Why Xiaomi does not send SMS: a full analysis of the causes and solutions

You're trying to send an important message, but Xiaomi is stubbornly ignoring your attempts — does SMS not go away, hangs in the status of "send" or disappears without a trace? The problem is familiar to millions of users, and its causes can be dozens of — from a trivial error in settings to deep failures in the communication module. In this article, we will not just list possible malfunctions, but also give specific instructions for diagnosing and fixing each of them, including rare cases that are silent even support services.

What makes Xiaomi smartphones (and other brands running MIUI) so special is that the SMS problems often disguise themselves as other failures: the internet goes down, the calls go down, the battery goes down, and we'll separate the grain from the chaff and show you how to pinpoint the SMS- center, not, for example, the SIM- card problem, and you'll also know which Redmi, POCO and Mi models are most affected by this bug and why.

Important: if you use Xiaomi with two SIM- cards, the algorithm for finding the problem will be different – we have allocated a separate section for this. And owners of Android devices 13+ should pay attention to changes in Google policy that directly affect the work of SMS.

1. Check basic settings: SIM- Card and network

Start with the simplest one: make sure your SIM- card is active and properly installed. Even if you see a network signal, it doesn't guarantee that the SMS module is working correctly.

• 📱 Reboot your smartphone. It's trivial, but 30 percent of the time, it solves the problem of a temporary failure of the communication module. Hold the power button for 10 seconds until the reboot menu appears.
• 🔄 Switch network mode. Go to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → [your SIM] → Network type and select Only 4G (preferably). If the Auto was standing, try Only 3G — sometimes operators block SMS in modern standards.
• 📶 Check coverage. Open your carrier's coverage card (for example, for MTS it's mts.ru/pokryitie). If you're in the grey area, SMS may not be able to go even if the internet is working.

Pay special attention to the SIM- card slot. On dual-symbol Xiaomi (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or POCO X5 Pro), conflict often arises if both cards are from the same operator. Try temporarily retrieving the second SIM and checking the send SMS.

⚠️ Warning: If after the SIM- card is removed, the smartphone says, "Put SIM in to activate," but the card is in place, and that's a sign of damage to the slot contacts, and only the service center will help.

Also check if your number is activated with SMS forwarding. Some operators (e.g. Tele2) will redirect messages to email by default if the balance is negative. Check with support on 611 (for MegaFon), 0890 (for Beeline), or via chat in the operator's app.

2 SMS- Center Errors: How to Manually Configure

One of the most common reasons is the SMS- Center number (SMSC) that should be automatically pulled up by default, but on Xiaomi (especially after the MIUI updates), this parameter often gets confused. Here's how to check and fix it:

1. Open the Messages app (standard or Google Messages).
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Settings → Additional (or Advanced Settings).
3. Select the SMS- Center Number, and if the field is empty or there is an unfamiliar number, the problem is found.

Below are the current numbers of SMS- centers for the main Russian operators (2026 year):

If you don’t send SMS after entering the correct number, try:

• 📞 Call SMSC (just dial it in the phone book and press the call). If the connection doesn't get established, the problem is on the operator's side.
• 🔧 Reset network settings. Go to Settings → SIM- maps and mobile networks → Network reset. Attention: this will delete all stored Wi-Fi passwords!

3. Software failures: from cache to firmware

If the network and SMSC are fine, but SMS still isn't sent, the software is to blame. On Xiaomi, it could be:

• 🗑️ A clogged Messages or Phone app cache.
• 🐞 Bug in the current version MIUI (especially relevant for beta firmware).
• 📱 Shell conflict (for example, after installing a custom theme).

Start by cleaning the cache:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Messages (or Google Messages if you use it).
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
4. Repeat the phone and Google Play Services for the app.

If that doesn't work, try resetting the Messages app settings (in the same storage menu).Warning: this will delete the entire SMS history!

For devices on MIUI 14+, there is another trick: turn off battery optimization for the Messages app:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Optimization.
2. Find Messages in the list and select Without Limits.

Clear the Message cache | Clear the cache of Google Play Services |Reset the Messages app settings |Disable battery optimization for SMS- apps |Reboot your phone-->

If the problem occurred after the MIUI update, check the forums (e.g. Mi Community) for mass complaints. For example, MIUI 13.0.6 for Redmi Note 11 had a bug that left SMS only after the reboot, in which case either a rollback to the previous version or waiting for a patch helps.

4. Two-sim Xiaomi: features and conflicts

If your Xiaomi supports two SIM- cards (e.g., POCO F5 or Xiaomi 13T), the problem with SMS may be due to a priority conflict. By default, the device tries to send messages through the first SIM, but if it is busy calling or not catching the network, SMS will get stuck in a queueue.

