How to Switch Between Sims in Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Modern Xiaomi smartphones, running on the shell of MIUI or the new HyperOS, offer users flexible tools to manage two active SIM cards. Device owners often face the need to quickly change the priority card for the mobile Internet or temporarily redirect voice calls to the second number. Understanding the logic of the communication modules allows you to significantly simplify everyday use of the gadget and avoid unnecessary traffic.

Unlike many competitors, the Chinese manufacturer does not hide these features deep in the engineering menus, but brings the main switches to the available interface level. However, due to constant updates to the system, the location of some elements can change, which sometimes causes confusion among users.

SIM priorities are not just a convenience, but a way to save battery power. When a phone is constantly searching for a network on both cards at the same time or trying to keep a weak 4G signal on a secondary slot, power consumption is increasing. The proper allocation of roles between the SIM 1 and SIM 2 will ensure stable communication and extend the battery life of your device.

Basic setting of priorities in the system menu

The basic method of SIM card management is located in the standard Android settings section. To change the settings, the user needs to go to the Settings menu, select the item. SIM-Maps and mobile networks, and this is where the central hub is responsible for the distribution of traffic and voice calls between the installed modules.

In the window that opens, you'll see two tabs or sections that correspond to your phone's physical slots, and the system allows you to assign one of the cards as the primary data transfer card, which means that it will be used to access the Internet, work messengers and update applications if you are not using Wi-Fi.

• 📱 To change the Internet card, tap the line "Mobile Internet" and select the desired number from the list.
• 📞 To change the default call SIM, click on Voice and select the priority option.
• 💬 Separately, you can set up SMS-messages by selecting the card from which the default text messages will be sent.
• ⚙️ In the same menu, SIM card renaming is available, which makes navigation easier if you have multiple numbers from different operators.

⚠️ Warning: Changing the mobile internet map will cause a short-term connection break. Make sure that important files are not downloaded at this point.

It's important to note that the settings are instantaneous. If you switch data to a second SIM card, the network indicator in the status bar will change to show the type of connection (4G, 3G) for the selected operator, which is a basic control layer that covers 90% of the needs of the average user.

Use of notification curtain for quick access

For those who need to switch between SIM cards several times a day, constantly logging into the deep settings menu can be inconvenient. Xiaomi engineers have envisioned a faster way to switch through the control center, also known as the notification curtain, which allows you to change priorities in literally two touches.

To use this feature, swipe down from the top of the screen to open the notification bar. Depending on the shell version (MIUI 12, 13, 14 or HyperOS), the interface may be slightly different, but the logic remains the same. You need to find the unit responsible for the mobile network.

In some versions of the firmware, you just click on the mobile network icon to turn the selection menu around. In other cases, you need to press the Mobile Internet or Data Transfer icon for a long time, and then a pop-up window will appear on the screen where you can quickly select which SIM card will be traffic.

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If you change your SIM cards frequently for the internet, add the Mobile Internet widget to your desktop for even faster access without opening the curtain.

This method is especially useful in situations where you need to quickly check your email or message in a work chat using a tariff with unlimited traffic, and then return to your personal number to save packet residue.

Setting up smart modes and switching scenarios

MIUI is famous for its customization capabilities, and SIM management is no exception, with smart features that automate network selection based on your actions, eliminating the need to manually switch every time you make a call.

One of the most useful features is to adjust the behavior of an outgoing call. By default, the phone can always use the main SIM card. However, if you want the device to ask you from which number to call each time, or remember the choice for a particular contact, this can be changed.

Go to Settings → Applications → Phone (or Calls) and here you will find Call Settings. There are three options available in the Outgoing Calls menu:

• 🔢 Always ask: the phone will display the SIM card selection dialog box before each dial.
• 📞 Use the main one: the call will go through the priority SIM card without unnecessary questions.
• 📝 Use the contact card: If the number is saved in the phone book, the system uses the SIM that was selected when the last call to this subscriber was made.

⚠️ Note: Use Contact Card only works for numbers stored in your phone’s memory or synced to your account.

Also worth noting is the Smart Data Switch feature, which allows the phone to automatically use the mobile Internet of the second SIM card if the main connection is lost or the signal becomes too weak, which ensures continuity of communication, but can lead to unexpected traffic consumption if the second card does not have an unlimited packet.

Technical nuances of Dual SIM and 4G/5G

It is important for users to understand the technical limitations of Xiaomi smartphones hardware. Despite having two active SIM cards, the physical modem in most budget and mid-range models (Redmi Note series, Poco M) is often (one) radio frequency (channel) for high-speed Internet. This means that the full 4G/LTE or 5G It only works on one, primary SIM card.

The second SIM card in these configurations usually works in 2G or 3G mode. This is necessary so that the device can receive incoming calls and SMS while the first card is busy transmitting data. Modern flagship models (Xiaomi 13, 14) often implement Dual 4G technology, allowing both numbers to be on the fourth generation network at the same time.

Let’s look at the differences between networks in different models:

If you notice that the second SIM card is not catching the network or constantly switches between E and SIM. 3G, This can be normal behavior for your phone model when used actively. 4G Check for Dual support on the first SIM. 4G You can see the device specification on the official website or in the About phone menu.

Solving the definition and switching problems

Often, users face situations where the phone stops seeing one of the SIM cards or does not allow them to switch to it, most often the problem lies in a software failure of the communication service or physical contact, before carrying the device into the service, it is worth performing a number of diagnostic actions.

The first step should always be to reboot the device, which is a banal but effective tip, because when you start, you re-initialize the modem and reconnect to the operators' base stations, and if that doesn't work, try removing the SIM card tray and wipe the contacts with a stripe or dry cloth.

A common cause of problems is an incorrectly cropped SIM card or an old format (mini/micro instead of nano).In Xiaomi smartphones, the tray is very tightly attached to the contacts, and even the slightest skew can lead to loss of signal.

If the problem is software, resetting network settings often resolves the issue. Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. Note that this action will remove saved passwords from Wi-Fi and associated Bluetooth devices, but return network settings to factory values.

⚠️ Note: Before resetting your network settings, make sure you remember passwords from important Wi-Fi networks, as it will be impossible to recover them from the system after resetting.

Features of work in roaming and with foreign operators

Travelers using Xiaomi smartphones need to consider the specifics of roaming. When traveling abroad, automatically switching between SIM cards can lead to unexpected costs if the main card does not have the appropriate tariff.

You should set up your profiles before you travel, create a separate configuration where the second SIM card (local) is prioritized for data and the main one is prohibited from roaming data. → SIM-map → Roaming settings can be described in detail by the rules for each operator.

Also worth mentioning is the eSIM feature, which is being actively implemented in new Xiaomi models: a virtual SIM card allows you to add a second number without a physical tray. Switching between a physical SIM and eSIM is similar to the methods described above, but adds flexibility: you can store multiple eSIM profiles and activate the desired one in a particular country.

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In roaming, always manually select a carrier to avoid connecting to expensive affiliate networks with low quality coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)