Changing a carrier or having to move a SIM card to another smartphone is a regular situation that every gadget owner faces sooner or later. In Xiaomi devices, as well as in Redmi and Poco sub-brands, the procedure for replacing a communication module has its own characteristics, depending on the specific model and year of release of the device.
Modern smartphones of the Chinese giant, as a rule, are equipped with combined slots that allow you to use two Nano-SIM SIM cards or one card and microSD memory card. It is important to understand the design of your particular device before starting manipulations, since the location and extraction mechanism can vary significantly depending on the series. In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of the process in detail.
Before you start physically affecting the body, you need to make sure you have the workspace ready, the light should be sufficient to allow you to see fine details and the surface to be clean and flat, and this will help avoid losing small components or getting dust inside the device when the housing is leaky.
Preparation of the workplace and necessary tools
To successfully and safely retrieve the communication card, you need a minimum set of tools. The main tool is a special key clip that always comes with a new device. If the original key is lost, you can use a thin needle or straightened stationery clip, but it is important to be careful not to scratch the case.
You need to turn off your smartphone beforehand. Although current standards allow for hot replacement, a MIUI or HyperOS operating system may not correctly identify a new SIM card or, conversely, not turn off the power of the slot before extraction, which in theory can cause a short-term voltage surge.Switching off the device via the Settings menu → About the phone → Shutdown is the safest option.
⚠️ Warning: Never use knives, blunt-ended pins or other thick objects to retrieve the tray.You may damage the latch mechanism inside the case, requiring expensive repairs at a service center.
It is also recommended to wipe your hands or use antistatic gloves if you have them at hand. Fat marks on the SIM card contacts can lead to poor connection and unstable network operation in the future. Preparing the table surface is also important: cover it with soft cloth so that the fallen SIM card or tray does not suffer mechanical damage.
Search for a hole to extract the tray on different models
The location of the SIM card slot is directly dependent on the design of the smartphone. In most modern Xiaomi and Redmi models, the tray is located on one of the side faces of the device. In classic models, it is most often located on the upper end, which is a hallmark of the design of many generations.
However, in flagship series such as Xiaomi 13 or Xiaomi 14, as well as in some Poco F models, engineers have moved the slot to the bottom, next to the USB Type-C connector and speaker. This is done to optimize the interior space and improve ergonomics. In devices with IP68 moisture protection, the tray often has an additional rubber seal.
Look carefully at the perimeter of the device in good lighting. You're looking for a narrow, elongated slot with a small circular hole in the middle or side. If you see only volume buttons and a power supply on the side, and a fingerprint scanner (if it's on the side), check the top and bottom ends.
- 🔍 Upper end – classic location for budget and mid-budget models Redmi Note.
- 📱 Lower facet - characteristic of flagships and devices with moisture protection.
- ⚙️ Side face – found in some specific models or tablets Xiaomi.
In some rare cases, such as older models or specific regional versions, the tray can be combined with a battery, but for modern Xiaomi smartphones this is no longer relevant.
Step-by-step: how to properly remove the tray
Once the device is off and you've decided on the slot, you can start to pull it out. Take the key-clip and place it perpendicular to the side of the smartphone, and the tip of the tool should go exactly into the center of the circular hole of the mechanism.
You apply a moderate force, pressing strictly perpendicular to the body. You don't have to push hard; the latch mechanism is triggered by a sharp, but not super-strong, press, and you have to feel a slight click and see how the tray has moved out a few millimeters.
☑️ Tray extraction algorithm
If the tray is not extended, check the angle of the key, sometimes the hole can be filled with dust or pile from your pocket, in which case you can gently clean the hole with a dry soft brush or blow it, but in no case pick inside a metal object, expanding the hole.
Once the tray is extended, take it with your fingers by the visible part and smoothly pull it out. Don't pull sharply so as not to damage the contacts inside the phone. The tray should come out smoothly, without creaking or jamming.
⚠️ Attention: If the tray is pushed out but stuck halfway, do not try to pull it out with your nails or tweezers with force. Most likely, the fixing mechanism interferes. Try to push it back slightly before clicking and repeat the extraction procedure with a more confident press.
Features of the design of trays: Nano-SIM and microSD
The design of trays in Xiaomi devices can vary. There are three main configuration types, and it is important to understand which one is installed in your device so as not to damage contacts. Most often, a combined slot is used, where one side is for a SIM card and the other is for a memory card.
Some models, especially the Redmi Note series and Xiaomi’s budget ones, use a tray where the SIM card and memory card are on opposite sides of the plastic bezels. In other cases, especially in flagships, the slot can only be designed for two Nano-SIM SIM cards without the possibility of expanding memory.
| Type of tray | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Examples of series |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid (2-in-1) | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM or microSD | Xiaomi Mi, Redmi Note (old) |
| Triple (3-in-1) | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + microSD | Redmi Note, Poco M/X |
| Double (2 SIM) | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM | Xiaomi flagships 12/13/14 |
Notice the shape of the cutout in a plastic tray. The Nano-SIM SIM is the smallest of the existing ones and has no bevelled angle in some implementations, relying only on a rectangular shape with one cut angle. It is important to lay the card exactly as shown in the diagram squeezed on the tray itself or drawn on the device's protective film.
Incorrectly placing the card in the tray can cause the contacts to bend or jam the card when pushed back. If you use a microSD card, make sure it also lies level with the edges of the tray and does not protrude above them.
What to do if the tray is turned over?
What to do if the tray is jammed or it is not removed
When a SIM card tray refuses to come out, it is not common, but it can be confusing for an inexperienced user. The main reason is often the deformation of the tray itself or the entry of a foreign object into the hole. Before you panic, try to check the angle of entry of the key again.
Sometimes, tapping the back of the smartphone in the slot area with the rib of your hand helps, and it can move a stuck card or tray into fractions of a millimeter, freeing up the latch mechanism, and you can try to push the tray inwards slightly (literally by a millimeter) and then press the tray sharply with the key, sometimes it breaks the stale spring.
If you can see the tray but it doesn't stretch, you can try using a thin tweezer with soft sponges, gently grabbing the edge of the tray. However, this method requires a firm hand. If you feel that the tray is tight and there is a risk of breaking it, you better stop.
- 🛠 Try using Scotch: glue a strip of Scotch with a sticky side to the end of the tray and pull while pressing the key.
- 🌡 Heat expansion: Sometimes light heating of the case (not a hair dryer, but simply the warmth of the hands) can help if the cause is a frozen lubricant or micro-deformation of the plastic.
- 🚫 Don’t use glue: Never try to glue a key or needle to a tray with superglue, you risk sticking the mechanism together.
In case the tray is removed, but the memory card or SIM card is stuck inside the phone and does not come out with the tray, do not shake the device violently. Try gently tampering with the edge of the card with a thin plastic tool if it is visible, or contact the service.
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Use a magnifying glass or macro shot on another phone to consider the status of contacts inside the slot before re-inserting the tray.
Installation of a new SIM card and check of performance
After successfully extracting the old card and preparing a new one, you need to properly install it in the tray. Make sure that the cutouts on the SIM card match the protrusions in the plastic tray. The card should lie tightly, without staggering, but also without requiring effort to stack.
Put the tray back into the phone with the same side that you took out. Usually, there's a bevel or a marking on the top of the tray that indicates the direction. Push the tray smoothly, without skewing, and it should enter easily and completely, equal to the body of the device.
After installation, turn on the smartphone. MIUI It will automatically detect a new SIM card. If the card is new, you may need to enter it. PIN-The code is usually listed on a plastic base that comes with the SIM card, and if the code is entered incorrectly three times, the card will be blocked, and you will need to use it. PUK-code.
⚠️ If after installing the card, the phone says "No" SIM-cards" or "wrong SIM-map, try to wipe the contacts of the card with a soft dry cloth. Fat and oxidation are often the cause of poor contact.
Check the signal level in the status bar. If the network is up but the Internet is down, you may need to set up the access points. APN. Usually these settings come automatically, but if necessary, they can be entered manually in the Settings section. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Access points (APN).
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Proper SIM orientation and clean contacts, 90% of installation success. Don't ignore the visual tags on the tray.
Frequent errors and precautions
One of the most common mistakes is to try to put the tray upside down. Users often forget which side they took out the tray and try to shove it back in. This can cause the contacts inside the phone to break. Always remember or photograph the tray position before removing it.
Another mistake is using a card of the wrong size. Trying to insert a Micro-SIM or Mini-SIM into a Nano-SIM slot without a special adapter (or using homemade scotch adapters) can cause the card to jam and it will be impossible to extract it without disassembling the phone.
Do not leave the slot open for long periods of time. Dust and moisture are the main enemies of electronics. If you change your SIM card outside in rainy weather, it is better to do so indoors or under a canopy to prevent water from entering the housing.
- 🚫 Do not cut off the SIM card with scissors yourself, it is better to contact the communication salon for a replacement with a Nano format.
- 🔌 Do not turn on the phone until the tray is fully inserted before clicking.
- 🧼 Regularly wipe the SIM card contacts with an alcohol napkin if you change operators frequently.
Compliance with these simple rules will extend the life of your device and avoid problems with mobile communication. Xiaomi smartphones are reliable, but require careful handling of mechanical elements.