How to take calls from the contact list of Xiaomi: the complete guide

Why it’s important to filter incoming calls on Xiaomi

Spam calls, scammers and intrusive call centers have become a real problem for smartphone owners. According to Kaspersky, in 2023, one in three Xiaomi users in Russia encountered unwanted incomings daily. The solution is simple: set up the phone so that it only takes calls from numbers stored in contacts, not only to eliminate spam, but also to protect against phishing attacks when scammers disguise themselves as banks or government agencies.

The MIUI functionality allows you to flexibly manage incoming calls without installing third-party applications. However, many users do not know that the standard settings of the phone hide powerful filtering tools. In this article, we will analyze all the ways from basic to advanced, including nuances for different models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T, etc.).

It's important to understand that blocking everything but contacts works at the system level, so it doesn't require constant work in the background (unlike anti-spam applications), which means that the battery won't go down faster and the performance of the phone will remain at the same level, but there are pitfalls, which we'll talk about.

Method 1: Using the standard MIUI blacklist

The easiest method is to activate the built-in Blacklist feature, which is hidden by default in the phone settings, which is suitable for all Xiaomi smartphones on MIUI 12/13/14, including budget models like Redmi 10A or flagships like Xiaomi 14 Pro.

To enable filtration:

1. Open the phone application (pipe icon).
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → select Settings.
3. Go to the Block and Identification section (or the Blacklist in older versions).
4. Activate the switch to Lock Unknown Numbers.
5. Enable Contact Only (can be called Contact Only Calls).

After that, all the numbers that are not saved in the phone book will be automatically reset, and the call will not even arrive, the subscriber will hear the message "Subscriber temporarily unavailable." Importantly, this method does not block SMS from unknown numbers, they need separate settings.

The "Block Unknown Numbers" switch is activated |

Contacts only mode is activated |

Exemptions (services 112, 911, etc.) |

Synchronized contacts with Google/Account Mi-->

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI for the Chinese market (China) ROM) The "Contact Only" option may not be available, in which case use Method 3 with Security.

Method 2: Configure via the Security app

The Security (Shield Icon) app in MIUI offers advanced call management tools, where you can not only block unknown numbers, but also create a whitelist with priority contacts (for example, for family or work).

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Security app → Go to the tab Blocking.
• 🔒 Select Call Locking → Settings (cog in the corner).
• 📋 Activate Allow calls from contacts only.
• ⚙️ In the Exclusions section, add important numbers (e.g. 112, 911, taxi service).

The advantage of this method is flexibility, for example, you can allow calls from the last 5 contacts you've spoken to, even if they're not saved in the phone book, which is convenient for business negotiations.

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If contacts fail to make calls after setting up, check if they are added to the Blacklist by accident. Open Security → Lock → Log and delete the numbers from the blocked list.

Method 3: Advanced filtering through Google Phone (for global firmware)

Xiaomi smartphones with global firmware (for example, Redmi Note 12 Global or POCO X5 5G) have Google Phone app installed by default instead of the standard MIUI call. It has a built-in spam filter with the option “Contacts Only”.

How to set up:

1. Open Google Phone (the phone icon with the Google logo).
2. Click on three points → Settings → Spam and calls.
3. Turn on the spam call filter.
4. Activate Contacts Only in the Additional Settings section.

The feature of this method is integration with the database of spam numbers of Google, the system automatically updates the list of fraudulent numbers, so the protection becomes dynamic, but you need an Internet connection to check the numbers.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Redmi) K60) When using Google Phone, functions may be lost MIUI, This is something like recording conversations or vibrations when you call. Before setting up, check compatibility in the Settings section. → The phone. → Version. MIUI.

Standard MIUI|

Google Phone|

Truecaller|

Another |

Method 4: Automation via Tasker (for power users)

If you need flexible call management with additional conditions (like locking at night or for specific geolocations), Tasker's application will help.

Example of the problem of blocking unknown numbers:

1. Install Tasker from Google Play.
2. Create a new task (+ → State → Phone → Incoming Call).
3. Add the condition: If %CNAME ~ Unknown (check for absence in contacts).
4. Add the action to Reset the Challenge (Phone → Reset).

Advantages of Tasker:

• 🕒 Scheduled blocking (for example, from 23:00 to 8:00).
• 📍 Geozone: Auto-unlock numbers when you're at work.
• 🔔 Conditional exceptions (for example, skipping prefix calls) +7 495).

The downside is the difficulty of setting up for beginners. If you've never used Tasker, practice on simple tasks before setting up call filtering.

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Tasker is suitable for users who need advanced lock logic (by time, location, keywords in the room). MIUI.

Exceptions and important nuances

Even after setting up "contact only", some calls can pass, due to system exceptions that can not be turned off:

• 🚨 Emergency services (112, 911, 102, etc.) – blocking is prohibited by law.
• 📞 Calls from hidden numbers (the identifier shows "Unknown" or "Private number").
• 🔄 Callbacks from the operator (for example, after a missed call to the hotline).

Also consider:

• 🔄 If you have reflashed the phone (installed custom firmware like LineageOS), standard features MIUI In this case, use Tasker or third-party calls like Truecaller.
• 📱 On Xiaomi with a double. SIM lock settings apply separately for each card. Check the settings for both SIMs in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
• 🔄 After resetting the phone to the factory settings, all the lock rules are reset - they will have to be configured again.

What to do if contact calls are not made

Sometimes, once you activate the filter, even the saved contacts can't reach you.

If the problem persists, try:

1. Restart your phone (sometimes helps when your system crashes).
2. Update MIUI to the latest version (Settings → About Phone → System Update).
3. Reset the settings of the Phone application (Settings → Applications → Phone → Storage → Reset).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi call filtering