Xiaomi smartphones have long proven themselves as reliable devices with wide customization capabilities, but even the advanced shell of MIUI requires a competent setup to effectively protect against unwanted content. Owners of the popular model Redmi Note 5 often face streams of intrusive advertising and fraudulent mailings that not only take up space in memory, but also distract from important things. Standard Android tools allow you to partially solve this problem, but MIUI has a deeper level of control over incoming messages.
Effectively blocking SMS on Redmi Note 5 starts with understanding how spam gets into your device, which can be messages from specific numbers sent by carriers. SMS-It is important to distinguish between these sources, as the methods of dealing with them will differ from simple blocking of a contact to configuring system security filters. Ignoring this setting can result in the loss of important notifications among information noise.
In this guide, we will detail how to block SMS on Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 using built-in tools of the system without installing third-party software. You will learn how to create a blacklist, configure smart filters and manage application permissions, which will make your smartphone much cleaner and safer. The built-in antivirus in MIUI is able to intercept up to 90% of spam mailings before they even get into the inbox.
Use of the built-in blacklist
The most direct way to stop receiving messages from an intrusive subscriber is to blacklist their number, and Redmi Note 5 owners can do this directly from the Messages interface or through the security center, ideal for situations where spam comes from one or more specific numbers that you have already identified.
To implement the lock, open a dialogue with an unwanted interlocutor and find the lock point in the chat settings menu. An alternative path lies through the system application “Security”, which is preinstalled on all Xiaomi smartphones, here the functionality is expanded to allow you to manage not only calls, but also text messages centrally.
- 📱 Open the Security app on the desktop.
- 🚫 Select the Blacklist section at the bottom of the screen or in the settings menu.
- ➕ Click the add button (usually the plus icon or triplet in the corner).
- 🔢 Enter the number manually or select from the call and message history.
Once a number is added to the lock list, all incoming SMS and calls from that contact will be automatically rejected by the system.The user will not receive any notifications, and the sender will not know about the lock, which is often the preferred scenario when dealing with aggressive debt collectors or scammers.
Filters setup in the Security application
The MIUI shell on the Redmi Note 5 has powerful tools for filtering traffic that works at the system level. Unlike a simple blacklist, filters allow you to block entire categories of messages, for example, containing certain keywords or coming from unknown senders, this is especially true for combating bulk mailings, where numbers are constantly changing.
To activate smart filtering, you need to go to the antivirus settings and go to the block section, you can turn on the Keyword Filter option, which will scan the text of incoming messages, and if a word from your list (for example, “credit”, “winning”, “promotion”) is found in the body of the message, it will automatically be moved to the folder of blocked messages.
Setting up filters requires care, as too aggressive rules can lead to the loss of important notifications from banks or delivery services. It is recommended to first test the filter on test messages, and then activate it for all incoming ones. Xiaomi system also offers to update the databases of spam numbers, which increases the effectiveness of protection.
☑️ Setting up a smart filter
Blocking messages from unknown numbers
One of the most annoying problems is spam from anonymous or hidden numbers that are not saved in the phone book. On the Redmi Note 5, there is the option to limit the receipt of messages only from contacts from your notebook, a feature that creates a rigid barrier that only allows trusted senders to pass.
Contacts Only is available in the Message Settings menu, and when you turn on this option, your phone will ignore any SMS that comes from numbers that aren't on your contact list, a radical but highly effective method that users often use when they want to be completely at rest for a certain period of time.
⚠️ Note: Enabling Contacts Only may result in missing confirmation codes from banks, taxis or couriers if their numbers are not recorded in the phone book.
If you only need to receive messages from your friends temporarily, but do not lose important service notifications, you should use a combination of methods, for example, you can add short service numbers to contacts under the name "Service" so that they are filtered, while all other debris will be blocked.
What to do if important messages do not come?
Managing application permissions
Often, intrusive notifications and pseudo-SMS are not sent by classic messages, but by push notifications from installed applications. Many programs request access to SMS to confirm a number or read codes, and then abuse this right. Permit control is a key step in the fight against digital garbage on Xiaomi.
Go to Settings → Applications → Permissions → SMS. Here is a complete list of programs that have access to your messages. Carefully read this list: if a flashlight, calculator or simple game requests access to SMS, this is a clear sign of potentially unwanted software that should be limited or removed.
| Type of application | Need access to SMS? | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) | No (using the internet) | Can't be banned. |
| Banking applications | Yes (for auto-filling codes) | Permission. |
| Games and utilities | No. | Banned |
| Social media | No (using the internet) | Banned |
Disabling SMS access for suspicious applications will not disrupt their core functionality, but will prevent you from reading your correspondence and sending hidden messages. In modern versions of Android and MIUI, this mechanism works stably, without requiring root rights. Regular audit of permissions helps to maintain the cleanliness of the system.
💡
Tip: Use the dual apps feature for second messenger accounts to isolate work or promotional contacts from the main SIM card and private messages.
Analysis and cleaning of the blocked folder
After setting up filters and blacklisting, it is important to periodically check the folder of blocked messages.The Redmi Note 5 system does not delete them forever, but only hides them from the user’s eyes, saving them in a special repository, which makes sure that important emails were not (mistakenly classified) as spam.
To view the archive, open the Messages app and click on the menu icon or settings gear where the Locked item is located. Here you can see all intercepted messages, restore them or permanently delete them. Cleaning this partition also helps to free up space in the device's memory, since text messages, especially with MMS attachments, can take up space.
If you notice that messages from the same legitimate sender (for example, a telecom operator) are constantly getting into the blocked ones, be sure to add their number to the exceptions or whitelist. This will prevent situations when you do not receive a code to log in to the bank or a payment notification.
⚠️ Note: Do not ignore checking the folder locked in the first days after setting up filters.This will help you calibrate the sensitivity of the system and avoid losing critical data.
💡
Regularly checking the Locked folder is the only way to make sure your filters are working correctly and don’t block useful information.
Third-party decisions and additional measures
If MIUI is not enough, Redmi Note 5 users can turn to third-party apps from Google Play. However, it is worth remembering that installing additional software to block SMS is often redundant, since Xiaomi system tools work at a deeper level and consume less battery life.
Popular alternatives include crowdsourcing-based numbering and spam blocking apps that allow numbers to be marked as “spam” or “telemarketing” to alert other users, but even then, it is recommended that these apps be given the minimum permissions they need.
- 🛡️ Use only proven antiviruses with anti-spam function.
- 🚫 Avoid applications with dubious reputations that require full access rights.
- 🔄 Regularly update the spam number databases in the selected application.
In most cases, the complex setup of the built-in blacklist and keyword filters on the Redmi Note 5 completely solves the problem of intrusive messages. Proper use of these tools makes your smartphone a reliable assistant, not a source of constant irritation. Remember that the security of your data begins with control over incoming traffic.