Owners of modern smartphones often face the need to temporarily limit the functionality of their device. SIM-The card in the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 phone, becomes relevant in various life situations: from the need to save battery power to blocking unwanted calls during rest or important meetings. MIUI Provides users with flexible tools to manage network modules, allowing them to solve these tasks without physically removing the chip.
Software-based disabling of the communication module is not just a way to get away from the world, but also an important security feature. For example, if you lost your gadget or suspect that your data may be intercepted, remote or local deactivation of the SIM card will prevent attackers from accessing your number to obtain confirmation codes from banking applications. In this article, we will take a detailed look at all the available methods of deactivation, from simple settings in the menu to more complex use cases.
It is worth noting that the interface Xiaomi may differ slightly depending on the version of the Android operating system and the installed build MIUI or HyperOS. However, the basic logic remains the same. We will look at the algorithms of actions that are guaranteed to help you disable the communication module, and also discuss the nuances of working with two SIM cards, since the Redmi Note 10 supports two active numbers at the same time.
Software Disconnection through Network Settings
The easiest and safest way to deactivate a SIM card is to use the operating systemβs built-in settings menu, which allows you to turn off a particular slot while keeping the second one active, which is especially convenient for users who use one card for work and the other for personal contacts.
Find the Settings icon that usually looks like a gear and go to the section SIM-Maps and mobile networks. In some versions of the firmware, this item may simply be called SIM-maps or be inside the Connectivity and Sharing category, and that's where you're focusing on managing all of your Redmi Note 10's mobile settings.
In the menu that opens, you'll see a list of SIM cards installed. They're usually labeled SIM 1 and SIM 2, or they have carrier names if they've been given before. There's a switch next to each card. To turn off the module, you just have to turn the slider off. The system can request confirmation of action, warning you that incoming calls and SMS will stop coming.
- π± Open the Settings app on the main screen.
- π‘ Go to section. SIM-maps and mobile networks.
- π Find the right SIM card and transfer the switch to the off state.
- β Confirm the action in the pop-up window if it appears.
β οΈ Warning: After the software disables the SIM card, the smartphone will cease to register with the operator's network. SMS, And we're also going to use the mobile Internet through this module, and the Wi-Fi will continue to work normally.
It's important to understand the difference between completely disabling a card and data only. If your goal is to stop calling but leave the Internet, the settings will be different. However, for complete room isolation, the Settings menu switch method is the most effective and does not require rebooting the device.
Using flight mode for fast locking
Flight mode is a feature that instantly shuts down all wireless communication interfaces: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC and, most importantly, cellphone modules. It is a "nuclear" option to disable the SIM card, which is suitable for situations where urgent communication with the entire outside world is needed. On the Redmi Note 10, you can activate this mode in seconds.
To activate flight mode, swipe the notification curtain down from top to bottom. In the Quick Settings panel, find the aircraft icon. Pressing it will activate the mode, and the corresponding icon will appear in the status bar. All SIM cards will be deactivated at the same time, regardless of how many they are.
The MIUI feature is the flexibility to adjust flight mode, which, unlike many other smartphones, allows you to activate flight mode and then manually turn on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, which allows you to turn off the cellular modules of the SIM cards, while retaining the ability to connect to wireless headphones or home network.
- βοΈ Swipe from top to bottom to open the control center.
- π Click on the icon Flight Mode (aircraft).
- πΆ Make sure the antenna icon is missing from the status bar.
- π If necessary, turn on Wi-Fi separately through the same panel.
This is useful in airplanes, hospitals, or places where phone radiation should be minimized, and it's also a quick way to "reset" the network if the signal is missing: turn on flight mode, wait 10 seconds and turn it off, and the SIM card re-registers on the network, which often solves problems with unstable connection.
π‘
Use a timer in the Security app or third-party apps to automatically turn on the flight mode at night so that the SIM card does not consume energy in vain.
Setting priorities and managing two SIM-map
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 is equipped with a hybrid slot that allows you to use two Nano-SIM SIM cards. Managing them requires understanding how the system distributes traffic and voice calls. β SIM-Maps and mobile networks can be prioritized.
The default card for calls determines which SIM card will make an outgoing call if you dial a number from a contact book or history that does not specify a specific number. Similarly, the default card for mobile data is configured. Disabling one of the cards will automatically switch these functions to the remaining active.
