How to disable SIM- card on Xiaomi phone: all ways + hidden functions

Disabling the SIM- card on Xiaomi smartphones can be necessary in a variety of situations, from saving battery power to temporarily switching to another number. However, many users face difficulties - especially when you need to deactivate only one of the two SIM cards or when standard methods do not work due to the features of the MIUI firmware. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to disable the SIM, including hidden functions of the engineering menu and nuances for different versions of the shell.

It's important to understand that simply removing a SIM card from the tray is not always the optimal solution. First, it requires physical access to the phone and a tool to open the slot. Second, if you retrieve it frequently, you can damage contacts or lose the tray. So we'll focus on software methods that work on all models, from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 14.

We will focus on the problems faced by owners of dual SIM devices (DSDS), where disabling one card can lead to unexpected consequences, such as a failure of the mobile Internet or the inability to call through a second SIM, we will tell you how to avoid such situations and what to do if the phone after disconnecting ceases to see the network.

1. Disable SIM via notification panel (fastest way)

This is a basic method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12 and later, and its main advantage is speed: you don’t have to go into the settings, everything is done in two touches.

To disable the SIM- card through the notification curtain:

• 📱 Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
• 🔄 Swipe your finger left or right to find the quick settings tab (if it's not visible right away).
• 📶 Find the Mobile Network icon (usually an antenna or two waves).
• 🖱️ Press and hold this 1-2 icon for a second, and the SIM- map management menu will open.
• 🔘 In the window that appears, uncheck (or move the slider) next to the SIM- card you want to disable.

If you have two SIM cards, the system will tell you which one to deactivate, and when you turn off the mobile icon, the notification panel will change color to gray, and next to it will appear a cross.

⚠️ Warning: On some models (e.g., POCO X3 Pro) after disabling SIM, mobile internet access on the second card may be lost through the notification panel. To avoid this, pre-check the settings APN in Settings → SIM- maps and mobile networks → Access Point (APN).

2. Deactivation of the SIM in the MIUI settings (detailed instruction)

If the quicker method didn’t work or you need more subtle controls (e.g., turn off only mobile internet, leaving the option to call), use the settings menu. This method is universal and works even on older versions of MIUI 10-11.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to the SIM- section of Maps and Mobile Networks (some models may refer to Two SIM- Cards and Mobile Network).
3. Select the SIM- card you want to disable (click on its name or number).
4. At the top of the screen you will see the slider "Enable SIM- card" - move it to the off position.
5. Confirm the action if the system requests a password or PIN-code.

After you turn off the SIM number, the message “Disabled” will appear, and the network icon in the status bar will disappear or change color. If you turn off the main SIM- card, the phone will automatically switch to the second one (if installed).

Make sure that SIM does not have active USSD- requests (e.g. *100#)

Check the balance – some operators block the card with zero score

Turn off autopayment of services tied to this number

Save important SMS (they may be deleted when deactivated)

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On some firmware (especially custom ones), the SIM- card section may be elsewhere. If you don't see it in the main menu, try the path:

Settings → Connections and Sharing → SIM- Maps

3. disconnect mobile Internet without deactivating SIM

Sometimes you only need to turn off data transmission, leaving the ability to call and send SMS. This is true, for example, if you have a limited tariff on one SIM, and on the other - unlimited Internet. In MIUI this is done separately from disabling the SIM- card itself.

Ways to disconnect mobile Internet:

• 🌐 Through the notification bar: swipe down and tap the Mobile Data icon (usually next to Wi-Fi).
• 📊 In settings: Open Settings → SIM- maps and mobile networks. Select the SIM- card you want. Turn off the Mobile Data slider.

🔄 For each SIM separately: in the same settings menu SIM you can select which card will be used for the default data transfer.

If the Internet continues to work after the shutdown, check:

• Is modem mode activated (in the settings of the Access Point and modem).
• Aren’t Automatic Application Updates enabled via the mobile network (About Phone → System Update)?
• Does any application use data in the background (check Settings → Apps → Permissions → Auto Run).

