Installing a SIM card in a modern smartphone is one of the first procedures faced by the owner of a new device. In the Xiaomi Redmi 9 model, this process is performed as ergonomically as possible, but requires care, since the tray is combined and has a specific design. Incorrect installation can lead to the fact that the phone will not see the network or the memory card will not work.
Before you start physically affecting the body, you need to make sure you use the right tool. There is always a special paper clip complete with the phone, but if it is lost, a thin needle or pin will fit.
In this article, we will discuss in detail where the slot is located, how to safely remove it and which side to insert the chip. We will also look at the nuances of working with a hybrid tray, which allows you to combine two SIM cards or one SIM card and a MicroSD memory card.
Slot location and tool preparation
The first thing you need to do is figure out where the SIM card tray is in your Redmi 9. Unlike the older models, where the slot could be located under the back cover, it uses a side end. Specifically, the tray is on the top end of the device if you hold the phone with the screen to yourself. This is the standard location for most modern Redmi smartphones.
On the end, you'll see a narrow hole next to an oblong plastic or metal tray. This is the hole you'll need to press with the tool. Before starting the procedure, we strongly advise you to turn off your smartphone, although the Android system supports hot replacement, the risk of software failure when installing a new SIM is better to exclude.
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If you lose the original paperclip out of the box, use a regular paperclip, straightening one of the ends of the paperclip, the main thing is that the tool is thin and rigid.
Prepare the workspace. It should be well lit and the surface clean and flat. It is best to cover the table with a soft towel or use a special mat so that if the phone falls or the tray pops out, they do not scratch and small details are not lost.
The process of extracting the tray for the SIM card
Technically, the process of removing the tray is simple, but requires the right application of force. Take a tool (a clip or a needle) and place it perpendicular to the hole. You don't need to push at an angle, because it can break the mechanism or scratch the body.
Make a confident but not overly strong push inside the hole. You should feel a slight click or resistance, which will be replaced by free travel. The tray will extend about 3-5 millimeters, after which it can be gently tucked with the nail and pulled out completely.
- 📌 Place the phone with the top end to you for easy access.
- 📌 Insert the tip of the clip strictly perpendicular to the hole.
- 📌 Click until the characteristic click and remove the tray.
⚠️ Warning: Don't put too much effort into the tray if the tray isn't moving out. Make sure you're in the hole. Use of force can cause the internal extraction mechanism to break down.
After extraction, carefully examine the tray. In the Redmi 9 model, it has a complex shape with chip cutouts. It is important not to confuse the sides and slots, since the SIM card and memory card have different sizes and shapes of contacts.
Hybrid tray design and card types
It is important to understand that the Xiaomi Redmi 9 is equipped with a hybrid slot. This means that the user has a choice of configuration: either two Nano-SIM SIM cards, or one SIM card and one MicroSD memory card. You can not use two SIMs and a memory card in standard mode without special adapters that are not recommended for use.
The tray is divided into two main sections: one part is designed for a smaller SIM card (Nano-SIM), and the second, larger part can accept either a second Nano-SIM or a memory card. The tray itself is often schematically engraving showing which chip to install.
| Type of card | Format | Location in the tray | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIM card 1 | Nano-SIM | Small compartment (interior) | Down. |
| SIM card 2 | Nano-SIM | Outer compartment. | Down. |
| Memory map | MicroSD | Outer compartment. | Down. |
| Old SIM. | Mini/Micro | Not supported | - |
Pay attention to the orientation of the contacts. In most cases, when you hold the tray upwards (the one that looks outwards when you install it), the chip contacts should be directed downwards to the inside of the phone. The gold contacts should be in contact with the contacts inside the slot.
What is eSIM and is it in Redmi 9?
Installation of Nano-SIM and MicroSD cards
The installation process requires care. Take a Nano-SIM SIM card. Make sure that the angle you cut on the card matches the cutout shape in the tray. If you insert a MicroSD card, it also has a specific shape that prevents you from inserting it incorrectly unless you use force.
Place the SIM card in the appropriate slot. It should lie flat, not protruding beyond the edges of the tray. If the MicroSD card is installed in the second slot, make sure that it snaps or sits tightly in the designated place. In some versions of the tray, the memory card can be fixed with a light press.
- 💾 Make sure the gold contacts look down (towards the phone board).
- 💾 The cut corner of the map should coincide with the drawing on the tray.
- 💾 The card should not be staggered or protruding beyond the limits.
Once you've stacked the cards, check their position again, they should be strictly within the plastic or metal frame of the tray, and if any part of the card protrudes, if you insert the tray back, you can damage the contacts inside the phone.
☑️ Check before installing the tray
Inserting the tray back into the smartphone case
When the cards are set, you need to put the tray back in place. This is a critical point, because the wrong input angle can bend the contacts inside the slot. Hold the phone firmly and hold the tray to the hole.
It's important to be guided: the tray must enter the same side it was extracted from. Usually, the bevelled tray or frame shape will tell you the right position. Don't try to push the tray by force; if it doesn't enter easily, turn it over.
⚠️ Warning: Never insert the tray upside down or sideways, which will cause mechanical damage to the reader, repairing which will require disassembling the phone and replacing the plume.
Carefully push the tray inside until you click it, it should match the body of the phone and not protrude out. If the tray has entered, but not to the end, slightly press it with your finger, but only if you are sure of the correct orientation.
After installation, turn on the phone. MIUI It's going to automatically identify the new SIM card, and it's going to be a typing request on the screen. PIN-code, if it was installed earlier, or a proposal to configure a new SIM card for calls and mobile Internet.
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The tray should enter smoothly and to the end. If you feel mechanical resistance, immediately stop the pressure and check the orientation of the tray.
Network setting and problem diagnosis
After you load the operating system, check the connection status. Signal level icons and network type (4G/LTE, 3G or H+) should appear at the top of the screen. If there are no icons, or if the crossed-out SIM card is on, go to the settings.
To check, go down the Settings path → The phone. → All specs → Status or just look at the Settings → SIM-Maps and mobile networks. This shows the status of each SIM card. If the status is "No Service" or "Unknown", try restarting the device again.
If the phone doesn’t see the memory card, check its formatting. Android works best with the FAT32 or exFAT file system. If the card has been previously used on another device or computer, you may need to format it through the phone’s menu (pre-saving data).
- 📶 Check if the flight mode is activated (it should be turned off).
- 📶 Make sure that the SIM card is not blocked by the operator.
- 📶 Wipe the SIM card contacts with a soft dry cloth.
If problems persist, remove the tray again and carefully examine the contacts for contamination or oxidation, sometimes just wipe them with a wipe or an alcohol wipe to restore the connection.