If you want to disable one card but leave the other one running for the internet, make sure that your preferred network type (e.g. 4G/LTE) is activated in your mobile network settings, which ensures that the remaining SIM card will work at the highest available speed.
| Setup parameter | Description of function | Impact of SIM Disabling |
|---|---|---|
| Voice calls | Selection of the main SIM for calls | Calls will go through the remaining active card. |
| Mobile data | SIMKA for Internet access | The Internet will switch to the second card or disappear |
| SMS-message | Message map | Sending via active number |
| VoLTE | Voice communication via LTE | The function will remain for the active operator. |
Redmi Note 10 owners also have a Smart Card Switch feature that allows the smartphone to automatically use the SIM card that provides the best signal in the current location if both are active, and when one of them is turned off, this feature stops working, and the phone relies only on the remaining module.
βοΈ Checking settings before disconnecting
Physical extraction SIM-cardboard
Sometimes software methods are not enough, or it becomes necessary to completely turn off the chip. Physically removing the SIM card is a radical, but 100% effective way. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 uses a combined tray located on the bottom end of the device.
To extract, you'll need a special paper clip that comes with the kit, or a thin needle. Put the tool in a round hole next to the tray and push a little. The tray will push out. Be careful: on the Redmi Note 10, the tray has two sides. One is for the second SIM card and the other for the microSD card.
It's important not to confuse the sides when you put it back in. The SIM card has a cut angle, which prevents you from installing it incorrectly, but you don't need to use the force. If the card doesn't come in easily, flip it over or check the orientation of the tray. After removing the SIM card, the phone will automatically detect the absence of the module and give a notification"SIM-map not found".
- π Find a hole for the tray on the lower end of the smartphone.
- π Carefully press the paperclip to push the tray out.
- πΎ Remove the SIM card, remembering its position.
- π Insert the tray back to the characteristic click.
β οΈ Warning: Never try to retrieve the SIM card tray while the phone is on if the memory card is actively recording at that moment (if it is installed in the second slot). Although the SIM card is less affected, static electricity or mechanical shock at the time of operation can damage the contacts.
Physical disconnection also helps in diagnosis: If you take out the SIM card and the phone continues to show the network or give out errors, this may indicate a software failure or sticking buttons on the communication module itself (although this is rare in modern smartphones).
Restriction of access and parental control
Often, the question of "how to disable a SIM card" does not mean a technical disablement, but rather a restriction of the use of it by others, for example, if you give a Redmi Note 10 to a child for games, but do not want him to call or spend your traffic, in which case parental controls and application restrictions are used.
MIUI has a built-in Security app that allows you to set restrictions, so you can prevent certain applications from accessing mobile Internet, leaving only Wi-Fi available, and this effectively blocks the SIM card traffic consumption from specific programs.
To block incoming and outgoing calls, you can use the Blacklist or Do Not Disturb mode. In Do Not Disturb mode, you can configure exceptions by allowing calls only from selected contacts, while technically the SIM card will be active, but the phone will not respond to other calls.
The Secrets of the Don't Disturb Regime
There are also third-party apps from Google Play that allow you to create profiles, such as the School profile can automatically turn off mobile data and block the ability to make calls at certain times of the day, simulating a SIM card being turned off.
Frequent problems and their solution
Xiaomi users may encounter various difficulties when managing SIM cards, sometimes the switch in the settings becomes inactive (gray), and you can not press it, this often happens if the system freezes or there is a failure in the Redmi Note 10 communication module.
In this situation, rebooting the device helps. If the problem persists after the reboot, try to remove the SIM card physically, wipe the contacts with a soft dry cloth and insert back, and check if you have custom firmware or a modified bootloader that may conflict with the radio module.
Another common problem is that the phone says "No network" or "Only emergency calls" after the SIM card is turned on, check if the date and time are set correctly, and an incorrect date can prevent the operator from registering with the network, since security certificates will not be checked.
- π Perform a full reboot of the smartphone.
- π§Ή Clean SIM card contacts of oxides and dust.
- π Check the relevance of the date and time in the settings.
- π Call the operator to check the status of the number and services.
β οΈ Warning: If the phone is constantly losing network or does not see the SIM card after falling or getting moisture, do not try to "treat" it with heating or tapping.
In rare cases, the problem lies in the SIM card itself. Old Mini-SIM cards cropped under Nano can be incorrectly thick and have poor contact, in which case replacing the SIM card with a new one from the carrier is the only right solution.