Constant notifications about advertising, loan offers and dubious winnings can turn using a smartphone into a nightmare. Device owners Xiaomi Redmi often encounter the fact that standard filters allow some unwanted content to pass through. Fortunately, the MIUI shell and HyperOS provide powerful tools for protecting against annoying mailings without installing third-party software.
To restore peace and order to your messages, you just need to correctly configure the built-in “Anti-Virus” or the blacklist menu. In this article, we will look in detail at how to block SMS from specific numbers, create smart filters using keywords, and prevent the leakage of personal data through spam mailings.
We will look at not only the basic settings, but also the hidden capabilities of the system that allow you to automate the process of cleaning inboxes. You will learn how to distinguish real notifications from phishing and what actions to take if scammers constantly change numbers.
Built-in protection capabilities in MIUI and HyperOS
Ecosystem Xiaomi initially focused on user safety, so a powerful security module is integrated into the firmware. It works at the system level, intercepting messages before they reach the main notification list. To access these functions, root access or complex console manipulations are not required.
The main tool is the “Security” application, which is pre-installed on each device. Redmi. Inside it is a “Blacklist” section that controls both calls and text messages. The system's algorithms analyze the spam database in real time, checking the sender's number against known fraudulent schemes.
It is important to understand the difference between complete blocking and filtering. Full blocking deletes the message without a trace, while filtering places it in a separate Spam folder, where you can review the contents if necessary. Flexible configuration of these settings allows you to avoid losing important notifications from banks or delivery services.
Regularly update the virus and spam signature databases in the Security application so that the protection remains effective against new fraud schemes.
The system can also recognize text patterns. If you often receive messages with the same content from different numbers, for example, advertisements for casinos or microloans, you can set up a keyword filter. This is especially true for those who do not want to manually add each new number to the blacklist.
Setting up a blacklist through the Security application
The most reliable way to get rid of a specific source of irritation is to add its number to the blacklist directly. This method ensures that no messages from a given address reach your attention. The procedure is performed through the central application of the system.
To begin, open the application Security on the main screen or in the “Tools” folder. Find the shield icon and click on it. In the menu that opens, select Blacklist. If you don't see it right away, scroll down the list of tools or use the search inside the application.
In the blacklist interface, switch to the messages tab by clicking on the corresponding envelope icon at the top of the screen. Here you will see the history of blocked messages and a list of numbers. To add a new ban, click on the plus icon + in the lower corner or in the "Settings" menu of the black list.
- 📞 Blocking by number: Enter the full phone number in +7 or 8 format that you want to block.
- 👤 Block from contacts: Select a subscriber from your telephone books if he started sending spam.
- 📝 Block from history: Select a recent message or call from an unwanted caller directly from the log.
- ⚙️ Mode settings: Set the blocking priority (for example, block everyone except contacts).
After adding a number, the system instantly activates the filter. All subsequent SMS from this sender will be moved to a hidden section. You can go there at any time to check the contents, or restore the number if the blocking was erroneous.
☑️ Checking the black list settings
Filtering spam by keywords and patterns
Often scammers use a pool of hundreds of SIM cards, changing numbers every few hours. In such a situation, blocking by number becomes ineffective, since you simply will not have time to add them all to the list. The solution to the problem is to filter by the content of the message text.
In the black list settings, find the section Keyword filter. Here you can create a list of stop words, the presence of which in the SMS text will automatically mark the message as spam. This is a powerful tool for combating mass mailings.
Add words that are often found in advertising, but are rarely used in personal correspondence. For example, terms like “credit”, “winning”, “casino”, “promotion”, “free” or the names of specific banks with which you do not cooperate. The system will ignore letter case, so "Credit" and "credit" will be treated the same.
⚠️ Attention: Be careful when adding common words to the filter. If you block the words “meeting” or “tomorrow,” you may miss an important message from a friend or colleague where these words are used in a normal context.
It is also worth considering that some legitimate services use trigger words in their notifications. For example, a bank can send an SMS with the word “loan” as part of informing about debt repayment. Therefore, before activating the global filter, test it on test messages or set up exceptions for trusted contacts.
How do MIUI smart templates work?
The system analyzes not only individual words, but also the structure of the sentence. If a message contains a link to a suspicious domain and a call to action, it can be blocked even without an obvious keyword match, thanks to the Xiaomi cloud database.
Using third-party applications to enhance protection
Despite the wide capabilities of built-in tools, some users prefer specialized software. Third-party applications often have more flexible learning algorithms and user communities that quickly flag new spammer numbers.
