How to change SIM- card to Xiaomi to send SMS: instructions with photos and tips

Why to change the SIM- card to Xiaomi and what you need to know before replacing

Replacing the SIM- card on Xiaomi smartphones is a procedure that every user will sooner or later face. The reasons can be different: switching to a new tariff, losing an old card, buying a device with support for two SIMs or a banal desire to change operator. But if you plan to use the phone primarily to send SMS, it is important to consider a few key points to avoid problems with registering with messengers, banking services or obtaining confirmation codes.

Modern Xiaomi — from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Mi 13 Ultra — supports up to two physical nano-SIM or one physical + eSIM (depending on the model). However, not everyone knows that when changing a card, there can be problems with SMS: messages leave the wrong number, no codes from banks or social networks, and sometimes the phone does not see the network at all. In this article, we will discuss how to change the SIM- card correctly to Xiaomi to avoid typical errors.

Before you start, check:

• 📱 Model of your Xiaomi – some older handsets (like Redmi 4X) don’t support eSIM, and newer ones (like Xiaomi 14) may have a hybrid slot.
• 🔄 Type SIM- card – if you have a micro-SIM, you will have to trim it or replace it with a nano-SIM in the cabin of the operator.
• 📶 Network settings – After the card is replaced, manual settings APN may be required to work properly SMS.

Pay special attention to linking numbers to services, if you use one number for WhatsApp, Telegram or banking applications, replacing it can block access to accounts, in some cases you will need to untie the number in advance or save backup codes.

Preparation for replacement of SIM- card: what to do in advance

Before you remove the old SIM- card from Xiaomi, follow a few steps to avoid data loss and authorization issues.

1. Save contacts and SMS. Even if you use cloud services like Google Contacts or Mi Cloud, some messages (such as SMS from banks) can only be stored on a card.

• 📲 Open the Messages app → click on three dots → Settings → Import/Export.
• 💾 Export SMS to internal memory or to the cloud.
• 📇 Contacts sync through Settings → Google Accounts → Sync.

2. Check the linking of numbers to services. If you use the old number for:

• 🏦 Banking Applications (Sberbank Online, Tinkoff, etc.) – make sure you have backup access codes.
• 💬 Messengers (WhatsApp, Viber) – link your account to an email or save a backup of chats.
• 🔐 Two-factor authentication (2FA) – reconfigure it to a new number before replacing SIM.

Save. SMS contact|Check the binding to banking applications|Untie the number from messengers (if necessary)|Make sure there is a tool to remove the tray|Checking for eSIM support (for new models)-->

3. To extract the SIM- tray, Xiaomi will need:

• 🔧 A paper clip, pin or special key (combined with the phone).
• 📦 New nano-SIM (if you cut the micro-SIM, use the template to avoid damaging the chip).
• 🔍 A flashlight is a hole to extract the tray sometimes poorly visible.

Important: If you use a smartphone with a hybrid slot (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro), remember that when you install the second SIM- card, microSD support is turned off.

Step-by-step: how to remove and insert a new SIM- card in Xiaomi

The process of replacing the SIM- card on most Xiaomi models is the same, but there are nuances for devices with eSIM or hybrid slots.

Step 1. Turn off the phone (optional, but recommended for safety).Look for the SIM- card tray - usually located:

• 📱 On the right end (most Redmi and POCO models).
• 📱 On the upper end (some Mi series, such as Mi 11).
• 📱 Under the lid (in older models like the Redmi 3S).

Step 2. Remove the tray:

1. Insert the paperclip into the hole next to the tray before clicking.
2. Carefully pull the tray over yourself - it should come out effortlessly.
3. If the tray does not come out, do not apply force - check whether the extraction mechanism is bent.

Step 3. Install a new SIM- card:

• 🆕 Place the nano-SIM in the appropriate slot (usually labeled SIM1 or SIM2).
• 🔄 If you have a hybrid slot, select the priority: second SIM or microSD.
• 📌 Make sure the card is down the chip and matches the contours of the slot.

Step 4: Put the tray back in place and turn the phone on. If the smartphone can't see the network, restart it or check if the card is installed correctly.

Setting up SMS after replacing the SIM- card

After installing a new SIM- card, the phone can automatically configure network settings, but sometimes manual adjustment is required, especially for the SMS to work correctly.

