Xiaomi Redmi 6 smartphones, released in 2018, are still popular due to their reliability and availability, but owners of these devices often face a banal but stressful problem: the need to replace a SIM card or memory card when the tray is stuck or the recovery mechanism failed. Unlike modern models, where the trays are recessed into the case, here the design has its own features that require careful approach.
Wrong action when trying to remove the tray for SIM-The cards can damage the body or the readout mechanism itself, so if you feel that the plastic is not amenable, do not use excessive force. In this article, we will analyze all the nuances of the Redmi 6 design, typical user errors and professional methods for solving the problem of card sticking without going to the service center.
Before you start taking action, you need to understand what kind of modification you are dealing with. Depending on the region of sale, the device can have a hybrid slot or a separate memory card jack, and let's analyze the main differences so that you do not confuse the holes and damage the noise reduction microphone.
Features of the design of the tray in Redmi 6
Xiaomi Redmi 6 has a classic low-end mechanism. The tray is located on the top end of the case, on the left, if you look at the screen. It is made of durable plastic, which should match the color of the smartphone frame. Inside there are two seats: one for nano-SIM and the second, which can be either for the second nano-SIM or for a microSD memory card.
The main feature of this model is that it has an extraction hole, which is directly on the end, next to the tray itself, and it's important not to confuse this hole with a microphone that is just to the right and often covered by a grid or other shape, and trying to puncture the microphone will damage it and lose the sound quality when you talk.
The ejection mechanism works by lever, and when you press the inner spring through a special hole, the tray should jump out several millimeters, but over time, dust, pile from your pocket, or contacts can get oxidized, which makes it difficult to do this. The spring mechanism in older devices can lose its elasticity, requiring more precise exposure.
⚠️ Warning: Never use sewing needles or pins to remove the tray. They are too thin, easily bent and can break inside the hole, after which it will be almost impossible to get them without disassembling the phone.
It's also worth noting that in some board revisions, the tray can sit very tight because of the production clearance. This is not a defect, but only a feature of the assembly. Understanding how your Redmi 6 works will help avoid panic if the tray does not fly out the first time.
Tools and workplace preparation required
For a successful and safe operation to extract a SIM card, you need a minimum set of tools. The standard paper clip that comes with your phone is often lost or thrown away immediately after you buy it. If you don't have one, you can use a stationery clip, but you need to unbend it beforehand to get a straight rod.
The ideal tool is a special metal spoke, which you can buy in electronics stores or find bundled with other gadgets, it has the necessary thickness and stiffness to activate the mechanism without bent on pressing, and a sewing needle will also work, but only if it is thick and strong enough, for example, for denim fabric.
The preparation of the workplace is as important as the tool itself.
- 🔦 Good lighting – to clearly see the holes on the end of the body.
- 🧲 Magnet or tweezers – in case the SIM card falls into a hard-to-reach place.
- 🧼 Dry soft cloth - to wipe the end of the phone and remove dust from the hole.
- 🔍 Lupa (optional) – for a detailed examination of the mechanism if you have poor vision.
Before starting the procedure, be sure to turn off the smartphone. Although modern phones support hot replacement, if you have problems with retrieval, it is better to turn off the device to avoid short circuit contacts or software errors reading the communication module.
☑️ Preparation for extraction SIM-map
Standard procedure for tray extraction
The process of extracting the tray in Xiaomi Redmi 6 is technically simple, but requires the right angle of inclination of the tool. Take a prepared spoke or a clip. Find a small circular hole on the upper end of the case, located closer to the left edge (if you look at the screen) and separated from the microphone.
Insert the tip of the tool strictly perpendicular to the surface of the body. You don't need to push at an angle, it can damage the walls of the hole. Press confidently, but without fanaticism. You should feel a slight click or spring resistance, after which the tray will extend 2-3 millimeters.
If the tray shows up, gently tuck it in with your fingers and remove it completely. SIM-maps: the cut angle must match the pattern on the tray. Incorrect installation of the map can damage the contacts.
| Action. | Tool. | Inclination angle | Effort. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Looking for a hole | Eyes/Lupa | - | Absent. |
| Pressing the mechanism | Spoke/Clip | 90 degrees. | Average. |
| Removal of tray | Fingers. | Parallel to the hull | Minimum |
| Installation of the map | Tweezers (optional) | - | Careful. |
After extraction, check the status of contacts on the SIM-They should be clean, without oxidation and scratches. If you change the card, make sure it is nano-SIM, as Redmi 6 does not support larger formats without adapters that can get stuck.
