Owners of modern smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco often face the need to temporarily suspend one of the two SIM cards. This can be due to the desire to save battery power on the trip, avoid unnecessary calls at the weekend or simply switch to using only Wi-Fi. In the shell of MIUI and the new HyperOS, this process is implemented quite flexibly, but beginners can not always immediately find the right switches on the menu.
Turning off the second SIM doesn’t require tray extraction or complex manipulation of the engineering menu. All the necessary functions are available in the standard settings interface, which is the same for most current models of the brand. Proper configuration of communication parameters allows you to instantly change the network configuration without rebooting the device.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithm of actions for deactivation. SIM-maps, consider the nuances of working with the mobile Internet and answer questions that often arise in users when managing dual-SIM modes.
Why it may be necessary to disconnect SIM-map
There are many scenarios where the user needs to quickly deactivate one of the slots, for example, when roaming, using a second SIM can lead to an unexpected charge-off unless special rates are set up, and by disabling it software, you are guaranteed to protect yourself from background connections to the operator's network.
Another common reason is energy savings: Xiaomi smartphones with two active SIM cards consume more battery power, as the radio module has to communicate with two base stations at the same time. In situations where every percent of the battery counts, switching one of the cards to off mode significantly prolongs autonomy.
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If you are in the zone of uncertain reception, disabling the second SIM can improve the quality of communication on the main one, since the antenna will not dissipate the resource to search for the second operator’s network.
And it's also true for parents who give their kids a phone, and by turning off their work SIM, you can be sure that the child won't make a random call or waste packet data.
- 🔋 Saving battery charge by reducing the load on the radio module.
- 🚫 Blocking incoming calls and SMS from a specific number without losing contacts.
- 🌍 Protection against roaming costs when using a local SIM.
- 📶 Improved signal stability in areas with poor network coverage.
Basic way to disconnect through settings
The simplest and most reliable method of managing SIM cards is built into the standard menu of the system, it does not require installing third-party software and works on all versions of the firmware, and first you need to open the main settings menu of your device.
Find a section that depends on the shell version MIUI may be called "SIM-Maps and mobile networks, or simply "SIM-It is usually located at the top of the list of basic parameters or inside the tab "Connections and Sharing".
☑️ Algorithm of SIM-Switching Off
In the menu that opens, you'll see a list of all the cards installed. Next to the operator's name or the words "SIM 1" / "SIM 2" will be a switch switch switch. Click on it to change the state from "On" to "Off." The system can request confirmation of action, warning that the number will become unavailable.
Once confirmed, the network icon in the status bar will disappear, and a marker may appear next to the icon of the remaining active SIM indicating that it is used for calls and the Internet by default.
Mobile Internet Management and Challenges
It's important to understand the difference between completely disabling the SIM and switching usage profiles. Xiaomi smartphones have a flexible traffic distribution system, so you can keep both SIMs active for receiving calls, but assign the Internet to only one of them.
For this purpose, in the same settings menu SIM-There's a mobile Internet option (or "Default Internet"), and you click on it, and you choose which slot to use to transfer data through, which is useful if one card has unlimited rates and the other card has only a packet of minutes.
The default call option allows you to select the SIM number you will dial from when you click on a contact. If you want to temporarily disable calls from a second card but leave it on for SMS, use the outbound lock feature if it is available from the operator, or simply disable the SIM completely, as described in the previous section.
It's worth noting that when you switch the mobile Internet, the system can break the connection for a short time, and that's normal for the network to reconnect to another gateway.
Dual SIM settings and operating modes
The MIUI shell offers additional options for dual SIM users. In the settings menu, you can activate the "Always use specified SIM" function. This means that if you choose to call SIM 1, the phone will not ask you every time which card to make a call, and will not try to use SIM 2, even if the first one is busy or does not catch the network.
There is also a useful function of "Help". SIM-It allows you to configure scenarios where the phone automatically switches to the second SIM to call if the first one is not available. However, to fully deactivate the second card, these settings are not required, but it is useful to know about them for general optimization of communication.
| Parameter | Description of function | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Internet | Selection of a data transfer card | Choose a card with a large packet of traffic |
| Default calls | Priority map for outbounds | Primary number for work or personal contact |
| SIM assistant | Automatic switching during employment | Turn on for important calls, turn off for savings |
| 4G/5G is preferably preferable | Priority of high-speed networks | Keep it on for speed. |
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Competent setting of priorities allows you to take advantage of the two operators without the need for constant manual switching of SIM cards in the menu.
Some users confuse flight mode with turning off the SIM.Flight mode turns off all radio modules, including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, whereas turning off the SIMKA only affects the cellular connection of a particular slot, leaving the rest of the phone functions working.
Use of the Security app
The Xiaomi ecosystem has a strong focus on built-in utilities. The Security app, which is pre-installed on every device, also has communication management tools, albeit less obvious to beginners.
You can set up a call blocker and text message here. If your goal is not to completely disconnect the second SIM from the network, but only to stop the arrival of annoying calls, it is easier to use the blacklist. Go to the application, select Antispam and set the filtering rules for the desired number.
However, if you want to turn off the module, system settings remain the only standard solution. Third-party applications from Google Play, promising “sim card managers”, often require unnecessary permissions and do not give as deep control as the Android system itself.
⚠️ Attention: Third-party management applications SIM-Cards often request excessive access rights to contacts and SMS. Use only built-in system tools to change network settings.
Also in the security settings you can find the function "Flight Mode for individual SIMs", but it is a duplicate of the main switch in the settings menu and does not add new features, except for quick access through the widget.
Possible problems and solutions
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where after trying to disable the second SIM, the phone continues to show the network, or the switch does not respond, this can be caused by a software failure of the MIUI shell or application conflict.
The first step in diagnosis is to simply reboot the device, which clears the cache of network services and resets the radio module, and if you have persists, try removing the sim card tray, wipe the SIM contacts with soft cloth, and insert them back, making sure the cards are sitting tight.
What to do if the SIM does not turn off?
If the menu switch is active (not grey) but does not change position, it is possible that the phone has restrictions in Do Not Disturb mode or parental control that block the change in network settings.
- 🔄 Perform a smartphone reboot to reset network services.
- 📲 Check the relevance of the firmware version in the section "About the phone".
- 🔧 Reset your network settings if the problem is systemic.
- 💾 Make sure that the SIM card is not worth it. PIN-lock-in.