://call_log/calls --bind number:s: "Phone number" --bind type:i:5

Where type:i:5 This method allows you to add up to 500 numbers to a system blacklist that works independently of the applications.

Method 2: Set up firewall with Developer Options

V MIUI There is a built-in network screen that can be used to block spam-SMS:

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in your phone settings)
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers → Network screen
3. Add spammer numbers to SMS blocking list
4. Set the rule "Block all incoming SMS" for selected numbers

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect network screen settings can lead to loss of important SMS (Before using this method, back up your messages via Settings. → Memory and SIM-map → Backup SMS.

6. How to block spam in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber)

Not only does spam come through calls and SMS, but also through instant messengers, and MIUI has a feature: notifications from instant messengers can be duplicated in the standard Messages app if synchronization is enabled.

WhatsApp:

• 🔕 Open a spammer chat → ⋮ → More. → Block it.
• 📵 In the notification settings, turn off "Show Notifications" for unknown contacts.
• 🛡️ Enable “Two-Step Authentication” in your account settings

Telegram:

• 🚫 Go to Settings. → Confidentiality → Blocked users
• 📥 Turn off the "Messages from People" option in Settings → Notifications → Exceptions
• 🤖 Use the bot. @SpamBot for automatic blocking of spammers

The MIUI feature is that if you block a contact in the messenger, it is automatically added to the system blacklist of the phone (starting with MIUI 13), which avoids duplicate notifications.

💡

Blocking in messengers works independently of the operator and does not affect the SMS-For full protection, set up the lock separately in each application.

7.What to do if spam continues to penetrate?

If, after all these methods, spam continues to annoy you, it's possible that the scammers use advanced techniques to bypass the locks.

1. Check for viruses: Some Trojans replace lock settings. Scan your phone through Xiaomi Security or Malwarebytes.
2. Change number: Last resort, but sometimes the only effective one. Operators provide a number change service with the rate saved (cost) ~100-300₽).
3. Use number two: MIUI has a built-in dual application feature (Settings → Applications → Dual applications) that allows you to separate personal and work contacts.
4. If spam comes from a specific company, you can file a complaint through the RKN portal.₽.

Last tip: If you are a frequent target for scammers, consider buying a Xiaomi eSIM-enabled one (like the Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12 Pro+) that will allow you to quickly change virtual numbers without replacing a physical SIM card.

FAQ: Frequent questions about blocking spam on Xiaomi