You just bought a new Xiaomi smartphone (or took out the old Redmi Note 10 Pro from stock), but faced the first technical difficulty – a tray for the smartphone. SIM-This problem is familiar to many brand users, especially if you have previously used devices with retractable mechanisms (like Samsung in the early 2010s). In modern Xiaomi tray is fixed by a spring latch, and its extraction requires accuracy - otherwise you risk breaking a brace or damaging the slot.
In this article, we will discuss all working ways to open a slot for SIM-cards on smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO — From standard use of a paper clip to emergency methods with a jammed mechanism, and we'll focus on the common errors that cause the connector to break, and give you tips for contact care. If your tray is stuck or the bracket is bent, here's the solution.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use needles, toothpicks or other sharp objects to open the slot, this is guaranteed to damage the spring mechanism and lead to the need for repairs in the service center!
1. Standard method: staples from the set
Most Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi 9A, POCO X3 Pro, Mi 11) come with a metal clip to extract the tray. If it is lost, any stationery clip that is straight-lined will fit. It is important that its diameter does not exceed 0.8 mm (the thickness of a standard SIM clip).
Step-by-step:
- Turn off your smartphone (optional, but recommended for safety).
- Find a small hole near the tray (usually on the upper or lateral face).
- Insert the paperclip into the hole to the point - you will feel a slight resistance of the spring.
- Press with a force of 1-2 kg (no more!), until the tray is pushed out by 2-3 mm.
- Carefully pull the tray with your fingers - it should come out without resistance.
⚠️ Warning: If the paper clip doesn't go in the hole, don't push harder! You've probably hit the microphone connector (a common mistake on Xiaomi Mi) A3). Look at the body in bright light – a hole for SIM-tray is usually marked with a small pictogram of the card.
The smartphone is turned off (optional, but safer)|
The right hole you chose (not the microphone!)|
Are there any visible injuries to the braces (curves, rust) |
Is tweezers on hand in case of jamming?-->
2. Alternative tools: what to use if there is no paper clip
The paper clip is lost, and the tray needs to be opened immediately, and here are safe substitutes that will not damage the mechanism:
- 📎 The gel handle rod (diameter 0.7-0.9 mm). Cut the plastic tip and use a metal rod.
- 🔧 Hair stud (thin, no plastic coating) Suitable for Redmi models 8/8A.
- 🖊️ Invisible hairpin (untighten it and break off a piece of the desired length).
- 📲 SIM extractor from another smartphone (for example, from Samsung or Huawei).
What can't be used:
- ❌ Needles (too thin, bend and break inside).
- ❌ Toothpicks (the tree crumbles and clogs the mechanism).
- ❌ Knives or scissors (scratch the body and damage the spring).
Paperclip from the set |
Office paper clip |
By means at hand (pen, stud) |
Special instrument (tweezers, keys) |
Never opened it.-->
3.The tray is stuck: what to do if it doesn't come out
If the tray is not pushed out after pressing the paper clip or only comes out halfway, the problem may be:
- 🔄 A jammed spring (often after a phone drop).
- 🧲 Deformed brace (if previously used inappropriate tools).
- 💧 Moisture/dust entering the mechanism (relevant to the POCO M3 Pro with leakproof body).
Solutions:
- Rocking method: Insert the paperclip and sway it slightly left-right without removing it. Try pressing from different angles (the spring may have shifted).
- Use of tweezers: If the tray is extended halfway, gently grab it with flat tweezers (not teeth!) and pull strictly perpendicular to the body.
- Heat (for wet trays): If the phone falls into water, dry it for 24 hours in rice or silica gel. Then warm up the area of the slot with a hairdryer (temperature 40-50 ° C) for 1-2 minutes - this will remove the condensation.
What to do if the paper clip breaks inside the hole?
4. Features of different Xiaomi models
The design of the trays varies depending on the series and year of production, here are the key differences:
| Model | Type of tray | Features of the opening | Frequent problems |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 8/9/10 | Hybrid (2 nanoSIM + microSD) | The hole on the left side. The spring is hard, it takes 1.5 to 2 kg. | Improperly in case of microSD installation. |
| POCO F3/X3 | Dual nanoSIM (without microSD) | The hole is on the top of the ridge, and the brace is fragile, breaking when you use needles. | Dust entering the mechanism (no IP protection). |
| Mi 11/12 Series | Double nanoSIM | The hole is on the bottom edge. The soft-powered mechanism doesn't require much pressing. | Deformation of the bracket when falling (aluminum body). |
| Redmi 7A/8A | Hybrid (2 nanoSIM + microSD) | The hole is on the right side. The spring is weak, and the tray can fall out on its own when it is tilted. | Loss of tray due to weak fixation. |
🔍 Tip: If you buy used Xiaomi, be sure to check the work SIM-The tray before the payment. 4X mi A1 Often there is a problem of “sticking” contacts due to oxidation.
5 How to insert correctly SIM-map
Just as important is to install the tray correctly to avoid repeated spellings.
- Place the tray on a flat surface with contacts upwards.
- Place the nanoSIM in the appropriate slot (some models have color markings - SIM1 blue, SIM2 red).
- If the tray is hybrid, install the microSD in the top slot (on the Redmi Note 9 Pro it is indicated by the memory card icon).
- Insert the tray into the smartphone before the click – do not push further if you feel resistance!
⚠️ Attention: Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S and Mi 9 tray has an asymmetrical shape - if you insert it "upside down», SIM-The cards will not be recognized, and the mechanism will jam.
💡
Before installing a new one SIM-Wipe her contacts with an alcohol napkin, which will remove the oxide film and improve communication, especially for cards that have been lying around for a long time without using them.
6. What not to do: top-5 user error
Even experienced Xiaomi owners sometimes take actions that cause the connector to break, which is strictly forbidden:
- 🔨 Use force -- if the tray doesn't go, don't push it hard. POCO X2 This leads to the separation of the spring from the payment.
- 🔥 Heat the case over 60°C (like a hairdryer at maximum). K20 Pro this will melt the plastic fixator.
- 💦 Vacuum the hole – airflow can drive dust deeper into the mechanism.
- ⚡ Insert SIM-card with the phone on - on Mi A2 it's causing a failure. IMEI.
- 🔄 Change the trays in places (for example, from Redmi 9 to the POCO M2). Even visually identical trays can have different lengths of braces.
💡
If after removing the tray smartphone stopped seeing SIM-map -- check if the contacts are bent in the connector. On the Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite, they often get jammed when installed carelessly.
7. Service cases: when without repairs can not do
If none of the methods worked and the tray is still stuck, you may need professional help.
- 🔧 The brace has broken or deformed (apparently with the naked eye).
- 🔌 The tray fell out of the grooves and is not fixed in the body.
- 📶 The phone can't see. SIM-card even after rebooting (the contacts on the board may have left).
- 💧 The machine got a liquid, and it rusted.
Cost of repair:
- Replacement of the tray brace - from 500 ₽ (on the Redmi 6A, Mi 8 Lite).
- Cleaning/replacement of the connector SIM — 1200 ₽ (on flagships like the Mi 11 Ultra).
- Contact soldering - from 2,000 ₽ (if the tracks on the board are broken).
⚠️ Note: In official service centers Xiaomi may refuse warranty repair if the breakdown occurred due to improper opening of the tray (for example, with a needle!