Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often face the need to redirect incoming calls to another number, which may be due to a lack of signal in the receiving area, being in roaming or wanting to separate work and personal contacts. The standard shell MIUI offers several ways to implement this feature, but not all of them are obvious to the average user.
Call forwarding is a network service that is not only controlled by your phone settings, but also by your mobile operator’s settings, which is why it’s important to understand the difference between the program settings in the menu and the settings on the phone. USSD-In this article, we will discuss all available methods, explain the meaning of different types of redirects and help avoid unnecessary costs of communication.
Whether you’re using the old Xiaomi Mi or the newest flagship with HyperOS, the setup principles remain similar.We’ll look at both standard Android tools and specific engineer codes that allow you to manage the service more flexibly, and this knowledge will allow you to stay connected at all times, even if the main phone is off or out of reach.
The main types of redirects to Android
Before we get to practical, we need to understand the terms. Operators and Android have a few scenarios for redirecting calls. Understanding these differences will help you set up your phone exactly as you need it to, avoiding losing important calls.
The most common option is if busy redirecting, which is activated when you're talking to another subscriber or manually resetting an incoming call. The second type is if you don't respond. This mode is activated if you don't pick up the phone for a certain time, usually 15 to 30 seconds. The third option is if it's unavailable. It works when the phone is off, out of network coverage, or in flight mode.
There is also unconditional redirection, where calls are transferred to another number immediately, without trying to connect to your device, which is ideal for those who temporarily change the number or want to use one smartphone only for the Internet and take calls to another SIM card.
- 📞 Unconditional – all calls go to the specified number immediately.
- ⏳ Timer – Redirects are turned on if you have not responded for a given time.
- 🚫 Employment – only works during your call or call-out.
- 📡 In case of unavailability – activated when the phone is turned off or the network is not available.
⚠️ Note: When using roaming redirects or when calling other operators' numbers, additional charges may be charged according to your SIM card rates.
It's important to note that each type of redirect is set up separately, so you can set up redirects only when you're busy, leaving the rest of the calls coming to your phone, and the flexibility of MIUI allows you to combine these scenarios to create a personalized incoming communication processing scheme.
Setup through the standard phone menu
The easiest and safest way to activate the feature is to use the built-in settings menu. The interface may vary slightly depending on the Android version and the MIUI shell, but the logic of action remains the same for all Xiaomi models.
To start, open the Phone app, which is a standard caller. In the upper right corner of the screen, look for a three-dot icon or a gear that indicates the menu. In the list that opens, select Settings. Next, scroll down to the Call Accounts section or you'll immediately see Call Redirect.
Once logged in, the system will send a request to the carrier to obtain current service statuses. This can take a few seconds. You will see a list of four options corresponding to the types of redirects we talked about earlier.
☑️ Checking before setting up
In the window that opens, you will be asked to enter the phone number to which the calls will be redirected, enter the number in an international format (for example, +79990000000) or select the contact from the phone book. After entering, click "Enable". The system will confirm the activation of the service with a message from the operator.
If you want to disable the feature, go back to the same menu and click the "Switch off" button opposite the active item. The Voicemail option is also available, which is a special case of forwarding to the operator's server.
- 📱 Open the phone application on the main screen.
- ⚙️ Go to Settings via the three-point menu.
- 🔍 Find the Call Redirection section.
- 📲 Enter the target number and confirm the action.
Sometimes, once you enter a number, the activation button may be inactive, in which case, check the format of the number input. Using the country code and giving up the top eight in favor of a plus often solves the recognition problem.
Use of the USSD-code-in
For advanced users or in cases where the phone menu is not responding, there are special options for the user. USSD-These codes are universal for all operators and work on any device, including Xiaomi, Samsung and iPhone, and allow you to quickly activate or deactivate services without diving deep into the menu.
Codes have a single structure where an asterisk or other dividers are often used instead of a # symbol, but the basic commands are standardized. GSM-Enter them directly into the dialing field, like a regular call, and press the call button. The response from the operator will come in the form of a pop-up message.
