Changing a mobile operator, switching to a new tariff or having to replace a damaged SIM card are standard situations that every smartphone owner faces. Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 model often look for information on how to properly remove the tray so as not to damage the fragile mechanism or the card itself. Despite the apparent simplicity of the process, there are a number of nuances that can lead to a breakage of the socket.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithm of actions, the necessary tools and design features of your device. You will learn how to safely manipulate the tray for SIM, how to correctly navigate the chip during installation and what to do if the card is stuck inside the case.
Many users make the mistake of trying to tamper with nails or sharp objects like a knife, which is strictly forbidden by the manufacturer. The Redmi Note 7 mechanism is designed to minimize risks, but requires the use of a special key or its neat counterpart. Let's look at all the steps in detail and without unnecessary technical complexity.
Preparation of the workplace and necessary tools
Before you start physically affecting your smartphone, you need to be comfortable. Bad lighting or shaking hands can cause you to drop a tiny nano-SIM or scratch the device's frame. Find a table with a flat surface and a good light source to see all the small details.
The main tool for retrieving the tray is a special metal clip that comes with the phone. If the original key is lost, it can be replaced by a regular stationery clip, straightening one of its ends, or a thin needle. The main requirement for the tool is that it must be thin enough to enter the hole, and strong enough to withstand pressure.
- 🔦 Provide bright lighting to the work area to see the micro-hole.
- 🧹 Wipe hands and phone body with dry cloth to prevent slipping.
- 📏 Prepare a flat surface so that the fallen sim does not roll far.
It's also important to make sure your hands are dry and fat-free. Fat marks can make it difficult to grab a slippery tray when it's pushed out of the case. If you're wearing a protective case, it's best to temporarily remove it so it doesn't interfere with viewing and accessing the end of the device where the SIM card slot is located.
⚠️ Warning: Never use a tray of shills, nails or objects that are too thick to remove, and that are larger than the hole, which can cause permanent damage to the internal pressing mechanism.
Location of the slot for SIM-maps on Redmi Note 7
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 features a classic control layout, a SIM card slot located on the bottom end of the device, to the left of the USB Type-C charging connector and to the right of the main speaker, and a narrow, elongated slot in a metal frame, next to which is a tiny circular hole.
The tray design in this model is combined: one side is designed to install a microSD memory card and the other is designed for a SIM card. This allows the user to flexibly configure the device, choosing between a second SIM card and an extension of internal memory. It is important not to confuse the sides during installation, since the contacts must match the sites on the motherboard.
Visually, the right side for the SIM can be determined by the shape of the cutout in the plastic insert tray. The side for the SIM usually has a cutout under a rectangle with one cut angle (the shape of the nano-sim), whereas the side for the memory card has a more complex step shape. Careful examination of the extracted tray will help avoid errors in reverse assembly.
Step-by-step: how to remove the tray
The process of removing the tray takes only a few seconds, but requires confident and careful movements. Take the prepared tool (clip or needle) in the working hand, and the phone is firmly fixed in the other. Point the tool's tip strictly perpendicular to the plane of the end of the smartphone into a small hole next to the slot.
Smoothly, but with enough force, press the instrument. You should feel a slight click and spring resistance, after which the tray will move out of the body by about 2-3 millimeters. You do not need to press too sharply or deep, short enough pulse for the mechanism to work.
☑️ Tray extraction algorithm
Once the tray has moved out, gently tuck it in with your fingers or tweezers and pull it out completely. If the tray doesn't move out when pressed, check if you hit the hole correctly. Sometimes factory paint or dust can slightly block access, and a slightly more accurate positioning of the tool is required.
⚠️ Warning: If the tray is stuck and cannot be retrieved, do not use excessive force. Try to sway the tool slightly from side to side without removing it to release the hook mechanism.
Proper installation and orientation of Nano-SIM
Modern smartphones, including the Redmi Note 7, work exclusively with the Nano-SIM format.This is the smallest standard of SIM cards, and trying to insert a larger card (Micro or Mini), even cropped yourself, can lead to stuck or damaged contacts.
When you install, pay attention to the location of the golden contacts: they should look downwards, to the inside of the tray. The cut corner of the card should match the corresponding protrusion in the plastic frame of the tray. If the card is not lying right or there is resistance, do not press, turn it over or unfold it 180 degrees.
| Parameter | Slot 1 (SIM) | Slot 2 (SIM/SD) | General requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of card | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM or microSD | Standard sizes only |
| Contacts | Down. | No dirt and no scratches. | |
| Fixation | Tight, no backlash. | Tight, no backlash. | Coincidence of cut angle |
| Hot-swap | Supported | Supported | It is advisable to turn off the phone |
If you use a combined slot for the second SIM card and memory card, remember that you will not be able to install two SIMs and a memory card in the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 at the same time. You will have to choose between two SIM cards, or one SIM card and a microSD card up to 256 GB.
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If you use a cropped SIM card, make sure the edges are cut evenly and there are no burrs that can scratch the contact pads inside the phone.
How to insert the tray back into the smartphone
Once you have a SIM card or a memory card installed, you have to put the tray back in place, keep it steady, make sure that the cards don't fall out or move out of their seats, and the tray has a very specific orientation: the bevels on the plastic frame must match the shape of the hole in the case.
Put the tray in the rails to the point, you have to feel that it comes in smoothly, without resistance, if you feel the stop immediately, then the tray is turned over or inserted at the wrong angle, do not use force, so as not to break the plastic guides inside the case.
Move the tray until its outer edge equals the smartphone's bezels. A characteristic click at the end of the turn means that the lock mechanism has worked and the tray is locked. Now the phone is ready to turn on or, if it was turned on, to identify a new network.
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A properly inserted tray sits level with the body and does not protrude outward, providing tightness and protection from dust.
Checking the network and troubleshooting
After you install the SIM card, turn on your smartphone. MIUI automatically determines a new card and requests PIN-At the top of the screen, in the status bar, there should be signal level icons and operator designation (for example, MTS, Beeline, Megafon).
If your phone says "No SIM card" or "Put in a SIM card," try the following: First, make sure the card is inserted to the end and fixed. Second, wipe the SIM card contacts with a soft wipe or an alcohol wipe, as oxidation can interfere with reading. Third, check the card's performance on another device.
Sometimes the problem is a software failure. Going to and from flight mode can restart the communication module. To do this, lower the notification curtain and press the aircraft icon, wait 10 seconds and turn off the mode. If this does not help, you may need to reset the network settings through the Settings menu. → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
What if the tray fell out completely and was lost?
Can I use an old-format SIM card (Mini or Micro)?
Why does the phone only see one of the two SIM cards?
In conclusion, it is worth noting that regular cleaning of the SIM card contacts and careful handling of the tray avoid most communication problems. If you have followed all the steps of the instructions, but the phone still does not see the network, it may be the communication module itself or the antenna that requires contacting the service center.