How to send SMS from the smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 9: from basic settings to advanced features

Modern smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 9 have evolved into powerful multimedia hubs that focus on instant messengers and video. However, classic text messages remain an indispensable tool for confirming bank transactions, registering with websites and communicating in areas of weak Internet coverage. Understanding how to send SMS correctly is critical, especially when access to financial funds or important accounts depends on the speed of delivery.

The MIUI shell interface installed on Redmi 9 offers advanced functionality that is often hidden from the eyes of the average user. Many device owners do not even suspect that the standard Messages app can block spam, archive old dialogues and automatically sort notifications from services. In this article, we will discuss in detail the process of sending, configuring and troubleshooting SMS problems on your device.

Before you go into complex manipulations, make sure your SIM-The card is active and inserted into the correct slot. Xiaomi Redmi 9 supports the two SIM-And by default, the system can use one card to make calls and another card to make calls to the Internet, and this can cause confusion when sending messages, unless you have a default priority.

Basic sending of a message through a standard application

The process of creating and sending the first message on Redmi 9 is as simple as possible for developers to quickly connect with the subscriber. Open the standard application, which usually has a blue or green icon called "Messages" or "Messages." On the home screen, you will see a list of previous dialogs, if any, or an empty list with a new creation button.

Click on the Create button (usually a round button with a plus or pencil in the lower right corner) and you will see an input field where you want to specify the recipient, and you can start to type in the phone number manually or select the contact from the phone book, which greatly speeds up the process and eliminates errors in digits.

  • 📱 Click on the “To” field and select a contact from the list or enter a number.
  • ✍️ In the lower text field, type the text of your message using a virtual keyboard.
  • 🚀 Press the send button (arrow or paper airplane) to the right of the text input field.

After clicking the send button, the message is marked with the status "Sends" and then, when successfully delivered, the status changes to "Delivered." If you use two-sim mode, pay attention to the icon SIM-The map is next to the send button, which shows which card the message will leave, and you can switch the map by simply clicking on this icon before sending it.

⚠️ Note: If the message is in the status "Sent" more 1-2 minutes, this may indicate network signal problems or lack of balance on the network SIM-Don't delete the message right away, try to switch flight mode.

☑️ Pre-sending check

Done: 0 / 4

Message Center settings and priority SIM-map

Xiaomi Redmi 9 owners often face a situation where messages are sent from the wrong card, which is solved in the system settings, where you can set the default cards for different types of communication. → SIM-Maps and mobile networks to access priority management.

Here you will find the “Default for” section where you can select your preferred one. SIM-Call card and mobile Internet, but for SMS, the settings may be different. MIUI If you send text messages often, it makes sense to assign a primary card to this feature so you don't manually switch every time.

An important parameter is the “Message Center» (SMSC). It's a technical number that all your text messages go through, and it's usually automatically written when you set it up. SIM-maps, but if you manually change the settings, the network may get lost. You can check or change it in the advanced settings of the message application.

How to find the settings of the message center?
Go to the Messages app → Press three dots in the corner. → Settings → Additionally (or) SIM-map) → The message center must have a number starting with the +7 or your operator's code.

A messaging center that is not properly installed is one of the common reasons why SMS messages don’t go away, even though the Internet and calls work. If you’ve reset your network settings or changed your phone, make sure that this setting matches your carrier. For most Russian operators, the messaging center number starts with the country code and a specific set of digits that is unique to each provider.

Working with multimedia and group messaging

Xiaomi Redmi 9 allows you to send not only text, but also multimedia files through the MMS protocol. These can be photos taken to the main camera, audio recordings or short videos. The sending process is similar to sending text: in the message input field, click on the clip icon or camera, select the file and send.

It is worth remembering that MMS requires mobile internet (even if you have unlimited packet, traffic must be turned on). Unlike conventional SMS, multimedia can be undelivered if the recipient has MMS turned off in their phone settings or if they have run out of traffic.

Group messaging is another useful feature for coordinating meetings or work tasks. You can create a group by adding multiple contacts and the message will come to all participants. MIUI supports both the standard group SMS protocol and improved chats (RCS) if supported by your operator and enabled in Google Message settings.

  • 📸 To send a photo, click the gallery icon in the message input field.
  • 👥 To create a group, select several contacts in a row in the “To” field.
  • ⚙️ Enable “Enhanced Messages” in the settings for richer functionality (prints, delivery indicators).

When sending group messages, it is important to understand the difference between a mailing list and a chat. In mailing mode, each response comes to you in person and the other group members do not see it. In group chat mode (often implemented through RCS or proprietary solutions), the correspondence is shared for everyone. Redmi 9 often has a chat mode by default if you use the application from Google.

