MI-Xiaomi posts: what it is, how to turn on and why they are better than the usual ones SMS

Have you ever noticed that on your smartphone Xiaomi in addition to the standard SMS There are so-called “so-called” MI-It's not a system bug, it's not a virus, it's a proprietary feature of the Miui ecosystem that's designed to make text messaging easier, faster and more functional. SMS, limited to 160 characters and require payment to the operator, MI-Messages are online, multimedia and integrated with other Xiaomi services.

If you’ve just switched from an iPhone or other Android smartphone to Xiaomi (like the Redmi Note 13 Pro)+ or POCO F6), They may have encountered confusion about where these messages are stored, how to distinguish them from ordinary ones. SMS, And why do some contacts see your messages as "blue" and others as "green." MI-How they are arranged under the hood, and why Xiaomi is actively promoting this service instead of the standard ones SMS.

What is it? MI-messages and how they came about

MI-Messages (or Mi Messages) is a proprietary messenger from Xiaomi, built into the standard Messages app on all smartphones with firmware MIUI. It is essentially a hybrid between SMS It also has modern instant messengers like WhatsApp or Telegram, but with a key difference: it works through Xiaomi servers and is closely integrated with the brand ecosystem.

Historically, Xiaomi launched this service in 2018 as a response to the growing popularity of instant messengers and the desire of users to get rid of paid ones. SMS. Initially, the feature was only available in China, but with the release MIUI 12 of them have been actively implemented on global versions of firmware. MI-Messages are supported on all current models - from budget Redmi 13C to the flagships Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

The big thing. MI-Messages – Automatic switching between SMS If you're also using a Xiaomi smartphone, your phone will be sent over the Internet (in blue), and if you have another phone, the system will automatically switch to the other phone. SMS (This allows you to save on paid messages without losing functionality.

Differences MI-message SMS and other messengers

To understand why Xiaomi is pushing its service, let’s compare it to the alternatives.

• 💬 Cost: MI-Messages between Xiaomi users are free (only the internet is required), while SMS Payable at the operator's rate.
• 📶 Type of connection: working via Wi-Fi or mobile Internet (4G/5G), then SMS use the operator's network (2G/3G).
• 📎 Multimedia: Supports up to 100MB of file submission (photos, videos, documents) SMS limited to 300 KB and require MMS.
• 🔒 Encryption: Messages are encrypted when transmitted (but not end-to-end encryption like Signal), whereas SMS plaintext.
• 🤖 Integration: closely linked to Mi Account, Mi Cloud and other Xiaomi services (e.g., you can send messages from Mi Band or Xiaomi Pad).

But there are downsides, too: If your interlocutor doesn’t have a Xiaomi smartphone, for example, all messages will go away as usual. SMS, Which means you'll lose the benefits. MI-In addition, the service is not as popular outside of Asia, so many users do not even know about its existence.

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If you are in contact with iPhone owners, MI-The messages are automatically converted into SMS. To save money, try to negotiate with the interlocutor about the transition to WhatsApp or Telegram.

How to turn on and set up MI-Xiaomi

By default. MI-Messages activated on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12 and later. However, if the function is disabled or not working properly, you can manually configure it:

1. Open the Messages app (the envelope icon).
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to the Additional Functions section → MI-message.
4. Activate the switch Turn on MI-message.
5. In the Network section, select your preferred connection type: Wi-Fi only, Mobile Data + Wi-Fi or auto.

If there is no option, check:

• 📱 Version MIUI (You can check the settings at least 12.0. → The phone.
• 🌍 Firmware region. Some global versions may not have the feature, try switching to India or China (but this may disrupt other services!).
• 🔄 Updates. Go to Settings. → The phone. → Update the system and install the latest patches.

After activation, all messages to Xiaomi users will be sent via the Internet (blue), and the rest – as they are. SMS (To force a message to be sent through the SMS, Hold it when you send it and select Send it as SMS.

Why? MI-The message is not working: common problems

Sometimes users are faced with the fact that MI-messages are not sent or constantly switched to SMS. Here are the main reasons and ways to eliminate them:

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi with custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), MI-This feature is only available on official assembly MIUI.

Another common problem is duplicate messages when the same message arrives and how to do so. MI-message, and how SMS. It's because of a synchronization failure to fix it:

1. Clear the Messages app cache in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Communications → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
2. Turn it off and turn it on again. MI-message.
3. Reboot the phone.

Security and privacy: whether to trust MI-message

One of the main user issues is security. MI-Unlike WhatsApp or Signal, which uses end-to-end encryption, Xiaomi uses standard encryption when transmitting data:

• 🔐 Messages are protected from interception during transmission over the network (as when visiting a website on the Internet). HTTPS).
• 👁️ In theory, Xiaomi can view the contents of messages (although the company says it doesn’t store them for longer than necessary for delivery).
• 📱 On the device, messages are stored in encrypted form if the screen lock is enabled.

It's important: MI-messages are not suitable for the transmission of critical information (passwords, bank data, documents.

On the other hand, Xiaomi offers several features to protect privacy:

• 🔒 Blocking Messages: You Can Hide Notifications From Certain Contacts.
• 🗑️ Auto Delete: Setup to Automatically Delete Old Messages.
• 🚫 Blacklist: blocking spammers and unwanted contacts.

⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Cloud to back up messages, they will be stored on Xiaomi servers unencrypted. disable sync if it is critical to your security.

Hidden functions MI-messages you didn't know about

MI-These messages offer some useful things that are not obvious at first glance:

• 📍 Sending geolocation: in chat, click on the clip → Location → Choose Send My Location or Share in Real Time.
• 💰 Payment via Messages: In some regions (e.g. India) you can send money directly in chat via Mi Pay.
• 🎨 Customizable themes: you can change the color scheme of chats in Settings → Topics.
• 📌 Fixed Messages: Press the message and select Affixed so that it always appears on top.
• 🤖 Quick Answers: Setup Response Templates in Settings → Quick answers to speed up correspondence.

Another little-known feature is synchronizing messages between devices, if you have a Xiaomi Pad 6 tablet or a laptop with a computer. MIUI for PC, You can read and respond to messages directly from them without having to take out your phone:

1. Enable synchronization in Settings → MI-message → Synchronization of devices.
2. Sign in to the same Mi Account on the second device.
3. Install the Mi Messages app on a tablet or PC.

MI-Google Messages: Which is Better

Many Xiaomi users are wondering if they should switch to Google Messages (formerly Android Messages), which offers similar features but from Google.

If you are actively using other Xiaomi services (e.g. Mi Home or Mi Fit), then MI-If you want to be compatible with other Android devices and secure, Google Messages is the best choice.

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MI-Messages beat Google Messages in integration with Xiaomi ecosystem, but lose in compatibility and security.

FAQ: Frequent questions about MI-message