Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face the need to replace the drive or retrieve it. SIM-Although modern interfaces seem intuitive, the wrong actions when working with physical components can lead to a break in the tray or damage to contacts. This article details the process so you can complete the task quickly and safely.
Most of the brand’s designs involve a combined or separate slot located at the end of the case. Removing the memory card requires accuracy and the use of a special tool. In this article, we will analyze the nuances of working with different types of trays, features of the device’s software preparation and answer frequently asked questions of users.
Before you start mechanically impacting the device body, you need to make sure that the system is ready for this process. Although many modern models support hot replacement, software failures can lead to data loss or incorrect identification of the drive after re-installation.
Pre-extraction programming
The first step before physically removing any external drive is to properly disable it through the MIUI or HyperOS operating system interface. This action ends all current writing and reading processes, preventing damage to the file system. If you ignore this step, photos or documents may become unreadable.
To do this, go to your device's settings menu. Find the storage section, which can be called differently in different versions of firmware. Usually, the path is: Settings → Phone → Storage or Settings → Memory. In some cases, it's easier to use the standard Security app built into the Xiaomi shell.
On the storage screen, you'll see a list of connected media. Find your microSD card and click on "Disable" or "Extract." The system will alert you that applications using this drive may stop working. Confirm the action and wait for the notification of successful shutdown.
⚠️ Warning: Never try to retrieve the tray immediately after pressing the shutdown button. Wait for the system notification to appear or the card icon to disappear from the status bar to make sure that the recording processes are completely stopped.
After the software training, you can move to physical extraction. It is important to understand that depending on the model of your smartphone (Redmi Note, Xiaomi Mi, Poco F), the design of the tray may differ. In older models, there was often a combined slot where the memory card shared space with one of the two. SIM-cards, while new flagships are often deprived of a slot for expanding memory at all.
Finding the slot and the necessary tools
Before looking for a tool to open, you need to accurately determine the location of the slot. In the vast majority of Xiaomi smartphones, the tray is located on one of the side ends of the device. Most often, this is the lower edge, where the charging connector is also located, but in some models, such as the Xiaomi Mi Mix or some versions of the Redmi Note, the slot can be shifted to the upper end.
Visually, the slot is a narrow slot in the frame of the case, inside which you can see a small circular hole. Next to it, often a schematic drawing of the phone with an arrow indicating the direction of extraction. The location of the tray is critical, because trying to insert the tool into the hole of the microphone (which is often nearby) will lead to serious damage.
To extract, you'll need a special key-clip that comes with the device. If the original tool is lost, you can use a paper clip by straightening one of its ends, or a thin needle. However, using needles requires caution: they can be too thin and break inside the mechanism, or too sharp, damaging the inner spring.
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If the original key is not at hand, it is better to use a paper clip or a cloves earring, since their diameter perfectly matches the mechanism of latching the tray, unlike sewing needles.
Make sure your hands are dry and clean. Fat or moisture can make it difficult to grab a slippery metal tray after it is removed. It is also recommended to perform a procedure over a soft surface or table so that in the event of an unintentional slip, the memory card does not fall on the hard floor and is not lost.
Technology of safe extraction of tray
The process of removing the tray requires precise positioning of the tool. Take the key-clip and insert its sharp end perpendicular to the plane of the body into a circular hole next to the slot. You don't need to insert the tool deep; just feel a light emphasis in the spring mechanism.
Apply a uniform but confident force, pressing strictly inside the device. You should feel a slight click - this is a signal that the latch has worked and the tray has moved out. The spring mechanism in Xiaomi phones is quite tight, so do not be afraid to press harder, but avoid sharp jerks that can lead to tool slipping and scratches on the frame.
Once the tray appears from the body (usually 2-3 millimeters), remove the tool. Grab the edge of the tray with your fingers and gently pull it on yourself until fully removed. The movement should be smooth, along the axis of symmetry of the phone, so as not to bend the contacts inside the slot.
☑️ Tray extraction algorithm
After extraction, carefully examine the tray. On its back, there is often a diagram showing how to correctly orient the memory card, which is especially important for combined slots, where improper installation can lead to the card simply not being determined or, in the worst case, to close the contacts.
Features of the design of Xiaomi trays
The configuration of slots in Xiaomi and Redmi devices has changed over the years. Understanding the type of tray you have will help avoid errors when installing cards back. There are three main types of designs you may encounter.
The first type is a classic combined slot, where one side is designed to play a game. SIM-Nano-SIM cards, and another, often with a characteristic notch or spring mechanism, is for microSD. SIM-It is impossible to simultaneously choose between the second “Sim” and memory expansion.
The second type is a triple slot (2 SIM + microSD). This is the most convenient option, where the memory card has its own, independent place, often located on the back of the tray or in a separate internal pocket. The third type is found in the flagship models of recent years, where the memory card slot is completely absent, and all data is stored in an integrated flash drive.
| Type of tray | Support for SIM | Support for microSD support | Examples of series |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined | 1 SIM + 1 SIM or SD | Yes (instead of the 2nd SIM) | Redmi Note 8, Mi A2 |
| Triple (hybrid) | 2 SIM | Yes (separately) | Redmi Note 9, Poco X3 |
| Only SIM. | 2 SIM | No. | Xiaomi 13, 14, Mi 11 |
| Bilateral | 1 SIM on one side | SD on the other side | Some Redmi models |
If you own a device without a memory card slot, the only solution is to use USB-OTG adapters, which allow you to connect flash drives through the charging connector, although it is less convenient for permanent use than the built-in slot.
What to do if the tray does not come out?
Removing the card and troubleshooting
Once you have the tray in your hands, it is usually easy to remove the memory card. In most modern Xiaomi trays, the microSD card is not tightly fixed, often it is only inserted into the groove. To reach it, just slightly press the protruding edge of the card with your nail, and it will pop out.
However, in some models, especially in devices with moisture protection or older design, the card can sit very tightly, in this case it is strictly forbidden to use metal tools (tweezers, needles) to pick the card, since there is a high risk of damaging the contacts or splitting the drive itself.
⚠️ Warning: If the memory card is stuck and not pulled out by a light effort, do not pull it by force. Try to gently sway it from side to side, holding it by the edges. The use of force can cause the fixation mechanism inside the phone to break down.
A common problem is when the phone stops seeing the card after re-installing. This may be due to oxidation of the contacts. Wipe the gold pins of the card with a soft dry cloth. Also make sure the card is inserted on the correct side: usually the contacts are pointing down to the phone board, although in some Xiaomi trays the design can be inverted.
If you don't see the card after you put it in, make sure it's in the right place, it's sitting tight, level with the edges of the tray, not protruding or falling, and when you put the tray back in, make sure it comes in easily and completely, and if you have to put a force, it's skewed, and you have to take it out and put it back in, aligned with the guides.
Frequent questions and technical nuances
Users often wonder about card compatibility and memory capacity.The file system also plays a role: modern Xiaomi phones work best with the exFAT file system for cards larger than 32 GB. If your device doesn't see the new card, it may need to be formatted directly in the phone, which will result in the deletion of all data on it.
Another important aspect is speed: using low-end cards (such as Class 4 or Class 6) on modern high-resolution smartphones can cause the system to slow down when recording video. For comfortable work, it is recommended to use UHS-I or UHS-II cards with a speed class at least U3.
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Use only quality memory cards from proven brands (Samsung, SanDisk, Kingston) as cheap counterparts often fail and can damage the phone's power controller.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that regular maintenance and proper operation of memory cards prolongs their life. Do not remove the card while actively writing or reading data, even if it is software disabled, wait for the complete completion of system processes. Careful attitude to physical contacts and the tray will ensure the stable operation of your Xiaomi device for many years.