How to change the SMS center number to Xiaomi: the full guide

Mobile phone failures are always stressful, especially when access to banking apps or important work chats is at risk. Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often find themselves in a situation where messages stop coming or sending, even though the network indicator shows a confident reception. In most cases, the root of the problem lies in incorrect service data routing settings, namely, in the downed messaging center number.

This parameter is fundamental to the operation of the SMSC (Short Message Service Center) protocol. Without it being correctly specified, the phone simply doesn’t know where to send outgoing data packets or where to request incoming data. If you notice that your messages are stuck in the “Send” status or do not leave at all, manually adjusting this value often becomes the only effective solution before you contact the service.

In this article, we will look at where to find hidden settings, how to use the engineering menu, and what codes will help return communication to normal, and it is important to understand that the interface of the MIUI shell or HyperOS can hide these options from the eyes of the average user, requiring the use of specific access methods.

What is the message center number and why is it needed?

A message center is a special server of a mobile operator that acts as an intermediary for text messages, and when you send an SMS, it doesn't go directly to the addressee's phone, but it first goes to this server, which checks the status of the recipient, stores the message if the subscriber's phone is turned off, and delivers it when the network is on.

If your Xiaomi smartphone has the wrong address on that server or the format of the number is broken, communication with the operator is lost. This is equivalent to trying to send a letter to a non-existent postcode.

Often, failure occurs after the following actions:

• 📱 Shift. SIM-cards to another operator card without automatically updating the settings.
• 🔄 Reset network settings or completely reset the device to factory settings.
• 📡 Use of unofficial firmware or global versions of software in Chinese versions of smartphones.

It is important to note that the number of the message center is unique for each operator and region. Tele2 These numbers will vary, using the number of one operator on the SIM-The card of the other will lead to complete inoperability of the SMS function.

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Keep the correct message center numbers for all your SIM cards in your notes, which will allow you to quickly restore communication when traveling abroad or after an accidental reset.

Check current settings through the standard menu

Before you go to complex methods through the engineering menu, you should try to find and change the parameter through the standard messaging application interface, but in modern versions of MIUI, this option is often hidden or removed by developers to simplify the interface.

Try following steps to check the availability of the setting:

1. Open the standard "Messages" app.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner or go to settings through the profile.
3. Select "More" or "Settings" SIM-map».
4. Look for the “Message Center Number” or “SMSC” field.

If you don't find this, don't worry. It's normal for current firmware versions, and then we'll have to use deeper system tools that are available through special codes.

Sometimes temporary extraction helps. SIM-The card and install it in another phone, where the messaging center settings can be changed regularly, and then return the card to Xiaomi. However, this method does not always work, since the smartphone can overwrite the data with its internal configuration files when downloading.

Use of the Engineering Menu to Change SMSC

The most reliable way to change the message center number on Xiaomi devices is to log into the engineering menu, a hidden part of the system designed to test equipment and configure network parameters, accessed through a special set of commands in the phone book.

To enter the test menu, dial the following code:

##4636##

Once you enter the last star, the menu should open automatically, and if that doesn't happen, your version of the shell may block that entry, so you can try the alternative code ##3646623##, which runs on MediaTek processors, while the first code is more commonly used for Qualcomm.

After entering the menu, follow the following steps:

• 📶 Go to the tab "Phone Information" (Phone Information).
• 🔍 Find the section «SMSC» or SMSC».
• ✏️ In the input field, enter the number of the message center in international format.
• 💾 Click on the Update or Set button to save the changes.

Note that the number must be entered in a specific format, usually starting with a plus and a country code, but in a hexadecimal view it may require conversion, and most often, just enter the number in a conventional international format, and the system will process the request itself.

Table of SMS-centers of Russian operators

To work properly, you need to know the exact number of your carrier’s message center. Below is a table with current data for major mobile operators operating in the Russian Federation. Make sure you use your carrier’s data.

When entering data in the engineering menu, you often need to specify a number without the plus symbol. If the system gives a format error, try adding a country code in a specific format to the beginning of the line, for example, replacing +7 with 91 (where 9 is the number length code, 1 is the country code), but in most modern Xiaomi interfaces it is enough to simply enter numbers in an international format.

If you are roaming, use the number of the message center of the operator whose SIM-You use the card even if you are abroad, and you do not need to insert local numbers of foreign operators unless you have switched to their tariff plan completely.

Alternative methods through hidden codes and applications

In cases where the standard engineering menu is not available or does not contain the necessary fields, you can use third-party utilities from the Google Play store. LTE Only (4G/5G)» Hidden Settings for Xiaomi often have built-in features for managing settings. SIM-map.

But using third-party software requires caution, which requires broad permissions to control the phone, and a safer method is to use hidden codes from operators that can force you to update your network settings.

Try the following combinations (not work at all rates):

• 📞 *111*1# — Service menu (may contain resetting settings).
• 📞 *105# – Operator’s Service Menu.
• 📞 *100*0007# — specific reset code (depending on operator).

⚠️ Attention: Do not enter randomly USSD-Some combinations can activate paid subscriptions or change forwarding settings without your knowledge.

There is also a method of resetting access point and network settings via the Recovery and Reset menu, but this is an extreme measure, as it will remove all saved Wi-Fi and Bluetooth device passwords.

Diagnostics of problems with sending messages

When you change the message center number, you need to make sure that the problem is solved, but it doesn't always take effect instantly, sometimes you need to reboot the device or re-register the network.

Follow the following steps to diagnose:

1. Turn on and off In-Flight mode for 10 seconds.
2. Try sending a test text to your friend’s number or number.
3. Check the delivery report in the message settings.

If messages are still not sent, check to see if antivirus or built-in MIUI protection is blocking the messaging application, and make sure that there are funds in your account if the plan does not provide free SMS.

In rare cases, the problem may be hardware, and if the communication module is damaged or the antenna module is not working properly, changing the software settings will not help. SIM-card.

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If SMSCs are not sent within 15 minutes after changing and restarting, the problem probably lies not in the number settings, but in the locking by the operator or the hardware failure of the communication module.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)