How to switch SIMs in the phone Xiaomi Redmi 8A

Redmi’s line of smartphones has long proven to be reliable devices for everyday use, and the Redmi 8A model has become a hit due to its affordable price and functionality. One of the key features of this gadget is the support of two physical SIM-cards Nano-SIM, which allows users to share personal and work contacts or use tariffs of different operators for savings. However, despite the popularity of the brand, many owners have questions about how to properly manage these cards after installation.

With Android’s MIUI shell operating system, which is installed on Xiaomi Redmi 8A, the switching process isn’t just one button on the desktop, as some newcomers think. It’s managed through system settings or a special widget that needs to be activated. Understanding the logic of how two SIMs work in this model will help you avoid missed calls and uncontrolled traffic consumption.

In this article, we will take a look at all aspects of the setup, from initial slot activation to fine-tuning priorities for voice and mobile Internet. You will learn how to quickly change the operator for an outgoing call and why sometimes the system decides which card to send a message through. We will also touch on the technical details of the operation of the radio module in budget devices.

Primary activation and setting of slots

Before you talk about fast switching, you need to make sure that both cards are correctly identified by the system. Once you physically install the Nano-SIM in the tray and turn the phone on, Redmi 8A will automatically launch the setup wizard. A window will appear on the screen where the system will prompt you to activate the detected cards. If this does not happen, you will have to go to the settings menu manually.

To do this, open the Settings app and search for SIM and mobile networks. This shows both SIM 1 and SIM 2. It's important to understand that in Redmi 8A both slots support 4G LTE standards, but only one card can work in high-speed mode at the same time, the second will be switched to 2G/3G for voice, a hardware limitation that is characteristic of many budget chipsets.

⚠️ Warning: When removing the tray to replace the SIM card, always turn off the phone.While current standards support Hot-Swap, in Xiaomi's budget models, this can cause a temporary network glitch or damage to the reader's contacts.

In the card management menu, you can give them names like "Work" or "Home" to keep them from getting confused, and you can also set up the status bar icons, make sure that the switches in front of each card are in the active position, otherwise there is nothing to switch.

Use of a quick switching widget

The most convenient way to change priorities on the fly is to use a special widget “Switch”. SIM-Unlike many other manufacturers, Xiaomi does not display this feature on the default lock screen, so it needs to be added to the desktop, which is especially true for those who often change the operator for outgoing calls.

To activate the widget, press and hold your finger on the empty desktop, then select "Add widgets." In the list, find the "Tools" category or immediately "Switch". SIM-Drag it onto the screen. Now you have quick access to mobile management without going deep into the menu.

Inside the widget you will see three main parameters that can be changed with one touch:

• 📞 Calls: Select the default card for outbound calls or Always Ask mode».
• 🌐 Internet: Assignment of a map through which mobile traffic will be transmitted.
• 💬 SMS: Setting a priority SIM for sending short messages.

Using the widget saves time and (battery charge), as you don't have to open a heavy settings menu every time.Just swipe down to open the notification curtain if the widget is added there, or tap the desktop icon. This is standard practice for MIUI users.

Setting Challenge Priorities and the Internet

Deep prioritization allows you to automate your phone, for example, you can set your device so that all calls go through the main SIM with a packet of minutes, and the Internet is spent only from a card with unlimited traffic. In Redmi 8A, these options are separated, which gives you flexibility to manage.

To set up the Internet, go to Settings → SIM cards and mobile networks → Mobile Internet. Here the system will prompt you to choose one of the active cards.

The logic is similar for voice calls. You can set a specific SIM by default. However, the most practical option is to set the "Always Ask" setting, in which case the Xiaomi Redmi 8A will display a pop-up with the choice of operator, which prevents accidental calls from an expensive card.

Remember that 4G internet is more energy-consuming, and if you're in a bad reception zone, your phone will waste battery life searching for the network, so it's wiser to switch temporarily to a better-coated card or use Wi-Fi.

Contact management and call history

When using two numbers, it is important to organize the address book correctly. Android allows you to attach contacts to specific SIM cards or save them to a Google account. In the latter case, when calling, the system will use the card selected in the general settings, or ask you.

In the Redmi 8A call log, it's going to tell you which card you made or received a call from. Next to the number or name, you're going to see a small number 1 or 2. This helps control your costs. If you see a big customer calling the second number and you want to call back from the first one, just click on the SIM icon in the call log before dialing.

For individual contacts, you can set a forced number to call. Open the contact, click Change, and find the Default for Calls field. Here, select the desired SIM. Now, even if the general settings are a different card, the call to that subscriber will go through the selected channel.

Features of work in modem and roaming

If you're using the Xiaomi Redmi 8A as a Wi-Fi hotspot, it's important to understand which card the Internet will be distributed through. The system uses the same SIM that you're currently using for mobile Internet. Switching in the widget instantly changes the source of traffic for connected devices.

When traveling abroad, you need to be especially careful. By default, MIUI can turn on data transfer in roam, which will lead to quick write-offs. Before traveling, go to the settings of each SIM separately and make sure that the data roaming slider is turned off for the main card, if you did not buy a special package.

The locking of cards is also individually done, and the SIM control menu can be installed. PIN-This will protect your data in case of phone theft, and remember that the code is requested every time you reboot your device, so don't set up complex combinations if you forget them.

⚠️ Attention: In two active modes SIM-If you want the highest speed to download large files, temporarily disable the second SIM.

Network solution and diagnosis

Sometimes users are faced with a situation when after switching the SIM, the Internet stops working or the signal disappears. In Redmi 8A, this is often solved by simply restarting the radio module. Turn on and off Reim Flight in the notification curtain.

If the problem persists, check the settings of APN access points. When installing a new SIM, they should update automatically, but sometimes you need to manually enter operator parameters. You can find them in Settings → SIM cards and mobile networks → (Select SIM) → Access Points (APN).

Also worth mentioning is the Smart SIM feature, which allows the phone to automatically switch to the second card if the first card has lost signal, which is useful in areas with unstable coverage, but can lead to unexpected costs if the second card does not have free minutes.

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Save screenshots of your APN settings before you change them. If you accidentally knock down the settings, the photo will help you quickly restore your Internet access without calling the operator.

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Properly configuring SIM-card priorities in Redmi 8A allows not only to save money on tariffs, but also to significantly extend the battery life of the device by optimizing network search.