Setting up a new number or changing a fare often begins with a banal question about how to physically access the insides of a smartphone. - Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO They need to remove the tray for SIM-Although the procedure seems simple, inexperienced users often make mistakes that can damage the case or mechanism.
Modern smartphones of the Chinese brand are equipped with combined or hybrid slots, the location of which can vary depending on the model and year of release. Understanding the design of your device is the first step to a safe replacement of the card. In this article, we will examine in detail all the nuances, from finding holes to acting in non-standard situations.
Now, you should note that mechanical action without understanding the design is forbidden, and if you don't pull the tray out with a light tap, you either didn't get in the mechanism or you're using the wrong tool, and let's take a step-by-step approach to avoid the risk of a costly gadget breaking down.
Finding the location of the tray on different models
The first thing to do before any manipulation is to visually inspect the device’s body. On most modern Xiaomi smartphones, the SIM card tray is located on one of the ends. Most often, this is the lower edge, where the USB Type-C or Micro-USB charging connector is also located. However, in some old or specific models, the slot can be on top or even on the side.
Look carefully at the perimeter of the case. You need to find a narrow horizontal strip that repeats the color of the frame or is slightly different from the main material of the case. This part is a removable part. Some Redmi Note models may be micro-engraved next to the extraction hole in the form of a small SIM card icon, which serves as a hint to the user.
It's important to distinguish between a SIM tray and a memory card slot if they're separated. In budget models, these slots can be on opposite sides of the phone. If you see two holes on the same edge, chances are you've got a combined slot or separate niches. A hybrid slot lets you choose between using two SIM cards or one SIM card and one microSD memory card.
Do not try to force the lid to open unless you are sure that it is a tray. Some elements of the case, such as a microphone or antenna inserts, may resemble the boundaries of the tray, but opening them will lead to leakage and loss of warranty.
Required tools for extraction
To do this successfully, you'll need a special tool that usually comes with a device, a metal key clip, often attached to a cardboard box or in a separate documentation paquica, and if the original key is lost, you can replace it with a paper clip, straightening one of the ends.
In emergency situations, when there is no paper clip or key, you can use a thin needle. However, here lies an important caveat: the needle must be strong enough not to bend when pressed, but not too sharp to not hurt your finger.
It is strongly discouraged to use toothpicks, matches or plastic dental flosses. The tree can open up inside the mechanism, and the plastic can simply bend without transferring enough force to the latch. If you use a metal clip, make sure that its end is flat and has no dents that can scratch the body around the hole.
⚠️ Warning: Never use a scissor or knife to pick a tray.The tip can slip and damage the screen, body or injure your hands, and permanently damage the latch mechanism.
A small hole about 1 mm in diameter is difficult to see in dim light, which increases the risk of missing and scratching the phone frame.
Step-by-step extraction instructions
The process of removing the tray takes only a few seconds if done correctly. First, turn off the smartphone completely. Although modern devices support hot replacement, software problems when reading contacts or determining the network are less common if the phone is rebooted after installation.
Take a prepared tool (a paper clip or key) and hold it perpendicular to the hole on the tray. Place the tip exactly in the center of the recess. Press the tool inwards with a sharp but not excessive press, and you should feel a slight click and see the tray move out of the case a little bit.
Once the mechanism has worked, gently grab the edges of the tray and pull it smoothly over you, don't pull sharply so as not to damage the contacts, remove the tray completely and place it on a flat surface.
☑️ Pre-installing check
Make sure you don't get the card installation side mixed up. The tray itself usually has a schematic image showing how the chip should be positioned and where the cut corner is located. Nano-SIM is the smallest format used in all modern Xiaomi.
Features of combined slots
Many users face confusion when working with hybrid slots: in such models, the second compartment can accept either a second SIM card or a microSD card, but not both elements at the same time. The tray is designed so that the installation of the memory card physically blocks the ability to install a second SIM.
If you need to use two SIM cards and a memory card at the same time, a standard hybrid slot will not be enough, in which case there are special adapters that allow you to place the memory card on top of one of the SIM cards, but this solution often leads to overheating or poor contact.
When you put a memory card in a combined slot, make sure it's locked correctly. Sometimes users try to stuff a SIM card into a memory compartment, which can lead to a jamming. The shape of the SIM and microSD compartments is different, and if the card doesn't fit perfectly in the circuit effortlessly, you chose the wrong compartment.
| Slot type | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard. | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM | Support for two rooms at the same time |
| Hybrid | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM / microSD | Selection: 2 SIMS OR 1 SIMS + memory |
| Triple (rare) | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM | A separate microSD slot on the side |
| eSIM | Nano-SIM | Virtual card | Physical slot for only one card |
Always check the specification of your particular model on the official website, as even within a single series (e.g. Redmi Note) the configuration of slots can change from generation to generation.
What to do if the tray falls out completely?
Problems and solutions
The most common problem is that the tray is not removed. If you press a paper clip but the mechanism does not respond, it may have been clogged with dust or pile from your pocket. Try gently cleaning the hole with a dry soft brush or blowing it out. Also check if you are using a protective case that blocks access to the end of the device.
There are times when the tray is removed but gets stuck halfway through, which can mean that the SIM card is set incorrectly and its edge clings to the body. In this situation, do not pull force. Try to push the tray back slightly, correct the card and retrieve it. If the memory card is swelled or deformed, it can block movement.
⚠️ Warning: If the tray is stuck inside and it doesn't lend itself, don't use glue or superglue to stick the paper clip to the tray.
If the tray is broken or lost, don't leave the hole open. Dust and moisture will quickly disable the motherboard. Order the original part from the model phone number or use a temporary stub of dense paper until you find a replacement.
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To make the tray easier to enter, wipe its contacts and side faces with a dry cloth of dust before each installation, which will prevent dirt from accumulating inside the phone.
Installation SIM-maps and completion
Once you've successfully removed the tray, put the Nano-SIM in the appropriate recess. Make sure the cut corner of the card matches the circuit on the tray. The card should lie tight and not wobbly. If it dangles, you may be using a low-quality adapter or a wrong-sized card.
Put the tray back into the phone in just one position. If you flip it upside down, it just won't go into the body. You don't have to push it, the guide will tell you the right position. Push the tray carefully until you click the characteristic snap that means the latch is locked.
After you turn on your phone, go to the settings. The path usually looks like this: → The phone. → General information or settings → SIM-Maps and mobile networks, where you can rename maps, set the default Internet and manage costs.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone doesn't see the SIM card after installation, try erasing the contacts with an eraser. Contact oxidation is a common cause of signal problems.
Proper installation provides a stable signal and long life of the contacts of the phone.If you have completed all the steps, but the network did not appear, perhaps a problem in the SIM card itself or requires setting up a setup. APN-parameters of your operator.
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The main secret of success is to use only a thin metal tool and press strictly perpendicularly, without distortion.