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When sending an MMS, make sure that the mobile network settings include Data Transfer. Without the Internet, the multimedia message will not go away, even if the tariff involves sending it for free.

Blocking Spam and Filtering Notifications

One of the most annoying problems of modern smartphones is spam. The MIUI shell on board the Xiaomi Redmi 9 is equipped with a powerful built-in filter that is able to block unwanted messages before they reach your main inbox.

Inside the Security app, look for the Antispam section, where you can enable blocking of messages from unknown numbers, and activate the Smart Filter, which analyzes the text of a message for advertising mailings, and the system regularly updates the spam databases, which ensures high security efficiency.

You can also create your own blacklists, and if you get intrusive ads from a specific number, just open the dialog, click three dots in the corner, and select Add to the Blacklist, and then the messages from that number will be silently deleted or saved to a separate Spam folder without disturbing you with audible notifications.

⚠️ Attention: Be careful with filters. Too aggressive settings can cause you to miss important SMS from courier services or banks that use short numbers or change senders».

Also in the notification settings, you can flexibly adjust the behavior of your smartphone when you receive an SMS. You can prevent the text of the message from displaying on a locked screen (for privacy) or turn off the sound for certain contacts, leaving visual notifications. All this is done through Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Notification Management → Messages.

Solving SMS delivery problems

When messages are not sent or not received, there can be a number of technical reasons. On Xiaomi Redmi 9, the most common problem is a crowded phone memory or a failure in the communication module. The first step should always be to reboot the device - this clears the RAM and re-register the phone in the operator's network.

If the reboot didn't work, check the memory fill-up. SMS is stored in the system's database, and if the device's memory is crammed to the end, a new record may simply not be created. Clearing the Messages app cache also often solves the problem of sending freezes.

To clear the cache, go to Settings → Apps → All apps → Messages → Memory → Clear. Importantly, choose Clear (cache) rather than Reset or Delete if you don’t want to lose your correspondence history. While today’s smartphones often sync history with your Google account, it’s safe to be safe.

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90% of SMS delivery problems on Redmi 9 are solved by restarting the device or switching the network mode (for example, with the help of a mobile phone). 4G on 3G and back) in the settings SIM-map.

In some cases, the problem may be on the operator’s side or in roaming settings if you are abroad.Make sure that the Incoming/Outgoing SMS service is active in your tariff.It’s also worth checking if the Do Not Disturb mode is enabled, which can block the notifications from displaying, although the messages themselves should be coming in.

Comparison of standard application and Google Messages

On Xiaomi Redmi 9, users may encounter two text messaging apps: standard MIUI Messaging and Google Messages. Choosing between them can have a significant impact on usability and functionality.

CharacteristicsMIUI MessagingGoogle Messages
Integration with the systemHigh (topics, fonts)Medium (standard design)
Protection against spamBuilt-in (via Antivirus)Smart (Google Assistant)
RCS (Chat)Depends on the operator.Supported everywhere
Interface.Overloaded with functionsMinimalist

Xiaomi’s standard app is better integrated into the design theme ecosystem, allowing for example, changing icons or using specific shell gestures. However, Google Messages is often more stable and implements new communication protocols, such as RCS, which allows you to send messages over Wi-Fi and see when someone is typing.

If you want simplicity and minimalism, as well as cross-platformity (the ability to respond to SMS from a computer through the Google web interface), it is better to install and use Google Messages. If you are used to deep customization and local MIUI chips, the standard application will be more familiar. You can switch between them at any time by assigning the desired application to the default settings of the system.

📊 What SMS application do you use?
Standard MIUI
Google Messages
Textra
Other

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why don’t you send messages when the internet works?
This is a common situation, as SMS uses voice channels (GSM) rather than packet data (LTE/3G), the problem may be overloading the operator's signal channel, messaging center settings, or antivirus blocking. Try temporarily disabling Wi-Fi and checking the delivery.
How to Recover Deleted SMS on Redmi 9?
If you have synced with Mi Cloud or Google Drive enabled, messages can be restored when you reset or through the cloud web interface. Without a prior backup, you cannot restore deleted messages using standard means, since they are stored in a secure SQLite database.
Can I send SMS via Wi-Fi to Xiaomi?
Yes, if your carrier supports Wi-Fi Calling technology and it is activated in the settings SIM-maps (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → In this case, if there is no cellular signal, but there is Wi-Fi, the messages will go through the Internet channel.
Where is the folder with deleted or blocked messages?
Blocked messages are usually found in the Security app → Antispam → Blocked. Deleted messages, unless backed up, are not stored in the phone. The standard MIUI app also has an Unwanted folder where suspicious emails go.