How to set up messages on your Xiaomi phone

Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones come with powerful communication functionality that is often hidden deep in system settings. The standard Mi Messaging app offers far more than just sending text, allowing users to create smart folders, block unwanted content and save Internet traffic through special services.

The correct configuration of this section is critical, as this is where account recovery keys and bank confirmation codes are often hidden. In this article, we will look at all aspects of working with SMS and MMS on the MIUI shell, including hidden settings that are not obvious when you first encounter a device.

Owners of Xiaomi devices often find that incoming notifications come with a delay or get lost among advertising debris. competent setting will help avoid these problems and make the process of communication as comfortable and safe as possible for your device.

Basic settings and application interface

The initial setup starts with the main menu of the application, which you can access by clicking on three dots in the upper right corner or selecting Settings in the side menu, where the user gets access to control SIM cards if there are two on the smartphone, which allows you to choose the main SIM card for outgoing traffic by default.

The MIUI messaging interface allows you to flexibly customize the display of dialogs by time or priority, so you can turn on the display of contact avatars, which makes it visually easier to find the right correspondence in the shared list, and also activate the preview of the text of the message right in the notification curtain.

📊 How do you use it most often? SMS?
For confirmation codes only
To communicate with loved ones
For work and mailings
I don't use it at all.

Special attention should be paid to the Notifications section, where you can detail the behavior of the smartphone when you receive a new message, you can adjust the sound, vibration and even LED indicator for each type of event separately.

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Use different sounds for different sounds SIM-Maps to instantly know which number an important message has arrived at without looking at the screen.

Activation and use of Mi Message

One of the most useful but rarely used features is Mi Message, which allows you to send messages to other users of Xiaomi for free over the Internet.This is the equivalent of iMessage, which runs on the company’s cloud technologies, and its activation saves significantly when you actively chat.

To enable this option, you need to go to the message settings and find the appropriate switch. The system automatically checks the phone number and activates the cloud service, after which Xiaomi users will be marked in the contact list with a special icon indicating the possibility of free communication.

⚠️ Note: When activated, Mi Message can be sent to the test international SMS, For which the carrier can charge you according to your rate, make sure that there is a minimum amount on the balance sheet.

It is important to note that this service only works if you have an active Wi-Fi or mobile Internet connection, and if the connection to the server is lost, messages are automatically sent as normal SMS, unless the settings indicate a different behavior.

How do I turn off Mi Message?
If you want to cancel the service completely, go to Settings → Messages → Mi Message and turn off the switch. After that, all messages will leave only through the cellular operator.

Fighting spam and blocking contacts

The problem of intrusive advertising and spam is a problem for all mobile network users, and the message filter built into the MIUI shell allows you to effectively cut off unwanted content using updated databases and smart text analysis algorithms.

To set up the blocker, you need to enter the “Antispam” or “Block” menu, where you can manually add numbers to the blacklist or turn on an automatic mode that will hide messages from unknown senders containing advertising keywords.

  • 🛡️ Turn on the Unknown Numbers Filter to hide SMS from people who are not in your phone book.
  • 📝 Add keywords (e.g., “credit”, “winning”, “promotion”) to the list of prohibited for automatic removal of such messages.
  • 🔇 Set up “Do Not Disturb” for messages so that your phone doesn’t vibrate at night, but keeps your correspondence history.

All blocked messages are not permanently deleted, but are moved to a special Spam folder, where you can look at any time, which protects against accidental loss of important information if the filter works incorrectly.

☑️ Setting up protection against spam

Done: 0 / 1

Creating and Managing Message Templates

If you often have to send the same text, such as access codes, addresses or standard greetings, the template function will be an indispensable tool, which allows you to save frequently used phrases and paste them into the input field with a single touch.

You can create a new template in the Quick Answers or Templates settings section, where you can create multiple blanks for different situations, which is especially true for delivery staff, couriers or technical support specialists.

Type of templateExample of textUse case scenario
Greetings.Hello, your order is in the works.Customer response
AddressMoscow, Lenin Street, 10Geolocation
StatusCall me back later, I'm busy.Personal communication
PaymentRequisites: 0000 0000 0000 0000Finance.

When typing in a dialogue, just click on the template icon (usually looks like a list or an “+” icon) to select the desired phrase from the list, which saves time and eliminates the risk of typos in important information.

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Message templates are not just text, but a productivity tool that allows you to respond to typical queries in seconds.

Setup MMS and multimedia messages

Although the MMS era is slowly fading into the past, giving way to instant messengers, the ability to send photos or videos through a carrier’s standard network is still required in some situations: Setup of this section on Xiaomi usually happens automatically, but sometimes requires manual intervention.

In the MMS settings section, you can limit the size of the file you send to avoid wasting mobile traffic, and there is also an option to automatically download attachments, which can be disabled to save data when roaming.

⚠️ Note: Make sure that the access point settings (APN) Your operator has the correct parameters for MMS, Otherwise, multimedia messages may not be sent or may come as links.

If the automatic settings are not applied, the access point parameters can be found on the website of your mobile operator or request them by sending a special service. USSD-After updating the parameters, it is recommended to restart the device to apply the changes.

Backup and synchronization

Losing your smartphone or moving to a new device doesn’t have to mean losing important correspondence. MIUI offers built-in SMS backup tools that save your message history to the cloud or external drive.

To create a backup, you need to go to your system settings, select About Phone, and find Backup and Restore, where you can select the type of data to save, including messages, and specify the location of the archive.

  • ☁️ Sync with Mi Cloud allows you to store messages in the cloud, freeing up space on your device.
  • 💾 Local backup creates a file on internal memory or SD-A map that can be copied to a computer.
  • 🔄 Recovery occurs automatically when you log in to your Mi Account on a new device.

Regular backups are the only guarantee that important confirmation codes, addresses and personal correspondence will not be lost in the event of a system failure or physical breakdown of the gadget.

Where is the SMS backup stored?
By default, the local copy is saved in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder on the internal drive. Remember to move this folder when you reset your settings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why don't you send messages with confirmation codes?
Most often, the problem lies in the overflowing memory of the phone or in the settings of the spam blocker, check the Spam or Blocked folder in the message application, and also make sure that the sender number is not blacklisted.
How to delete all messages from one contact?
In the dialog list, click and hold your finger on the desired correspondence, then select the basket icon or Delete. For mass removal, you can use editing mode, highlighting several dialogs at once.
Can I change the font in the messages on Xiaomi?
Yes, the font size changes in the general system settings in the Screen → Text Size section. To change the font style (italics, bold, other type), you need to use the theme in the Themes app.
What if messages are sent but not delivered?
Check the SIM card balance and network signal strength. If the problem persists, try removing the SIM card, erase the contacts and paste back, and then restart the device, and check if flight mode is set.