Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus smartphone often face the need to use two numbers, but do not always immediately understand how to implement this feature.The model, released in early 2018, features a combined slot, which requires careful approach when installing communication modules. The hybrid tray allows you to choose between two SIM cards or one card and a memory card, but physically insert two modules at the same time only in a certain way.
Installation of the chip incorrectly can cause damage or damage to the reader inside the case. In this article, we will discuss in detail the process of extracting the tray, the correct orientation of the contacts and the subsequent software configuration in the MIUI shell. You will learn how to avoid typical errors and make both numbers work steadily.
Preparation for installation and necessary tools
Before you start physically manipulating the device, make sure you have all the required components on hand. First, you’ll need the Nano-SIM SIM itself, which is the standard for most modern smartphones, including the Redmi 5 Plus. If your card is larger, it’ll have to be neatly cut around the circuit or replaced from a carrier.
It is also critical to have a special metal clip on hand, which comes with the phone. The use of sharp objects like needles or pins is not recommended, as their diameter can damage the mechanism of the extract button. If the original paperclip is lost, you can use a thin stitch or even a toothpick, but you should act with utmost care.
It is recommended to perform the procedure in good light to clearly see the contacts and guides. Before starting work, it is advisable to turn off the smartphone, although modern devices support hot replacement, but for the Redmi 5 Plus, a full reboot after installation will not be superfluous measure for the correct initialization of the network.
☑️ Ready for installation
Anatomy of the tray and the location of slots
The sim card slot in Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus is located on the lower end of the case, to the left of the Micro-USB charging connector. The tray has an elongated oval shape and is hidden inside the case, opening only after pressing the hidden mechanism. The tray design is made in the form of a hybrid module, which means that there are two seats on one side and one on the other, or a specific two-way layout.
It is important to understand the architecture of this element: one side of the tray is designed to install two Nano-SIM cards located on top of each other in special recesses. The second side is usually reserved for a microSD card, but in some tray revisions the design may differ. The standard version for the Redmi 5 Plus uses a two-sided tray, where two SIMs are placed on one side and a memory card on the other.
Notice the bevelled corner of the cards. It serves as a key to prevent misplacement. If you try to insert the card with the wrong side, it simply won't lie in the designated area. Contact areas should be directed down to the smartphone board if the tray is inserted by contacts upwards, or vice versa, depending on the specific geometry of the tray, but usually in Xiaomi contacts look downwards when installed in the phone.
Can I use a memory card and two SIMs at the same time?
Step-by-step instructions for removing the tray
The extraction process requires care, but it shouldn't be difficult. Take your smartphone in one hand so that the bottom end is facing you. Find a small hole next to the oval frame of the tray. Put the tip of the clip perpendicular to the surface of the case in this hole all the way.
Once you feel resistance, you need to apply a little force, the tray has to move a few millimeters, and then you can pull it out with your fingers, and don't try to pull the tray if it doesn't respond, because you may not have pressed the paperclip deeply enough or you may have chosen the wrong angle.
If the tray is stuck, don't use excessive force to avoid damaging the inner springs. Easy swaying the staples from side to side can help free the mechanism. Make sure you press the center of the hole, not the edge.
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If the tray is difficult to remove, try to slightly tap the end of the phone on a soft surface (for example, a folded towel) at the same time as pressing the paper clip - vibration will help the mechanism to work.
Proper installation of SIM cards in the tray
Now, when you're holding the tray, you'll see the two cutouts of the same size, and these are the places to install two Nano-SIM SIMs. Unlike the older models, there's no separation between the "main" and the "secondary" SIMs on the physical level, both of which work equally.
Take the first SIM card and place it in one of the notches. The bevelled corner of the card should match the bevelled angle of the notch in the tray. Make sure the golden contacts point down (or up, check with the pattern on the tray itself if there is one, but 99% of the time in Redmi 5 Plus, the contacts look in the direction opposite to the front of the tray, that is, inward when the tray is inserted).
Set the second SIM card in the remaining free space in the same way. Make sure that the cards do not overlap and do not protrude outside the tray. If you plan to use the memory card, then in this scenario with two SIMs, it will, alas, not stand, as it will take the place of one of the cards or require a specific two-way tray, which in the base configuration of the Redmi 5 Plus usually involves the choice: 2 SIM or 1 SIM + SD.
Important: Some regions have one-way tray phones, where two SIMs are placed side by side and a memory card is separately, but the Redmi 5 Plus has a two-way tray. If your tray has cutouts on both sides, two SIMs are placed on one side and a memory card on the other. Smoke on one side, flip the tray and check if the card convexness interferes with the installation of the memory card on the back side (usually does not interfere, since the cards are thin).
Inserting the tray back into the smartphone case
Once the maps are successfully installed, you need to put the tray back in place, and this requires a certain amount of precision, because the wrong orientation can cause a breakdown. Take the tray so that the bevelled angle of the outer bezels matches the bevelled angle of the hole in the phone case.
Check the tray position carefully: it must enter smoothly, effortlessly. If you feel resistance, do not press. Take out the tray, turn it 180 degrees and try again. Mechanical force is unacceptable here.
The tray must enter the case before clicking or before the phone frame is fully compared. If the tray sticks out even a millimeter, this can violate the tightness (although there is no full moisture protection here) and lead to dust entering the mechanism.
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The tray must enter completely smoothly. Any resistance means the wrong orientation — turn the tray over, but don't use force.
Set up network and priorities in MIUI
After switching on the smartphone system MIUI It will automatically detect new SIM cards. You'll see notifications on the screen asking you to configure the cards. Go to the Settings menu, then select the option. SIM-maps and mobile networks. Here you'll see a list of installed maps: SIM 1 and SIM 2.
In this menu, you can give each card a clear name, like "Work" and "Personal", so you don't get confused later on, and you can set priorities here, and you can choose which SIM card will be used by default for mobile Internet and which for voice calls.
For each card, you can select a separate setting: 4G on/off, data roam, network type. It is recommended for the main card through which the Internet goes, choose 4G mode, and for the second, if it is used only for calls, you can leave automatic selection or 3G to save charge, although the Redmi 5 Plus supports 4G on both slots (but not simultaneously).
| Parameter | SIM 1 (Main) | SIM 2 (Additional) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | On. | On. | You can turn it off programmatically. |
| Default calls | Always ask | - | Convenient for separation |
| Mobile Internet | SIM 1 | Off | One active access point |
| Type of network | 4G / LTE | 4G / LTE | Switching automatically |
Solving map definition problems
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the phone sees only one SIM card or the second one is detected with an error. First of all, check the purity of the contacts. Wipe the golden surface of the SIM card with a soft dry cloth. Fat spots or oxidation can prevent contact.
The second common reason is a loose fit. Make sure the card doesn't hang in the tray. If the tray is deformed, the card can be gently glued with a thin layer of tape on the back (without gluing the contacts!) to add thickness, but in the case of the Redmi 5 Plus, this is rarely required.
⚠️ Warning: If your phone says "No" or "Emergency Calls Only" on the second SIM, try swapping them in the tray.
The problem can also be a software failure: try resetting your network settings. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Recovery and Reset → Reset your Wi-Fi, mobile Internet and Bluetooth settings. This will not delete your personal data, but will return the network settings to factory settings.
If nothing works, check the SIM card on another phone, it may be damaged or does not support your carrier's network standards, and older SIM cards, released more than 10 years ago, may not work properly in modern smartphones.