How to set up SMS messages on your Xiaomi phone

Modern communication in Xiaomi smartphones has long gone beyond simple text notifications, but the standard SMS-Messages remain a critical communication channel for receiving confirmation codes, bank notifications and communicating with subscribers of old networks. MIUI or new HyperOS, often faced with the need to fine-tune delivery settings, encryption or visual display of text to ensure maximum comfort of use. Ignoring basic settings can lead to loss of important notifications or problems reading messages from support services.

The process of configuration of the message on Xiaomi has its own features that distinguish it from the “pure” Android, as the system applications here are deeply integrated into the manufacturer’s ecosystem. You will have to deal not only with basic options like font size or background, but also with more complex mechanisms of spam filtering, setting up. SIM-Cards in dual-symbol devices and notification management in aggressive battery optimization, properly calibrated settings ensure that no important message gets lost in the incoming data stream.

In this guide, we will look at all the stages of configuration, from basic interface parameters to advanced methods of solving delivery problems. Particular attention will be paid to the operation of the MIUI Messaging application (or Google Messages, if you prefer a standard interface), since it is the central node of text communication management. Understanding these processes will allow you to fully adapt your smartphone to your needs.

Basic configuration of the message application

The first step for any Xiaomi user is to first set up the interface and basic app settings. By default, the system offers to use the standard Messages app, which has a flexible enough toolkit for personalization. To access the basic settings, you need to open the app and click on the three dots in the upper right corner, selecting Settings, and here are the key levers for managing your communication experience.

In the general settings section, you can change the theme, font size, and even the background image for dialogues. It's not just a matter of aesthetics: for people with low vision, increasing the font in the text menu is a critical accessibility parameter, and you can activate the display of contact avatars if they are stored in your address book, which speeds up visual recognition of the interlocutor.

⚠️ Note: When changing the theme, some system fonts may not display correctly if you use custom themes from the GetThemes store. In case of problems, go back to the standard theme in the display settings.

The Notifications menu details how the phone will respond to new messages, whether by sound, vibration or pop-up. It is important for business users to set up a repeat notification to avoid missing an urgent call or a bank code, even if the phone is in their pocket.

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Use the Do Not Disturb feature for specific contacts if you receive spam mailings from numbers that cannot be blocked by standard methods.

Management SIM-maps and priority of shipment

Owners of two-symbol Xiaomi smartphones often face confusion when sending messages when the response goes away from the wrong card from which the message came, or when the balance on the main SIM card suddenly ends. MIUI This allows you to flexibly manage the process through the Settings menu. SIM-You can set the default map here for voice calls and for the mobile Internet, but for the mobile Internet. SMS nuance.

When you send a new message, the system will always ask which card to send the text from if you do not have priority, but in existing dialogues, contextual anchoring works automatically: if you have been emailed to a number. SIM 1, the answer goes there. To force this behavior to change, you have to click on the icon when you dial a number or in the input window. SIM-cards and select the right slot.

To automate the process, you can configure scripts in the Additional section, for example, if the balance of the main card is less than a certain amount, the phone may suggest switching to a second card (although this function depends on the operator version and region), a more reliable method is to manually monitor the status of the cards in the notification curtain, where the active status icons of each SIM are displayed.

  • 📱 Confirmation Request: Enable the “Ask Before Submitting” option if you’re afraid to send a message to the wrong number or from the wrong card.
  • 💬 Stream separation: in some versions of firmware, the function of dividing incoming cards into separate tabs is available.
  • 🔒 Lockdown SIM: set up the request PIN-code when turning on the phone to protect access to SIM cards.
📊 What? SIM-You have the card for the main calls?
MTS
Beeline
Megaphone
Tele2
Yota

Setup encryption and privacy protection

Security is becoming more and more relevant, and modern Xiaomi smartphones offer built-in data protection tools. Although classic SMS does not support end-to-end encryption by default (unlike RCS or messengers), you can hide the content of messages from prying eyes. To do this, you need to select the option to hide the content in the notification settings, so that only the text “New message” without the sender’s name and essence is displayed on the lock screen.

A more advanced method is Hidden Messages, where you can select a specific dialog, click on a menu, and select Hide, and then you can only access the correspondence through a special code entry or fingerprint in the app's search bar, which is the perfect way to hide confirmation codes or personal correspondence.

You should also pay attention to the settings. RCS-If your operator and the other person supports this technology, messages will be sent over the Internet, supporting high-quality photo transfer, typing indicators and read status. → Chat functions.

⚠️ Attention: When switched on RCS-Chat messages can be charged as Internet traffic, not as normal SMS. Make sure you have a mobile internet package to avoid unnecessary costs.

