How to permanently block incoming calls from unfamiliar numbers on Xiaomi Redmi 9

Spam calls from scammers, intrusive offers from banks and operators, and calls from suspicious numbers are a problem that every owner of Xiaomi Redmi 9 faces. According to Truecaller statistics, in 2023 smartphone users in Russia received an average of 12 spam calls per month, and in some regions this figure reached 20.

In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to lock unfamiliar numbers on Redmi 9 (including hidden MIUI 12/13), compare their effectiveness and explain how to circumvent the limitations of standard tools.

• 📵 Set up a built-in blacklist without third-party apps
• 🤖 Use Google Services to Automatically Filter Spam
• 🔍 Block numbers by mask (for example, all of them) +79xx123****)
• 🛡️ Install specialized applications with a database of scammers
• ⚙️ Restoring access to blocked contacts if you made a mistake with the settings

Important: The methods in this article have been tested on Xiaomi Redmi 9 with MIUI 12.5-14 firmware (including global and European versions).If your smartphone runs on custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS or Pixel Experience), some features may be missing.

1. Standard blacklist in MIUI: step-by-step setting

The easiest way to block is to use a built-in blacklist in the Phone app, which requires no additional software installation and works at the system level, which guarantees reliability, but it has a limitation: you can't block all the unfamiliar numbers at once, just the ones that have already called you or that you add manually.

To add a number to the blacklist:

1. Open the Phone app (the tube icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the magazine tab (watch icon in the lower menu).
3. Find an unwanted number in the list and click on it.
4. In the window that opens, tap three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Add to the blacklist.
5. Confirm the action by pressing OK.

If the number hasn’t called yet, but you want to block it in advance:

1. Open the phone. → ⋮ (menu) → Settings → Blacklist.
2. Click Add the number and enter it manually.
3. Select the type of lock: Calls, Messages or both.

🔹 Features of the method:

• ✅ It works without the Internet (blocking at the system level).
• ✅ Does not consume an additional battery.
• ❌ Does not block hidden numbers (where instead of numbers, "Unknown" or "Private" is displayed").
• ❌ Requires manual addition of each number.

Number added to the Blacklist|In the settings selected call blocking|Checked by a test call from another phone|Blocking notifications disabled (optional)-->

2.Block all unfamiliar numbers through MIUI settings

MIUI 12.5 and later has a hidden feature that allows you to automatically block calls from numbers that are not in your phone book, which is effective against spammers, but can miss important calls (for example, from couriers or support services).

To activate the function:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Phone → Blocking unwanted calls.
2. Activate the switch to Lock unfamiliar numbers.
3. (Optionally, click on Lock Settings and select which number types to block: 📞 Hidden numbers (where there is no ID) 🔢 Numbers without a name (there are numbers but no contact in the book) 🚫 Suspicious numbers (based on data) MIUI)

⚠️ Warning: Once this feature is enabled, all calls from unsaved numbers will be reset automatically. If you are waiting for an important call (for example, from a doctor or delivery service), temporarily disable the lock or add the expected number to the contacts in advance.

💡

If an important call fails to reach after blocking, check the Log → Locked Phone folder. All dropped calls are saved for 30 days.

3.Using Google Phone to Filter Spam

If your Redmi 9 has Google Phone installed (often preinstalled in global versions of MIUI), you can use Google’s built-in spam number database, a method that is more effective than the standard blacklist, as it relies on millions of users.

To enable filtration:

1. Install Google Phone from Play Market if it is not on your device.
2. Open the application and go to ⋮ → Settings → Spam and calls.
3. Activate options: 🔍 Spam filtering (blocks known spam numbers) 📵 Display spam notifications (optional to see who called) 🛡️ Proven Calls (shows a green tick for trusted organizations)

🔹 Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Spam number database is updated automatically.
• ✅ It works even for numbers that are not in your journal.
• ✅ You can see who called in the history of spam calls.

⚠️ Note: Verified Calls requires an internet connection to work. If you are using Redmi 9 with two SIM-Filtering may not work properly on the second line.

4 Third-party applications: Truecaller, Hiya and others

If the built-in MIUI tools can not cope with spam, you should pay attention to specialized applications.

• 📞 Truecaller is the largest database of spam numbers (over 300 million users), recognizes scammers, bank spammers and even shows the name of the caller, if it is in the database.
• 🛡️ Hiya not only blocks calls, but also SMS-There's a back-search function.
• 🔍 Who called? – Russian-language application with a database of Russian spammers.
• 📵 Blacklist Plus – allows you to create mask lock rules (for example, all numbers with a prefix) +7926xxx).

🔹 How to set up Truecaller on Redmi 9:

1. Download the app from the Play Market.
2. At the first start, allow access to contacts and call logs (required for work).
3. Go to Settings → Lock → Autolock and turn on the option.
4. (Optional) In Settings → Notifications set up alerts for blocked calls.

⚠️ Note: apps like Truecaller require access to your contacts and call history, and if you find it confusing, use them in guest mode (no contact sync) or opt for offline solutions like Blacklist Plus.

💡

If you use two or more apps to block calls at the same time, it can lead to conflicts: Choose one solution and disable the others to avoid crashes.

5. Mask-blocking: How to ban entire ranges of numbers

If you get caught calling from a certain number series (e.g., all numbers starting at +7927123 or 8800555), you can set up mask locking, which is not available in all applications, but is the most flexible.

🔹 Methods of blocking by masks:

1. Using Blacklist Plus: Install the app from Play Market. Go to Rules → Add a rule. Select Block numbers by mask. Enter a template like +7927123* - locks all numbers starting at +7927123 8800555**** - blocks all 8-800-555-xxxx

Through operator settings (for MegaFon, Beeline, MTS):

Some operators allow you to block ranges of rooms through a personal account or USSD-For example, you can send to Megaphone. SMS block-text +79XXXXXX to the number 0500 (paid service).

🔹 Examples of masks for blocking:

• 📱 +79*** – all Russian mobile numbers (caution!)

⚠️ Attention: when you lock on masks, it's easy to overdo it and lock important numbers. +79*** will block all mobile numbers in Russia, including calls from friends if their contacts are not saved.Always test the rules on numbers that are not sorry to lose.

💡

Before mass blocking, export the call log to the file. Use the Call Logs Backup & Restore app from the Play Market.

6.What to do if the lock is not working?

Sometimes, even after you set up all the rules, spam calls keep coming in, and here are the most common reasons and solutions:

🔹 Additional measures:

• 🔄 Regularly update spam databases in apps like Truecaller.

If none of these methods worked, the problem may be on the operator's side: contact your provider's support (MTS, Beeline, MegaFon, Tele2) and request the activation of the service "Spam Protection", which is free for some operators.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi 9 call blocking