Recently, Xiaomi smartphone owners have been increasingly confronted with the promotion “Change Minutes on Xiaomi”; on the surface, the offer sounds tempting: call on the phone, save points, and then exchange them for discounts or even gadgets. But how does this work in practice? Is there a catch here, as in many free promotions?
We looked at the program, we looked at the participants, we tested the scoring mechanics, and it turned out that the system really works, but with a few nuances that the manufacturer doesn't mention, and in this guide, it's an honest analysis, from registration to exchange of points, pros and cons, and answers to questions that aren't covered in the official manual.
Spoiler: If you're actively making mobile calls, it can be very useful, but for those who prefer instant messengers, it's not likely to work, and there's a risk of hidden limitations, which we'll talk about later.
1.What is "Change Minutes on Xiaomi" and who can participate
The program “Change minutes on Xiaomi” is a joint project of Xiaomi and mobile operators (so far only MTS, Beeline, MegaFon and other mobile operators). Tele2). The bottom line is simple: for every minute of outgoing calls on the mobile network, you get points, which are then exchanged for bonuses in the branded Mi Store or discounts on equipment.
The official label for the action is "loyalty for activity," meaning the more you call, the more you save on your purchases, but the reality is that it's not so clear: points are not awarded for all calls, but only when a number of conditions are met.
Who may participate:
- 📱 Owners of smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO (All models produced after 2018).
- 📞 Subscribers of MTS, Beeline, MegaFon or Tele2 (Other operators are not supported).
- 🌍 Users from Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus or Uzbekistan (other countries the promotion is not valid).
- 🔗 Those who have Mi Account app with a linked phone number installed.
Important: the program does not work for calls through WhatsApp, Telegram or other VoIP services, and points are awarded only for outgoing calls over the mobile network (that is, when you dial a number in the standard Phone application).
2. How to connect to the program: step-by-step instructions
To start accumulating points, you only need to complete 3 steps, but there are pitfalls here - for example, if you do not confirm the phone number in Mi Account, points will not be awarded (even if you are an active MTS subscriber).
Instructions for connection:
- Install or update the Mi Account app. Download it from Google Play or the App Store. Version should be at least 6.5.2 (check in the app settings).
- Link your phone number. Open your Mi Account, go to Profile. → Account settings → Phone number and confirm your cell phone. SIM-smartphone-card!
After activation, the points will start to accrue from the next day, the first bonuses will appear in the personal account 24-48 hours after the first call.
Mi Account app updated to latest version
The phone number is confirmed in Mi Account and matches the SIM-card
Smartphone connected to mobile network (not only Wi-Fi)
Operator tariff supports the program (check on the Xiaomi website)-->
⚠️ Note: If you use two phones (e.g. iPhone and Xiaomi), points will only be awarded for calls from a Xiaomi smartphone, even if you are using a phone with a Xiaomi phone. SIM-The card is the same. The program is tied to the IMEI device, not number.
3. How many points are given in minutes and how to accumulate them
The point system is nonlinear – the longer the call, the fewer points per minute. Here is the official conversion table (current for Russia in 2026):
| Duration of call | Points in 1 minute | Example (in 10 minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| 1-5 minutes | 1st | 10 points. |
| 6-15 minutes | 0.8 points | 8 points |
| 16-30 minutes | 0.5 points | 5 points |
| More than 30 minutes. | 0.3 points | 3 points |
So the maximum return is short calls up to 5 minutes. If you talk for 1 hour, you get 20 to 25 points instead of 60 (depending on the operator's tariff).
Additional nuances:
- 📵 No points are awarded for calls to short numbers (112, 000, 8-800...) international destinations.
- 🔄 No more than 100 minutes are counted in one day (even if you spoke for 3 hours, points will only be awarded in the first 100 minutes).
- 📅 Points burn after 6 months without activity (unless you have called or exchanged them).
- 💳 Some operator tariffs give double points (for example, “All for 500” from MTS or “Unlimited” from MTS). Tele2).
Critical detail: points are awarded only for calls made in your operator's home region, and if you've moved to another city and make roaming calls, bonuses don't apply!
💡
To speed up the accumulation, break up long conversations into a few short calls (for example, instead of 20 minutes, call 4 times for 5 minutes), so you get 2-3 times more points.
4.What can be exchanged points: real examples
The points from the program “Change Minutes on Xiaomi” can be spent in three ways:
- Discount on purchase in the Mi Store. 1 point = For example, for 5,000 points, you get 5,000. ₽ for any product (but not more than 30% of its value).
- Gift cards. You can exchange points for Xiaomi electronic certificates in denominations from 500 to 10 000 ₽.
- Raffle-taking: There are occasional promotions where you can get a chance to win gadgets for points (e.g. Redmi Note 13 or Mi Band 8).
