How to turn off the SIM card without removing from the phone Xiaomi

Modern Xiaomi smartphone users often face the need to temporarily stop receiving calls or accessing the mobile Internet, which can be caused by the desire to take a break from the digital fuss, the need to save battery power or the requirements of security in certain areas.

Fortunately, the Android operating system is controlled by the shell. MIUI Or HyperOS, which provides a lot of SIM management, and you can completely block the SIM card from running through the settings by installing it. PIN-Or use flight mode to instantly shut down all radio modules, and understanding these mechanisms allows you to flexibly manage communications while maintaining the integrity of the device and tray.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all available ways to programmatically disable a SIM card on Xiaomi devices. We will consider the standard system tools, security settings and specific shell functions that allow you to solve this problem in a few touches of the screen.

Using flight mode for fast locking

The fastest and most efficient way to temporarily disable a SIM card is to activate flight mode, a feature originally developed for air travel that forcibly disables all wireless communication interfaces, including cellular, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. On Xiaomi smartphones, this process takes fractions of a second and does not require a deep dive into the settings menu.

To activate, you just swipe down from the top of the screen to open the control center and click on the corresponding icon of the aircraft. At this point, the signal level indicators will disappear in the status bar, and instead the aircraft icon will appear, the SIM card goes into standby, and incoming calls stop coming, and the subscriber will hear the signal “subscriber is unavailable”.

Importantly, this method disables not only the mobile network, but also other wireless connections. However, in modern versions of MIUI, there is a convenient feature: you can turn on the flight mode, and then separately activate Wi-Fi or Bluetooth manually, which allows you to stay online through the router, but completely blocks the SIM card from receiving calls and SMS.

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If you need your flight mode to be turned on automatically at a certain time, use the scenarios in the Safety app or third-party automatizers.

• ✈️ Instantly shutting down all radios with one touch.
• 📶 The ability to leave Wi-Fi on even in flight mode.
• 🔋 Significant battery life savings by disabling network search.

Blocking SIM card through PIN-code installation

The most reliable way to programmatically “disable” the SIM card, making it inoperable before entering the code, is to install PIN-This is a standard security feature that requires you to enter a code every time you boot the device or when you re-activate the communication module. PIN-code, the phone cannot register in the operator's network.

To configure this feature, go to the settings menu. You need to find the section that handles the SIM card settings. The path may vary slightly depending on the shell version, but it usually looks like Settings. → SIM-Maps and mobile networks. Here you select the desired slot, and the "Request" switch is activated. PIN-code».

After turning on this option, the system will ask you to enter the current PIN-code, which is often the default number of 0000 or 1234 (for the exact information it is better to check with the operator or on the plastic card holder). PIN-code PUK-code: three incorrect inputs PIN-The code will block the card, and to unlock it will be necessary PUK, plastic-based SIM card.

Once you have the code installed, you can lock the SIM card at any time, and in the same settings menu, you can choose the "Switch off" option for a particular SIM card if it is active, or simply restart the phone. Once the device is turned on, the network will not work until you type in the correct one. PIN-It's the perfect way to completely cut off the phone from the operator's network without taking the card out.

SIM card management in MIUI and HyperOS settings

Xiaomi’s shells provide advanced tools for managing multiple SIM cards. Unlike pure Android, it features a user-friendly interface that allows for flexible prioritization and status settings for each card, especially for users using two SIM cards at the same time.

In the Settings section → SIM-Maps and mobile networks display all the maps installed, and you can customize the settings for each map individually. You can disable data transfers for only one card, leaving the other active, or completely deactivate one of them software if such option is supported by a specific firmware version in your region.

The management interface allows you to quickly switch the SIM card for default calls and for mobile Internet. If you want to “disable” the SIM card from using the phone, you can simply prohibit its use for data and voice calls, transferring these functions to the second card or disabling them completely.

Setting up a blacklist and blocking contacts

Sometimes, by “disabling” a SIM card, users mean not hearing specific subscribers or spam calls without blocking the card itself completely, in which case the built-in call and message filtering tools come to the rescue. Antivirus and Xiaomi security have a powerful module for working with contacts.

To access these settings, open the Security app (green zipper icon) and go to the Blacklist section, where you can add specific numbers that will be blocked, and there are smart filters that allow you to hide calls from unknown numbers or numbers hidden by the ID.

⚠️ Note: Blacklisting does not physically disable the SIM card.You can still make outgoing calls and use the Internet, but incoming calls from blocked subscribers will be automatically reset.

Also in the message settings (Messages → Settings → Blocking), you can activate the spam filter, the system will analyze incoming SMS and MMS, hiding the advertising mailings in a separate folder, which creates the effect of “silence” from intrusive advertising, while maintaining the full functionality of the SIM card for important contacts.

Use of guest mode and second space

Xiaomi smartphones have a unique feature called Second Space, which allows you to create an isolated environment within a single device, almost like a separate phone, and in this space you can customize your rules for working with the SIM card and applications.

While the second space doesn't turn off the SIM card globally, it hides your call history, messages and traffic usage from your primary profile, you can set different passwords to log in to your primary and second space, and by switching between them, you change the context of your phone use.

In some scenarios, this can be used to restrict access, for example, by handing the phone to a child in a second space, you can restrict their access to SIM card settings or specific applications using the Internet. However, for complete software locking of the communication module, this method is less effective than installation. PIN-code.

• 🔒 Complete isolation of data and applications between spaces.
• 👤 The ability to use different wallpaper and settings for each profile.
• 🚫 Restricting access to system settings of the SIM card in the second space.

Alternative methods and third-party applications

If regular funds are not enough, the Google Play app store offers a variety of utilities to manage SIM cards. SIM-For example, the Job profile may include certain SIM cards, and the Home profile may disable them or redirect calls.

One effective method is to set up a redirection of all calls to another number or voicemail, which can be done through the phone or dialing settings. USSD-In this case, the phone will receive the network signal, but immediately redirect the incoming call, giving the caller the impression that you are unavailable or busy.

And it's also worth mentioning that you can call a carrier, and you can block the entire SIM card on the network side through your personal account or the operator's application, so that the phone can show you that you have a network, but it won't register, or you can register, but you can't do anything, which is the last resort you can do when you lose your phone.

Comparison of methods of disabling the SIM card

The way you choose to disable your SIM card depends on your ultimate goal. If you just want to stop calling for an hour quickly, flight mode will suit. If you want long-term locking without the risk of accidentally turning on, you better use it. PIN-Parents who control their children's phone use will be restricted through a second space or blacklist.

Below is a comparison table to help you determine the best method for your situation.

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The safest and easiest way to completely disable the SIM card software is to set a request PIN-code in security settings, as it requires a physical action (input code) to activate.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)