How to turn off the SIM on Xiaomi: a detailed guide

Smartphone owners often face the need to temporarily deactivate one of the devices. SIM-This action may be required to save battery power, eliminate network search problems in roaming, or simply to turn off unnecessary calls outside working hours. On Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices, this process does not require tray extraction and can be done by software in seconds.

The MIUI shell interface or the new HyperOS provides flexible mobile connectivity management tools. The user can completely disable a particular slot, switch the device to aerial mode or configure automatic scripts. Understanding how to properly manage SIM cards helps not only in everyday situations, but also in the diagnosis of network problems when forced re-registration is required in the operator’s network.

In this guide, we will take a look at all the available ways to disable a SIM card on Xiaomi smartphones. We will look at the standard paths in the settings menu, the features of working with two cards and nuances that are often forgotten even by experienced users. Observing the right sequence of actions ensures that your contact will remain available for incoming ones after re-enablement.

The main way to disconnect through settings

The simplest and most reliable method of deactivating a SIM card is in the system card management menu, which allows you to selectively disable one of the cards, leaving the second active, which is critical for owners of dual-symbol devices. First, you need to unlock the smartphone screen and find the Settings app icon, which usually looks like a gear.

In the list of parameters that opens, you should scroll the screen to the section responsible for wireless connections. Depending on the firmware version, this item may be called SIM-Maps and mobile networks, or just Connections and Sharing, and you click on this, and you'll be taken to the menu, which displays all the cards you've installed in the device with their current status.

• 📱 Find the right one on the list. SIM-map, SIM 1 SIM (2) by operator name or label colour.
• 🔘 Click the switch opposite the card name to change its position from active to inactive.
• ✅ Make sure the card indicator is grey and the network icon in the status bar is gone for the given slot.

Once the card is turned off, the system can display a pop-up notification that the subscriber will be unavailable, which is the normal behavior of the Android operating system. If you use your smartphone for work and personal contacts, separating cards by destination (for example, "Work" and "Personal") makes it much easier to manage them through this interface.

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Use the profile or script switching feature in the Security app to automatically turn off the second SIM at night or on schedule.

Managing two SIM cards at the same time

Xiaomi smartphones are famous for their functionality in working with two physical devices SIM-However, there are situations where you need to turn off both cards at once without going into flight mode, or, conversely, quickly activate them after a period of downtime. In the map management menu, each SIM has its own independent switchboard, which allows you to flexibly combine their state.

When one card is disabled, the system will automatically redirect all mobile traffic and voice calls to the remaining active SIM, unless this is prohibited by the default settings.

If you plan to not use the second SIM card for a long time, a complete software shutdown is preferable to physical extraction, as this saves the network settings and contacts associated with this slot.

Flight mode as an alternative

Often users are looking for a way to turn off the Xiaomi SIM, meaning that all radio modules are completely turned off, and the ideal flight mode (Air Mode) is for this, activating this feature instantly disrupts communication of all wireless interfaces, including GSM, LTE, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (although the latter two can be turned on separately).

Unlike a selective shutdown SIM-The flight mode acts globally on all radio frequency radiation of the device. This is useful in airplanes, hospitals or cinemas where complete silence is required on the air. The switch is usually in the notification curtain, which is called by a swipe from top to bottom of the screen.

However, it is worth considering the differences: if your goal is simply to save charge or hide the number from calls, but leave the ability to use Wi-Fi for instant messengers, then the flight mode will require additional actions to re-enable Wi-Fi. Selectively disabling the SIM in the settings in this case will be a more convenient solution.

⚠️ Note: When flight mode is enabled, emergency calls (e.g., 112 or 911) may not be available depending on the region and operator settings, even if the card is physically present in the device.

Rebooting the device and resetting the network

Sometimes users confuse the concept of "turn off the SIM" with the need to reboot the communication module to eliminate errors. If the phone stopped seeing the network or writes "No" (No service), simply switching the switch in the settings may not help, in which case a deeper procedure is required - restarting the device itself.

The Reboot process completely trims the modem and re-starts all system services responsible for communication. This often solves problems with the "stick" of the network or the inability to register for roaming. To perform the action, press the power button and select Reboot on the screen.

If the problem is software-based and involves incorrect access point settings or network profiles, you may need to reset your network settings, which will return your mobile settings to factory values, but will not affect your personal files, photos or apps.

• 🔄 Go to Settings. → Connection and sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth.
• ⚙️ Confirm the action by entering the screen lock pin.
• 📡 After the reboot, re-enter the Wi-Fi password and check the SIM card.

Physical extraction SIM-map

A radical, but sometimes necessary, way to turn off the SIM is to physically remove it from the tray, a method that guarantees 100% shutdown as the electrical circuit between the card and the motherboard breaks, the only way that works even when the screen is completely broken or the system is suspended.

Removal requires a special paper clip that comes with a smartphone, or a thin needle. The tray hole is usually located on the lower or upper end of the case, pressing must be point-based and sure, after which the tray will go out.

It is important to be careful when working with the tray, as it has a specific shape and can only be installed in one position. Incorrect installation can damage contacts. Before retrieving the card, it is strongly recommended to turn off the phone, although modern Hot-swap standards allow you to do this on the hot, the risk of damage to the file system of contacts (if they are stored on the card) still exists.

⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to remove the tray if the phone is in water or high humidity to avoid short circuit contacts.

After the card is removed, the phone may notify you of the absence of SIM-This is a normal system response. To reactivate, just put the card back in the tray, keeping the orientation of the slice, and insert the tray before you click.

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Physical extraction is the only way to completely de-energize the card chip, which is necessary for long-term storage of the phone or the diagnosis of hardware malfunctions.

Solution and lockdown

In the process of managing SIM cards, users may encounter a request PUK-code-lock PIN-If you turn off the SIM through the settings, and when you turn it on, it requires an unlock code, it means that the card itself has protection, and entering the wrong code several times will lead to a complete lock of the card.

There is also the concept of blocking IMEI. If the phone is stolen or lost, the operator or law enforcement agencies can lock the device using its unique identifier, in which case the software shutting down the SIM will not help restore access to the network, since the lock occurs at the level of the equipment and the operator.

If the SIM card is permanently turned off on its own, this may indicate wear of the contacts, oxidation of the tray or software conflict. In such cases, it is recommended to clean the contacts of the card with a soft eraser or replace the SIM card with a new one from the operator, saving the number.

Knowing how to manage SIM cards on Xiaomi devices allows not only saving resources, but also maintaining privacy. Use software methods for daily tasks and physical extraction only in extreme cases. Correct setting of priorities and timely disabling of unused slots will make using your smartphone more comfortable and efficient.