How to permanently block calls to Xiaomi: from spam to scams

Spam calls, intrusive collectors, or scammers posing as bank employees are a problem faced by every second Xiaomi owner. According to Truecaller, in 2026, Russian users account for up to 12 billion unwanted calls per month. Fortunately, MIUI firmware (even in its basic configuration) offers several built-in tools to combat this, but not all of them are obvious: for example, the Keyword Block feature in call settings allows you to automatically screen out numbers with suspicious wording in the name (such as Sberbank, Police, or You Won).

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to block calls on Xiaomi, from standard tools to third-party applications with advanced features, focus on hidden MIUI settings that are not written about in the official guides, but can reduce spam by 90%, and find out why some numbers continue to break through the blacklist and how to fix it.

Blacklist in the standard appendix "Phone"

The easiest way to blacklist a number is to add it directly through the Phone app, which works on all Xiaomi models (from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra) and does not require additional software installation.

• 📱 Open the Phone application and go to the Journal tab.
• 🔍 Find the number you want to block and click on it.
• ⚫ In the window that opens, select Block (or Blacklist in older versions). MIUI).
• ✅ Confirm the action by pressing OK.

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

1. Launch the phone. → ⋮ (three-point) → Settings → Number locking.
2. Click Add manually and enter the number.
3. Please specify the reason for the blocking (optional) and save it.

Number added to blocked list|A test call from this number does not pass.|No notification of blocking appears|The number is not displayed in the call log-->

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 14/15 There is a bug - sometimes the numbers from the blacklist still pass if they are registered as "important" (for example, banking or government services). → Annexes → Permits → Phone. → Notifications and disable the option to Show important notifications.

2. Keyword Blocking (hidden MIUI function)

Few people know, but MIUI has a built-in filter that blocks calls not only by numbers, but also by keywords in the subscriber ID, for example, if scammers call from numbers that display Sberbank, Rostelecom or Police in the name, you can block all such calls automatically.

How to set up:

1. Open the phone. → ⋮ → Settings → Number locking.
2. Select Keyword Block (in some versions of MIUI, this item is hidden – see spoiler below).
3. Add words or phrases that are common in spam calls (e.g., “winning,” “debt,” “card lock”).
4. Activate the Block Calls Switch with these words.

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To increase efficiency, add not only Russian but also English variants (e.g., "win", "prize", "debt") to keywords. Spammers often change the language in the identifier to bypass filters.

3. Use of the application "Security" (Security)

Xiaomi’s Security app (or Global Security) not only protects against viruses, but also blocks spam calls using a cloud database, which works on the principle of crowdsourcing: if MIUI users around the world flagged a number as fraudulent, it will automatically be blocked from you.

How to turn on:

• 🛡️ Launch the Security app (Icon with shield).
• 📞 Go to the Blocking tab (or Call Blocking).
• ☁ Activate the option of Cloud Block Spam.
• 🔄 Update the database by clicking Update the spam list.

Advantages of this method:

• ✅ Spam Numbers database is updated daily.
• ✅ Not only are calls blocked, but also SMS scammer.
• ✅ It works even if the number is not on your blacklist.

⚠️ Note: In some regions (e.g. the EU), cloud locking may be disabled due to data protection laws.If you do not have a Cloud Block option, try changing the region in your phone settings to India or Russia (see the instructions in the spoiler).

Fraudsters (banks, police)|Collectors|Advertising (shops, services)|Unknown numbers (silent calls)|Other-->

4. Third-party applications to block calls

If the built-in MIUI tools don't work, you can install specialized applications that offer advanced features like:

• 🌍 Global spam number databases (millions of records).
• 🤖 Automatic determination of robbrae by AI algorithms.
• 📊 Statistics and reports on blocked calls.
• 🔕 Do Not Disturb Modes with Flexible Settings.

Top.-3 applications:

⚠️ Note: Apps like Truecaller require access to your phone book and call log, and if you’re concerned about privacy, use them in guest mode (no contact sync) or opt for offline solutions like Call Control.

How to configure Truecaller for maximum protection:

1. Install the application and register.
2. Enable the option to block spam in the settings.
3. Activate Autoblock for the categories "Crackers" and "Advertising".
4. In the Blacklist section, add numbers manually (if necessary).

5. Blocking through the operator

If spam calls come from your operator’s numbers (e.g. MTS, Beeline, Tele2), you can block them at the network level, which is effective against mass mailings, but will not help from international scammers.

Instructions for popular operators:

• 📡 MTS: Send. SMS with the text of the number Block (for example, Block 89123456789) to the number 111.
• 📡 Beeline: Dial it up *110*789# (where 789 — last 3 Number numbers) and follow the instructions.
• 📡 Tele2: Call 611 and ask the operator to add the number to the blacklist.
• 📡 MegaFon: Use the team *130*1*Number#.

Advantages of blocking through the operator:

• ✅ It works even if the phone is turned off.
• ✅ Locks it down. SMS spammer.
• ✅ Numbers don't make it to the call log.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Do not block numbers from other networks.
• ❌ Fees may be charged for the service (check with the operator).
• ❌ The lock list is reset when changing SIM-map.

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Blocking through the operator is the only way to stop spam calls on the second SIM-card (if you have a dual-SIM smartphone Xiaomi).

6. Hidden MIUI settings for advanced users

If you’re ready to dive into the technical details, MIUI offers a few hidden features to block calls, which require access to a developer’s settings or use ADB.

Method 1: Blocking through the developer settings

1. Activate Developer Mode by tapping 7 times on the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone.
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Find the Do Not Disturb (Do Not Disturb) item and activate it.
4. Add numbers to exceptions or set up lock rules.

Method 2: Blocking through ADB (for power users)

If you're familiar with Android Debug Bridge, you can lock numbers at the system level.

adb shell content insert --uri content://call_log/calls --bind number:s:89123456789 --bind type:i:5

Where 89123456789 is the lock number and type:i:5 is the record type (5 means "locked").

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Before using ADB, back up your data via Settings → Additional → Backup. Errors in commands can cause the system to crash.

7 What to do if the lock is not working?

Sometimes even after being blacklisted, spam calls keep coming in, and here are the most common reasons and solutions:

If none of these methods worked, try a combination approach:

1. Add the number to the blacklist in the Phone app.
2. Lock it through the operator.
3. Install Truecaller and activate cloud lock.
4. Add keywords from the subscriber ID to the MIUI filter.

FAQ: Frequent questions about blocking calls on Xiaomi