On some models (for example, Redmi 9A or POCO M3) tray combined — it can be installed either two nano-SIM or one SIM + microSD memory card.

⚠️ Warning: If after retrieving the SIM- card, the phone stopped seeing the second SIM or SD- card, check: Is the tray inserted correctly (it should click with a slight click). Is there any damage to the tray contacts or SIM- cards. Is there any dust or debris in the connector (you can carefully blow or wipe with alcohol). Hybrid slot models (PH0004] + microSD) often have problems if the memory card is not fully inserted.

5. Hidden methods: engineering menu and AT commands

If standard methods do not work (e.g., the SIM- card is determined but not disabled through settings), you can use the engineering menu or commands of AT. These methods are designed for advanced users and require caution.

Method 1: Engineering menu (for MIUI 12-15)

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the combination: ##4636###.
3. Select the item Phone Information.
4. Scroll down to the SIM Management block.
5. Click Disable SIM and select the card you want.

Method 2: AT commands (requires USB- debugging)

This is a method that's suitable for advanced users, and you'll need to:

• USB- enabled debugging (in the developer settings).
• The ADB utility on the computer.
• Knowledge of the SIM slot number (you can find out in the engineering menu).

Example of commands to disable SIM in the first slot:

adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.AIRPLANE_MODE --ez state true


adb shell settings put global airplane_mode_radios "cell,bluetooth,wifi,nfc"




adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.AIRPLANE_MODE --ez state false




adb shell settings put global airplane_mode_radios "bluetooth,wifi,nfc"

This sequence first turns on flight mode, then turns off only cellular communication, leaving Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

⚠️ Warning: Misuse of the AT commands or engineering menus can cause the network to crash or even "brick" the modem. On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi 10C) after manually disabling SIM through the engineering menu, it may be necessary to flash the radio module.

6.SIM Disabled on a Locked Phone

The situation where you need to disable the SIM- card, but the phone is locked (forgotten password, pattern lock or fingerprint is not recognized), is common, and fortunately, there are several ways to get around this problem without completely resetting.

Method 1: Emergency Call (on MIUI 13 and older)

1. On the lock screen, press Emergency Call.
2. Enter the combination: ##4636## (as if dialing a number).
3. If the engineering menu is open, go to Phone Information → SIM Management and turn off the card.

Method 2: Use of Recovery Mode

This method is suitable if you need to completely deactivate the SIM before selling the phone:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power + Volume button up until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe All Data (this will result in a phone reset!).
4. After resetting the SIM- card will be disabled, as all network settings will reset.

Method 3: Remove the SIM without unlocking

If the phone is discharged or does not respond to touch, but you need to urgently remove the SIM:

• Use a paper clip to remove the tray (as described in Section 4).
• If the tray is not extended - gently tuck it with a thin plastic card (not metal!).
• On some models (for example, Xiaomi Mi 11) tray can be removed by slightly heating the body with a hairdryer (do not overheat!).

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If your phone is locked but you need to call with another SIM, try inserting it into another slot (if the phone supports two cards). Many Xiaomi models allow you to call with a second SIM even when the screen is locked.

7 Problems after SIM disabling and their solution

Disabling the SIM- card doesn't always go smoothly, but here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

If after switching off the SIM phone began to overheat or discharge quickly, check:

• 🔋 Has the background network search process been activated (check Settings → Battery → Battery Use).
• 📡 Has the 2G mode turned on (sometimes this happens automatically when the crash occurs).
• 🔄 Does a firmware update need to be made (see Settings → About Phone → System Update).

On Qualcomm Snapdragon models (e.g. POCO X4 Pro) after disconnection SIM There may be an error.SIM-This is due to a modem malfunction. X55Solution:

1. Turn on Flight Mode for 30 seconds, then turn it off.
2. If it does not help, reset the network settings.
3. In the extreme case, reflash the phone through Fastboot.

FAQ: Frequent questions about disabling SIM on Xiaomi