Error "Device search failed to activate" SIM-Map on Xiaomi: 7 Ways to Solve

You just put it in. SIM-card in a new (or not so) smartphone Xiaomi, but instead of the usual signal network on the screen flaunts the inscription: “Search for the device failed to activate” SIM-The network indicator is missing, calls and Internet are not available, and rebooting the phone does not help. Is the situation familiar? This error is one of the most common problems with Redmi users, POCO Mi and its causes can be found in software failures and hardware malfunctions.

In this article, we will discuss all possible causes of activation error. SIM-Xiaomi cards, from the banal wrong tray position to the hidden network settings, you'll learn how to diagnose a problem, which settings to check first, and what to do if standard methods don't work. SIM We have prepared separate recommendations – the error is often selective, affecting only one of the cards.

Before you bring your phone to the service center, try our solutions — 80 percent of the time, you can fix the problem yourself in 10 to 15 minutes. And yes, don't be quick to blame the carrier: it's often not the phone that's to blame, but the settings of the smartphone itself.

1. Checking the physical condition SIM-card-tray

Start with the obvious, physical diagnostics, and the "Device Search Failed" error can be caused by mechanical problems that are not always visible to the naked eye.

• 🔍 Extract. SIM-Check the map for scratches, chips or dirt, and pay special attention to the contacts (the golden part) – they should be clean and smooth.
• 📱 Check the tray: on some Xiaomi models (like the Redmi Note 10 Pro or the Redmi Note 10 Pro). POCO X3) And plastic latches break when you're not getting it right, and if the tray is hanging or not getting fixed, that's your problem.
• 🔄 Change the slots: if you have a smartphone that supports two SIM, Move the card to another slot. If the error is gone, the first connector is faulty.
• 📏 Compare the dimensions: make sure you use nano-SIM (not micro-SIM with cropped edges).Some users try to insert micro-SIM into the nano adapter, which leads to poor contact.

If SIM-If the card is visible damage, try activating it on another phone, and if it doesn't work there, it's the card, not Xiaomi).

⚠️ Warning: Never use tape or tape to fix SIM-This can short-circuit and cause the communications module to fail.

2. Reboot and reset network settings

If SIM-The map and the tray are fine, but the error remains, the problem is the software settings:

1. Restart your phone manually (press the power button for 10 seconds). Sometimes the communication module freezes after updating or installing applications.
2. Activate flight mode for 30 seconds, then turn it off. This will reset the network's timeline.
3. Update your operator profile: Go to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → [Yours. SIM] → Update your profile. If you don't have an option, enter USSD-operator code (e.g. for MTS — *111*1810#, Beeline — *110*181#).

If that doesn’t work, do a network reset (not to be confused with a full phone reset!):

Settings → System → Resetting → Resetting Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth

Once reset, the phone will reboot and you will need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords.This method often resolves the problem if the error occurred after updating MIUI or installing custom firmware.

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If after resetting the network, the phone does not catch the signal, try to manually select the operator in the settings: Settings → SIM-cards → Network Selection → Manual scanning.

3. Checking for IMEI and hardware faults

A device search failure error may indicate that your smartphone’s unique identifier, the IMEI, has been damaged.

• 🔧 Unable to unlock the bootloader (bootloader).
• 📱 Installation of unofficial firmware (especially on the POCO F1 or Redmi K20 Pro).
• 💥 Falling phone or getting moisture (even if everything looks good).

To check the IMEI:

1. Enter the code *#06# in the phone application.
2. Compare the number that appears with what is indicated on the box or under the battery (if removable).
3. If the IMEI is missing or displayed as 000000000000000000, it is erased.

To restore the IMEI on Xiaomi, you will need:

1. Download the Maui META or SN Write Tool (for MediaTek processors).
2. Find the original IMEI (on a box or check).
3. Connect the phone to the PC in EDL mode (this often requires disassembling the device and closing test points).

⚠️ Attention: Recovery IMEI You can get your network blocked by the operator, and if you're not sure about your skills, you can contact the service center.

4. Manually configure APN and network settings

Sometimes, an SIM activation error is caused by incorrect APN settings. This is true if you:

• 📶 Switched from one operator to another, but did not update the settings.
• 📱 Buy a used phone with other people's settings.
• 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to a new version (sometimes resets) APN).

To set up the APN manually:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → [Yours. SIM] → Access points (APN).
2. Click Add APN and enter your operator's settings. Below is an example for popular Russian operators:

After you type in, save your settings and restart your phone. If the APN doesn't save or disappears after a reboot, it's a sign of a failure in MIUI. Try resetting your network settings (see section 2).

Correctly entered APN (without typos)|

Type of authentication: PAP or CHAP|

Type APN: default,supl (for MTS/MegaFon)|

Protocol: IPv4/IPv6 (default) |

Port and server proxy: not specified (unless required)-->

5. Update MIUI and firmware of the communication module

SIM activation errors are often associated with an outdated version of MIUI or modem failures.

• 📲 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version: Settings → The phone. → If the update does not come “over the air”, download the firmware from the official Xiaomi website and install through the Update → Three points. → Select a firmware file.
• 📡 Scroll the modem separately (for advanced users). 4PDA or XDA Frequently put fixes for specific models (for example, for the Redmi Note 9 Pro with a problem). 4G).
• 🔄 Reverse to stable if the error appears after the update. Use the Mi Flash Tool for clean installation.

Critical information: On some models (e.g., the POCO X3 NFC), the SIM error is caused by a conflict with the VoLTE function. Try disabling it in network settings or installing a patch from the community.

If the problem persists after the update, check the regional settings. MIUI. Sometimes smartphones with global firmware (Global) ROM) They're in conflict with local operators. EEA (Europe) or Russia ROM.

6. Check of the operator’s lock and SIM status

Less commonly, but accurately: an activation error may be due to a locking on the part of the operator.

• 📵 SIM-The card is not activated (new cards require activation via the card). USSD personal account).
• 🚫 The card is blocked for non-payment or at the request of the owner (for example, in case of loss of the card).
• 🌍 You are roaming and the service is not connected.
• 📱 Device blacklisted (for example, stolen or unpaid in installments).

To check the SIM status:

1. Call your number from another phone, and if you hear "subscriber temporarily unavailable," the card is blocked.
2. Enter. USSD-a code to check the balance (e.g. *100# for MTS — SIM active.
3. Check the IMEI of the phone on the operator’s website (for example, MTS personal account) – if the device is blacklisted, it will be unlocked only after paying the debt.

⚠️ Note: If you bought Xiaomi with your hands, make sure it is not tied to another operator (e.g., Megafon under contract). SIM-map.

7. Hardware diagnostics and service center

If none of these things worked, it's probably hardware, and here are the most common malfunctions and their signs:

For diagnosis:

1. Contact the authorized Xiaomi service center (list on the mi.com website).
2. If the warranty is over, find a proven service with good reviews (e.g., Redmi or POCO repairs).
3. Before visiting, make a data backup – some faults require a complete reset.

For example, replacing the communication module with the Redmi Note 10 will cost ~ 6-8 thousand rubles, and on the flagship Xiaomi 13 Pro - up to 15 thousand rubles. If the phone is older than 3 years, sometimes it is cheaper to buy a new one.

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Before repairing, check if the service provides a guarantee for work, for example, in official Xiaomi centers, a warranty for repair of the communication module is 6 months.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the SIM activation error on Xiaomi