What if the tray is out, but stuck?
What to do if the tray is stuck or does not open
The situation where the tray SIM-The card refuses to come out, which is one of the most common reasons for contacting the service, and this can happen for several reasons: a tray deformation, dirt getting, contact oxidation, or a spring mechanism breakage. First of all, try to gently tap your phone on your palm in the area of the upper end to knock out possible dust.
If a simple tap doesn't work, you can try using a thinner but tougher tool to get deeper into the mechanism. However, be careful: there is a risk of pushing the SIM card even deeper inside the body. Also effective is to lightly warm the upper end with a hairdryer at a minimum temperature for 10-15 seconds. The plastic will expand slightly, and the gap can increase.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use a building dryer or open flame to heat up. Overheating can damage the battery, display, or melt the internal components of the smartphone. Only a temperature comfortable for the skin of the hand is allowed.
In some cases, push-through helps. If the tray pops out a millimeter and gets stuck, try pushing it back until you click it, then press it again, and it can restart the locking mechanism, and if the tray is deformed, you can't do without opening the case and replacing the part.
Sometimes the problem is not in the tray, but in the very SIM-If it's thicker than the standard or has burrs on the edges, it can cling to the walls of the well, so if you can get the tray out at least partially, try to pull the map out with tweezers without taking the tray out the whole way.
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If the tray is very tight, try sticking a piece of wide tape sticking outwards on the end of the phone, pressing it against the tray and pulling it sharply, which will create a vacuum effect and can help pull out the stuck element.
Solving problems with hybrid slot and microSD
Redmi 6 owners often use a second microSD card slot.The hybrid design means you can't use two SIM cards and a memory card at the same time.The mechanism here is more complicated, since the memory card has its own spring-loaded locks that can jam.
When you remove a memory card, you often have a situation where it shoots with the tray, or it stays inside. If the memory card gets stuck inside the phone after you remove the tray, never shake the phone dramatically. Turn it down with the hole and knock slightly on the back cover. The card should fall out under gravity.
A common problem is that you don't install microSD correctly. If you don't insert it before the click or the curve, it's very difficult to pull it back out. Unlike a SIM card, the memory card doesn't have a neckline to grab with your fingers. It's often necessary to use tweezers or a thin spoke to pull the edge of the card.
- 📉 Make sure the memory card is inserted with contacts down (or up, according to the scheme on the tray).
- 🔊 Clicking when installing a microSD is mandatory - this fixes it in the tray.
- 🚫 Do not use force when installing a memory card, this is the main sign of improper orientation.
If you plan to change memory cards frequently, it is recommended to use an adapter or transfer files through your computer to minimize wear and tear of the mechanical slot.Frequent retrieval increases the risk of breaking the plastic guide tray.
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Hybrid slot requires increased accuracy: the memory card is fixed denser than the SIM card, and the risk of getting stuck inside the case is higher with careless extraction.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
The most common mistake is to use excessive force, where users pick a hole with a knife, a stitch, or a drill, believing that the mechanism is just "stiffened." 90% of the time, this causes the hole to expand unevenly, and the tray to sway even more, and after such manipulations, it is impossible to remove the tray whole.
The second mistake is ignoring the direction of pressure, you have to press strictly perpendicularly, and if you push at an angle, the spoke slides off the pin of the mechanism and rests against the wall, deforming it, and as a result, the mechanism jams, and the tray locks in the closed position.
Users also often forget to check if the phone is turned off, and although this rarely leads to fatal consequences, when the memory card is removed, the process of recording data is carried out, a sudden interruption can damage the file system and cause loss of photos or documents. Always use the software to disable the memory card through Settings → Memory. → Extract SD-pre-extract.
⚠️ Note: If you accidentally drop your phone with an open tray SIM-If you're going to put it back in, check if the plastic has bent, if you're skewed into the tray, you can damage the contact groups inside the smartphone, which are expensive to repair.
Avoid using glue to fix the tray if it's hanging around. Once inside, the glue will freeze and lock the mechanism tightly. If the tray falls out on its own, it's better to put a micro-layer of paper or tape, but not fill the hole with chemicals.