How to block calls from unfamiliar numbers on Xiaomi

Constant calls from spammers, collectors and intrusive ad agents can unbalance even the most relaxed user. Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face the problem of having their phone ripped apart from unknown subscribers, interfering with work and leisure. Fortunately, the built-in tools of the MIUI and HyperOS operating system offer powerful mechanisms to protect against unwanted intrusion into personal space.

Xiaomi’s security system allows you to flexibly filter incoming calls by blocking entire groups of numbers or hiding from everyone who is not in your phone book. This is especially true in the era of digital noise, when personal data often ends up in fraudsters’ databases. The right settings will help you forget about annoying horns and focus on the really important things.

In this article, we will take a look at all the available ways to isolate spam, from standard system settings to advanced methods through the engineering menu. You will learn to create exceptions for courier services if necessary, and fully control your contact list.

Use of the built-in blacklist in the Security app

The main security tool in Xiaomi smartphones is the Security app, which is where the main levers of incoming traffic are concentrated. To get started, you need to run this system module, which has a green icon with a shield by default, and inside the interface, we're interested in the communications section.

Find and open Antispam. In the menu that opens, you'll see statistics on blocked calls and messages, and access to settings. Click on the gear icon in the top right corner of the screen to go to the rule configuration. Here, the system offers several layers of protection that can be combined to achieve maximum effect.

Special attention should be paid to the options Blacklist. Going to this section, you can manually add specific numbers that you want to ignore. However, for mass blocking, it is better to use automatic rules. The system allows you to choose a mode in which calls will be deflected from hidden numbers or from anyone who is not recorded in contacts.

• 📱 Click on the Blacklist button for manually controlling prohibited subscribers.
• ⚙️ Use the settings menu (cogs) to activate automatic filters.
• 🚫 Select the option “Block all unknown numbers” to avoid spam.
• 📞 Set up exceptions by adding important services to the whitelist if required.

It's important to understand that when you activate hard filtration, you may miss an important call, for example, from a courier or a doctor, if their number is not saved. So before you turn on contact-only mode, you should weigh all the risks. Antispam in MIUI works intelligently enough, but requires a competent initial setup to suit your needs.

Filtration setting SIM-maps through the system menu

In addition to the security app, Redmi and Poco smartphones have a deep system setup that controls behavior. SIM-This is often more effective because it handles calls before they can display the interface of the incoming call».

Open the "call" and click on the three dots in the upper right corner, then select Settings. In the list of options, find the "Filter" item. SIM-Maps" or "Call Lock" will ask you to choose one of the cards. SIM-If you have two cards, you'll see a menu with switches that control the rules for skipping calls.

The most radical but effective way is to activate the "Block All Numbers" mode, but in most cases, users need a more subtle setup: select the option to Lock numbers that are not in the contact list. This action will cause the phone to automatically reset any calls from subscribers whose numbers are not stored in the device memory or on the phone. SIM-map.

⚠️ Note: When enabling locking all unknown numbers, make sure you have missed call notifications from blocked subscribers enabled so you don’t miss an emergency.

Also available on this menu is the "Block Hidden Numbers" feature, which is especially useful, since many robotic call systems mask their ID. By activating this option, you save yourself from most automated calls. SIM-The card is in an active position (blue or green).

Table of comparison of blocking methods on Xiaomi

To make it easier for you to navigate the variety of features, we have prepared a comparison table that will help you choose the best method of protection depending on your situation and the level of annoyance of spammers.

As you can see from the table, the manual blacklist is suitable for dealing with specific aggressors, whereas the system filter of unknown numbers is a "heavy artillery" against mass spam.

Using third-party solutions can be more empowering, but often requires more device resources. If you want autonomy, you better rely on built-in MIUI tools. The method depends on how often you get calls from new people who are not in your contacts.

Advanced customization through codes and engineering menu

For experienced users who want to gain full control over network settings, there is a possibility of using the system. USSD-These tools allow you to change modem behavior and network settings that are not always available in the normal interface. Be careful when working with these settings, as improperly changing parameters can lead to instability of communication.

One effective way is to use a forwarding code, so you can set up a forwarding of all unknown numbers to voicemail or a number that is always busy, and to do this, in the Phone app, type *61* voicemail number #. However, this method depends on your carrier's support for the service.

A deeper level of customization is opened through the engineering menu. To get there, dialer code ##4636##. From the menu that opens, select Phone Information. Here you can find your preferred network type settings and other options that indirectly affect call processing, although direct blocker is rare in newer versions of Android.

There is also a method of blocking through forwarding commands, for example, the command **61*322# (where 322 is the standard MTS voicemail number, for other operators the number may differ) allows you to switch calls when busy. By combining the conditions "unavailable", "occupied" and "unanswered", you can create a complex logic for processing incoming calls.

Examples of USSD-codes for managing forwarding:




**61* number # - Redirection in case of unavailability




**62* number # - Redirection when unavailable (alternative code)




**67* number # - Redirection for employment




#002# - Cancel all redirects

Use of the USSD-Commands are a quick way to check the status of services on the operator side. Remember that forwarding can be paid depending on your tariff plan, so check the terms with the provider in advance.

Using third-party apps for smart locking

If built-in tools are not enough, specialized applications from the Google Play Store come to the rescue, with Truecaller leading the way, which has a huge database of spam numbers updated by users around the world, which allows you to identify and block calls from organizations that have just started calling before they even get to standard databases.

Once you install this application, you have to give it broad permissions, and it will ask for access to contacts, call logs, and number rights, so that the application can verify the incoming number with its database in real time, and without those permissions, the smart lock won't work.

Popular applications can also analyze SMS-They can automatically delete spam or mark it as read, clearing notifications, but keep in mind privacy: by sharing your calls with a third party service, you share some of your digital history.

• 🛡️ Truecaller is the largest spam number database in the world.
• 📞 Yandex with Alice – can determine the number of organizations and mark spam.
• 🚫 Kaspersky Who Calls – a solution from a well-known vendor of antiviruses.
• 📱 Getcontact – popular in the CIS, allows you to see tags that other people gave you.

⚠️ Note: Installing third-party number detectors requires you to provide access to your personal contacts. carefully review the application's privacy policy before installing.

It is also important for Xiaomi users to set up auto-runs for such applications so that the system does not “kill” their process in the background. Go to the battery settings and allow the application to work in the background, otherwise the lock may stop working after unlocking the screen or rebooting.

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To keep the locking app running consistently on MIUI, open it through the recent apps menu, click on the lock or select Settings -> Auto Start and enable permission.

Typical Problems and FAQs

Even with the right setup, users can experience the nuances of how the blockers work, for example, calls can pass if you have Do Not Disturb mode with exceptions, or if the carrier does not transmit the correct call ID, sometimes resetting network settings or updating the firmware to the latest version helps.

A common problem is that the caller hears the beeps even though the call is blocked. This is normal: the lock is on the side of your phone, and the caller feels like a normal dial, and if you want the caller to hear "busy" or "unavailable," you need to use the redirects mentioned above.

It is important to regularly update the spam databases in apps and check settings after major Android or MIUI updates, as the permissions system may reset. Regular audit of security settings ensures that protection remains effective.

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The combination of the built-in unknown number filter and the detector application gives the maximum result, cutting off up to 99% of unwanted calls.

Below are answers to the most common questions that users have when setting up a lock.