When the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 stops sending SMS messages, especially bank confirmation codes, users are often caught off guard, not just an inconvenience, but a real problem blocking access to important services and finances. Most often, the reason is not a SIM card failure, but an aggressive policy of energy saving the MIUI shell, which kills the background processes of the message application.
Owners of Redmi Note 7 face delays or a complete lack of notifications due to system settings failure or network protocol conflict. Unlike pure Android, Xiaomi’s system requires manual adjustment of parameters for stable operation. SMS-Ignoring these nuances means that the phone is formally turned on, but the network does not see it as an active recipient of data.
In this article, we will discuss all possible causes, from simple errors in contacts to complex routing settings, you will learn how to properly configure the Messages application and eliminate software conflicts that interfere with normal communication.
Checking basic network settings and SIM cards
First, you need to eliminate trivial physical problems. Make sure that the SIM card is properly installed in the slot and does not have mechanical damage. On the Redmi Note 7, which supports two SIM cards, it is common to find a situation where one card is selected for the mobile Internet, and SMS comes to the second one, which has a data transfer restriction or the network type is not selected correctly.
Go to the Settings menu → SIM-You need to check if the SIM card is active to receive messages. Sometimes the system resets priorities after an update, and the phone just ignores incoming packets on a particular slot. 5G or 4G, Try to temporarily 3G/2G, Check if the message will arrive in the older but stable protocol mode.
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If you have two SIM cards, try physically swapping them in the tray, and sometimes the problem is the oxidized contact of the particular slot, not the card itself.
Notice the status of the network at the top of the screen, and if the communication icon flashes or displays with an exclamation point, the problem may be on the operator's side, and a full restart of the device that re-registers the phone on the operator's network will help, and this step should not be ignored, as it resets temporary network errors.
Configure the Messages app in MIUI
The most common reason why text messages don't arrive on the Xiaomi redmi note 7 is because of the app's settings. The MIUI shell is known for its tight control of background activity. The system can simply "sleep" the message app into inactive, preventing new notifications from reaching the lock screen.
To solve this problem, go to Settings → Apps → All apps → Messages. You need to find the Autostart option and activate it. This will allow the system to start the messaging service immediately after you turn on the phone. Next, go to the "Battery Savings" section inside the app menu and select the "No Limits" option. This is a critical step for Redmi Note 7 owners.
- 📱 Enable auto-start for the Messages app in the appropriate settings menu.
- 🔋 Set the “No Limits” energy saving mode for stable background work.
- 🔔 Check the display rights over other windows and access notifications.
- 🗑️ Clear the app cache if the problem occurs after the system update.
It is also worth checking whether Do Not Disturb or Quiet Mode is enabled, which can block the visual display of incoming messages, although technically they will be stored in memory.
☑️ Setup of application rights
Problems with the Message Center (SMSC)
The Service Message Center (SMSC) is the gateway through which the operator processes your incoming and outgoing correspondence. If the phone settings have an incorrect center number or configuration failure, messages will not come. On the Redmi Note 7, access to these settings is often hidden in the engineering menu or standard dialing interface.
To check and change the message center number, open the Phone app and dial the combination ##4636##. From the menu that opens, select Phone Information. Scroll down to SMSC. Here you will see the current HEX number. If the field is empty or the number does not match your operator, the messages will not go.
⚠️ Warning: Be extremely careful when changing the settings in the engineering menu. Enter the wrong number format SMSC can completely block the ability to receive and send SMS until the network settings are completely reset.
For most Russian operators, the message center number is automatically assigned. If the automatic setting does not work, you can find the number on the operator's website or by calling the support service. Once you receive the digital number, you need to convert it to PDU (HEX) before inserting it into the settings field, since the usual format of the phone number here will not work without conversion.
How to convert a number to PDU format?
The influence of blockers and antiviruses
Redmi Note 7 owners often install third-party antiviruses or use Xiaomi’s built-in “Security” to block spam. Aggressive filters can mistakenly classify service SMS from banks as spam and silently remove or quarantine them without notifying the user.
Check the Spam or Blocked folder inside the message app. If you find missing codes, you need to whitelist the sender. The built-in MIUI antivirus has a separate filtering settings section where you can turn off Smart Filtering or reduce its sensitivity.
In addition, some memory “optimizers” popular with Xiaomi users can force the process of receiving messages immediately after it is completed, preventing the system from updating the delivery status. If you use such programs (Clean Master, DU Battery and analogues), try to delete them or add them to the exceptions.
| Type of lockdown | Where to find out | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in MIUI filter | Annex “Security» → Antispam | Add a number to the whitelist |
| Third-party antivirus | Antivirus settings → SMS blocking | Disable filtering or add an exception |
| Blacklist of contacts | Phone. → Settings → Blacklist | Remove the number from the blacklist |
| Do Not Disturb mode | Settings → Sound and vibration | Allow notifications from contacts |
Resetting network settings and flashing the module
If the software settings didn't work, there may have been some critical network configuration errors, and resetting the network is a radical but effective method, and it will bring APN, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi back to factory values, which often solves the problem of logging in.
To perform the reset, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Reset and Reset → Reset your Wi-Fi, mobile internet and Bluetooth settings. Note that the Wi-Fi passwords will be deleted and you will have to re-enter them. Once you reboot, the phone will request the operator’s Internet settings again, which can “revive” the stuck communication module.
In more complex cases, when even a reset does not help, you may need to flash the modem or completely flash the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility. This is true if the problem arose after a failed system update or custom firmware installation. However, this requires an unlocked bootloader and certain skills.
⚠️ Warning: Before performing a complete reset or flashing, be sure to back up all important data as the process may result in their complete loss.
Sometimes, a simple but effective method helps: extract the SIM card, clean the contacts with alcohol and install the card in another phone for 10-15 minutes to register again, then return the SIM card to the Redmi Note 7 and check the work.
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Resetting your network settings does not delete your personal files, contacts or apps, but does erase saved Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth pairs.
When the problem is on the operator's side
The problem is not Xiaomi’s phone, but the mobile operator’s. Technical work on towers, billing failures, or blocking SMS-informing can cause the absence of messages, especially when changing the tariff plan or with a negative balance.
Check if SMS is active. Some operators may have limited access to SMS when switching to archival rates or using corporate SIM cards, and it’s also worth checking if the message box on the SIM card itself is full (although modern cards have large memory, old SIM cards may have a limit).
If nothing works, ask the operator to re-release the SIM card. Over time, the contacts on the SIM card become oxidized or damaged, which leads to unstable operation. Replacing the SIM card from the operator is usually free and takes a few minutes, but solves 90% of hardware problems with receiving the signal.