*21* Phone Number # - Enable Unconditional Redirection
#21# - Disable Unconditional Redirection
*61* Phone number # - Enable forwarding if no response is received
*67* Phone Number # - Enable forwarding when employed
*62* Phone Number # - Enable forwarding when unavailableSpecial attention should be paid to the command ##002#. This is a universal reset code that disables all types of redirects at the same time, and is useful if you are confused about the settings or want to guarantee that all calls to your phone will be returned after a trip or temporary use of another SIM card.
⚠️ Attention: When entering USSD-A single-digit error can lead to the activation of an unnecessary paid service or reset important settings.
Once you have entered a command, the system can request confirmation or the time it takes to redirect (for codes with a timer). The standard latency is usually 5, 10, 15 or 20 seconds. To change this setting, more complex commands are used, which are better specified on your operator's website.
Table of codes for different scenarios
So you don't have to memorize long combinations of numbers, we've prepared a summary table of the main commands, save it or take a screenshot, so you can have quick access to managing communications services at any time.
| Action. | Activation code. | Shutdown code | Status check |
|---|---|---|---|
| All calls (Unconditional) | *21*number# | #21# | *#21# |
| If it's busy. | *67*number# | #67# | *#67# |
| If there is no answer | *61*number# | #61# | *#61# |
| If not available. | *62*number# | #62# | *#62# |
| Resetting all settings | — | ##002# | — |
The table shows that the status check uses a combination of an asterisk, code and bars, for example, the command *#21# will show whether unconditional forwarding is active and what number it is configured to, which is a convenient way to check whether your calls are not going anywhere.
What if the code doesn't work?
The use of codes is especially important when the interface is MIUI working slowly or getting stuck. USSD-Requests are processed at the network level, so they often respond faster than a smartphone’s graphical shell.
Specifics of working in the mode of two SIM-cards
Most Xiaomi smartphones have dual SIM card slots, which creates additional nuances when setting up a redirect, and you need to be clear about which SIM card you are setting up a redirect for, as the settings for the first and second card are stored independently.
The call settings menu usually displays two tabs or two sections: "SIM 1" and "SIM 2." Make sure you pick the right slot before entering the number. If you try to set up a redirect for the second SIM card while being on the menu first, nothing will happen, or the setting will apply to the wrong number.
When using two active numbers, it is important to keep track of the balance on both cards. If the card with which the redirect is configured runs out of money, the service may stop working, and the caller will hear a beep or error message, instead of connecting to your second number.
- 🔀 Switch between tabs SIM 1 and SIM 2 on the settings menu.
- 💰 Keep balance on both SIM cards regularly.
- 📶 Make sure that both cards are registered in the operator’s network.
It is also worth considering that when you actively redirect from the first SIM card to the second, the incoming call to the first card may not appear on the lock screen if the unconditional redirect is configured.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
Despite the simplicity of the procedure, users sometimes encounter errors, the most common problem being the message “Connection error” or “MMI interface”, which means that the phone was unable to contact the operator’s server to apply the settings.
In such cases, the first thing to do is to check the signal level, if the network indicator shows one division or cross, you can not set up the redirect, exit the bad reception zone or restart the device, and the problem may lie in the denial of service by the operator.
Some operators block outbound forwarding to numbers from other countries or certain operators by default to prevent fraud.
💡
Before setting up a redirect, make sure that the phone does not turn on Do Not Disturb or Air Mode mode, as they can block the sending of service USSD-request.
Another common situation is that you can't turn off redirects. If standard methods and #21# codes don't work, try removing the SIM card and pasting it into another phone, and if the problem persists, the operator's settings are stuck, and the only way to resolve the issue is by calling support.
⚠️ Warning: If you sell or give away your phone, be sure to reset all forwarding settings, otherwise the new owner of your phone will receive your private calls.
In rare cases, the Android operating system itself can cause a failure. Clearing the cache of the Phone application or resetting network settings can help restore the correct functioning of communication functions.