What to Do if Your Xiaomi Phone Does Not See the Sim Card (2024)

Xiaomi smartphones are characterized by high-quality construction and stable operation, but sometimes there are significant problems. For example, the mobile device stops detecting the SIM card. Users want to know what to do if the phone Xiaomi does not see the SIM card and whether it is possible to cope with the problem themselves without resorting to the help of a specialist. In this article, we will tell you about all the troubleshooting methods.

Why can’t my phone recognize my SIM card?

There are many reasons why the Xiaomi phone does not see the SIM card: a system failure and mechanical damage. Therefore, it is problematic to determine the source of the problem. It is necessary to carefully read the list of possible causes and then perform specific actions.

Mechanical causes

Most often, the Xiaomi smartphone does not see the sim card because of mechanical effects, namely:

Damaged the SIM tray (improper use or factory defect).
SIM was installed on the wrong side.
The user mixed up the formats nano and micro or cut the card himself, and the size does not fit.
Water or small foreign particles got inside the case.
Important parts of the phone are damaged after it has been dropped on a hard surface.

The first four reasons can be corrected at home. Sometimes it helps to replace the holder or SIM card and save the number. You will need to go to the service center if the damage is serious.

System causes

If mechanically, all is well with the mobile device, pay attention to possible system problems:

“Airplane Mode” is on.
The SIM card is no longer serviced in a particular area, or the operator has blocked it due to violations.
The communication module on your smartphone is not working properly.
The problem occurred after the MIUI update.
The preferred network type selected in the settings is not supported in your area.

If the SIM does not work due to a hardware failure, there are many ways to fix the problem. A simple reboot of the phone often helps, but a complete reflash may also be required.

What to do if the SIM card is not displayed on Xiaomi

The following will tell you the working methods that will help if MIUI stops seeing the SIM card. Be careful and do not perform dangerous actions with your smartphone if you are unsure of your knowledge and skills.

Reboot/shutdown your smartphone

A trivial method, but it often works. Restart the phone by pressing the power button for a few seconds and selecting the appropriate option in the menu that appears. Or completely turn off the device and wait for about 5 minutes, then turn it on again. Check if the network icon appears in the status bar. If the SIM card is not detected due to a temporary system failure, this method will help.

Disabling the “Flight mode”

Activated “Flight mode” disables the communication modules on the device, which causes the sim card to stop working. Deactivate this function if you have accidentally enabled it:

Go to “Settings” and look for “Connectivity and sharing.”
Move the slider to the inactive state next to “Airplane Mode”.
Or open the Control Center and disable the Airplane Mode icon.

Selecting your preferred network type

The next problem may be related to the coverage in your area. Not everywhere works correctly 4G connection. This is true for small towns, villages, and suburbs. For example, you’ve set “4G Preferred”, but only 3G or even 2G is supported in a particular area. Usually, the smartphone automatically switches to another network when coverage is poor, but there are also failures. As a result, the sim card stops being detected. In this case, you need to:

Open “Settings” – “SIM cards and mobile networks”.
Click on the first or second SIM.
In the item “Preferred type of network,” set “Preferably 3G” or “Only 2G”.

If Xiaomi doesn’t see the second SIM card, set the same preferred network type for both cards.

Check the integrity of the SIM card and tray

Be sure to inspect the SIM card and tray visually. The contacts on the SIM card may have oxidized, especially if the tray has been exposed to water. Also, the sim size may not fit, so it is better to order a new card in the correct format than to cut it yourself.

Move the card to another smartphone. If the SIM card is not detected there – then the reason is its malfunction. Contact a communications salon for further diagnostics. Specialists will thoroughly check the SIM card, and if it is not suitable for use, they will issue a new one with the number saved.

A similar situation may occur with the holder. The tray is fragile and easily damaged by a strong mechanical impact (for example, the phone fell on the tiles). Fortunately, you can buy a new tray separately in any service center or a Chinese online store such as AliExpress or Joom. The replacement is simple: remove the old holder and put the new one in. When choosing a new tray, ensure it fits your model exactly.

