How to block numbers that are not in the phone book on Xiaomi: all the ways

Do you get dozens of calls from unfamiliar numbers a day? Spam centers, scammers and intrusive operators are poisoning Xiaomi owners as much as users of other brands, MIUI It offers a few built-in tools to filter unwanted calls, from a basic blacklist to smart spam recognition, but not everyone knows that lock settings can be finely customized: For example, allow calls only from the phone book or, conversely, block all numbers except selected ones.

In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to block unknown numbers on Xiaomi, Redmi and smartphones. POCO (including models MIUI 14/15 You will learn how to set up automatic spam filtering, manually blacklist numbers, and bypass common errors that make the lockdown fail. Particular attention will be paid to the hidden function "Silence mode for unknowns", which is not available in all regional firmware - its activation reduces the number of spam calls on the Internet. 80% user data.

Why Unknown Numbers Are Calling and How to Stop It

Spam calls on Xiaomi fall into three categories:

• 📞 Fraudulent centers – imitate banks, support services or government agencies (numbers often begin with a number of banks, support services or government agencies). +7 495, +7,800 or other country codes).
• 📊 Marketing mailings – telecom operators, insurance companies, credit brokers (use local numbers with your region code).
• 🤖 Robots and Auto Calls – Short Calls (1-2 ) to confirm the activity of the number before the sale of the base.

V MIUI There are three levels of protection against such challenges:

1. Built-in spam filter – basic lock on the Xiaomi database (works automatically, but does not cover all numbers).
2. Blacklisting is the manual addition of unwanted contacts.
3. Contacts Only mode is a complete lock on all numbers except those stored in the phone book.

It is important to understand that no method can 100% Fraudsters are constantly changing numbers, and marketers are using legal loopholes (for example, calling from city lines). 90-95%. Next, we will analyze each method in detail.

Method 1: Incorporate a spam call filter into MIUI

The easiest way is to activate the built-in spam protection, which is based on Xiaomi’s cloud database, where users from around the world send complaints about fraudulent numbers, and the algorithm analyzes the frequency of complaints and automatically blocks suspicious calls.

To turn on the filter:

1. Open the phone application (pipe icon).
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → select Settings.
3. Go to Block and Spam Filter (or Spam Protection in New HyperOS Versions).
4. Activate the Spam Call Filter Switch.
5. Optionally, turn on Display notifications about blocked calls to see which numbers have been filtered.

After activation, tags will be displayed next to incoming calls:

• 🚨 Suspicious – the number is marked in the database as fraudulent.
• 📢 Advertising - a marketing call.
• 🤖 Auto-calling: a robot or a short horn.

💡

If the filter does not block obvious spam, update the database: go to Settings phone → Annexes → Application management → Phone. → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

Limitations of the method:

• It does not block new numbers that are not yet in the database.
• May miss local marketing calls (such as from beauty salons or realtors).
• In some regions (e.g. the EU), the feature is disabled due to data protection laws.

Method 2: Manually Adding Numbers to a Blacklist

If the spam filter doesn't work, you can manually block specific numbers, which is useful for:

• 📱 Intrusive collectors (even if they change the last digits of the number, often use a single prefix).
• 🏢 Local companies that ignore requests for removal from the mailing list.
• 👥 Personal enemies or former partners (unless you want to see their calls).

Adding a number to the blacklist can be done in three ways:

1. From the call log: tap on the number → "Lock down" → confirm

2. From contacts: Open contact → three-point → "Lock down"

Manually: “Phone settings" → "Number locking" → "Add it manually"-->

To manage the blacklist:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the phone app and tap on it.
3. Select Block Numbers (or Blacklist in older versions) MIUI).
4. Here you'll see all the locked numbers. To remove the number from the list, tap on it and select Unblock.

⚠️ Note: Up to 500 numbers can be added to the blacklist (the limit depends on the model). If you exceed the limit, the old numbers are automatically deleted. To circumvent this restriction, use third-party applications (see Method 5).

If you are frequently contacted by similar numbers (for example, +7 9XX 123-45-67, +7 9XX 123-45-68), It can be blocked all over the range:

1. In the call log, tap on any number in the series.
2. Choose Block. → Block similar numbers.
3. Specify the mask (for example, +79XX12345**) and keep.

Method 3: Contacts Only – locking all unknown numbers

The most radical, but also the most effective method is to allow calls only from contacts in the phone book, and all other calls will be automatically rejected.

• 🏢 Works with confidential information and wants to avoid leaks through calls.
• 👶 Have children who are given a phone (to limit communication with strangers).
• 🧘 He practices digital detox and wants to minimize distractions.

To activate the mode:

1. Open the phone. → three-point → Settings.
2. Go to Blocking and Spam Filter.
3. Enable Contact Only (or Block Unknown Numbers in HyperOS)
4. Confirm the action in the pop-up window.