Here's how to fix it:

1. Go to Settings → SIM- Cards and Mobile Networks → By Default for SMS.
2. Select the SIM- card you want to send messages through (e.g., SIM 2).
3. Activate the option to always ask if you want to select SIM before each shipment.

Also check if the dual 4G function is enabled (in the same SIM- card settings). On some models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, Mi 11 Lite), it can block the SMS on one of the cards. Disable it and restart the phone.

If you’re using a virtual SIM (eSIM) along with a physical one, try temporarily disabling eSIM. On Xiaomi with Android 12+, there’s a bug that causes the eSIM to “intercept” SMS- traffic even if you’re sending a message from a physical card.

Blocking by the operator: checking the status of the number

Communications providers may block SMS sending for several reasons:

• 💰 Negative balance (even if you have unlimited on SMS, some rates require a minimum balance).
• 🚫 Suspicion of spam (if you have sent many messages to short numbers or services).
• 🔒 Outbound Prohibit SMS service is activated (sometimes connected by mistake).
• 📵 Roaming numbers with restrictions (e.g., Tele2 in some countries SMS are blocked).

To check the status of your number:

1. Dial the combination to check the balance: MTS: *100# Beeline: *102# MegaFon: *100# Tele2: *105#

If the balance is negative, deposit at least 50₽, which is usually enough to unlock.

MTS

Beeline

Critical information: if you bought a SIM- card from dealers (not in official stores), there is a high risk that the number was already blacklisted by the operator for spam, in which case SMS will not be sent on any device.

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If the operator blocks SMS because of "suspicious activity", try sending a message to the support number (for example, 0890 for Beeline).

6. Alternative ways to send SMS

If standard methods do not work, use the workarounds:

• 🌐 Internet Send. Install Google Messages and activate Chat (RCS). Messages will leave over the Internet, but the recipient will see them as normal SMS (not working with all carriers).
• 📧 Email-to-SMS. Some operators allow SMS to be sent via email. For example, for MTS, the address would be [number]@sms.mts.ru. The full list of gateways: MTS: [number]@sms.mts.ru Beeline: [number]@sms.beemail.ru MegaFon: [number]@sms.megafon.ru Television2: [number]@sms.tele2.ru
• 🤖 Intermediate bots. There are bots like @SMSBot on Telegram that can send a message for you (paid, ~1₽ for SMS).

For root-righted Xiaomi owners, there is another option: use apps like Pulse SMS that send messages through their own server, but this requires technical skills and can violate the warranty.

7. Hardware malfunctions: when you need to service

If none of the above methods worked, the problem could be the hardware.

• 📵 SMS are not sent, but calls are working (this indicates damage to the SMS module in the radio track).
• 🔌 After falling or getting moisture stopped sending SMS, but the internet and calls are fine.
• 🔄 Rebooting the phone temporarily resolves the problem (a sign of unstable antenna contact).

The most vulnerable Xiaomi models in terms of hardware problems with SMS:

If you suspect a hardware malfunction, don’t try to disassemble the phone yourself – Xiaomi uses fragile plumes that are easily damaged. Contact the service center with a reference to the error code (if any). For example, if you see SMS fail: error 38 in the logs (#4636# → Phone information), this indicates an IMEI problem.

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If the phone fell or got wet, and SMS stopped sending through 1-2 week - this is a classic symptom of corrosion of contacts. In this case, the repair will cost 1.5-ZXPH0003QXZ thousand rubles (replacement of SIM- slot or soldered antenna).

8 Prevention: How to Avoid SMS Problems in the Future

To minimize the risk of repeated failures:

• 🔄 Update MIUI regularly, but don’t beta if you’re stable SMS.
• 📱 Use original SIM- cards (not cropped nano-SIM from micro-SIM).
• 🔋 Watch the temperature of the phone. If the body heats up above 45 °C, the communication module may shut down.
• 🛡️ Install an antivirus (like Dr.Web Light). Some viruses block SMS to intercept codes from banks.
• 📡 Avoid "gray" firmware. Custom MIUI (e.g. xiaomi.eu) may conflict with the communication module.

For business users who are critical of the reliability of SMS, we recommend:

• 📊 Use a backup channel (e.g. WhatsApp Business or Telegram).
• 📱 Have a second phone with a different SIM- card (e.g. Redmi A2+ for 5,000 rubles).
• 🔄 Set up automatic forwarding SMS to email (check with the operator).

FAQ: Frequent questions about SMS issues on Xiaomi