Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face intrusive notifications from the carrier, which come in the form of ordinary text messages. SMS Positioning or sending advertising services is not only annoying, but can consume traffic or even funds from the main balance if the user accidentally responds to a message. SIM-Slot cards where location services or paid subscriptions are activated by default.
To effectively combat this, you need to understand that most often the source of the problem is not the MIUI or HyperOS operating system itself, but the Mi SIM Toolkit application preinstalled or the settings of the mobile operator itself. The user has to go from checking system permits to completely blocking service messages through the engineering menu or special commands. It is important to act consistently so as not to disrupt the basic functions of the phone, such as receiving calls or accessing the Internet.
In this article, we will go into detail all the available methods of fixing the problem, we will look at how to find hidden settings in the SIM card menu, which ones are available. USSD-codes will help you unsubscribe from services, and how to use third-party tools to filter spam. LBS (Location Based Services) in the SIM card menu, as it is the one that most often initiates sending advertising messages SMS. Following the instructions, you can clean your smartphone from unnecessary information noise.
Source of the problem: Mi SIM Toolkit and system services
The first step in resolving this issue is to identify the source of incoming messages, and in most cases, the system application Mi is responsible for automatically sending requests or receiving advertising. SIM Toolkit. It's embedded in the shell. MIUI It serves as an interface between SIM-It is through this channel that operators often broadcast their service messages, navigation menus and promotional offers.
Users often confuse the usual SMS and Push service messages that come through SIM-The difference is that service messages can come even when there is no Internet, using the network signal channel. To fully control, you need to check what permissions the SIM card application has. Go to Settings. → Annexes → All applications and find in the list SIM-card SIM Toolkit.
If the slider is activated, the phone will show pop-ups every time a service message arrives. Disabling notifications for this system component will not disrupt communication, but will hide annoying banners. However, this does not always stop the fact of receiving data, so a deeper setup is required.
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If standard disabling notifications doesn’t help, try in the app settings. SIM-maps find the "Permissions" item and prohibit access to geolocation, if such item is active.
It is also worth checking whether the number detector or other services from the operator that can be integrated into the system are activated, often masquerading as system processes, and careful analysis of installed applications and their access rights reveals hidden processes that consume resources and generate traffic.
Set-up of parameters SIM-card
The main SIM card service management tool is in the standard Android settings menu. To access it, open Settings. → SIM-Maps and mobile networks. This shows all the cards installed in the device. Choose the one that sends the promotional messages, usually the main one. SIM call-in.
Inside the menu of a particular SIM card, you need to find a section related to the operator's services, which can be called differently depending on the version. MIUI: "Operator Services", "Settings SIM" or "SIM-This is where the switches control the interaction of the phone with the operator's network at a deeper level than just calls and calls. SMS.
☑️ Checking settings SIM
And you'll see a lot of things in the list that opens up like "Digital Number," "Voicemail," or "Data Transfer," but we're interested in the positioning item, which can be called Location Service, LBS, or Location, and if you find a switch, you have to turn it off to the operator's server, and that action sends a command to the operator's server to cancel the services associated with the location of the subscriber.
⚠️ Attention: Disabling of official functions SIM-The cards may affect some carrier services, such as the operator's Antivor service or the ability to use the phone as a modem in specific plans (APN), If you are using mobile traffic.
If the GUI doesn’t have an explicit LBS switch, try logging into the SIM menu via dial. dial ##4636# (code may vary between regions) or simply *#100# to call the SIM menu. In some cases, this opens a hidden engineering menu where more subtle radio settings are available.
Use of the USSD-service-exempt codes
The most reliable way to disable paid and free services, including SMS-positioning, are USSD-These are short commands that go directly to the mobile operator's server, and they work even when locked. SIM-card (if there is a network) and do not require Internet access.