What is RCS and is it better than SMS?
RCS (Rich Communication Services) is a modern messaging protocol that replaces SMS, which allows you to send files of any size, see the status of “prints...”, create group chats with the names of participants and has no limit of 160 characters, but it requires an Internet connection from both interlocutors.

Spam filtering and blocking unwanted contacts

The problem of spam and intrusive advertising mailings is solved in Xiaomi with a built-in antivirus module and smart filters. The Security app, which is pre-installed on all devices, has an Antispam section integrated with the message application. Here you can enable blocking messages from unknown numbers containing keywords (for example, “credit”, “winning”, “promotion”).

To fine-tune the filter, go to Settings → Antispam → Message Filter. You can create your own blacklist of keywords or use pre-made templates. The system will automatically delete or hide messages containing these phrases by placing them in a separate Spam folder, where you can look in case of a false positive.

In addition to text filters, it is effective to block numbers, you can manually add a number to a blacklist directly from the dialogue or use a database of updated blacklists that are downloaded via Wi-Fi, which is especially useful for combating automated callers and SMSers.

  • 🚫 Keywords: add the words “casino”, “betting”, “loan” to the list of prohibited.
  • 📞 Blocking Hidden Numbers: Enable the option to block messages from numbers that hide their identity ID.
  • 📂 Spam folder: Check your spam folder regularly for important notifications that may have gotten there by mistake.

☑️ Checking the anti-spam settings

Done: 0 / 1

Solving problems with shipping and shipping

If messages stop being sent or come with a delay, the cause is often not a network failure, but a power saving setting or an overcrowded app cache. SIM-If that's okay, try rebooting your smartphone, which solves 80 percent of the temporary software failures of the communication module.

A deeper problem is the aggressive optimization of the MIUI battery, which can kill the background process of the application of messages. To avoid this, open the menu of running applications, find Messages, click on the lock icon (fix in memory), and in the battery settings select the No-limit mode, which will allow the application to work constantly and instantly deliver notifications.

If the problem persists, clear the app cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps → Messages → Memory and click Clear Cache. Don't confuse it with the "Clear All" button, which will delete all your correspondence! Also check if the correct message center (SMSC) is installed. It is usually set up automatically, but if it fails you can manually write it through the engineering menu or code ##4636# (the path may differ depending on the model).

Problem.Possible causeDecision
Message not being sentNo network or balance 0Check the signal and replenish the account
Delayed SMS arrivalEnergy saving regimePut “No Limits” on the App
No codes coming from banks.Blocking a spam filterCheck the Spam folder and filter settings
The text is displayed by "crackers"Wrong encodingChange the encoding in the message settings on Unicode

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Aggressive energy saving is the main reason for delaying notifications on Xiaomi.Always check battery settings for important applications.

Additional features and personalization

For advanced users, Xiaomi offers a number of features that go beyond simple texting, such as the ability to create quick answers. In the settings, you can set template phrases ("I'll be in 5 minutes", "I'll be back later"), which will be available when you answer a call or in the Quick Enter menu, which saves time and allows you to respond on the go.

Another useful feature is automatic deletion of old messages. If you don’t want your phone’s memory to be clogged with old correspondence, turn on the storage limit. The system will automatically delete messages older than a given period (for example, 30 days) or when the number of messages in the stream is exceeded (for example, 1000 pieces).

Also worth mentioning is synchronization. If you're using the Xiaomi Cloud or Google One cloud, make sure that SMS backup is enabled, which will allow you to recover all your correspondence history when you switch to a new phone or after you reset your settings to factory ones. Without this (backup), it's almost impossible to restore text messages.

How to restore deleted SMS on Xiaomi?
Recovery is only possible if you have backed up in advance, check the settings of Google Drive (Backup section) or Xiaomi Cloud (Message section). If there is no backup, third-party programs like Dr.Fone or Tenorshare can help, but their effectiveness is not guaranteed and often requires Root rights.
Why do SMSes come in the form of code and not text?
This could be due to the sender formatting of the message or the operator-side coding error, try changing the input language or encoding in the message settings, and if the problem is massive, contact the carrier.
Can I send SMS from a computer via Xiaomi?
Yes, using the Windows Connection service or Android emulators if the phone is connected to the same network. SIM-card.
How to change the color of the message bubble?
In a standard app, the color changes through the theme setting in the Themes app. In Google Messages, the color depends on the theme you choose (light/dark) or the settings of a particular chat if RCS is enabled.
Is there a charge for SMS abroad?
Yes, incoming and outgoing SMS abroad are charged according to the terms of your roaming package. Check the fares with the operator before traveling to avoid surprises.

Setting up SMS Xiaomi is a process that requires a single attention to enjoy stable and secure communication. SIM-Maps and proper notification management will turn a standard application into a powerful communication tool. Remember to check system updates periodically, as Xiaomi is constantly improving the functionality of its shells, adding new capabilities for working with messages.