After activation:

• ✅ Calls from saved contacts go well.
• ❌ All other numbers are blocked without notice (in the call log they are displayed as "Blocked").
• 📩 SMS Unknown numbers are also blocked (if the appropriate setting is enabled).

⚠️ Note: In this mode, you will not be able to receive calls from taxi, delivery, banks (unless their numbers are saved in contacts: 🚖 Taxi numbers (Yandex Go, Uber, local services). 🏦 Bank Hotlines (usually shown on the back of the card). 🏥 Numbers of clinics, ambulance, MOE.

Method 4: Set up exceptions for important calls

Contacts Only is a tight lock on all unknown numbers, but what if you sometimes have to take calls from new people, like when you're looking for a job, selling things on Avito, or communicating with strangers on instant messengers. MIUI exceptions are provided.

You can create a whitelist of numbers that will bypass the lock.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management → Phone.
2. Go to Number Locking → Exceptions (or Permitted Numbers).
3. Add numbers manually or select from the call log.

You can also set exceptions to prefixes, such as allowing all numbers with your city code:

+7 343 *


+7 495 *




+7 812 *

The table below shows examples of exception settings for different scenarios:

If you change numbers frequently in exceptions, it's more convenient to use contact tags, such as creating a Temporary Contacts group and adding numbers that need to be unlocked for a limited period of time, then simply delete the contact from the group - the lock will be restored automatically.

Method 5: Third-party applications for extended locking

Built-in tools MIUI They're not perfect: they don't block 100% spam, they don't analyze content, they have limits on the number of numbers on the blacklist. If you want more powerful protection, consider third-party apps:

To install a third-party application to block:

1. Download it from Google Play (like Truecaller).

Comparison of built-in filter MIUI and Truecaller:

⚠️ Note: Third-party blocking apps require enhanced permissions, which can affect privacy. For example, Truecaller uploads your contacts to its servers to improve the database (this is spelled out in the user agreement). If it’s critical, use Hiya or Should I Answer.

Method 6: Hidden settings for power users

V MIUI There are a few hidden features that are not documented, but can significantly improve spam blocking, and can be activated through developer settings or special commands.

1.Silence for the Unknown (hidden function)

This option is not available in all firmware, but if it is, it allows you to block unknown numbers without notification (calls are not displayed even in the log).

1. Open the phone. → Settings → Additionally.
2. If you see the Silence for Unknowns item, turn it on.
3. If there is no item, try activating it through the developer settings:

Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (shap 7 times to unlock developer mode)


Settings → More → Developers → Search by “unknown” → Enable “Silence unknown callers”

2. Blocking by Keywords in the Caller’s Name

Some spammers substitute a number for a name (e.g. Sberbank or Gift), and you can block all calls where the ID contains certain words:

1. Install the Tasker or MacroDroid app.
2. Create a new task with the Incoming Call trigger.
3. Add a condition: if the name of the caller has the words "credit", "gift", "winning" - Reject the call.

3. Redirecting spam to voicemail

Instead of blocking, you can send spam calls to the answering machine to avoid missing important calls:

1. Open the phone → Settings → Voicemail.
2. Set up a forwarding for unknown numbers to your answering machine.
3. In your voicemail settings, write down a message saying, "Your call is important to us. Please introduce yourself and leave a message." Spamers rarely leave voicemails.

💡

Hidden settings may conflict with updates MIUI. After a major update, check if your custom lock rules have reset.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after you set up the lock, Xiaomi users face typical problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

1.The lock does not work for some numbers

Causes and solutions:

• 🔄 The number is saved in contacts – check if it is not in hidden contacts or takes.
• 📶 Call goes through VoIP (WhatsApp, Viber) – block such numbers in the settings of the messenger.
• 🔧 Filter failure – clear the phone app cache (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Phone. → Warehouse → Clear the cache).

2 Important calls get blocked

How to avoid:

• 📇 Add all important numbers to your contacts (including delivery services, banks, hospitals, etc).
• 🔄 Check the blocked call log regularly (Phone) → Settings → Number locking → Journal).
• 📞 For temporary contacts (such as couriers), use tags or groups in the phone book.

3.After the update MIUI lockdown

Action:

• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes settings are applied after a reboot.
• 📋 Export the blacklist before updating: Settings → Number locking → Export (save the file to Google Drive).
• 🔧 If the settings are gone, check if the menu has changed in the new version. MIUI (For example, in HyperOS, the lock is moved to Security → Confidentiality).

4. spammers call from new numbers every time

Decisions:

• 🛡️ Use Truecaller or Hiya – they block numbers by templates (for example, all numbers with a prefix). +375 for Belarus).
• 📵 Activate Contact Only and add temporary numbers to exceptions.
• 📞 Set up a redirection of unknown calls to another number (for example, a virtual one). SIM), keep out.

💡

If the spammer calls from the type numbers +7 9XX 000-00-00 (where the last numbers change, add a mask to the blacklist +79XX00000**. This will block all numbers with such a prefix.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions