How to call Xiaomi from the second simki: the choice of the operator

Owning a Xiaomi smartphone with two active SIM-Cards are the standard for most users, allowing you to separate work and personal contacts or save on tariffs. However, when it comes time to make an important call, the system can automatically select the wrong card you planned, which leads to unnecessary costs or confusion. MIUI HyperOS is critical for comfortable use of the device.

Standard system behavior is often set to “remember” the last choice for a particular contact, but this does not always work predictably. Sometimes, equipment owners are faced with a situation where the call button simply does not respond or the call comes from an unexpected number. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the ways to manually and automatically select a SIM card for outgoing calls on Xiaomi smartphones.

We'll look at both basic menu settings and hidden features that will help you always control which SIM calls are coming from, especially for models where mobile management is implemented through specific shell interfaces, and you'll learn to prioritize and avoid random costs.

Basic Priority Settings SIM-map

The first thing to start with is to check the device’s global settings, which determine the default behavior of the system. In modern versions of Xiaomi firmware, this section is located in the Settings menu and is often called the “Settings” menu. SIM-This is where you set the basic parameter that the system will use if you don't manually select when you dial.

When you go into this section, you'll see a list of maps installed, and you can set a role for each card, for example, you can set "Mobile Internet" for the first SIM, and you can set "Voice Calls" for the second SIM, which means that when you try to log in, the phone will use the traffic of the first card, and when you dial the number, it will automatically use the second card without asking for your confirmation, and this automation makes life much easier.

However, if you want your phone to always ask you which SIM to call from, you need to select the "Always Ask" option in "Calls" option, which will turn off automatic selection and cause the system to display a dialog box before each connection, a reliable way to avoid errors, but it can be annoying with frequent calls.

• 📱 Open Settings and go to the section SIM-maps and mobile networks.
• 🔢 Find the Calls option and select your preferred SIM card or the Always Ask option".
• 🌐 Make sure that for "Mobile data" selected card with unlimited tariff.
• 🔄 Restart the device to apply changes to system settings.

⚠️ Note: If you choose a specific SIM card for default calls, the phone will use it for all outgoing calls without confirmation, which can lead to unexpected roaming costs.

Manual selection of the operator when dialing the number

Even if you have global priorities, Xiaomi allows you to redefined them when you make a call, and it's the most flexible method that gives you complete control of the situation. When you dial a phone number or select a contact from your address book, look at the area under the number field or under the subscriber name.

It usually displays the current selected SIM card (e.g., MTS 1 or Beeline 2). By clicking on this indicator, you will open a pop-up menu where you can instantly switch to another card. This action must be done before you press the green call button.

In some versions of the MIUI shell, the interface may be different. If you don't see the switch right away, try pressing three dots in the corner of the screen or holding your finger on the call button. An alternative method can also be activated through the settings of the Phone app itself, where you can enable a forced request every time you call.

It's important to understand that manual selection takes precedence over system settings, and if you call from a second SIM once, the phone may suggest using it the next time, even if the global settings are the first, which is a smart feature, but it requires attention so you don't get confused.

Managing Calls from History and Contacts

There's a different way of dealing with calls or contacts that have already been made in your address book, and when you open your call history, there's usually a little SIM card icon next to each number that you made the call from, and if you click on that number to call back, the default system will try to use the same card as the last time.

To make a call from another SIM without changing the global settings, you can use a long press. In the contact list or history, try pressing and holding your finger on the phone number. In the context menu that appears, there are often options "Call with SIM 1" and "Call with SIM 2." This allows you to quickly initiate a call from the desired number, bypassing the dial screen.

Also worth paying attention to is the contact card. When you open detailed information about a person, the call buttons can be separated.In some Xiaomi design themes, there are two separate green handsets with numbers 1 and 2. Pressing the appropriate handset ensures that the call will go strictly from the chosen communication line.

• 📞 In the history of calls, the SIM icon indicates the last number used.
• ✋ Long-click on contact can trigger SIM card selection menu.
• 👤 In the contact card, look for separate call buttons for each SIM.
• ⚙️ Check the settings of the display of contacts in the Phone application.

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If the SIM card icons are not displayed in the call history, try changing the theme to the standard one - in some third-party themes, this interface element can be hidden by the developer.

Features of work in applications of messengers

Many users are wondering how to choose a SIM to call via Viber, WhatsApp or Telegram. Here the situation is radically different from ordinary voice calls. Messengers use a data channel (Internet) for communication, rather than a voice channel of a cellular operator. So choosing a SIM to call in the messenger boils down to choosing a SIM for the mobile Internet.

If you have Wi-Fi on, the call will go through it, and the cellular rates will not be spent. If the Wi-Fi is turned off, the mobile traffic will be spent from the SIM card that is assigned in the phone settings as the main data transfer. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Mobile Internet.

Importantly, the instant messenger apps themselves don’t have an internal SIM card selection setting to call, as they run on top of the system connection. If you need to call WhatsApp using the traffic of the second SIM, you’ll have to temporarily switch mobile internet priority in Xiaomi’s system settings.

This distinction is often confusing when users try to find the operator selection button inside the messenger itself, which is simply not there, because the logic of the applications is based on the use of the messenger. IP-protocols, not voice channel switching GSM.

Problems with number definition and their solution

One of the common problems with using two sims is that the number is not correctly defined or not available to the interlocutor, which can occur if the phone settings do not have a display number (CLIR), which is often hidden in the codeset menu or in advanced call settings on Xiaomi devices.

To check and change this setting, open the Phone app, click on three dots or a gear of settings, and find the Additional or Call Settings section. There may be a "Number Definer" or "Show Number" option. Make sure that each SIM card has a "Show Number" or "Network Default" value.

If you have a downset, the person may see the "Unknown Number" or the number of your second SIM when you call from the first one, which is especially critical for business communication, sometimes resetting the network, but before that, it's better to keep important contacts.

⚠️ Note: Some carriers may block network-level number determination if the service is not connected by a plan, regardless of the phone settings.

Use of codes and engineering menus

For advanced users who want access to deeper SIM management, there is a Xiaomi engineering menu that allows you to control the modes of operation of the radio module, although it is rarely required for simple selection of a SIM to call. However, if standard methods do not work, checking the status of the SIM cards here can be useful.

You can log in to the engineering menu by dialing dialer code ##4636##. From the menu that opens, select Phone Information. Here you can see the status of each SIM card, signal level and preferred network type. Although there is no direct call from here switch, you can force the network type (e.g., LTE only), which sometimes solves problems with switching between SIMs.

Be careful when changing the settings in this menu. Incorrect settings can cause the phone to stop seeing the network at all.The engineering mode is designed to test hardware, not for everyday use.

If none of the software methods are helping to switch the SIM to call, maybe the problem lies in the physical part: check whether the SIM cards sit tight in the tray, whether there is oxidation of contacts. Sometimes a simple cleaning of the tray and replacing the SIM cards with places (SIM 1 in slot 2 and vice versa) solves the priority problem.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

⚠️ Note: Using third-party call management apps may require broad permissions, including access to contacts and call history, potentially reducing the security of your personal data.

In conclusion, managing two SIM cards on Xiaomi provides flexibility but requires initial customization. Understanding the difference between global priorities and manual selection allows you to effectively control costs and communication. Check system updates regularly, as Xiaomi constantly improves the logic of the interface.