When messages stop coming on a modern Xiaomi smartphone, it often takes the user by surprise, and it can happen suddenly, without any visible changes in the device, and is a serious concern, especially if you are waiting for a confirmation code from the bank or an important call through feedback services.
The problem of lack of incoming SMS-messages on shell devices MIUI or a new HyperOS can be caused by many factors: from banal overflow of memory to complex conflicts in the work of system communication modules.
In this guide, we will take a closer look at all possible causes of a failure and provide step-by-step instructions for fixing them, learn how to check the locker settings, set access points correctly, and when a carrier needs to intervene.
Checking the basic status of the network and SIM card
The first thing you need to do is make sure that the device actually sees the network of the cellular operator, and if the status bar is lit by a "No Network" icon or a crossed-out SIM card, the problem lies deeper than the application level.
Try to remove the SIM card tray and wipe the contacts with a soft eraser or dry cloth. Contact oxidation is a common cause of unstable communication module operation, which causes GSM-module cannot register on the network to receive data.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure the SIM card is not physically damaged and is properly installed in the slot.Incorrect installation can lead to short circuit of the phone's contacts.
It is also worth checking whether the service of receiving SMS on the operator's side is active, and sometimes after scheduled work or a change in the tariff, this option can be accidentally deactivated in the personal account.
For quick diagnosis, reboot the device, which resets the temporary errors in the radio module and forcibly re-registers the phone in the base station network.
Settings of the Messages app in MIUI
In the Android operating system that Xiaomi uses, a specific application is responsible for receiving text messages, and if its settings fail, the messages may simply not appear or come at all.
Check to see if the application is disabled or not limited in the background, and MIUI is known for its aggressive energy savings, which can kill the processes necessary for normal communication.
- 📱 Go to Settings and select the App item.
- 🔍 Find in the list of “Messages” (or “Messages”) and click on it.
- ⚙️ Select Other Permits and make sure that access to the SMS permitted.
- 🔋 Go to the charge saving section and select No Limits mode».
If the problem persists, try to clear the app's cache.This won't delete your correspondence, but will reset temporary files that may have been corrupted.
In some cases, resetting the app to factory settings helps, and to do so, click the Delete Data or Clear Everything button on the app menu, and the phone may then require reconfiguration as the main SMS application.
☑️ Diagnostics of the annex
It is also important to make sure that the Messages app is chosen as the default application for SMS. If this feature is intercepted by a third-party application, system notifications may not work properly.
The work of the spam blocker and blacklists
One of the most common reasons why you don’t see incoming messages is the built-in antivirus and MIUI blocker, which can mistakenly classify important notifications from banks or services as spam.
The built-in security guard analyzes the content and the sender. If the number is in the fraudsters' database or the text of the message contains suspicious links, it will automatically be hidden from the user's eyes.
Like hidden messages?
To check for blocked messages, open the Security app (green zipper icon) and go to the Antivirus section or immediately to the Blacklist.
- 🛡️ Open the Security app on the home screen.
- 🚫 Find the icon Blacklist or Block.
- 📂 Go to the Messages tab or SMS.
- ✅ If there is a message you want, click on it and select Recovery.
Also check the settings of the message app itself. Some firmware versions have a separate Spam Filter filter that you need to manually disable if it is too aggressive.
⚠️ Please do not add short service numbers (e.g. 900, 111) to the blacklist, otherwise you will no longer receive confirmation and notification codes from the operator.
Checking this section regularly will help you see if your phone is not “losing” messages systemically, but simply hiding them from you for security.
Conflicts of third-party applications and launchers
If you have installed third-party SMS programs, launchers, or memory cleanup utilities, they may conflict with standard Xiaomi functionality.
Third-party launchers sometimes mishandle notifications or block access to system dialog boxes. Try temporarily returning a standard launcher and checking the communication.
Third-party antivirus applications (Avast, Kaspersky, Dr.Web) also have their own spam protection modules, which can duplicate system functions and create a priority conflict, as a result of which no application receives the rights to process the incoming signal.
To diagnose, log into Safe Mode, which only runs system applications, and if you have SMS in Safe Mode, it's one of the apps you've installed that's to blame.
Remove newly installed programs, especially those that require access to contacts and messages, which often cause system services to fail.
Reset network settings and APN
Incorrect access point (APN) settings can affect not only mobile internet, but also service messages, especially MMS and messages from operators using data channels.
Resetting the network settings will return all connection settings to factory values, a secure operation that will not affect your personal files, photos or contacts.
To perform the reset, go to the Settings menu → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. Confirm the action and wait for the communication modules to restart.
| Parameter | Default value | Possible mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Type APN | default,supl,mms | Absence of mms |
| Protocol | IPv4/IPv6 | Only IPv6. |
| Network | 4G/LTE | Only 3G/2G |
| roaming | Permitted. | Prohibited. |
Once reset, the phone will request configuration again from the operator, make sure that the automatic setup is successful, and in some rare cases, you need to manually register the APN settings, which can be found on your carrier's website.
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Before resetting your network settings, write down important Wi-Fi passwords as they will be deleted from your phone’s memory.
Operator-side problems and formatting
Sometimes the problem isn't with the phone, but with the message format or the operator side, and older SIM cards or specific tariffs may not support modern long message formats.
If you don't get long SMS messages, they may break up and one of the parts is lost during transmission, and it's also worth checking if the operator's SMS service is blocked (sometimes when switching to corporate rates).
Contact your operator's support team, ask them to check if they're receiving messages and if the number is locked, and check if there's any technical work in your area.
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If after all the manipulations, SMS does not come, and on another phone with your SIM card everything works, the problem is in Xiaomi software. If on another phone silence is a problem with the operator or SIM card.
In rare cases, replacing a SIM card with a new one in the operator’s cabin helps, and older chips can degrade and lose their ability to consistently receive signals from new communication standards.
Radical measures: Resetting and reflashing
If none of the above methods worked, it is possible that the system has accumulated critical errors or damaged the system files responsible for the radio module.
A full Hard Reset will remove all data from the phone, but it is guaranteed to return the software to its original state.
Settings → About the phone → Reset settings → Erase all dataIn the most difficult cases, especially on custom firmware or after an unsuccessful update, you may need to flash the device through your computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility.
⚠️ Warning: Flashing your phone is a risky operation. Wrong actions can cause your device to fail completely (brick.
Most often, the problem is solved at the stages of checking permissions or resetting network settings, and it comes to reinstallation of the system extremely rarely.