Owners of modern Xiaomi smartphones often face intrusive calls from advertising agencies or scammers. Fortunately, the built-in security system allows you to effectively weed out unwanted calls without installing third-party software. However, the location of the necessary settings in the shells of MIUI and the new HyperOS may not be obvious to the beginner, since they are hidden in the depths of system applications.
Finding the lock function depends on the operating system version and the regional firmware of your device. In some cases, the desired item is in the contact menu, in others - in the Security app. The blacklist is part of a comprehensive security tool that analyzes incoming connections and messages.
In this article, we will take a look at all the possible ways to manage restricted numbers, not only to find hidden menus, but also to configure smart filters that automatically recognize spam, which will allow you to completely isolate your smartphone from information noise, while maintaining peace and privacy.
Search through the Security app
The most reliable and versatile way to get into lock settings is to use the system application “Security” – it is pre-installed on all Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, regardless of the firmware version, and this is where the main tools for protecting the device from malware and unwanted contacts are concentrated.
To start, open the app with the green shield icon. In the interface, find the Antispam section. If you don't see it right on the home screen, click the three dots in the top right corner or scroll down the tool list. Inside this menu, you can find all the call filtering settings. SMS-message.
⚠️ Warning: Do not delete the Security app, even if it seems unnecessary to you. It is the one that keeps the blacklist working, and its removal can lead to failures in the call filtering system.
Once you enter the Antispam section, you will see lock switches, you can activate the lock of hidden numbers or numbers from other countries, and you can also find the Blacklist button on this menu, which leads to detailed management of specific contacts, and you click on it, you will be placed in the list of all blocked subscribers.
☑️ Checking the anti-spam settings
Configure through the application "Phone"
An alternative and often faster way to manage bans is through a standard call, which is convenient when you urgently need to block the number from which the call just came. The interface may vary slightly depending on whether you use a Google caller or a standard MIUI Dialer.
Open the Phone app and go to the call history tab. Find the number you want to block and click on it to open the details. In the menu that opens, select the option Block or Add to Blacklist. The system will automatically enter this contact into the prohibited database.
To fine-tune the call itself, click on three dots or a gear of settings. Select Lock Settings. Here you can see a general list of blocked contacts and adjust rules for incoming calls, for example, you can choose whether the caller will hear the beeps or immediately receive the "busy" signal.
- 📞 Quick lock from call history with one click.
- ⚙️ Deep customization of rules through the gear menu.
- 🔇 Option to choose the type of lock (with or without horns).
What does the caller hear?
Managing the list in the “Contacts” annex
The third way to get to the settings is through the contact book, which is especially useful if you want to block the person you have saved in your phone book under a specific name, and the logic here is built around the user's card.
Go to the Contacts app and find the entry you want, open the person's profile and scroll down, and there should be a Block or Blacklist button, and once confirmed, all calls and messages from that contact will be ignited by the system.
To view a complete list of all ignored numbers through this interface, go to the settings of the contact application itself (usually three dots in the corner). Find the Blocked Contacts section. This displays a summary table of all prohibitions synchronized with the system security settings.
It's important to understand that changes made through the Contacts app are instantly applicable to the entire system, and you don't need to confirm them in the Security app, but it's a single database that can be accessed from all sides of the MIUI.
💡
Use the “Block Unknowns” feature if you only receive calls from certain organizations, which will allow you to take calls only from the phone book, ignoring all other numbers.
Table: Comparison of blocking methods
Different ways of accessing the blacklist have their own characteristics and are designed for different use cases, and understanding these differences will help you choose the most convenient option for a particular situation.
| Access method | Speed of access | Functional | It's best suited for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security Annex | Medium | Full (rules setup, SMS, hidden numbers) | Deep system tuning |
| Application Phone | Tall. | Basic (blocking a specific number) | Urgent blocking of spammer |
| Annex Contacts | Medium | Advanced (by name, card management) | Works with a saved book |
| USSD teams | Tall. | Limited (depending on the operator) | Remote management |
As you can see from the table, the quickest way to do one-off things is to use a call, and the best way to create complex filtering rules is to use a security application, and combining these methods gives you maximum control over incoming traffic.
Advanced settings and filters
Xiaomi’s system offers not just a dull lock by number, but also smart filters. In the “Antispam” menu, you can activate the lock by keywords in SMS. This is especially true for advertising casinos, loans and other intrusive services.
To activate, go to the blacklist settings and select Settings. SMS-You can add words here that automatically delete or move to spam. You can use regular expressions to find more accurate information.
⚠️ Be careful when adding short words to the filter. SMS. Blocking the word “credit” can hide important notices from the bank that contain the term in the text of the message.
Hidden Number Block is also available, and it's useful if you get frequent calls from anonymous people, but keep in mind that enabling this option can lead to missing important calls from doctors or delivery services, who sometimes hide their ID.
- 📝 Filtering by Keywords in Messages.
- 🙈 Automatic rejection of hidden numbers.
- 🌍 Blocking international calls (by country codes).
Problems and solutions
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the locked number is still dialed, this can happen for several reasons, most often the problem lies in the operator's settings, which take precedence over the settings of the smartphone, or in the subscriber's use of numbering services.
If the blacklist doesn't work, check if you've added a contact to Favorites. On Android, favorite contacts often take priority and can go through lockdown. Also make sure that the Security app has all the necessary permissions to work with telephony and SMS.
In rare cases, resetting network settings or updating the antivirus database within the security application helps. Click the update button in the Antispam section to download the latest spam number signatures.
💡
If the blocked number continues to call, check the status of "Favorites" at the contact and the access rights of the Security application in the system settings.