Reset to factory settings

A hard reset can solve many problems with your smartphone. The device returns to the factory state, and the user needs to make the initial settings. Thanks to the reset, the system problems can be successfully resolved. Before a hard reset, make a backup to avoid losing important data. Next, perform a reset:

Open Settings – About phone.
Scroll down the page to “Reset Settings”.
At the bottom, click “Erase all data” and confirm the operation.

Another hard reset can be done through the stock firmware. To do this:

Turn the phone off and put it into recovery, holding the power and volume up buttons for a few seconds.
In Main Menu, select “Wipe Data”. If the touch control doesn’t work, navigate through the menu with the physical power and volume buttons.
Press “Wipe AII Data”. Confirm by clicking “Confirm”.
After that, set up the phone from scratch and check the network functionality.

Communication module firmware

The communication modem (radio module) has a separate firmware. If the system failure is serious and the above steps do not help, try to re-flash the radio module. This is a complex and multi-step procedure, the incorrect performance of which will severely damage the smartphone. All actions are performed at your own risk!

The modem flashing requires TWRP recovery. On the other hand, you will need to have the bootloader unlocked to install the custom recovers. We have detailed instructions on how to activate the bootloader and how to install TWRP.

Installing the firmware version of the radio module is recommended, which is different from the current one. To find out the current modem build on MIUI 12, you need the following:

Go to “Settings” and open the “About phone” section.
Go to the “All settings” tab and view the “Communication module firmware” line.

Now you can proceed to reflash the module:

Create a backup copy and transfer it to the external storage.
Charge the smartphone to 60-100%.
Download the firmware of the communication module designed specifically for your model. Find the archive at the XDA Developers forum by going to the branch with your model.
Switch the phone off and put it into recovery mode by pressing the power and volume keys.
Click the “Install“ button and specify the path to the previously downloaded archive with the firmware module. To confirm, swipe to the right on the blue slider.
Wait until the firmware is installed. Then reboot the phone and check the connectivity.

Installing the new firmware MIUI

This is a radical method that is worth using in extreme cases. If you are sure that the sim card is not detected due to the system problem and other methods don’t help, you need to reflash the phone, especially if you’ve previously performed serious actions affecting the system (for example, you deleted some files using root rights).

Flashing Xiaomi on your own is possible if you have the necessary knowledge. Be sure to use our step-by-step instructions – flashing via Fastboot or custom recovery. These are two of the most popular and convenient methods of installing a new shell. Look here for all the files you need to flash Xiaomi.

Contacting a service center

Unfortunately, it is not always possible to identify the cause of the problem and successfully fix it. If none of the above options does help – then contact the service center. The wizard will conduct diagnostics and determine exactly why the smartphone does not see the SIM card and what can be done about this. If the smartphone is still under warranty, you should provide free repair.

FAQ

What should I do if the mobile Internet on my SIM does not work?

Open “Settings” – “SIM-cards and mobile networks” and check that the slider in the “Mobile Internet” line is active. Make sure that there is still some unused traffic in your data plan. If mobile internet is enabled in your settings and there are free megabytes/gigabytes – contact your operator. Perhaps there are problems with the mobile Internet in your area, which will soon be fixed.

Can the SIM card spoil over time?

Yes, the SIM card may become unusable from long use (more than 5 years). Especially if the tray got into the liquid or the smartphone was dropped. You need to contact a mobile phone salon to get a new card, but with the same number.

What is better to flash: radio module or phone itself, if sim card is not detected?

First, install the new firmware module. This is the faster procedure. If it doesn’t help – then reflash the device itself.

Now you know what to do if the Xiaomi smartphone stopped recognizing the SIM card. We hope this article was useful and you can fix the problem yourself. If you still have questions – write in the comments.