How to turn on a choice SIM-cards when dialing on Xiaomi Redmi

Owners of modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often face a situation where the device automatically selects a SIM card for an outgoing call, ignoring the user's preferences. This can lead to unexpected costs if the call is made through a tariff with an expensive per-minute fee, or problems with communication if the network chosen in a particular location is unstable. Understanding how to manage this process is a key skill for effective use of a two-sim phone.

The MIUI shell interface on which the brand’s phones are based offers flexible voice management tools, but they are not always obvious at first glance. The system can hide the SIM card selection menu depending on the firmware version and regional settings. In this article, we will detail the algorithms for enabling a forced SIM card request before each call, and also consider the nuances of the operation of “smart” switching, which is often mistaken by users for an error.

You don't need any root or third-party rights to get started, all the features are built into the standard phone module and Android system settings, and we'll look at both basic configuration scenarios and complex cases where the selection menu doesn't appear due to software conflicts or carrier features.

Basic settings for voice calls in MIUI

The initial setup of communication priorities is done through the main menu of system parameters, and this is where the logic of the smartphone behavior when you initiate the connection is set. You need to go to Settings, and then select the item. SIM-Maps and mobile networks. This section shows all active communication modules installed in the device.

At the top of the screen, you'll see a block called "Default for Calls," which usually has a "Always Ask" value or a specific SIM card (SIM 1 or SIM 2) selected, and it's important that the selection function works properly with "Always Ask" mode, but if a particular card is selected, the phone will ignore manual selection attempts and immediately start dialing through a given channel.

However, even if you have the right setting, in some versions MIUI You may need to activate the option further in the menu of the phone app itself. To do this, open the "caller", click on three dots in the corner of the screen and select "Settings". Find the "Advanced Settings" or "Call Settings" section and make sure that the switch "Always Ask" SIM-map activated.

It's worth noting that the changes in settings take effect immediately, but may require a reboot of the phone's interface. If the switching switches didn't make a selection menu on the next call, try making a test call to a voicemail number or subscriber. The system should respond with a pop-up asking you to select a SIM card.

Setting up your contact preferences and recent calls

The convenience of using a dual-SIM smartphone is greatly enhanced by customizing your preferences for frequently used numbers. MIUI allows you to remember the choice of SIM card for a particular contact so that the system does not ask again every time, saving time and eliminating unnecessary clicks when calling loved ones or colleagues.

To set a permanent SIM card for a particular number, open the Contacts app or go to the call log. Find the number you want and click on it. In the contact details menu that opens, you'll see SIM card icons or the default sign, and by clicking on this item, you can choose which network to always call that subscriber through.

If you want to reset this rule and get back the choice, just click on the SIM card icon in your contact card and select the option “Always Ask” or “Reset the Choices,” which is especially useful for those who use one card for personal affairs and another for work and want to clearly delineate communication flows.

• 📞 Open the call log and find the number in the list.
• ⚙️ Click on the SIM card icon next to the contact name.
• ✅ Select your preferred network or Always Ask mode».

There's also the ability to customize the behavior of a callback, so if you missed a call to a second SIM, the phone might suggest that you call back from that card, which is called Smart SIM, and it activates in the same call settings, and it analyzes which card the incoming card has received, and suggests that you use it for the outgoing card.

Managing the “Always Ask” Mode via Phone Book

Sometimes global settings work correctly, but the SIM card selection interface does not appear when dialing manually through the dial. In such cases, you should pay attention to the settings for the display of the keyboard and the behavior of the call button. In some design themes or when using third-party “calls”, this functionality may be hidden.

To force a SIM card request to be enabled when manually dialed, make sure you use the standard MIUI Dialer app. Third-party apps downloaded from Google Play may have their own network selection algorithms that ignore Xiaomi's system settings.

⚠️ Note: If you use a third-party app to make calls (such as Truecaller or Google Phone), your choice settings SIM-The cards may be inside the app itself, rather than in the general settings of the system. Check the "Communication" or "Calls" section inside the software you use.

It’s also worth checking if Do Not Disturb mode or special profiles are enabled that can block pop-up selections. In rare cases, cleaning the phone app’s cache helps. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Phone → Clear the cache. This action is safe and won’t delete your contacts or call history.

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If the choice menu SIM disappears after updating MIUI, Try resetting the network settings in the menu «SIM-maps and mobile networks» → «Resetting. This will bring back the standard operator selection algorithms.

Features of working with two operators and roaming

Using SIM cards from different carriers imposes limitations on the network selection process, for example, if one operator only works in 4G/LTE and the other one works in 3G, the phone can automatically select the card with a higher quality signal, ignoring your preferences, this behavior is embedded in the algorithms of the radio module to ensure the stability of the communication.

In roaming mode, things get complicated, because many operators block outbound calls through their network unless data roaming or voice is enabled, and in this case, even if you choose a SIM card to call, the call may not pass, and Xiaomi's system can alert you to this, but not always.

It is critical for travellers to check their roaming settings before every call. → SIM-maps and mobile networks and select the appropriate SIM card. Make sure that the data roaming switch and voice roaming switch (if available separately) are activated. Without this, selecting a SIM card when dialing will be useless.

If this feature is activated on only one SIM card, the phone may try to use it for all calls so as not to switch the network to 3G/2G. Disabling VoLTE on one of the cards can help return the selection menu if it is lost.

Solving the Disappearance of the SIM Selection Menu

Users often complain that after another firmware update, the SIM selection menu stops appearing, and the phone starts ringing only through one pre-selected card.This is a common MIUI optimization bug that can be fixed in several ways. The first step is to check for system updates, since Xiaomi often releases patches for such errors.

If there are no updates, try switching network mode. Go to the settings of each SIM card and temporarily change the network type from "Preferred LTE" to "3G Only" or "2G/3G", and then return back. This action restarts the radio module and resets some temporary configurations that block the selection.

In some cases, the problem is with applications that record calls or number detectors, try to temporarily disable or delete such programs, if the selection menu appears, then the conflict is found, and resetting the call settings through the engineering menu also helps, but this requires caution.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use third-party applications to “accelerate” or “clean up” memory that aggressively terminate system processes. They may stop services responsible for managing SIM cards, which will lead to the disappearance of the selection menu.

Use of engineering menus and hidden settings

For advanced users, you can fine-tune the behavior of SIM cards through the Xiaomi engineering menu, accessed through a set of special code in the phone app. Enter the code ##4636##. If the code works, the test menu will open.

In this menu, select Phone Information 1 or Phone Information 2. You can see detailed signal statistics and switch your preferred network type. However, you can't directly turn on "always ask" here, but you can diagnose whether the phone sees both SIM cards correctly. If one of the cards shows as "Disconnected" or "No signal" when fully covered, the problem may be hardware.

Another hidden option is in the developer menu: Turn on the developer mode by clicking seven times on the build number in About Phone. Then look for the mobile network section, there may be a Network Preference option that you can try to change. However, standard settings are usually more effective for solving the SIM card selection problem.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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The main conclusion: stable operation of the SIM-card depends on the correctness of the global settings of MIUI and the absence of conflicts with third-party software.

In conclusion, managing the selection of a SIM card on Xiaomi Redmi is a process that requires a single competent setup, understanding the logic of the system allows you to avoid unnecessary costs and ensures a comfortable connection. If none of the methods helped, perhaps the problem is hardware in nature or is associated with improper operation. SIM-Cards that should be checked in the operator’s cabin.