“I could not send SMS to activate Xiaomi”: what to do if the SIM card works, but the code does not come

You try to activate a new Xiaomi smartphone, restore access to your Mi Account, or confirm your phone number in your settings, but the system persistently issues an error: "You couldn't send an SMS to activate. Make sure your phone number is not activated." SIM-The SIM card rings, catches the Internet, and even SMS from the bank or social networks come — but the message from Xiaomi fell through the ground.

The problem is familiar to thousands of Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11 and other users, and 80 percent of the time it’s not related to a SIM card, but to regional restrictions, Xiaomi server failures, or account lockdowns due to suspicious activity. In this article, 7 proven ways to get around the bug, including alternative activation methods without SMS, and a table with error codes and their values.

Why Xiaomi doesn’t send SMS, even though the SIM card works

The error appears when you link your phone number to your Mi Account (for example, when you first turn on your device or after you reset your settings).

• 🌍 Regional conflict: SIM card is registered in one country (for example, Russia), and smartphone is tied to another region (China, India.
• 🔒 Account Lock: If you have previously tried to crack a password or changed the associated numbers often, the system can block the sending of codes.
• 📡 Problems with the operator: some mobile operators (for example, Tele2 virtual MVNO) Do not miss service SMS from Xiaomi.
• ⏳ Delays on servers: during peak hours (Morning in Beijing) of the Xiaomi server can delay sending SMS up to 24 hours.
• 📱 Firmware glitch: bugs in MIUI (especially in versions for the global market, sometimes the mechanism of sending codes is knocked down.

The first thing you need to do is check your account region.

1. Go to account.xiaomi.com.
2. Sign in to your account (if possible).
3. In the Personal Info → Region section, see which country is listed. If it's not your country, it's a problem in the region.

Method 1: Change the Mi Account region (if the SIM card is not from China)

The most common reason for the error is a mismatch between the SIM card and the account, for example, if your Mi Account is registered in China and your SIM card is Russian, Xiaomi will not send an SMS.

1. log out of account on all devices

2. Use a VPN to connect to the SIM card region

3. Log to account.xiaomi.com and change country in settings

4. Confirm the change via email (if required)-->

Step-by-step:

1. Sign out of the Mi-account on your smartphone: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Sign out.
2. Install a VPN (for example, ProtonVPN or Warp) and connect to a server in your operator’s country (for example, Russia for MTS / Beeline).
3. Log to account.xiaomi.com from a PC or other device.
4. In the Personal Info → Region section, we change the country to the one where the SIM card is registered.
5. Save the changes and try to send SMS on the smartphone again.

⚠️ Note: After a region change, some features (such as Mi Pay or Mi Cloud) may temporarily stop working. Xiaomi may also request confirmation via email - check the Spam folder».

Method 2: Alternative methods of confirmation (without SMS)

If the SMS does not arrive, you can confirm the number in other ways:

To choose an alternative method:

1. On the activation screen, click Not received the code? or Other options.
2. Choose Call me (for voice code) or Send to email.
3. If you don’t have these options, try changing the system language to English (Settings → Additional settings → Language & Input).

💡

If you have a two-sim smartphone, try inserting the SIM card into another slot. Sometimes the error occurs due to a hardware glitch of the first slot.

Method 3: Checking Account Lock and Unblocking

Xiaomi can block SMS sending if:

• 🔓 You have tried to enter the code too often (more than 5 times in a row).
• 📍 The account was created through VPN or.
• 🕵️ The system suspected a hack (for example, after resetting settings).

To check the status of the account:

1. Go to the password recovery page.
2. Enter your email or phone number.
3. If you see an account locked or too many attempts, your account is blocked.

How to unlock:

1. Write in support of Xiaomi via the form mi.com/support, stating:

Expect a response up to 72 hours (usually 24 hours in advance).

⚠️ Warning: Do not use third-party services to unlock your Mi Account - this can lead to a complete loss of access due to a trigger of protection against hacking. Official support Xiaomi will unlock the account for free.

Method 4: Bypassing the engineering menu (for advanced)

If the error is due to a communication module glitch, you can reset your network settings through an engineering menu, which works on 60% of Xiaomi devices with Qualcomm processors (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro, POCO X4 Pro).

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##.
2. Go to the Information (or Phone Information) section.
3. Scroll down and find the Run Ping Test – click and wait for completion.
4. Go back to the main menu of the engineering mode and select Wi-Fi Information → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth.
5. Restart the device and try to send SMS again.

Decisions:

1. Try inserting a SIM card of another operator (for example, MTS or Beeline in Russia).
2. If you have a virtual operator, ask him for a real number (not virtual) to receive SMS.
3. Call the operator’s support and check if short numbers are supported (e.g. +86 for Xiaomi).

💡

If you have an eSIM, try using a physical one. SIM-Xiaomi sends SMS to traditional SIMs more often.

Method 6: Network reset and firmware update

Sometimes the error is due to an outdated firmware or a failure in the communication module.

1. Reset network settings: Go to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Reset network settings. Confirm reset and restart the device.
2. Update MIUI: Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update. If an update is available, install it (preferably via Wi-Fi).

Install global firmware (if you have a Chinese version):

• Download the official firmware for your model from new.c.mi.com.
• Use the Mi Flash Tool to flash it (instructions on xiaomi.eu).
• Describe the problem in as much detail as possible: when it appeared, what methods were tried, whether there is access to an email account.

Cost of service:

• Free – if the problem is in the firmware or hardware failure.
• 500 to 2000. ₽ — if you need to unlock your Mi Account (depending on the center).

⚠️ Warning: Don’t settle for “cleaning” IMEI» or "zero flash memory" — these methods can turn a smartphone into a "brick.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi activation error