Sending. SMS On smartphones, Xiaomi sometimes becomes a problem because of the limit on the number of characters. SMS-The message supports only 160 characters in Latin or 70 characters in Cyrillic, and if the limit is exceeded, the operator breaks the text into several parts - which increases the cost of sending. SMS or in mass mailings.
In this article, we will understand 7 Proven ways to reduce text SMS on Xiaomi devices (including Redmi models, POCO And the flagship series, without losing meaning. MIUI 14/15, We'll focus on the hidden character restriction in the group mailing list, and third-party tools, as well as the nuances of coding that will help you fit into one package.
Why? SMS Xiaomi is breaking into pieces and how to avoid it
The problem of fragmentation SMS It's connected to the technical standards of the network:
- 🔤 GSM 7-bit — Supports only Latin, numbers and basic symbols (160 characters per message).
- 🌍 UCS-2 — universal encoding for Cyrillic, hieroglyphics and emoji (70 characters per message).
If you send a message in Russian, it automatically applies. UCS-2, This reduces the limit to 70 characters, and many Xiaomi users don't know that it's a very simple system:
- ⚡ Emoji, punctuation marks (e.g., “birthmarks”) and even spaces take up 2 bytes instead of 1.
- 📱 V MIUI There is no built-in symbol counter with encoding in mind - the Messages app shows only the total amount of text.
- 🔄 When sending a group, the limit is reduced by 10-15% due to official data.
To avoid fragmentation, you need to either shorten the text or force the Latin alphabet (if it is acceptable).
Method 1: Use of abbreviations and abbreviations
The simplest method is to replace common phrases with conventional abbreviations, which are particularly effective for business correspondence or notifications.
| Initial phrase | Reduction | Saving symbols |
|---|---|---|
| Hello, dear client. | Hello, Mr. Customer. | 8 characters |
| Please confirm receipt | Pjlst, confirm receipt | 6 characters |
| Thank you for your request. | Ps for appeal | 10 characters |
| We remind you of the need to pay | A word about the payment. | 18 characters |
For Xiaomi, you can create abbreviations templates in the Notes app or use the Gboard keyboard with Text Replacement (located in the keyboard settings). For example, configure a pgl replacement. → Please do not enter long words manually.
⚠️ Warning: Avoid excessive cuts in official correspondence - this may look impolite.
Method 2: Forced switching to Latin
If the recipient understands Latin, you can save up to 40% of the characters by switching to the English alphabet, for example, the phrase "Meeting at 15:00 by the subway" will take up 22 characters in Cyrillic (including Cyrillic). UCS-2) 13 characters in the Latin alphabet (Vstrecha v 15:00 u metro).
How to do it on Xiaomi:
- Open the Messages app.
- Start typing.
- Press and hold the space on the keyboard, then select English (US) Latin.
- Write a message in a transliterate (for example, “privet” instead of “hello”).
For convenience, you can install a transliteration-enabled keyboard, such as Multiling O Keyboard or AnySoftKeyboard, which automatically converts Russian words to Latin when typed.
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Create a list of commonly used phrases on the transliterate in Xiaomi’s Notes (e.g., “spasibo» = Thank you, poka» = This will speed up the input and reduce errors.
Method 3: Disabling emojis and special symbols
Emoji and non-standard symbols (e.g., emoji, ❤️, ✅, «», №) occupy 2-3 It's twice as much space as a normal text. One smiley face can eat up to 5 On Xiaomi, emojis are automatically substituted when you type certain words (e.g., "heart» → ❤️), It suddenly increases in size. SMS.
How to turn off auto-replacement emoji:
- Go to Settings. → System and device → Language and input → Gboard keyboard (or other keyboard).
- Select Text Entering → Auto Replacement.
- Turn off the Offer Emoji option.
Also avoid using:
- 💬 Replace the sleeves with straight lines ("").
- 📛 Currency symbols (₽, $, €) — Write "ruble," "dollar».
- ✳️ Stars, ticks and other decorative signs.
⚠️ Note: Some operators (for example, MTS or Beeline) block SMS You can use a lot of special characters, and you can think of them as spam. 1-2 emoji.
Method 4: Separation of the Long SMS short-lived
If the message cannot be shortened, break it down into logical parts and send it separately. SMS. This is cheaper than paying for automatic splitting by the operator. For example, instead of one message in 140 characters (which will be divided into 2 parts of 70), send two messages in 65 characters.
How to do it on Xiaomi:
- Write the full text in Notes or another editor.
- Divide it into pieces. 60-65 symbols (with a reserve for encoding).
- Copy the first part, paste it in the field. SMS and send.
- Repeat for the remaining parts.
For convenience, use online character counting services with coding in mind, for example:
- 🌐 SMS Length Calculator – shows the number of packets GSM and UCS-2.
- 📱 Annex SMS Counter (available on Google Play).
☑️ Preparation for the long-haul shipment SMS
Method 5: Use of third-party SMS-manager
Xiaomi’s standard Messages app is not optimized for character saving. Alternative managers offer:
- 📊 Built-in symbol counter with coding in mind.
- ✂️ Automatic reduction of long words.
- 🔄 Support for templates and quick answers.
Top.-3 apps:
| Annex | Advantages | Deficiencies |
|---|---|---|
| Textra SMS | Symbols counter, dark theme, support MMS | Advertising in the free version |
| Pulse SMS | Cloud backup, user-friendly interface | Paid subscription for some functions |
| QKSMS | Open source code, no advertising | Fewer features to save symbols |
After installing a third-party manager, remember to disable notifications in the standard Messages app to avoid duplication:
Settings → Applications → Messages → Notifications → DisableMethod 6: Optimizing Group Mailing
When you send it SMS Xiaomi (like other smartphones) adds service information to several recipients, which reduces the character limit on the user. 10-15%. For example, instead of 70 symbol UCS-2 there will be 60-63.
How to save symbols in group mailing:
- 👥 Send messages separately (not in a group).
- 📋 Use short contact names (e.g., “Ivan P.” instead of “Ivan Petrov»).
- 🔗 Replace the greetings of “Dear Friends” with “Hello to everyone».
If a group mailing is necessary, check the character limit in advance with the test: send a trial message to yourself with the same number of recipients.
Why group SMS more?
Method 7: Transition to alternative communication channels
If SMS too expensive or limited, consider alternatives:
- 💬 Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber) – free if you have the Internet.
- ✉️ Email – suitable for long messages.
- 📞 Calling is sometimes faster and cheaper than a few SMS.
On Xiaomi, you can configure quick access to instant messengers through:
- Add widgets to the main screen (clutch your finger in a free place) → Widgets).
- Use the Double-Tap gesture to launch the application (in the Lock Screen settings).
- Voice commands via Google Assistant (“Send a message to Telegram”).
For business correspondence, it is convenient to use Slack or Microsoft Teams - they support formatting text and attachments, which is not available in the text. SMS.
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If you need to send more than 10 SMS In the day, switching to instant messengers will save up to 90% of costs, but keep in mind that not all recipients can use them (for example, banks or government services often work only through the Internet). SMS).