Examples of real exchanges (May 2026 data):
| Goods/services | Cost in points | Savings (₽) |
|---|---|---|
| 10% off on Xiaomi 14 | 3 000 | ~12 000 ₽ |
| 1000 gift card ₽ | 1 000 | 1 000 ₽ |
| Participation in the Redmi Buds 4 draw | 500 | Chance to win headphones for 3,500 ₽ |
| 500 discount ₽ sack-case | 500 | 500 ₽ |
But there are limitations:
- 🛒 Discounts are not added to other promotional codes or sales.
- 📦 Some products (such as flagship smartphones or robot vacuum cleaners) are excluded from the program.
- 💸 Minimum purchase amount for use of discount - 3 000 ₽.
How do you cheat with points?
5. Pitfalls: What they don't say in advertising
In forums (e.g. on 4PDA Mi Community, or Mi Community, users share some of the unpleasant surprises they've encountered after they've joined the program:
1.The points "disappear" without explanation.
Some participants complain that after updating the Mi Account app, their cumulative points were reset to zero, and Xiaomi’s official support advises that in such cases, “wait 72 hours” – the data will recover, but in fact, many never waited.
Limitations on operators.
Although the program works with four operators, not all tariffs are involved, for example, MegaFon does not accrue points on All Inclusive and Unlimited rates, and MTS does on Smart. The full list of exceptions is not published, so you have to check with the pumpkin method.
3.Discounts don't work on sales.
If you have accumulated points on Black Friday or 11.11, be prepared for the fact that the discount will not apply to stock items. Xiaomi often blocks the combination of bonuses with other promos.
⚠️ Warning: If you decide to return an item purchased at a discounted point, the bonuses will not be returned to the account.
4. Technical failures.
Users POCO F5 Redmi Note 12 reports a bug where points are awarded with a delay of up to 7 days or do not arrive at all:
- Reinstall the Mi Account app.
- Clear the cache in the smartphone settings (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Account → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
- Write to the support chat with the indication IMEI phone numbers.
6. Should I participate? Pros and cons of the program
To objectively assess the benefits, compare “Change minutes on Xiaomi” with similar loyalty programs (for example, “Thank you” from Sberbank or “MTS Cashback”).
Pros:
- 🎁 Real savings for those who make a lot of mobile calls (such as managers or elderly relatives).
- 📱 The ability to get gadgets with a discount of up to 30% (with competent accumulation).
- 🔄 Points can be combined with other bonuses (for example, cashback from the bank).
Cons:
- 📉 Low conversion for long calls (in an hour of conversation you will get everything you need) ~25 points).
- 🚫 Restrictions on goods and operators (not all smartphones and tariffs are involved).
- ⏳ Points burn after 6 months, and accumulation is slow.
- 🛠 Technical problems (accounting failures, disappearance of points).
The bottom line is that it only benefits active mobile users who are willing to spend time tracking points and litigating with support, and if you rarely call or prefer instant messengers, it will not be useful.
💡
For maximum benefit, combine the program with cashback from the bank (for example, Tinkoff or Sber) and promo codes Mi Store.
7.Alternatives: Where else can you get discounts on Xiaomi
If the “Change Minutes on Xiaomi” program doesn’t suit you, consider other ways to save on tech:
1. Cashback services.
Sites like LetyShops or EPN They can get back up to 10% of the purchase from the Mi Store, for example, when you buy Xiaomi 14 Pro for 70,000. ₽ You'll get it. ~7 000 ₽ backwards.
2. Promotional codes and sales.
Watch the stock:
- 🛍 11.11 (Singles’ Day) – discounts up to 50% on all equipment.
- 🎄 Black Friday – usually in November, but Xiaomi has summer sales.
- 🎁 Bonus days (for example, “Xiaomi Days” in the Svyaznoy or M.Video).
3. Trade-in.
The Mi Store has a discounted exchange program for old gadgets, for example, if you pass the Redmi Note 10, you can get up to 15 000. ₽ buying a new smartphone.
4. Bank offers.
Some banks (for example, Tinkoff or Alfa-Bank) give installments 0-0-24 for Xiaomi equipment without overpayment.
Comparison of benefits (for example, buying Redmi Note 13 Pro for 35 000) ₽):
| Economizing | Amount of discounts (₽) | Efforts |
|---|---|---|
| Change Minutes on Xiaomi (10,000 points) | 10 000 | Call 3-4 months for 100 minutes / day |
| Cashback 10% via LetyShops | 3 500 | Access the site through cashback service |
| Trade-in (rentition of an old smartphone) | 8 000–15 000 | Evaluate the device in the Mi Store |
| Promo code on sale (11.11) | 5 000–7 000 | Wait for the sale |