Owners of smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco often face the need to confirm that the message sent was not just delivered to the operator’s server, but read by the addressee. Unlike popular messengers, where double checkmark or blue icon have become the standard, classic ones are the most popular. SMS-Understanding these differences is critical for those who are waiting for an urgent response or who use their phone for business correspondence.
MIUI and HyperOS, which are based on Android, provide multiple levels of message status information to the user. However, visual cues are often hidden or misinterpreted. For example, many users confuse the status of "sent" with the status of "read", which leads to misunderstanding in communication. It is important to note that in 90% of cases, a classic SMS does not inform the sender of the fact that the recipient reads, unless special advanced features are used.
In this article, we will discuss all the available methods of checking the status of messages, we will cover the operation of standard delivery reports, the features of the transition to the RCS (Rich Communication Services) protocol in the Google Message application, as well as the nuances of the Mi Message services, you will learn to distinguish between technical symbols in the message log and understand when to expect confirmation and when it is technically impossible.
Basic principles of SMS and delivery reports
The fundamental difference between SMS and Internet messaging is that it uses cellular signaling channels rather than Internet traffic. When you send a message, it passes through the operator's message center (SMSC), which generates the first report, "Sent." The next step is delivery to the recipient's device, which forms the "Delived" report, which is often mistaken for reading.
To activate delivery notifications on your Xiaomi, you need to change the app settings. In Google’s standard Messages app, which is preinstalled on most global firmware versions, the path is as follows: go to the settings menu, select Message Settings, and find Delivery Reports, which will force the system to request confirmation from the carrier’s network.
However, even if you turn on the option, you won't see the text "Readed"; you'll only get confirmation that the subscriber's phone has received the signal. If the recipient has "Do Not Disturb" mode on or the phone is down, the message will be delivered but the person won't see it, so the delivery technical report is no guarantee of familiarization with the content.
⚠️ Note: The delivery report comes only if the recipient’s phone is online and the recipient’s phone is on the network. SIM-If the device is turned off, the report will only come back after it is turned on, which can give a false impression of the reading time.
There is also the concept of MMS (multimedia messages) that require an Internet connection, and the statuses for them work similarly to SMS, but can be delayed due to the nature of data transfer.
| Type of message | Protocol | Internet is required | Status "Read" |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMS | GSM/3G/4G | No. | No (only "delivered") |
| MMS | GPRS/LTE | Yes. | No (only "delivered") |
| RCS (Chat) | Internet | Yes. | Yes (with function on) |
| Mi Message | Internet | Yes. | Yes (between Xiaomi devices) |
It is important to understand that carriers may charge extra for using roaming delivery reports, although on a home network this service is usually free.
Switching to RCS: modern chats instead of SMS
RCS (Rich Communication Services) is designed to replace the outdated SMS standard. On Xiaomi smartphones, it is implemented through Google’s Messages app. Unlike classic SMS, RCS allows you to transfer high-quality files, print text in real time and, most importantly for our topic, see the statuses “Print....” and “Read.”
To activate this function, both interlocutors must use compatible applications and have an Internet connection» -> «Chat function settings” (or «RCS-Chats. Once enabled, you will see the status "Connected." If the status "Connected..." or "Disabled", then the function does not work and the messages leave as usual. SMS without the ability to track reading.
When RCS is active, the interface changes, and the last message is either "Read" over time or a blue icon, and that's the only reliable way for the standard caller and SMSer to know that the recipient has opened the dialogue, but the recipient can turn off the read reports in their privacy settings, and then you'll see only "Delived" again.
It is worth noting that on the Chinese versions of the firmware MIUI The interface may be different and the functionality RCS It can be limited or replaced by Xiaomi’s own solutions. ROM) Google’s solution dominates.
Mi Message and Xiaomi Ecosystem
Xiaomi has developed its own add-on called Mi Message, which allows you to send messages between Xiaomi devices for free over the Internet, similar to Apple's iMessage. If you and your interlocutor own smartphones of this brand and are logged into the Mi Account, messages can be sent through this channel.
In this case, the read confirmation mechanism works perfectly, and you'll see a tag tag when the recipient opens the chat, and the problem is that it often doesn't work well or is disabled by default in new versions of HyperOS in favor of Google's RCS standard.
You can check Mi Message status in the Messages app settings. Find the "Mi Message" option and make sure the switch is active. If the message left through this channel, the send log will have a corresponding icon other than the usual one. SMS-It's usually a colored icon or a "via Wi-Fi" tag».
⚠️ Note: Mi Message may not work if the recipient has a power saving mode that limits the background activity of applications, in which case the message may arrive with a delay, and the read status will not be updated before the application is opened.
For users who rely on the Xiaomi ecosystem, it is recommended to sync accounts across all devices (tablets, phones) and this will allow you to see messages and their statuses on any gadget of the brand, as long as the appropriate sync in the cloud is enabled.
Visual indicators and hidden symbols
There are visual markers in the Messages app that help you understand the status of a message, usually located under the text of an SMS sent. A small grey tick indicates that the message was sent from your device. Two gray ticks (or one with a signature) indicate delivery to the operator's device and the recipient's phone.
If you see an exclamation point in the red circle, it means a delivery error, the message didn't reach the operator's server, and the reasons can be different: you don't have a network, the recipient locks the number, or the balance ends (if the tariff does not include free SMS), in which case you naturally don't have to read.
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If you see one tick for a long time, try switching your phone to flight mode for 10 seconds and back again, which will force the device to reconnect to the network and update the status of the message.
In some of the themes of the design MIUI The color of the indicators may vary. Standard diagram: gray - sent, blue / green - delivered. RCS-Chat colors may be more vivid, and the status of "Read" is often accompanied by a time stamp.
And you also need to pay attention to the behavior of the dialogue itself. In modern versions of Android, when someone types (if RCS is enabled), an indicator "Types..." may appear above the input field. This is an indirect sign that the person is in the conversation right now and therefore has seen previous messages.
Problems with displaying statuses on Xiaomi
Xiaomi users often face a situation where settings are enabled but statuses don’t come.One of the most common reasons is the aggressive MIUI energy saving system. It can “kill” the background process of the Messages application, which makes it impossible for the phone to send a delivery report to the operator’s server or accept a status request.
To fix this, you need to go to the battery settings, find the Messages app (or Google Messages) and set the No Limits mode, and it is also recommended to enable auto-run for this application, which ensures that the service will work in the background constantly.
☑️ Diagnostics of status problems
Another problem is a crowded phone memory. If the storage is packed, the system may not have time to process the incoming service signal about the report. Clearing the Messages app cache through the Apps menu -> All Apps -> Messages -> Clear (Memory section) often helps solve the problem.
And the human factor, too, is that the recipient might have blocked your number, in which case the messages might leave (you'll see the delivery boxes if the lock is not strictly set up), but the person will never see them, or they might have simply deleted the dialogue without opening it, in which case the message was technically delivered but not read.
Third-party applications and data security
In Play Market, you can find a lot of third-party apps promising "secret" tracking of SMS reading. Be extremely careful. SMS protocol does not support hidden sending of read data back to the sender without the user's knowledge. Any application claiming otherwise is likely spyware or fraud.
Installation of such programs often requires superuser rights (Root), which are almost impossible to obtain on modern Xiaomi with a blocked bootloader without loss of warranty and data.
It is better to use legal methods: to agree with the interlocutor on the use of instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber), where the reading status is the state.