How to disable SMS on Xiaomi: Full control over messages

The modern smartphone, especially Xiaomi devices, has become a hub of digital noise, where advertising and intrusive notifications often block really important correspondence. Users are increasingly faced with the need to temporarily or permanently limit the incoming flow of text messages to maintain concentration or simply take a break from information noise. The MIUI ecosystem and the new HyperOS have powerful tools to flexibly manage this functionality without third-party software.

There are several scenarios where you want to turn off SMS, from the banal desire to sleep on the weekend to combat aggressive spam from banks and stores. The Android system that underpins Xiaomi shells offers different levels of locking, ranging from simple ignoring notifications to complete software isolation. SIM-It is important to understand the difference between a blackout, a cover-up of previews, and a complete ban on data so that you don't miss a critical confirmation code.

In this article, we'll take a look at all the text management techniques available, and you'll learn not just to jam the sound, but to set up smart filters that will sort incoming messages by themselves, skipping only important notifications from contacts in your address book, allowing you to stay in touch with loved ones while ignoring advertising junk.

Blocking notifications and hiding preview messages

The easiest way to disable SMS is to make them invisible on the lock screen and silent, while still being able to read them at any time, by going to Settings and selecting the Notifications and Status section, and you can turn off the contents of messages so that outsiders can’t see the text, even if the phone is on the screen up.

In newer versions of firmware, the path may be different. Go to Apps → Application Management, search in the Messages list. Select Notifications inside the app menu, and you have complete control over how the phone responds to incoming inboxes, and you can only leave the icon in the curtain, removing the sound and vibration.

⚠️ Note: If you completely disable notifications for the Messages system application, you may not know about the confirmation code from the bank until you open the application yourself.

For maximum privacy, use the Hide Content feature, in which case the locked screen will only display the text of the "New message" or the name of the sender, but the text itself will remain hidden, especially in public places or in the office, where the smartphone screen is often visible to colleagues.

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Use Do Not Disturb mode with exception settings so that SMSes come silently, but calls from selected contacts go with sound.

Use of Do Not Disturb Mode for Silence

Do Not Disturb (DND) is a standard tool of the Android operating system that allows you to temporarily turn off all sound and light signals, including SMS. You can activate it through the control panel (curtain) by clicking on the corresponding icon with the crescent. However, the standard mode can be too radical, blocking absolutely everything.

To make this mode more flexible, go to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Do Not Disturb. This setups the mode schedule, for example, automatically from 23:00 to 07:00. Under Allow Notifications, you can select the option “Favorites Only” or “Nobody”, which will effectively turn off the sound of the SMS for a given time.

• 🌙 Complete silence: the phone will not vibrate or glow when incoming.
• 📞 Exceptions: Ability to skip repeated calls or calls from contacts.
• ⏰ Automation: Enabling the schedule without user involvement.

It's important to note that in this mode, messages still come and are stored in the device's memory. It's just that the phone behaves as if they don't exist. It's ideal for meetings, cinemas or night time, where you're guaranteed not to wake up to the sound of a notification, but to keep the history of the correspondence intact.

Setting up a blacklist and filtering spam

If your goal is to get rid of advertising SMS, and not all messages in principle, then the most effective solution is to use the built-in antivirus and the MIUI blocker. The system has a powerful engine that automatically recognizes and flags suspicious numbers. To access the settings, open the Security app (green shield) and select Antispam.

In the anti-spam menu, you go to the settings (three dots or a gear) and select Blacklist, where you can activate blocking messages from unknown numbers that contain keywords or from anyone not listed in your phone book, which will create a “disconnection” effect for advertisers while your friends can reach you.

Once you have set up the blacklist, all blocked messages will be moved to a separate Spam folder inside the Messages app, and you can check the folder at any time to make sure that nothing important, such as a delivery confirmation code, has been hit.

Shutdown SIM-maps in system settings

A radical, but sometimes necessary method is the software shutdown of the most SIM-Unlike tray extraction, this method allows you to disconnect the network in a second through the menu without losing the physical chip. → SIM-maps and mobile networks. Here you'll see a list of installed maps.

Choose the right one. SIM-map, SIM 1) and switch the switch to off. Once confirmed, the phone will no longer register with the operator's network, resulting in no incoming SMS or calls, and the sender will receive a standard response that the subscriber is unavailable.

⚠️ Attention: When disconnected SIM-You'll also lose access to mobile internet through this card. Make sure you have active Wi-Fi if you need to access the network.

This method is often used on business trips when you need to save battery power or avoid roaming costs, but you need to keep the ability to call emergency services (if the second SIM is active) or use multimedia functions of the phone.

Using third-party applications to block

Xiaomi’s regular tools are good, but sometimes you need the finer customizations that Google Play apps can offer. Programs like Truecaller, SMS Blocker or Should I Answer use crowdsourcing databases to identify spam numbers more efficiently than built-in filters.

Once installed, the app will request permission to use SMS, which is necessary to intercept the incoming message before it appears in the standard application and block it. You can create complex rules, such as blocking messages containing links or messages that come at night from numbers that are not in the contacts.

• 🛡️ Truecaller: Defining the number and blocking spam by user base.
• 🚫 SMS Blocker: Flexible rules for filtering by text content.
• 📞 Should I Answer: Number Rating and Automatic Reset/Ignor.

When using third-party blockers, it is important to keep privacy in mind. By giving an application access to your messages, you trust it with sensitive data, it is recommended to carefully choose the developer and read the privacy policy before installing.

Temporary shutdown through air mode

The fastest and most "rough" way to turn off all kinds of communications, including text messages, calls and mobile Internet, is to activate flight mode. On Xiaomi devices, this is done by swiping down from the top right corner of the screen and tapping the aircraft icon. The network shuts down instantly.

This method is useful in situations where you need a complete digital detox for a short period of time. The phone continues to work, you can play offline games, take photos or watch stored videos, but it is completely isolated from the outside world. No messages can pass through the radio module, which at this point is de-energized software.

A unique feature of some versions of MIUI is the ability to leave Wi-Fi on even when you are in active flight mode. This allows you to stay in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram), receiving messages over the Internet, but completely ignore classic SMS and calls over the cellular network. To activate, turn on Air Mode, and then separately turn on Wi-Fi.

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Flight mode is the only way to guarantee the termination of any incoming SMS, including emergency notifications to telecom operators.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)