How to Get Xiaomi Phone to Ask SIM-ring-card

Modern smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO They're using one of them by default. SIM-A voice call card, ignoring the second one until you change the settings manually, can cause confusion, especially if you want to make a call from a number that is not a priority, or if you want to decide each time which operator the conversation will go through. Android System and Shell MIUI (or HyperOS) have a built-in mechanism that allows you to force the selection of a SIM before each number dial.

In a standard interface, this option may be hidden or not work properly due to the settings of the operator or the device itself. Users often face a situation where the phone silently calls through the main card, without giving a chance to switch to the second card, to correct this, you need to implement changes to system parameters or use specialized applications-callers.

In this article, we will discuss in detail how to activate the selection function. SIM-maps, what hidden codes will help in the diagnosis, and what to do if the regular functionality stopped working. We will look at both software methods through settings, and more advanced methods through the engineering menu.

Standard SIM Selection Settings in MIUI and HyperOS

The first step to solving this problem is to set up the basic system settings. SIM-It's put in a separate section where you can prioritize it, but if you want your phone to ask for a SIM every time, you need to change the default mode. → SIM-maps and mobile networks and find the section “Default for calls».

Most current firmware versions have an option called Always Ask or similar, but it is often hidden unless the standard Google Caller or Mi Dialer with certain rights is chosen as the call app. SIM-maps, for example, «SIM 1" or «SIM 2) means that the forced selection mode is disabled at the operator configuration level.

⚠️ Note: Some global versions of the firmware MIUI The “Always Ask” option may not be explicitly available due to the demands of local telecom operators who impose the use of one main card.

Manual selection activation often requires resetting the network settings, which won't delete your contacts, but will return the connection settings to factory settings. → Connection and sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. After the reboot, check the selection menu SIM-Cards again – sometimes the system “unlocks” the option of choosing a card.

If standard methods do not give a result, it is worth checking whether the Smart Choice function is activated. SIM». This technology attempts to determine the best network automatically, which can conflict with the user's desire to manually select a number. SIM-map.

Using the Engineering Menu for Forced Request

A deeper method of setting up is access to the engineering menu. This is a hidden partition of the system designed to test hardware, but it also contains call management options. To get there, open the Phone app and type in the code ##4636##. If the code doesn't work, try ##3646633## (powered by MediaTek processors) or use the MTK Engineering Mode app from the Play Market Store.

In the menu that opens, select the tab "Phone" or "Telephony". Here we are interested in the section related to settings. SIM. Find the item "Dual" SIM Settings" or «SIM Select Mode. In some versions of the software, you can force the flag here. ASK_USER (It's going to make the system ignore the predefined priorities.

• 📱 Find the Phone Info section for each SIM card separately.
• 🔍 Look for the “Preferred Network Type” line – sometimes changing the network type (for example, to a new network type). LTE only and back again) resets the selection cache SIM.
• ⚙️ In the section «SIM Toolkit can be checked to see if the operator menu blocks the selection function.
• 🔄 Try to switch modem mode if this option is available in your version of the engineering menu.

Be careful when changing the settings in the engineering menu. Incorrect setting of the radio module can cause the phone to stop seeing the network at all.

⚠️ Warning: Changing the settings in the engineering menu may result in loss of warranty or unstable operation of the communication module.

Third-party applications for call management

If the built-in Xiaomi tools do not allow you to implement flexible choices SIM-And the third-party dialer apps come to the rescue, and they replace the standard dialing interface and they take over the SIM selection function before every call, and it's the most reliable software tool that doesn't require root rights.

One of the most popular solutions is the Simple Dialer or Truecaller app (in call mode). Once you install the app, Android will ask permission to use it by default for calls «SIM-Map or Challenge and set the Always Ask mode».

The advantage of third-party calls is that they often have a more intuitive selection interface. SIM-card right at the time of dialing. you can see the balance (if the operator supports the phone) USSD-requests in the interface) and clearly understand which card will be the buzzer.

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When installing a third-party call, be sure to give it access to contacts and a call log, otherwise you won’t see who is calling you and the call history will be kept separately.

It is worth noting that on new versions of Android (11, 12, 13, 14), Google limits the ability of third-party calls in terms of access to some management features. SIM. So, check the compatibility of the application with your version of HyperOS before installing it. MIUI.

Comparison of SIM Selection Methods

To make it easier for you to decide on how to solve the problem, we have compiled a comparative table that will help you assess the risks and effectiveness of each method for your particular smartphone use case.

As you can see from the table, installing a third-party application is often the safest and most effective solution if Xiaomi’s regular “calling” does not provide the desired functionality.

Using third-party caller apps is the only guaranteed way to circumvent restrictions imposed by carriers on global firmware, where the option of selecting SIM is forcibly hidden.

Problems with SIM selection after Android update

Often, users notice that after upgrading from MIUI 12 to MIUI 13/14 or HyperOS, the SIM selection feature disappears, due to changes in Google's security policy and GMS (Google Mobile Services) certification requirements, the system begins to tighten control over access to the modem.

In such cases, cleaning the cache of the application "Phone" and «SIM-Manager. Go to the settings. → Annexes → All applications, find Phone (or Caller), select Memory and click Clear Cache. Do the same for the system application «SIM-Cards (may be referred to as "Management") SIM»).

• 🗑️ Cache Clearing won’t delete your contacts, but will reset temporary configuration files.
• 🔄 Rebooting the device is mandatory after cleaning the cache of system services.
• 📞 Check if the Phone app itself has been updated in the Play Market – the new version can return old bugs or, conversely, fix them.

If the problem appeared immediately after the update, it may be a bug of a particular firmware version, in which case it is worth reading the forums of the owners of your Xiaomi model - often the problem is massive and solved by waiting for a patch or rolling back on the previous version of the software.

Frequent Questions and Answers (FAQ)

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If none of the software methods helped, the problem may lie in the physical malfunction of the SIM slot or damage to the contacts on the card itself – try to replace the SIM card from the operator.