How to open the compartment for SIM-Xiaomi Redmi Note 7: 3 Proven Ways

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is still popular even years after its release – a reliable build, a powerful Snapdragon 660 processor and a durable battery make it a viable choice. SIM-This issue is especially acute for beginners who are afraid of breaking a fragile brace or bending metal contacts.

In this article, we're going to look at all the possible ways to extract the tray, from the standard one with a paper clip to the alternatives if the tool is not at hand. SIM-maps (including nano-SIM and microSD) and what to do if the tray is jammed, and unique tips for caring for the mechanism that are not in the official documentation.

Where is the compartment for SIM-Maps in Redmi Note 7

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 tray for the SIM-The map is located on the left side of the body, if you look at the screen with the face, and it is easily identified by a small oval hole with a diameter. ~1 mm is the extraction plug, and there's no inscription or icon next to the compartment, which sometimes confuses new owners.

Important: This model uses a hybrid tray, meaning you can install either:

• 📱 Two nano-SIM cards (for two Sims at the same time),
• 📱💾 One nano-SIM + microSD (up to 256 GB).

Please note: if you choose the option with a memory card, the second one is SIM-The card won't work, it's a limitation of the tray architecture. Read more about compatibility in the section on card installation.

Preparation: What will be needed to remove the tray

Before you start the procedure, make sure you have the right tools. Complete with the Redmi Note 7, the extraction clip doesn't always come (depending on the region of sale), so you'll have to improvise.

Here's what you might need:

• 📎 Paperclip (standard stationery, straight line straight),
• 🔧 Needle or pin (only if there is no paper clip, but carefully - you can scratch the body),
• 📏 Plastic card (for an alternative method if the brace breaks),
• 🔦 Lantern (to better see the hole in low light).

⚠️ Warning: Never use metal objects with serrated marks (such as a knife or scissors) – they can damage the inner workings of the tray or leave scratches on the Redmi Note 7’s aluminum body.

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If you don't have a paper clip, take a plastic card (like a discount card) and cut its edge at a 45° angle, a homemade tool that's safer than metal.

Method 1: Standard paper clip extraction (recommended method)

This is the safest and most reliable method recommended by the manufacturer.

1. Turn off your smartphone (optional, but recommended for safety).
2. Take the unbended paperclip and insert it into the hole on the left side of the body at an angle of 90 degrees to the surface.
3. Press with a force of ~2-3 N (that is about the weight of a 200-gram apple) to the characteristic click - this means that the tray has snapped.
4. Carefully pull the tray over yourself without swaying it.

If the tray doesn't come out the first time, don't put too much effort into it -- check if you put the paper clip in correctly. Sometimes the hole gets clogged with dust and the mechanism gets blocked.

Turn off the smartphone (optional)|Check for a paper clip or alternative tool|Check the hole for dirt.|Press the paperclip until the click, without squashing|Remove the tray smoothly-->

Method 2: Alternative methods if there is no paper clip

There are different situations: there are no paper clips at hand, and the trays need to be removed urgently, in which case you can use the means at hand, but with caution.

Plastic card method

If the tray brace protrudes slightly above the body (for example, after an incomplete closure), try the following:

1. Take a plastic card (bank, discount).
2. Insert its edge in the gap between the tray and the body at an angle of ~30 °.
3. Carefully press down and pull the tray over yourself.

The method with duct tape (for stuck tray)

If the tray is jammed and it does not respond to the paper clip:

1. Cut a strip of scotch ~5 mm wide.
2. Then, put it on the back of the slab (the slab).
3. Pull the loose edge of the scotch parallel to the body.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use superglue or double-sided scotch – they can leave marks on the case or damage the coverage of the Redmi Note 7.

How to properly install SIM-card and microSD in the tray

Once the tray is removed, it is important to correctly place the cards in it. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 uses a hybrid tray with two slots:

• 📱 Slot 1 – Nano-SIM only (main sim),
• 📱/💾 Slot 2 – either nano-SIM or microSD (to choose from).

Pay attention to the marking on the tray:

• SIM 1 is for the first SIM card.
• SIM 2/microSD for the second SIM or memory card.

Installation:

1. Place the tray on a flat surface with contacts upwards.
2. Place the nano-SIM in slot 1, combining the bevelled corner of the card with the tray angle.
3. In Slot 2, insert either a second SIM or a microSD (but not both at the same time!).
4. Carefully insert the tray back into the smartphone before clicking.

After installing the cards, turn on your smartphone and check for recognition in the Settings menu. → SIM-If one of the sims is not identified, remove the tray and reinstall the cards, which may not be fully inserted.

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In Redmi Note 7, the tray is fixed by a spring mechanism. If you hear a click on the setup, the cards are fixed correctly. If you don't click, the tray is not fully inserted!

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even in this simple procedure, users often make mistakes that can lead to failure, and here are the most common ones:

1. Use inappropriate tools: nails, toothpicks or knives scratch the body and bend the tray mechanism. Always use a paper clip or a special key.
2. The application of force at the wrong angle. If you push the paper clip not perpendicular to the body, you can break the lock tray.°.
3. Installation SIM-The card contacts should be facing downwards (to the back of the smartphone.
4. Attempting to insert two SIM-map + MicroSD. In the Redmi Note 7 hybrid tray, you can't do that, you have to pick one.

If after installing the cards, the smartphone does not see the SIM, check:

• 🔄 Correct installation (the cut corner of the card must coincide with the angle of the tray),
• 📶 Support for your carrier’s frequencies (Redmi Note 7 doesn’t have support) 5G),
• 🔧 Network settings in the Settings menu → SIM-maps and mobile networks → [choice SIM] → Network type (recommended) 4G).

What to do if the tray is jammed or the mechanism is broken

If the tray is no longer fixed, no longer extends, or stuck inside the case, don't panic.

⚠️ Warning: If the tray is stuck inside the case, do not attempt to remove it by force with pliers or other tools.This can damage the antenna contacts or motherboard.

For a temporary solution (if urgently needed) SIM-map, you can try it:

1. Put the smartphone down on a soft surface.
2. Carefully tap the tray area (not the screen!) with your palm.
3. Repeat the attempt to extract the paperclip.

If these manipulations did not help – contact the service. The average cost of repairing the tray in Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is 500-1000 rubles (depending on the complexity of the breakdown).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions