How to increase the call time on Xiaomi before turning on the answering machine

When you dial a subscriber number, hear a beep, but the interlocutor does not respond, and the call is abruptly cut off or redirected to voicemail, familiar to every smartphone owner. On Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices, the duration of the wait for a response is often limited by standard operator settings or system parameters, which by default may be too short for comfortable communication. Users often look for a way to extend this interval to wait for the response of a person who is in another room or does not immediately notice the incoming call.

The problem is that the response timer is usually not the phone itself, but the network settings of the carrier, but in the interface of MIUI and HyperOS there are hidden or non-obvious options that allow you to influence this process. In this article, we will discuss in detail the mechanisms of the call timer, how to increase it through the system menu and the codes of engineering settings, you will learn how to circumvent standard restrictions and configure the device so that it rings for as long as possible.

It is important to understand that the effectiveness of these methods depends on your SIM-We'll look at all the ways we can do this, from simple contact menu actions to more complex manipulations. USSD-Follow the instructions consistently to ensure that you solve the problem of premature resetting a call.

Why Xiaomi Calls Are Dropped: Reasons and Limitations

Before we get to the settings, we need to understand the nature of the problem. Often users mistakenly assume that the duration of the beeps is solely responsible for the smartphone. In fact, the response timer is a parameter that is controlled by the equipment of the cellular operator. The smartphone only sends a connection request and displays the status, but the moment of redirection or reset is dictated by the network.

However, the MIUI software shell may have its own limitations or bugs that interfere with this process. For example, conflict of applications for recording conversations or third-party number detectors can lead to premature completion of the call.

⚠️ Note: If your phone drops a call immediately after dialing or through 2-3 The problem may not be the timer, but the banning of outgoing calls or the lack of balance.

There is also the concept of conditional forwarding, which is the parameter most commonly associated with an answering machine, which is that operators default to setting the response time before forwarding in the range of 15 to 30 seconds, and you can increase this limit, but up to a certain threshold, which is dictated by the technical regulations of cellular communication.

Set up a call timer through the standard menu

The first and safest way to try to increase latency is to use built-in telephony. In modern Xiaomi-based Android versions, the path to these settings may vary, but the general principle remains the same: You will need access to an advanced call settings menu that is hidden from the eyes of the average user.

To start, open the Phone app (green handset) and go to settings, usually the three dots in the top right corner or gear. Find the "Call Accounts" or "Call Settings" section. Here we're interested in "Call forwarding." This is the menu that stores timers that determine when a call will be forwarded if the caller hasn't responded.

β˜‘οΈ Checking the call settings

Done: 0 / 4

After you've chosen. SIM-If you have two cards, the system will ask the operator to check the settings, which can take a few seconds. In the list that opens, select "If it doesn't respond." Here you will see the current timer value. If the menu allows, change the value to the maximum possible, usually 30 seconds. In some Xiaomi firmware, this item may be called β€œRedirect Timer” or β€œPending Time".

It's worth noting that not all operators allow this setting to be changed directly through the smartphone menu, in which case the system will give an error message or simply prevent the value from changing. USSD-The main thing is not to ignore the error messages, because they tell you what method will work in your case.

Use of the USSD-code-control

The most reliable and universal method of setting the waiting time for a response is the use of the USSD-These codes are sent directly to the operator's server, bypassing the limitations of the smartphone interface, which allows you to force a timer that will operate regardless of your Redmi or Poco model.

To manage forwarding in the absence of a response, a command is used such as 61* voicemail number*11*time#. However, since most users have already set up their voicemail number, it is easier to use the timer change command for existing forwarding. The standard code for setting latency is 61*mail number*11*XX#, where xx is the time in seconds.

A simpler option that works for most major operators (MTS, Beeline, MegaFon, Tele2) to change the timer without entering a mail number:

  • πŸ“ž For installation 15 seconds: **61*11*15#
  • ⏳ For installation 20 seconds: **61*11*20#
  • ⏱ For installation 25 seconds: **61*11*25#
  • ⏰ For installation 30 seconds (maximum): **61*11*30#

After entering the command and pressing the call button, you will receive SMS-Notification of successful activation of a service or change of a parameter. Trying to set 40 or 60 seconds through this code is usually pointless - the network will simply ignore the request or set the maximum available value.

What if the code doesn't work?
If, after input, USSD-When you have an error message, your operator blocks manual timer changes through this command format, and you need to contact the operator's personal account or support. Sometimes it helps to temporarily disable the redirect command ##002# and configure again through the operator application.

Specificity of the work of timers at different operators

It is important to remember that the rules of the game dictate not only the phone, but also the SIM card. Different operators in Russia and the CIS have their own limitations and the peculiarities of implementing network timers. Understanding these nuances will help you avoid futile attempts to configure what is limited at the level of the operator's equipment.

The following table shows typical response time limits for major operators, which are relevant for most tariff plans, but may vary in corporate tariffs or older lines.

Operator.Min. time (sec)Max. time (sec)Change step
MTS10305 seconds
Beeline15305 seconds
Megaphone15305 seconds
Tele215305 seconds
iota15305 seconds

As you can see from the table, the 30-second ceiling is a near-universal standard for GSM and LTE networks, and it's not accidental: long-duration dials take up switching channels, and it's not profitable for operators to keep the line busy for almost a minute if the caller doesn't pick up, so even if you find a way to "cheat" the system, the network will force the connection to be severed or redirect the call.

πŸ“Š What kind of operator do you have?
MTS
Beeline
Megaphone
Tele2
Other

In some cases, especially when roaming or in areas with unstable surface, the actual time to reset may be less than claimed, this is due to the loss of alarm packets between the base station and the phone. In such situations, increasing the timer by software on the phone itself will not have an effect, since the gap is initiated by network equipment.

Engineering menu and hidden settings Xiaomi

For advanced users who are not afraid to experiment, there is an access to the Xiaomi engineering menu, which is designed for testing equipment and contains many parameters that affect the operation of the radio module. However, it is worth warning immediately that changing the settings in this menu can lead to unstable communication.

To get into the engineering menu, open the Phone app and dial ##4636##. If the code works, the Testing menu will open. Select the Phone Information section. You can find a lot of options here, but there's no direct Call Time slider. However, you can try resetting the radio module settings, which sometimes helps if the timer is lost due to a software bug.

Find the "Run Ping Test" or "Refresh" button. More useful may be switching the preferred network type. For example, if you are in an area where LTE signal is weak, the phone can constantly jump between 3G and 4G, which causes call cliffs. Forced switching to LTE Only or 3G Only mode (via the drop-down "Set Preferred Network Type") can stabilize the connection and, as a result, improve call flow.

⚠️ Warning: Be extremely careful in the engineering menu. Don't change the values of the parameters you're not sure about. IMEI Or changing the frequency bands could cause the phone to stop seeing the network at all, and restoring factory settings might not help.

Also in some versions MIUI (Chinese, especially) there is a tab on the engineering menu "SIM Card Status, where you can see the actual connection time and network status, and if there are errors, the problem goes deeper than just setting the timer, and you need to check the actual connection time. SIM-card.

πŸ’‘

Before entering the engineering menu, write down the current values of all parameters on paper or take a screenshot, which will allow you to return everything as it was if after the experiments the phone starts to work incorrectly.

Third-party applications and automation

Because it is almost impossible to exceed the 30-40 second limit by system methods, users often turn to third-party solutions. There are automation applications such as Tasker or MacroDroid that can emulate the behavior of an autoresponder, but on the side of your phone, not the operator.

The essence of the method is to create a macro: if an incoming call was not received manually within N seconds, the phone automatically sends a pre-recorded voice message or SMS. This does not increase the time of the beeper, but allows you to implement the functionality of the answering machine, which works more flexible than the standard.

To do this, you will need to:

  • πŸ“² Install an automation application (e.g. MacroDroid).
  • βš™οΈ Create a trigger "Incoming call not answered".
  • 🎀 Add the action β€œSend SMS" or "Play sound through the speaker" (if you are on the phone).

This approach bypasses the operator's limitations, because the phone itself responds to the "missed" event. You can set up the "I can't talk now, I'll call you back" message 20 seconds after the beeps start, creating the effect of a smart answering machine without being tied to the operator's tariffs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I increase the call time to 60 seconds?
Technically, cellular standards (GSM/UMTS/LTE) limit the response time before forwarding to 30 seconds. Operators rarely provide the option to increase this limit to 60 seconds, as this inefficiently uses network resources. The maximum you can expect is 30-45 seconds, and then not all operators.
Why are the timer settings reset after rebooting?
Redirection parameters are stored in memory SIM-If you reset your phone, you may have a conflict with the operator's profile, which is updated when you download it. USSD-code again after turning on the phone.
Does the type affect SIM-map (3G/4G/5G) horn-duration?
The type of technology (3G or 4G) itself doesn't affect the duration of the timer, as Call Control works to the same standards. However, if the phone is running in 4G Only mode and doesn't support VoLTE, it may not accept calls at all or reset them faster due to a drop in 2G for a conversation. Make sure VoLTE is on.
What if the #4636### code doesn’t work on Xiaomi?
In newer versions of HyperOS or MIUI 14/15, the engineering menu can be closed through this code, so you can try to type in the code ##6484## (Cit menu) or download the Activity Launcher app from Google Play, find the Test activity and run it from there.

πŸ’‘

The maximum possible response time on mobile carrier networks is limited to 30 seconds, and attempts to increase this limit programmatically on the phone without changing the operator's network settings will not work.

To sum up, you can say that increasing the call time on Xiaomi is primarily working with the operator's settings. USSD-codes to set a maximum timer of 30 seconds and make sure you have a redirect service activated. The system settings of the phone play a secondary role and serve only as an interface for managing network settings.