Owners of budget-friendly but reliable smartphones often face the question of how to adjust the modern standards of communication on devices of the past. Xiaomi Redmi 5, released in 2017, is still popular due to its autonomy, but support for Voice over LTE technology on it does not always work out of the box. Many users notice that when you call the phone switches to 3G or even 2G, which reduces the sound quality and breaks the Internet connection.
Activating this feature allows voice to be transmitted as a data stream on a fourth-generation network, providing crystal clear sound and the ability to use the Internet during a conversation. However, the turn on process may differ depending on the version of the MIUI firmware and the region for which the device is released. In some cases, the standard settings menu is not enough, and you have to resort to deeper methods of system configuration.
In this article, we will discuss all possible ways of activation. HD-We'll look at the standard methods, hidden engineering menus and the features of working with different carriers, the key condition is the support of the service from your mobile operator and the availability of the appropriate SIM card with support. 4G.
Compatibility check and device preparation
Before you go into technical manipulation, you need to make sure your infrastructure is ready to work with high-speed voice, and not all data plans and SIM cards automatically support this standard, especially on older devices. The carriers may not have added your specific IMEI-code to the whitelist of supported devices, even if the smartphone is technically capable of operating in this mode.
The first step is to check the physical status of the SIM card. If you use a SIM card that was released more than 5-7 years ago, its chip may not have the necessary profiles to work on LTE networks. In this case, you will need to replace the SIM card in the carrier’s cabin, which is usually free. Also make sure that your 4G network is stable in your coverage region, since the technology is completely dependent on the presence of LTE signal.
Next, check the settings of the smartphone itself, go to the settings menu and find the mobile network section, there should be an option to choose the type of network, if the list does not contain options that contain the acronym LTE or 4G, then the problem may be deeper, perhaps in the modem firmware.
- 📱 Make sure that the SIM card supports 4G/LTE and installed in the correct slot (usually the first one).
- 📡 Check the balance and status of the service "VoLTE" in the personal account of your operator.
- 🔄 Update the system to the latest available version MIUI On the phone menu".
- 📍 Make sure that your area is covered by a fourth generation network.
Activation through the standard settings menu
The easiest and safest way to try to turn on the feature is to use the standard interface of the Android operating system with the shell of MIUI. In newer versions of firmware, developers often hide or, conversely, add a switch depending on regional settings. If your phone is bought in official retail, the chance of finding this option is higher.
To start, open the Settings app and go to the section"SIM-Select the SIM card you plan to use for calls. Find "Use VoLTE" or "Enable VoLTE." If the switch is active, just turn it to "On." Then an icon may appear in the status bar next to the network indicator"HD" or "Volte".
But on Xiaomi Redmi 5 with global firmware, this is often hidden by default, because it's about certifying the device to work in the networks of specific operators in different countries. If you don't see the switch, don't be too upset, it doesn't mean that the feature is unavailable, it's just hidden from the eyes of the average user.
⚠️ Note: If after switching on the VoLTE icon did not appear, and calls still reset the network on the 3G, The operator may be blocking the service for uncertified devices.
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Try to restart your smartphone after you switch on the switch, and sometimes the system needs to re-register to apply the changes.
Use of the Engineering Menu to Activate
If the standard method failed, you'll have to use a hidden interface for developers and engineers, which allows you to control the modem parameters directly, bypassing the limitations of the MIUI shell, and access it through the standard Phone application, making it available without installing third-party software.
To enter the engineering menu, you need to dial a special combination of characters. Type on the call keyboard code ##86583##. If you did everything correctly, a pop-up message should appear on the screen "VoLTE carrier check was disabled." This means that the operator check is disabled, and the hidden switch in the settings should become active.
Once you have entered the code, go back to the SIM card settings. Where there was no point before, the switch should now appear. Activate it. In some cases, if the code didn't work the first time, try entering the code ##4636##, selecting Phone Information and finding the network type preferences there, setting the LTE only value for verification, but then make sure to return LTE/TD-SCDMA/CDMA/EvDo/GSM/WCDMA, otherwise you won't be able to receive incoming calls from areas without 4G.
☑️ Algorithm of actions in the engineering menu
It is important to understand that the engineering menu is a powerful tool, and changing other parameters without understanding their purpose can lead to unstable communication. For example, a forced switch to LTE only (LTE Only) can make you unavailable for calls if there is no 4G coverage at the location, since the phone will not be able to switch to 3G to receive a call.
Configure with Hidden Settings app
When codes don’t work or the interface of the engineering menu is different, specialized utilities come to the rescue. Hidden Settings (or its analogues, such as Activity Launcher) allows you to open hidden pages of system settings that are not displayed in the main menu, this is especially true for older models such as Redmi 5.
Download the app from a trusted source, like the Google Play Store. Once installed, run it and find a section associated with VoLTE in the list, usually called a "VoLTE feature switch" or a "Carrier VoLTE switch." Clicking on this item will take you to the system menu, where you can force the technology to activate support for the selected SIM card.
The good thing about this method is that it visualizes hidden settings in an understandable way, but it's worth considering that the application only opens up access to existing but hidden system functions. If the modem's hardware or the operator's firmware categorically doesn't support the function, the application won't work wonders.
| Activation method | Difficulty | Risk of error | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard menu | Low. | Minimum | Medium |
| Engineering code | Medium | Low. | Tall. |
| Third-party annexes | Medium | Medium. | Tall. |
| Change of region | Tall. | High-pitched | Depends on the region. |
What if Hidden Settings does not open?
The Impact of Regional Settings and Firmware
One of the most common reasons for the lack of feature is the region chosen when the phone was originally set up. Xiaomi distributes devices with different feature sets depending on the country, for example, in India or Indonesia, VoLTE is supported everywhere, whereas in the global version for Europe, this feature can be cut from the menu.
To check and change your region, go to Settings → Additional Settings → Region. Try to set a country where your carrier is actively promoting 4G calls, such as India. After changing region, the phone may need to reboot. In some cases, the cherished switch appears on the SIM card menu after that.
But changing your region is a double-edged sword, and with the right function, you can get extra pre-installed apps, a change in your feed list, and a time zone change in some system services. In addition, on Global ROM, region change often fails because the constraints are embedded deeper into the system configuration file itself.
⚠️ Attention: Changing the region to China could lead to the emergence of Chinese software and the inability to use some Google services without additional manipulation.
If you use custom firmware, the situation can be very different: enthusiasts often add VoLTE support to their builds, even for models where there has never been official support, but using unofficial software always carries risks of security and unstable operation of the communication module.
Problem Solving and Frequently Asked Questions
Even after completing all the steps, nuances can arise: For example, the VoLTE icon is on, but calls still go through 3G. This could mean that the operator in your particular location does not provide a stable 4G signal for voice traffic, or there has been a temporary out-of-synchronization with the base station.
Also worth mentioning are two SIM cards. Redmi 5 often has Dual feature active. 4G, But VoLTE can only work on one SIM card at a time, usually the one chosen for the mobile Internet. HD-Make sure your carrier and firmware support Dual VoLTE.
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The stability of VoLTE is 90% dependent on operator settings and coverage quality in your area, not just on smartphone settings.
In conclusion, activating Voice over LTE on Xiaomi Redmi 5 is a very solvable task that requires patience and consistency. Start by checking the SIM card, then try standard settings, engineer codes and, if necessary, changing the region, these steps will help you with high-quality communication and fast Internet at the same time.