Modern smartphones Xiaomi Redmi line is famous for its functionality and availability, but the initial setup often raises questions from new owners. The first and critical step after unpacking the device is to install a communication module, without which the gadget turns into a simple media player. The installation process seems trivial, but careless actions can damage the contacts or the tray itself, so it is important to follow a certain sequence of actions.
Unlike older models with retractable batteries, modern Redmis are equipped with non-removable batteries and sealed enclosures, which requires the use of a special tool to access the slot. Misdirecting the chip or trying to insert a card by force can cause costly motherboard repairs. In this guide, we will detail how to safely remove the tray, determine the right side. SIM-maps and avoid common beginner mistakes.
We’ll look at the features of various form factors, from classic “mikruh” to modern nano-SIMs, and also pay attention to dual-symbol versions of smartphones, where it is important not to confuse slots. Understanding the design of your Redmi will avoid situations where the phone does not see the network due to the banal shift of the card by fractions of a millimeter. Read carefully to ensure stable communication from the first minutes of use of the device.
Preparation of the workplace and necessary tools
Before you start physically affecting the body of the smartphone, you need to prepare a comfortable and, most importantly, safe workspace. The ideal option is a table with good lighting and a hard surface covered with soft cloth or towel, which will prevent the device from slipping and protect the screen and back cover from scratches in the event of an unexpected fall. Space organization is a key factor in the success of any small technical operation.
To retrieve the tray, you'll need a special key-clip, which usually comes complete with a phone in a box along with documentation. If the original tool is lost, you can use a regular stationery clip by straightening one of its ends, or a thin needle, although the latter option is less preferable because of the risk of damaging the mechanism. The main requirement for the tool is that it must be thin enough to enter the hole, but strong enough to withstand the force when extracted.
☑️ Pre-installing check
It is also recommended to prepare yourself in advance. SIM-The card, making sure it matches the nano-SIM form factor used in most modern Xiaomi Redmi. If your card is old (mini or micro), it must be replaced in the operator’s cabin or carefully trimmed in a special form, although the latter method carries the risk of damage to the chip.
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Use only a metal clip or a special key. Plastic toothpicks can break inside the hole, blocking the extraction mechanism forever.
Determination of the tray location and removal of the holder
The first step in the installation process is to find a hole to extract the tray, which in Xiaomi smartphones is most often located on the lower end of the case, next to the USB Type-C charging port or the Micro-USB connector. In some rare models, the slot can be on the upper edge of the device, so carefully examine all the ends of the smartphone in good light.
Take a prepared tool (a paper clip or key) and insert it perpendicular to the surface of the case into the hole found. You must apply a confident but controlled force, pressing strictly straight so as not to bend the tool and not damage the internal mechanisms. You should feel a slight click and spring resistance, after which the tray will extend outwards for several millimeters, allowing you to grab it with your fingers.
⚠️ Warning: Never insert a paper clip into a microphone that is often located next to the slot for the device. SIM. The microphone looks like a small hole, but does not have a spring mechanism, and its damage will lead to problems with sound when talking.
Once the tray is partially out of the body, gently pull it out with your fingers. It's important not to use excessive force; if the tray is not easily removed, you may not have pressed the lock deep enough or used the wrong angle. The extraction mechanism in Redmi is quite reliable, but requires precision of movement.
Anatomy of the tray and correct orientation SIM-map
The extracted tray in Xiaomi Redmi smartphones can have a different design depending on the specific model and year of release. In most cases, you will see a combined slot designed for two different devices. SIM-Nano cards, or hybrid versions, where one of the slots can be used for a microSD card. Carefully study the shape of the notches on the metal plate, as they exactly repeat the contours of the card.
Orientation SIM-The chip must look down to the tray contacts, and the cut angle usually matches the marking on the holder itself or repeats the shape of the notch. Modern Redmi models often use a system where cards are inserted by contacts up or down depending on the specific revision of the board, so always check with the icon stamped on the metal tray.
For clarity, we will give the main types of tray configuration found in the Xiaomi line:
| Type of tray | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | Nano SIM | Nano SIM / microSD | You can’t use 2 SIMs at the same time. |
| Triple (separate) | Nano SIM | Nano SIM | A separate microSD slot, all 3 cards work together |
| Unilateralist | Nano SIM | - | It is available in budget or old models. |
| Bilateral | Nano SIM | Nano SIM | Cards are inserted from different sides of the tray |
Make sure the card fits tightly against the tray walls and doesn't hang around. If the card is hand-carved and has uneven edges, it may get stuck or not provide reliable contact. In such cases, it's best to contact the communications salon to change the card to a new one, since the stability of the signal depends on the quality of the contacts.
What to do if SIM-card?
Step-by-step algorithm for installing a card in a slot
The installation process requires precision and precision. SIM-a card with your fingers behind the edges, trying not to touch the golden contacts, since fatty traces can oxidize over time and worsen the connection. Place the map above the corresponding notch in the tray, observing the orientation determined in the previous step (usually the cut angle coincides with the pattern on the tray).
Smoothly lower the card into the notch. It should lie flat and tight, without gaps and distortions. If the card does not lie flat, do not press it, turn it over or turn 180 degrees. Xiaomi trays often use a fixation mechanism, where the card is simply placed in a frame and held by friction or a small ledge.
☑️ Installation algorithm
Once the card is placed in the tray, take the holder in your hand and gently insert it back into the case of the smartphone. The tray should enter smoothly, without creaking or strong resistance, bring it to the end with your finger until the characteristic click or complete disappearance of the end of the tray in level with the body of the phone.
When installing, make sure the rubber band does not wrap or damage, otherwise the phone will lose some of its water protection.
Enabling the device and initial network setting
Once the tray is successfully installed, you can start turning on your smartphone. Press the side power button (usually located on the right side) until the Mi or Redmi logo appears. MIUI or HyperOS can take anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute, while the system queries the installed modules and reads the data from the data. SIM-map.
Once the phone is on, look at the top status bar, and you should see the signal level indicators and the carrier name, and if you have set up two cards, you may need to do something else: you can suggest that you assign one card to the mobile Internet and leave the other card to the mobile Internet only, or you can set up use cases.
⚠️ If the phone is turned on, it says "No" SIM-"Master" or "Put in" SIM", Don't panic. Try restarting the device. If the problem persists, check if the tray is inserted correctly before the click.
To configure network settings, go to the Settings menu → SIM-You can rename the cards (e.g., "Worker", "Personal"), select the default card for calls and SMS, It also activates or deactivates specific slots, and it allows you to optimize your communication costs.
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The first reboot after installing the SIM is mandatory for registration in the operator's network, without this step incoming calls may not pass.
Diagnostics of problems: what to do if the phone does not see the SIM card
A situation where Xiaomi Redmi does not recognize the installed SIM-It's a little bit rare, but it can be caused by a few things, and the most common is contamination of the contacts, and try to remove the tray and wipe the golden contacts of the map and the tray with a soft dry cloth or a swallow, and even a microscopic layer of dust can disrupt the connection.
The second reason could be a software failure or frequency incompatibility. Make sure your phone supports your carrier's frequency ranges, especially if the device is brought from another region (Chinese version of global firmware). SIM-map PIN-code; in this case, a request for code entry will appear on the screen.
If nothing helps, try to fix the problem. SIM-If it doesn't work there, it's damaged and needs to be replaced by the operator, and if the other phone is working, maybe the reader in Redmi itself is damaged, and then you need to contact the service center.