Lorene Melone
How To Troubleshoot SIM Card Activation Problems on Xiaomi/Redmi Phones
If your Xiaomi or Redmi phone is acting up and the SIM card just refuses to activate, you’re probably not the only one dealing with that. Sometimes, it’s permissions gone sideways, other times it’s a weird cache or a glitch that just needs a little nudge. This guide covers a couple of tricks that might get your SIM working again without going nuclear on the phone. They’re not super complicated, but sure enough, sometimes it takes a bit of trial and error. Expect to possibly fix the issue and get your mobile service back up, which is kinda the point, right?
How to Fix SIM Card Activation Issues on Xiaomi/Redmi Phones
Grant All Permissions to the SIM Activation Service
This is often overlooked but kind of crucial. If the system doesn’t have permissions sorted out, it may think the SIM isn’t authorized or something silly like that. On some setups, the permission gets lost or never asked for in the first place. So, making sure that the SIM Activation Service has proper permissions is step one.
- Open the Settings app on your device.
- Scroll down and tap on Apps.
- In the Apps menu, select Manage apps. Sometimes this is inside a submenu called App Management, so you might have to look around.
- Use the search bar to find Xiaomi SIM Activation Service and tap on it.
- Tap on Permissions or App permissions. Make sure all relevant permissions are enabled—things like Phone, Contacts, Storage, and Location sometimes matter.
- If permissions are there but the app still isn’t working, go back to the Apps list.
- Look for Find Device app (or just search for it). Tap into it.
- Select Clear Cache (from the storage menu) and confirm. Sometimes this weird cache buildup can mess with the app’s ability to do its thing.
- Next, hit Force Stop so it resets.
- Finally, restart the phone and see if the SIM activates now.
This fixes a lot of permission weirdness, especially if the app was acting up after an update or some other weird system change. On some devices, it takes a reboot after clearing cache and stopping the app to really kick in. Because of course, Android has to make it harder than it has to be.
Use the Testing Menu to Refresh SIM Settings
If permissions are all good but the SIM still sits dead, then maybe it’s time for a more advanced trick. Enter the *#*#4636#*#* menu—yeah, that thing that sounds like a secret code but is actually an Android diagnostic shortcut. It’s not officially for regular users, but it’s pretty handy for forcing refreshes and checking stuff that might be out of whack.
- Open the Dialer app on your Xiaomi/Redmi.
- Dial
*#*#4636#*#*. On some phones, the numbers don’t show up clearly and just look like a string of characters, but trust me, it works. If it doesn’t, you might need to enable it via ADB or try replacing the digits with similar ones. - If the menu pops up, tap on Phone information. There may be multiple slots, so pick the one linked with your SIM card (either Phone information 1 or 2).
- Look for Mobile Radio Power. Toggle it off, wait like 5 seconds, then turn it back on. You might have to tap the button a couple of times for it to register. This signals to the system to reinitialize the radio hardware, which is sometimes all it takes to get the carrier unlocked again.
- Next, swipe down to open your control panel, find Airplane Mode, turn it on for like 10 seconds, then turn it back off. This is just to make sure the phone resets its connection to the network.
- Check whether the SIM card now shows as active or if you’re getting signal. Sometimes, it’s weird, but killing the radio and toggling airplane mode actually triggers the network to recognize the SIM again.
This technically isn’t supported officially, but I’ve seen it fix stubborn issues where permissions and cache clearances didn’t do enough. Not sure why it works, but on one phone it did the trick, and on another, it did nothing for a while — then it finally kicked in after a reboot.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
To avoid a silly problem in the first place or to troubleshoot further, here are some quick tips:
- Update your device. Head to Settings > About phone > System updates. Sometimes, a bug fix can suddenly straighten out these issues.
- Double-check if the SIM card is fully inserted and not damaged. If it’s a pocket-sized chip, sometimes the slightest misalignment causes trouble.
- Try the SIM in another device if possible, just to make sure it’s not a SIM card hardware failure.
- If things still won’t cooperate, your network might be having issues, or your account might need re-verification. Contact the carrier if you’re in doubt.
Wrap-up
Most of these fixes should help clear up the typical SIM activation hiccups on Xiaomi and Redmi devices. Permissions, cache, or some background app being cranky are usually the culprits. If none of this works, it’s probably time to see if your SIM itself is dead or if the carrier needs to re-activate it on their end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my SIM card not activating?
Usually because of permission issues, network glitches, or a defective SIM. Ensuring permissions are set right and resetting radio usually helps.
How do I know if my SIM card is damaged?
If the SIM isn’t recognized in any device or shows errors consistently, it’s probably dead. Try swapping it with another working SIM to confirm.
Can I fix SIM activation problems without being a tech wizard?
Yep, most of these steps are straightforward—permissions, cache clearing, toggling airplane mode—and don’t require advanced skills. Because sometimes, it’s just a matter of fiddling around with the settings a bit.
Summary
- Check and grant app permissions in the Apps menu
- Clear cache and force stop the SIM-related apps
- Use the *#*#4636#*#* menu to toggle radio settings
- Ensure software and SIM are okay and updated
- Reboot and toggle airplane mode as needed