1xrtt in Xiaomi Phone: What Is It, Why Does It Appear, and How to Fix It?

You've noticed that your Xiaomi status bar has a mysterious 1xrtt tag instead of your usual 4G or LTE: Don't worry, it's not a virus or a malfunction, but a specific mobile mode. But it does signal network or device problems. In this article, we'll go into detail about what 1xrtt is, why the smartphone is switching to this standard instead of modern technology, and what to do to bring back high-speed Internet.

Note: 1xrtt (or 1xRTT) is an outdated CDMA2000 mobile communication standard used in first-generation 3G networks. In modern conditions, it provides a minimum data transfer speed (up to 153 kbit / s), which is comparable to dial-up Internet in the early 2000s. If your Redmi, POCO or Mi suddenly "degraded" before this mode, the reasons may lie in operator settings, phone firmware or hardware malfunctions.

Next, you’ll learn how to diagnose a problem, which parameters to check first, and what to do to restore normal network operation, and we’ll also look at cases where 1xrtt may be useful (yes, there are!), and caution against common errors when trying to correct the situation.

What is 1xrtt and why does it appear on Xiaomi?

1xrtt (from Single Carrier Radio Transmission Technology) is a basic network standard CDMA2000 that was developed as an evolutionary step from analog to digital networks. It belongs to the 3GPP2 family of technologies (as opposed to the 3GPP family that runs GSM/LTE/5G). Networks are not widely adopted in Russia and most of Europe CDMA-, but some operators (for example, Tele2 in some regions or virtual operators) can use them as backups.

On Xiaomi smartphones, the inscription 1xrtt appears in two cases:

• 📡 Automatic switching to a backup network when signal loss LTE/4G occurs (e.g., in a subway, basement, or remote area).
• ⚙️ Manually configure network mode in the phone menu (sometimes users randomly select CDMA auto (PRL) instead of LTE/WCDMA/GSM).
• 🔧 Software failure after a firmware update or settings reset when the phone "forgets" priority standards.
• 📱 Hardware problem with a communication module (e.g., antenna damage or modem malfunction).

It’s important to understand that 1xrtt isn’t a bug, but a legal network mode that the phone uses as the “last frontier” to maintain connectivity, but 99% of the time, it’s on Xiaomi, a sign of suboptimal tweaks or coverage issues.

1xrtt differs from 4G, 3G and other standards

To understand why 1xrtt is so far behind the current standards, let’s compare its key features with other mobile technologies:

As you can see from the table, 1xrtt is even inferior to EDGE (improved 2G) in speed, but it consumes more power because of outdated power management protocols. For example, when you watch videos in 480p through 1xrtt, buffering will occur every 5-10 seconds, and the battery will die 30-40% faster than in LTE- mode.

⚠️ Warning: If your Xiaomi is constantly hanging in 1xrtt mode, check your account balance – some carriers force the speed down to CDMA when the traffic packet is negative or depleted.

How to check why Xiaomi switched to 1xrtt?

Before trying to cure a phone, you need to diagnose the reason for the switch to 1xrtt.

1. Check coverage area: Open your carrier's coverage card (such as MTS or Beeline) and make sure your area has LTE. If you're outback, 1xrtt may be the only standard available.
2. Avoid problems with the SIM- card: Try restarting your phone or retracting/pasting a SIM- card. If you have an eSIM, check for activation in the Settings menu → SIM- cards and mobile networks.
3. Engineering menu analysis: Type ##4636## in the dialer, select Phone Information, and look at Network Type. If CDMA is EvDo rev.0 or 1xRTT, the problem is with modem settings.
4. Test another SIM- card: Insert another carrier's SIM. If it's carrying a 4G, the problem is with the current carrier's tariff or settings.

Operator coverage check | Phone reboot | Engineering menu check | Test with another SIM- card |Firmware update-->

If after all the checks 1xrtt has not disappeared, go to the next section with the instructions for correction.

Step-by-step: how to remove 1xrtt and return 4G/LTE

In most cases, the problem is solved by changing the network settings.

Method 1: Manual selection of network mode

1. Open the Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
2. Choose yours. SIM-card (if there are several).
3. Tap the network type (or preferred network type).
4. Set the LTE/WCDMA/GSM (auto) or 4G/3G/2G (auto).
5. Reboot the phone.

Method 2: Reset network settings

If manual settings don’t help, reset the network settings:

1. Go to Settings → System → Resetting settings.
2. Select Network Reset (not to be confused with a full reset!).
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

Method 3: Update firmware and PRL

Outdated software can cause conflicts with the network.

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check Updates and install available patches.
3. For CDMA- networks, the PRL (Preferred Roaming List) update is done via the engineering menu (##775##).

💡

If after resetting the network settings, the phone still clings to 1xrtt, try manually selecting the operator in the Settings menu → SIM- cards → Network Selection (turn off automatic search).

Method 4: Checking the APN

Incorrect APN settings (access points) can block LTE:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-map → [Yours. SIM] → Access points (APN).
2. Make sure that your operator profile is selected (for example, Internet.beeline.ru for Beeline).
3. If there are several profiles, delete the extra ones and leave only the current one.

⚠️ Warning: Some Xiaomi models (e.g., Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro) will disappear after resetting APN, in which case request settings from the operator via SMS (usually command *111*1# or similar).

When can 1xrtt be useful?

Despite its archaic nature, the 1xrtt standard has niche applications:

• 🏗️ Building facilities and basements: In areas with poor coverage, LTE 1xrtt can provide at least voice communication (but not internet!).
• 🚂 Trains and subways: Some operators use CDMA to communicate in tunnels where GSM/LTE is not caught.
• 📡 Backup Channels: In emergencies (e.g., when major towers are turned off), operators can switch subscribers to CDMA.
• 🔒 Privacy: The 1xrtt standard is harder to intercept than GSM, so it is sometimes used in corporate phones.

If you consciously want to switch to 1xrtt (for example, for testing or working in extreme conditions), do so through the engineering menu:

1 Enter ##4636##


2. Select "Phone Information"




3. tap "Install preferred network type"




4. Select "CDMA auto (PRL)" or "CDMA only"

Hardware causes of 1xrtt and their elimination

If the software methods did not help, the problem may lie in the "hardware":

To diagnose hardware problems, use test codes:

• #4636## → Signal and network type check.
• ##06## → IMEI check (if null is displayed, the modem is faulty).
• ##232338## → Wi-Fi and Bluetooth test (indirectly showing problems with the radio module).

⚠️ Warning: If the phone starts showing 1xrtt after falling or getting moisture, don't try to disassemble it yourself, contact the service. The damage to the antenna or modem requires soldering work.

Frequent errors when trying to fix 1xrtt

Users often make the problem worse with the wrong actions.

• 🔨 Reset your phone to factory settings without backing up. That will delete all the data, and the problem may not solve.
• 📲 Install custom firmware (like LineageOS) without experience. Wrong firmware can kill the modem.
• 🔧 Manually edit files APN without knowing the parameters, a single character error will make the Internet unavailable.
• 📡 Use signal amplifiers of dubious origin, which can damage the antenna.
• 🔄 Changing IMEI phones. It's illegal and it's blocking the network.

If you are not sure about your actions, you should contact the official Xiaomi service or the operator. For example, MegaFon and Beeline provide free diagnostics of network problems by phone hotline.

💡

Before any manipulation of network settings, save a backup through Settings → System → Backup.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About 1xrtt on Xiaomi