How to permanently block incoming calls from unfamiliar numbers on Xiaomi

Why you are being interrupted by calls from unknown numbers and how to fix it

Every Xiaomi smartphone owner will face intrusive calls from spammers, scammers or just strangers. According to Truecaller, in 2026, smartphone users in Russia receive an average of 12 unwanted calls per month — a figure that is growing, and owners of low-end Redmi and POCO models, where standard protections are often turned off by default, are especially vulnerable.

It's not just annoyance: scammers use social engineering to disguise themselves as banks, delivery services, or even government agencies, and regular spam responds to battery discharge (every incoming call activates a communication module) and CPU loading. Fortunately, MIUI offers several built-in locking tools, and third-party apps expand capabilities. Next, a detailed guide with nuances for different versions of the firmware.

Important: The methods work on all current Xiaomi models, including Redmi Note 12/13, POCO X5/F5, Xiaomi 13/14 and older devices on MIUI 12-14. For owners of POCO with “pure” Android (without MIUI), there is a separate section at the end of the article.

Method 1: Blacklist in the standard "Phone" app

The most obvious and reliable method is to blacklist numbers through an embedded application that works without the Internet and does not require superuser rights. MIUI 14 and newer:

1. Open the Phone app (the tube icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the Call Journal section.
3. Find an unwanted number and click on it.
4. In the window that opens, tap three points (⋮) top-right.
5. Select Add to the Blacklist → Confirm the action.

To manage the list of blocked numbers:

1. In the Phone app, go to Settings (cog at the top).
2. Select Number Lock.
3. Here you will see all the blocked contacts and you can delete them or add new ones manually.

Is the number really spammy?|Are there any important contacts with similar numbers?|You have enough free memory to store the list?|You saved your number to your contacts (if necessary) before blocking?-->

Limitations of the method:

• 📵 Does not block numbers with a changed caller ID (Fraudsters often use virtual numbers).
• 🔄 When resetting your phone’s settings, the blacklist will be cleared.
• 📱 Doesn't work for SMS (call-only).

💡

If you get frequent calls from numbers that differ from 1 to 2 digits (e.g. +79XX1234567 and +79XX1234568), use the symbol as a mask. For example, add the number +79XX123456 to the blacklist - this will block all similar combinations.

Method 2: Call filtering through "Protection and Privacy"

MIUI has a hidden call filtering feature that automatically blocks suspicious numbers based on Xiaomi's database, which works on a cloud-based security principle similar to Google Call Screen, but with less accuracy.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the phone app and tap on it.
3. Go to Resolutions → Call Filtering and SMS.
4. Activate the call filter switch.

Once activated, the system will automatically block:

• 🤖 Numbers marked by other users as spam.
• 📞 Calls from suspicious virtual PBX.
• 🔢 Mass mailings (for example, from call centers).

Important: The feature requires an internet connection and can mistakenly block legitimate numbers (e.g. from new customers if you use your phone for work). To check for blocked calls, go to Call Log → Filter → Spam.

Yeah, lost money.|Yeah, but I figured out the cheating in time.|No, but I got calls like that.|No, it wasn't about me.-->

Method 3: Locking through Google Phone (for POCO and “pure” Android)

If you have a POCO smartphone with POCO Launcher firmware or a clean Android (like the POCO F5 for the global market), the standard Phone app can be replaced by Google Phone, which has more flexible lock settings:

1. Open the phone app (from Google).
2. Tap it on three points (⋮) → Settings → Number locking.
3. Enable the option Unknown numbers – this will block all calls from numbers not saved in contacts.
4. For selective blocking, add numbers manually or import from the Call Log.

Advantages of Google Phone:

• 🔍 Integration with Google Contacts and Automatic Spam Detection.
• 📊 Blocked Calls Statistics (how many calls filtered per week/month).
• 🔄 Synchronize the blacklist between devices on the same Google account.

Disadvantages:

• 📶 Requires a permanent Internet connection to run cloud filtering.
• 🔋 Increased battery consumption (background activity of Google services).

Method 4: Third-party applications to block spam

If MIUI's built-in tools fail, specialized applications come to the rescue, offering advanced spam databases, subscriber behavior analysis, and even chat recording for scammers.

How to set up Truecaller (the most popular option):

1. Install the app from Google Play and sign up.
2. Enable permissions for Phone, Contacts and SMS.
3. Go to Settings. → Lockdown.
4. Activate options: 🚫 Block spam 📵 Block hidden numbers 🤖 Lock down the robots.

Blacklist

Call log

⚠️ Note: Apps like Truecaller collect data about your contacts and calls to improve the database. If you care about privacy, use it with caution or refuse to sync contacts.

Method 5: Locking at the operator level

If spam calls are coming in, you can block them directly from the operator, which is the most reliable method, because filtering is done at the server level before the call reaches your phone, and each operator has different conditions:

• 📡 MTS: Free Spam Protection service. USSD-code *111*789# or in a private office.
• 📡 Beeline: Antispam service" (30 RUB/month. Connects through *110*789#.
• 📡 MegaFon: "Protection against fraudsters" (free for tariffs with a subscription fee) > 300 RUB Activated in the MegaFon app.
• 📡 Tele2: Stop-Spam service (free) Connected via *225#.

How it works:

1. The operator analyzes incoming calls and compares them with the database of spam numbers.
2. Suspicious calls are either blocked or redirected to a voice menu with a warning ("Your number is marked as spam. Press 1 to continue").
3. You receive a notification of a blocked call in SMS.

Advantages of the method:

• 🛡️ It works even with your phone turned off or without internet.
• 🔄 Does not load the smartphone processor.
• 📊 Statistics of blocked calls are available in the operator’s personal account.

⚠️ Attention: Operators can block not only spam, but also legitimate calls (for example, from courier services or new customers.

Method 6: Radical measures – disabling all incoming calls

If you want complete silence (such as during an important meeting or sleep), you can temporarily turn off all incoming calls. SIM-map:

Option 1: Do not disturb mode

1. Open the Settings. → Sound and vibration.
2. Choose Not to Disturb.
3. Activate the switch and set exceptions: 🔔 Allow calls from selected contacts. 📞 Allow repeat calls (if one number calls twice within 3 minutes, the signal will sound).

Option 2: Blocking through settings SIM-map

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
2. Choose yours. SIM-map → Incoming challenges.
3. Activate the option to reject all incoming.

💡

Turning off all incoming calls does not block SMS and app notifications. If you need complete isolation, activate air mode or flight mode.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even with the right lock settings, Xiaomi users sometimes experience problems. Here are typical scenarios and ways to fix them:

If none of these methods work, try resetting your network settings:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Network Settings Reset (does not delete data, only network settings).
3. Restart the phone and reset the lock.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions