Responder on Xiaomi: full instructions for setting up with secret chips

Why does Xiaomi’s answering machine work differently than it does on other smartphones?

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO often face the paradox that the system seems to have a standard autoresponder function, but it works differently than on Samsung or iPhone. It’s all about MIUI firmware, which redefines the logic of voice mail, integrating it with Xiaomi Cloud services and carrier services. For example, on some models, the autoresponder is disabled by default at the operator level, even if it is activated in the settings.

Another feature is the MIUI version dependency, which is that before MIUI 13, the answering machine was configured via the standard Phone app, and since MIUI 14, it has been moved to the Special Features section, and on devices with Google Mobile Services (such as Xiaomi 13 Pro), an alternative answering machine is available via Google Phone, which conflicts with the native implementation, and we will analyze all options from basic to advanced.

It is important to understand: the answering machine on Xiaomi is of three types: 1 Local - writes messages directly to the device (works without the Internet, but takes up memory), 2 Operator - depends on the services of your mobile provider (MTS, Beeline, MegaFon, etc.), 3 Cloud - synchronizes with Xiaomi Cloud (requires authorization in the Mi-account).

Each one is set up differently, and we’ll show you how to manage all three.

Checking the answering machine support of your Xiaomi model

Not all Xiaomi smartphones support an answering machine out of the box.

• 📱 Qualcomm chip models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+, POCO F5) — Supports all types of answering machines, including cloud.
• 📱 Models with a MediaTek chip (e.g., Redmi) 10C, POCO M5) — You may not have a local answering machine, only a camera.
• 📱 Devices for the Chinese market (without Google Mobile Services) – answering machine only works through Mi Cloud.
• 📱 Smartphones older than 2019 (e.g. Redmi Note 7) – require manual activation via engineering menu.

To find out exactly if your device supports an answering machine, do the following:

1. Open the phone application (Dialer).
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings.
3. Scroll down to the Voicemail or Autoresponder section.

If you don't have a paragraph, your model either doesn't support the function or it's hidden, so go to Hidden Answering Machine Settings.

Basic setting of the answering machine through the standard menu

If your Xiaomi supports an answering machine, it will take no more than 2 minutes to set up.

1. Open the phone (dialer) application.
2. Put it on the icon «⋮» (three-point) → Settings.
3. Select Voicemail (or Autoresponder in newer versions of MIUI).
4. Activate the switch to Enable voicemail.
5. Click on Voicemail Settings and select:

If the answering machine doesn't work after activation, check:

On some models (such as Xiaomi 12T) after activating the answering machine, you need to restart. If the function does not work, move to the next section.

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If you use two of them SIM-maps, the answering machine is set up separately for each. SIM in the upper panel of the dialer before activation.

Setup of operator autoresponder (MTS, Beeline, MegaFon, Tele2)

Operator answering machine is the most reliable option, because it works even when the phone is turned off. USSD-Teams or operator's personal account. Here are the instructions for popular providers:

After activation of the operator's answering machine:

1. Call your number from another phone.
2. Wait for the answering machine to work (usually after 4-5 beeps).
3. Follow the voice instructions to record the greeting.

⚠️ If you are using eSIM on Xiaomi 13 Lite or newer POCO X5, The operator's answering machine may not work, in which case, set up the local or cloud version.

Hidden Autoresponder Settings: Engineering Menu and ADB

If the standard settings don’t have Voicemail, it can be enabled via the engineering menu or ADB. This method works on most models, including the Redmi Note 11, POCO X4 Pro, and Xiaomi 11T.

Method 1: Engineering menu (without root)

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code: ##4636###
2. Select Phone Information.
3. Scroll down to Debug on USB and turn it on.
4. Go back and select Voicemail Settings (which may be called Voicemail Settings).
5. In the field Voicemail number enter: +79160000000 (replace it with your operator number, check it in support).

Method 2: ADB-Teams (for advanced teams)

If the engineering menu doesn’t work, use ADB:

1. Install Platform Tools on your PC.
2. Connect Xiaomi to USB, enable debugging over USB in the developer settings.
3. Enter in command line: adb shell settings put global vm_number +79160000000 (Replace the number with the current number).
4. Reboot the phone.

To set up a cloud answering machine:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Cloud
2. Turn on sync for voicemail.
3. Go back to your phone settings, find Voicemail → Storage and select Xiaomi Cloud.
4. Write down the greeting (you can use the standard one).

Cons of the cloud solution:

• ❌ Requires stable internet (does not work in roaming without connection).
• ❌ Transcription is sometimes wrong with Russian names and terms.
• ❌ Free fare is limited to 50 messages.

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Cloud answering machine is the best choice for business users, but requires a subscription to Mi Cloud.

Solving problems: the answering machine is not working or does not save messages

If the answering machine is on but not functioning, check these points:

If the problem is not solved, try:

1. Reset network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.
2. Update the Phone app via Google Play (if it is updated separately).
3. Install an alternative dialer, such as Truecaller or Google Phone (supports answering machine).

FAQ: Frequent questions about answering machine on Xiaomi