1. Check the number for outbound SMS. By default, Xiaomi can send messages from any number (if two SIMs are installed).

1. Open Messages → Three Points → Settings.
2. Select the SIM- card for the SMS and specify the desired slot.

2. Set up an APN (Access Point) If SMS is not sent or confirmation codes are not received, check the APN settings:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → [yours SIM] → Access points (APN).
2. If the list is empty, click Add and enter your operator’s details (see the table below).

3. Check the SMS center. If messages leave but do not reach, the SMS- center number may be incorrectly specified, check it with the operator and manually enter:

1. Settings → SIM- Maps and Mobile Networks → [your SIM] → SMS Center]
2. Enter the number (for example, for MTS it is +79240000000).

💡

If, after replacement, SIM stopped coming SMS From banks, check if they are blocked by Xiaomi's "Security" app. → Annexes → Permit management → Autostart and enable autostart for the bank app.

Common Problems and Their Solutions

Even after the SIM- card is replaced correctly, Xiaomi cards can still get into trouble, and we will discuss the most common ones and how to fix them.

1.The phone doesn't see. SIM-map

• 🔄 Reset the device.
• 🔧 Check if the card is inserted correctly (chip down, no skews).
• 📡 Turn on Flight Mode for 30 seconds, then turn it off.
• 🛠️ If the slot is damaged, contact the service center.

2. No SMS is sent

• 📶 Make sure there is network coverage (check the signal indicator).
• 💰 Check balance – some operators block SMS when the balance is negative.
• 📝 Set up APN and the SMS center (see previous section).
• 🔄 Reset network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.

3. SMS arrives, but no confirmation codes arrive

• 📵 The operator may be blocking service SMS. Call support and check.
• 🔒 Check if the lock is worth the 1234, 5678 (in settings SMS.
• 📱 Install an operator application (e.g. My MTS, My Beeline) – sometimes codes come through it.

⚠️ Warning: If you use Xiaomi with two SIM- cards and SMS only comes to one of them, check the default settings. Some apps (e.g. banking) can only send codes to SIM1, even if you chose a different messaging slot.

Features of replacing the SIM on popular models Xiaomi

Despite the overall SIM- card replacement scheme, some Xiaomi models have unique nuances.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12/13

• 📱 The tray is located on the right end, supports 2 nano-SIM + microSD (hybrid slot).
• 🔄 When two SIM are installed, microSD support is automatically disabled.
• 📶 Supports VoLTE and VoWiFi — after replacing SIM, check to enable these features in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → [your SIM] → Voice.

POCO X5/X6

• 📱 The tray on the left end (unlike most Xiaomi).
• 🆕 Supports eSIM (starting with POCO X5 Pro).
• 🔧 To activate eSIM, download the QR- code from the operator and go to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Add eSIM.

Xiaomi 13/14

• 📱 There is no microSD slot, only 2 nano-SIM or 1 nano-SIM + eSIM.
• 🔒 Supports hardware encryption SIM (additional cloning protection).
• 📡 Automatically configures APN for most operators, but SMS sometimes requires manual tuning.

Older models (Redmi 4X, Mi A1, etc.)

• 📱 The tray may be under a removable lid (needs to tamper with a mediator carefully).
• 🔄 Do not support VoLTE — SMS may come with a delay.
• 📵 There may be problems with running two SIM at the same time (especially on Mi A1 with pure Android).

💡

On eSIM models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro), save the eSIM profile to the cloud before replacing the physical SIM, which will allow you to quickly restore it to the new device.

How to transfer SMS and contacts to the new SIM- card

If you want to transfer old messages and contacts to the new SIM- card, use Xiaomi’s built-in tools or third-party apps.

Method 1: Through standard settings

1. Open Contacts → Three Points → Contact Management → Import/Export.
2. Select Export on the SIM- card and specify the contacts for transfer.
3. For SMS, use Messages → Settings → Import / Export.

Method 2: Using the Mi Mover app (for transfer between Xiaomi)

• 📱 Install Mi Mover from Google Play.
• 🔗 Connect your old and new phone via Wi-Fi Direct.
• 📤 Select data to transfer (contacts, SMS, call log).

Method 3: Through Google Account

• 📱 Sync contacts and SMS with Google Contacts and Google Messages.
• 🔄 On the new phone, log in to the same account and wait for sync.

⚠️ Warning: When exporting contacts to the SIM- card, additional fields (email, addresses, birthdays) are lost. Use cloud services or VCF- files to fully migrate.

FAQ: Frequent questions about replacing the SIM with Xiaomi