Owners of smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO Often notice in logs or notifications of the system strange messages associated with sending short text messages SMS. Many users are frightened by the idea that their device is infected with a virus or scammers are trying to steal money. MIUI, which is necessary for the correct operation of certain services.
This process is often referred to as SMS-Positioning or checking numbers, used to activate cloud functions and messengers, and understanding how this mechanism works will help you not only calm down, but also save battery power or protect your personal data when you need it.
In this article, we will take a detailed look at the technical essence of the process, determine which applications run it, and provide a step-by-step instruction to completely disable this feature if you do not need it.
Technology and the principle of operation
Under the term "SMS-Positioning in the context of Xiaomi devices is often hidden not geolocation through satellites, and the procedure of verification of the phone number. When you first turn on your smartphone or install certain apps (such as WhatsApp, Viber, or Mi Cloud), the system needs to confirm that you are using the device. SIM-The card is actually in the device and belongs to you.
To do this, the background service sends a short service message to a dedicated server, which is usually invisible to the user and does not require payment from most operators, since it is classified as service. However, in some cases, especially when roaming or using tariffs with a paid incoming / outgoing SMS, funds can be written off from the balance.
Technically, this process is necessary to link a Mi Account to a particular device, and it's part of the Find Device security system that allows you to lock your phone remotely in the event of a theft, and without a number confirmation via SMS, this feature cannot guarantee that it is the owner who is trying to access the data.
⚠️ Note: If you see regular shipping of paid SMS If you have short numbers at night, it may indicate malware activity rather than a system error.
It's important to distinguish between normal activation and cyclic sending, and if a phone sends dozens of messages per hour, it's a confirmation cycle failure, and the service doesn't get a response from the server, trying to send the request over and over again.
📊 Have you encountered a hidden shipment? SMS Xiaomi?
Yeah, a couple of times.
Always sending in the background
Never noticed.
I don't use Xiaomi.
What is responsible for the service Mi Cloud and SIM-cards
The main culprit of the activity in the message section is a bundle of system services Mi Cloud and Sim Activation Service, which are responsible for synchronizing contacts, photos and other data with the company's cloud storage. MIUI Requires permanent status checks SIM-map.
Often users find this activity after resetting to factory settings or after updating the firmware. The system forgets previous authorization tokens and tries to re-enter the confirmation procedure, at which point the phone can be “heated” and quickly discharged due to constant attempts to communicate with the server.
It is also worth noting that com.miui.cloudservice may request permission to send SMS not only to the cloud, but also to operate the Find Device feature, and if you disable this feature completely, you risk losing the ability to remotely control your phone in a critical situation.
Why are SMSes sent to international numbers?
Sometimes Xiaomi services use gateways in different countries to quickly deliver verification codes, a standard practice for global corporations, ensuring the service operates in any region of the world.> Users should be aware that even with a Wi-Fi connection, a mobile network may be required to activate some functions in the first place. SIM-card blocked PIN-When you code or retrieve it, the activation process will hang in the "Waiting" status, periodically trying to send a request. Impact on balance and battery power Although one service message consumes a tiny amount of power, the situation changes dramatically if the process enters a cycle of errors. Imagine that the system is trying to send SMS It's 60 attempts in an hour, which puts a lot of stress on the radio module of the smartphone, and the radio module is one of the most energy-intensive components of the Android smartphone. Constant network search or attempts to send data in the background can drain the battery on the battery. 10-15% It's faster than usual. This is especially true on older models like the Redmi Note. 8 or Redmi 9, And the battery capacity is not perfect, and the finances are all about your plan: 📉 If you have unlimited SMS, You will not notice any changes in the balance. 💰 At tariffs with a payment for each message, frequent activation attempts can "eat" several tens of rubles per night. 🌍 In international roaming, the cost of one outgoing SMS It can be very high, which will lead to serious losses, and in addition, constant background activity prevents the processor from going into deep sleep mode. The phone remains in a state of "wake", which also accelerates battery wear and increases the temperature of the body. Instructions for disconnection SMS-If you are not using Xiaomi cloud services or want to completely eliminate any background activity, the feature can be disabled. This is a safe procedure that does not disrupt the main applications, such as calls or the Internet. Open Settings, then find Mi Account (usually at the top of the list). Next, select Cloud or Sync Settings. Inside the menu, find the switch that activates via the SMS. It may be called “Activation through the SMS" or "Use mobile network to activate." Put it in the "Off" position. ☑️ Checklist disable function Open Phone Settings Go to Mi Account Find the Cloud section Disable activation via SMSReset the device Completed: 0 / 5 It is also worth checking the settings of messengers. WhatsApp and Viber have their own privacy settings where you can prevent automatic number verification, although this may require manual verification at each sign-in. MIUI Alternative way: Go to Settings → Annexes → All applications. Search under Services and Feedback or Mi Cloud. Go to Permissions and disable access to the app. SMS. More subtle security settings allow you not to disable the function completely, but simply limit the range of applications that have access to it. This is the best option for those who want to keep the "Device Search" functionality, but remove unnecessary requests from third-party programs. Android has a special permissions management section. Here you can see which applications have requested the submission. SMS over the last 24 hours. It is a powerful tool for identifying spyware or poorly optimized games. The action algorithm is as follows: Go to Settings → Privacy Protection. Select Permissions Manager (or simply "Permissions"). Find the SMS category in the list. Go through the list of applications and turn off access for those who do not need it (calculator, flashlight, simple games). Access status Message risk (SMS/MMS) Allow Low Mi Cloud Allowed to choose Medium (trafficular), Go to SMS, Disable from Google Play, or Disable from certain features. 💡Complete shutdown of access to SMS for system services may lead to the inability to restore the account or lock the device when changing SIM-Diagnostics and problem solving If after all the settings the phone continues to behave strangely, maybe the problem lies deeper. Sometimes cleaning the cache of the Mi Cloud service helps. → Annexes → All apps, find Mi Cloud and click Clear → Clear the cache. In rare cases, you need to reset your network settings. This won't delete your photos or contacts, but will return the settings of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile networks to factory values. → Connection and sharing → Resetting Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth, and it's also worth checking if you're on the phone. SIM-map PIN-code that the system cannot automatically enter when booting. In such cases, the activation service will hang waiting for the code to be entered, constantly trying to send a request. ⚠️ Warning: Before resetting your network settings, make sure you remember passwords from your Wi-Fi networks, as they will have to be re-entered.If nothing helps and the phone continues to generate traffic or messages, the firmware itself may have been damaged. In this case, it is recommended to check for system updates or, in extreme cases, perform a full reset (Hard Reset) with prior data storage (FAQ) Is it safe to completely disable activation through SMS? Yes, it's safe for the phone to work as such, you can make calls, use the Internet and apps, but you lose the ability to use Find Device to lock down a stolen phone and remotely sync some data via Mi Cloud. Why? SMS Do they even send when the Internet is off? SMS Use a mobile communication channel for activation (GSM), not the internet (3G/4G/Wi-Fi). So they can go off even if you've got a data shutdown, but there's a signal from the cellular network. Could it be a virus? It's a process "SMS-Positioning or activation is a feature of Xiaomi, but viruses are often disguised as system processes. If messages are sent to unknown short numbers or write-off amounts are large, be sure to scan the phone with an antivirus, such as Dr.Web or built-in Security scanner. How much does one such message cost? Technically, most carriers do not charge for service fees. SMS activation if they go to the manufacturer's official gateways, but the tariff depends on your specific tariff plan. In roaming, the cost may be standard for outgoing SMS to the activation server country.