A popular solution is the application Truecaller or SMS Organizer. They require permission to read SMS and access contacts. After installation, such apps take on the role of the main processor of incoming messages, sorting them into categories: “Personal”, “Finance”, “Travel”, “Spam”.
However, using third-party software has its own risks. Transferring your communications to third party servers may raise privacy concerns. In addition, aggressive “cleaners” can consume more battery and RAM resources than the standard solution from Xiaomi.
| Criteria | Built-in MIUI filter | Third-party applications |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy | High (on-device processing) | Medium (sending data to the cloud) |
| Number base | Xiaomi cloud base | Global community base |
| Impact on battery | Minimum | Medium or high |
| Settings flexibility | Basic | Advanced (scenarios, rules) |
If you decide to use an external application, be sure to disable notifications from the standard Messages app so you don't receive duplicates. Go to Settings → Notifications and status bar → Manage notifications and find the standard messages application, limiting its rights to display notifications.
Protection against phishing and fraudulent links
The biggest danger in SMS is These are not the text itself, but links leading to phishing sites. Fraudsters disguise themselves as delivery services, banks or government agencies in an attempt to steal card details or install malware. Blocking such messages requires a special approach.
In the black list settings Xiaomi there is a function URL filter. Activating this option forces the system to check all incoming links through the database of dangerous sites. If the address matches a known phishing resource, the message will be blocked automatically.
It is also recommended to enable the “Block messages from unknown numbers” option if you do not expect important SMS from couriers or new clients. This is a drastic measure, but it effectively cuts out 90% of spam. Exceptions can be made for contacts from your address book.
⚠️ Attention: Never click on links from SMS, even if the sender seems familiar. A phone number can be easily faked (spoofing), and a message may arrive allegedly on behalf of the bank, although in fact it was sent by scammers.
Pay attention to the short numbers from which mailings often come. In some regions they can be blocked using a mask. If you see that spam comes from numbers starting with a certain combination of numbers, use the blocking function by prefix, if your software version supports it.
The main protection against phishing is the attentiveness of the user. No filter can replace common sense: do not enter card details on sites opened via a link from an SMS.
What to do if blocking does not work
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where configured filters are ignored and spam continues to arrive. This may be due to a firmware update, a factory reset, or carrier specific features. In such cases, in-depth diagnostics are required.
First of all, check whether the service Xiaomi Cloud or blacklist synchronization is disabled. If you recently changed your SIM card or transferred data from an old phone, the settings may have been lost. Go to Settings → Applications → Messages → Rights and make sure that the application has access to SMS and phone.
Also, the problem may lie in the settings of the operator itself. Some tariffs include paid subscription services that arrive in the form of SMS. In this case, blocking your phone will not help, you need to contact a communication store or your operator’s personal account to disable services at the network level.
If all else fails, try clearing the cache of the Messages and Security applications. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find the apps you need and click Clear cache. Do not click “Clear all” to avoid deleting your chat history.
⚠️ Attention: The settings interface may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13, 14) or the new HyperOS. If you do not find an item, use the search in the settings by the name of the function.
As a last resort, you can reset application settings to factory settings. This will return all system filters to their original state, after which they will need to be configured again. This often solves problems with software errors that prevent the blacklist from working correctly.
Why do you receive SMS from service numbers?
Service short numbers (5 digits) are often used for two-factor authentication and notifications from banks. Completely blocking all short numbers may deny you access to important services, so use blocking masks with caution.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will the sender see that I have blocked his SMS?
No, the sender will not receive any notification that his message is blocked. For it, the delivery status may be displayed as “Delivered”, since the message actually reached your device, but was hidden by the system. He does not receive any non-delivery reports.
Is it possible to recover an accidentally deleted important message from spam?
Yes, if the message was filtered and not permanently deleted. Go to the application Security → Blacklist → Blocked messages. The history of all intercepted SMS messages is stored there. You can highlight the desired message and select the "Recover" option to return it to your main inbox.
Does the blacklist block calls from the same numbers?
By default, adding a number to the blacklist in the application “Security” blocks both calls and SMS at the same time. However, in the black list settings, you can differentiate between these functions, leaving, for example, blocking only for messages if you want to receive calls from this subscriber.
Does a large number of blocked messages affect the operation of the phone?
No, blocked messages take up a minimum amount of memory and do not affect the performance of the system. However, if the database of blocked messages grows to tens of thousands of entries, opening the blacklist log may take a little longer. It is recommended to periodically clear this log.
How to block all messages from unknown numbers?
In the black list settings, select the “Block everyone except contacts” mode. In this case, any SMS from numbers that are not in your phone book will be automatically hidden. Be careful: you may miss a confirmation code from a new service or a message from a courier.