Each operator (MTS, Beeline, MegaFon, Tele2) has its own set of codes for managing services. Most often, a single service disablement code or advertising ban code is used to disable all paid subscriptions and services. Below is a table with the most common commands that can help solve the problem.
| Operator. | Audit of services | Disconnection of services | Banning advertising |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTS | *111*5# | *111*157# | *111*218# |
| Beeline | *110*09# | *110*990# | *110*090# |
| MegaFon | *105*0# | *105*1711# | *105*414# |
| Tele2 | *145# | *155*00# | *155*611# |
Once you have entered a command, you will see a message on the screen that you have successfully completed an operation or a confirmation SMS. It is important to save these codes or take a screenshot, as in the future they may be needed to re-activate the desired functions or check the balance. Some operators also allow you to manage services through a mobile application, which is often more convenient than remembering combinations.
It is worth noting that after the code service is disabled, the changes may not take effect instantly, but within 15-30 minutes. If messages continue to arrive, the procedure can be repeated or contacted by the operator's support service, since some services can be imposed at the subscriber profile level, not just through the phone settings.
Blocking through the Xiaomi Security app
Xiaomi smartphones have a powerful built-in tool called Security, which includes not only antivirus, but also an effective call and message filter, which allows you to block not only specific numbers, but also entire categories of messages, such as from short numbers, from which spam often comes.
To set up the filter, open the Security → Antispam application. You need to go to the settings (cog icon). In the SMS filter section, activate the Message Filter switch. The system will suggest you select the severity level: High, Medium or Low. For maximum effect, select High, but be prepared to check the Spam folder for important notifications from banks.
Special attention should be paid to the keyword blocking function, you can add to the blacklist the words characteristic of positioning advertising: "geo", "place", "promotion", "bonus". The MIUI algorithm will automatically hide messages containing these words if they come from unknown numbers, this will significantly reduce visual noise in the list of messages.
How to recover a deleted message?
Also, the anti-spam settings recommend that you enable the option “Block hidden numbers”; advertising mailings are often disguised as system or come from numbers that do not display as standard, blocking such calls and messages is an effective measure of privacy protection.
Resetting network settings and re-registration in the network
Sometimes the problem is not with the phone settings, but with the wrong network profile that gets stuck on the device after changing the tariff or moving to another region, in which case a complete reset of the network settings helps, and this action returns the connection parameters to factory values, removing possible conflicting configurations.
You can reset through the Settings menu → Connection and sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. Please note that after this action, you will need to re-enter passwords from Wi-Fi networks and reconfigure Bluetooth headsets. SIM-This will be useful: the phone will again request a profile from the operator and update the list of available services.
Once the device is rebooted, check if messages are coming again. Often, re-registration on the network causes the operator's server to forward the current list of services, and if you previously sent an unsubscribe command but it did not reach due to a network error, now it will apply. A 10-15 second reboot in flight mode can also help to quickly update the connection without completely resetting the settings.
⚠️ Note: Before performing a network reset, make sure you remember passwords from important Wi-Fi networks. You can’t restore them automatically after a reset unless they’re synced with your Mi Cloud or Google account.
If after all the manipulations of SMS positioning continue to come, it is possible that the service is activated on the operator’s side, in which case the only way out is to call technical support to demand that all paid and free services be disabled, except for the basic ones (calls, SMS, Internet).
Use of third-party applications for filtering
If Xiaomi’s built-in tools can’t handle the trash messaging, Google Play’s specialty apps come to the rescue, with SMS Blocker, Should I Answer? and Truecaller leading the way, using spam databases updated in real time by the community of users.
Installing such an application requires the right to read SMS and call logs, which is necessary for analyzing incoming messages. Once set up, the application will automatically detect advertising mailings and place them in a separate folder or delete them without notifying the user, which is especially effective against short numbers that change often.
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Third-party blockers are often more effective than embedded ones, as they use global spam databases updated by thousands of users daily.
It is important to choose apps with good rankings and transparent privacy policies. Some blockers can collect your contacts themselves, so it is recommended to read the permissions carefully. For most users, a free version with basic keyword blocking functionality and a blacklist is enough.
A comprehensive approach that combines disabling SIM-card services, using USSD-codes and installing a smart filter guarantees complete elimination of SMS positioning. Your smartphone will work faster, and the battery will be spent more economically, as background processes of obtaining advertising data will be stopped.