How to get rid of spam calls on Xiaomi phone forever: from standard settings to hidden MIUI chips

Spam calls have become a modern scourge, with scammers, intrusive marketers and robot informers attacking users’ smartphones several times a day. Xiaomi phone owners (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi series) often face this problem, but not everyone knows that MIUI offers an arsenal of tools to combat spam. In this article, we will examine not only standard blocking methods, but also hidden features that even official instructions do not speak about.

Xiaomi is a big part of the system-level integration of anti-spam solutions. For example, the latest versions of MIUI 14/15 have an improved algorithm for identifying fraudulent numbers that works even without an internet connection. However, many users still rely only on manual locking or third-party apps, missing out on the built-in tools. Next, you will learn how to configure protection so that spam calls bypass your phone and important calls are never missed.

1. Built-in spam blocking in MIUI: hidden settings

MIUI has an anti-spam mechanism built in, which many users don't notice because of its non-obvious location. To activate it, go to:

Settings → Applications → Call Management → Call blocking and filtering

There are three key options available:

• 🔍 Spam call filtering: automatically blocks numbers flagged as fraudulent by the Xiaomi community. runs on a database that is updated daily.
• 📞 Unknown number blocking: Cuts off calls from hidden or unidentified numbers (caution: can block important calls from banks or delivery services).
• 📋 Blacklist: manually adding numbers to the blocklist, supports import/export lists (useful when changing phones).

An important nuance: the spam filtering feature requires an internet connection to sync with Xiaomi’s cloud base. If you’re often offline, turn on the Local Lock option in the same menu, which will use cached data.

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If the lock settings are missing after the MIUI update, reset the Phone app cache to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Phone → Storage → Clear the cache.

2. How to add a number to the blacklist: 3 ways

The most reliable way to get rid of a caller is to blacklist him, and in MIUI, there are three ways to do this:

1. From the call log: Open the Phone app, find a number in the history, click on it → ⋮ (three-point) → Add to the blacklist.
2. From the Contact Menu: Go to Contacts, select the desired number → Edit → ⋮ → Lock down.
3. Through lock settings: In the call lock and filter menu (see section 1), click Add manually and enter the number.

Xiaomi’s blacklist syncs with Mi Account, which means that when you change your phone (for example, from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 13), all locked numbers will automatically be transferred to the new device.

3 Third-Party Applications: Truecaller vs. Integrated MIUI Tools

Many users install Truecaller or GetContact without realizing that these apps duplicate MIUI features and may even make things worse.

Critical information: apps like Truecaller collect your contacts and call history by transferring them to their servers, and built-in MIUI locking works locally and does not send data to third parties.

Built-in tools MIUI|Truecaller|GetContact|Other|I don't use anything.-->

4. Secret MIUI chips: How to block keyword spam

Few people know that MIUI has a feature to block calls by keywords in a subscriber's name, which is useful if spammers use template names like Sberbank, Gift Card or Tax to activate it:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Call Management → Keyword Blocking.
2. Add words or phrases (e.g., “winning”, “credit”, “operator”).
3. Select the action: Block the call or Send to voicemail.

This function works even if the number is not in the blacklist, but in the contact name or CALLER ID It contains a forbidden word, like if a spammer calls from a number. +79991234567, but in CALLER ID displays "You won 1,000,000", the call will be blocked.

Add the words “credit”, “winning”, “operator"|Check register sensitivity|Enable the option "Block such words"|Test call with forbidden word-->

5. How to block spam from a telecom operator

Sometimes spam calls are not from scammers, but from the mobile operator itself (tariff advertising, promotions, etc.) It is useless to block such numbers through standard MIUI means - operators often substitute CALLER ID.

• 📵 Unsubscribe from mailings: call your operator’s short number (for example, *111# for MTS or *105# for Beeline) and follow the voice instructions.
• 🛡️ Use it. USSD-team: *152# → Disable advertising messages (MegaFon) *111*0887# → Subscribe from mailings (Tele)2)
• 📱 Set up the filter in MIUI: add to the blacklist not the number, but the operator name (for example, "MTS Info" or "Beeline Service").

⚠️ Note: Some operators are ignoring USSD-In this case, write a support complaint demanding that you stop calling, citing federal law. № 230-FZ (Article 18, para).

6 Advanced methods: geolocation and time locking

MIUI 14/15 has expanded lock settings that allow you to filter calls by:

• 🌍 Geolocations: block numbers from certain countries/regions (good for international spam). → Annexes → Call management → Regional lockdown.
• ⏰ Time: Automatically disable all incoming contacts except for selected contacts at night. → Don't disturb. → Schedule.
• 🔄 Call frequency: if one number rings more than 3 times per hour, it is automatically blocked (included in Lock and Filtering). → Additionally).

For geolocation blocking, it is recommended to add to the list:

• Codes of countries with high levels of telephone spam: +1 (US/Canada), +92 (Pakistan), +234 (Nigeria).
• Regional codes of Russia, if spam is coming from specific cities (for example, +7812 for St. Petersburg).

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Geolocation blocking does not affect roaming, and if you are traveling, temporarily disable this feature to avoid missing important local calls.

7 What to do if spam calls continue

If none of the methods worked, check the following points:

1. Update MIUI: Older versions (below MIUI 12) have worse anti-spam systems. Update: Settings → About Phone → System Update.
2. Check the phone app rights: Settings → Apps → Application management → Phone → Permissions Make sure that Calls and Contact permissions are enabled.
3. Reset network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Sometimes spam calls are associated with errors in the configuration of the operator.
4. Install alternative calling software, such as Google Phone (has built-in antispam) or Drupe (with advanced filtering).

⚠️ Warning: If after all the manipulations, spam calls continue to come from the same number, this may be a sign of a virus on your phone.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions