VoLTE in Xiaomi smartphones: what it is and how to disable

Modern mobile technology is evolving rapidly, and Xiaomi device owners often encounter new acronyms in the status bar. One of these features is VoLTE, which is activated by default in many models. Users notice an HD or VoLTE icon next to the network indicator and wonder if this option is necessary.

Owners of Redmi and POCO smartphones may feel uncomfortable with the inability to switch to 2G/3G for low-cost calls. In addition, some subscribers have problems with charging if the operator charges additional fees for voice calls over 4G. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to manage this feature.

It should be understood that a complete shutdown of the technology may not be available by standard means depending on the version of the MIUI or HyperOS firmware. However, there are proven methods to change the behavior of the modem and remove the unnecessary icon or force the phone to switch to 3G mode.

VoLTE technology and its impact on communication

VoLTE stands for Voice over LTE, which literally means "Voice on top of LTE." Traditionally, mobile phones used 2G and 3G networks for voice calls, and 4G only for data, and when an incoming call was made, the phone had to temporarily switch (fall) into a third-generation network, which took time and interrupted the Internet connection.

VoLTE technology allows voice streaming as a data packet within a fourth-generation network.This means your Xiaomi smartphone doesn't lose its 4G signal while talking.You can talk on the phone and play online games at high speeds simultaneously, something that was impossible in the 3G-dominated era.

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The sound quality when using VoLTE is much higher, as the HD Voice codec is used, providing a cleaner and more natural sound of the interlocutor.

Importantly, the feature requires carrier support and a SIM card, which Xiaomi device owners get out of the box if their region and tariff plan support the standard, but it doesn’t always work consistently.

Advantages and disadvantages of the feature on Xiaomi

The use of VoLTE on Redmi and POCO smartphones has its pros and cons to consider before turning off. On the one hand, the technology provides instant connection and no breaks in the Internet, on the other hand, it can drain the battery faster in areas of unstable 4G signal reception.

Let’s look at the impact of technology on user experience:

• 📞 Quality of communication: Voice is transmitted to HD-background noise is suppressed more effectively than in conventional networks GSM.
• 🌐 Simultaneous work: Internet 4G The navigator stays active during the conversation, the navigator does not stop building the route.
• 🔋 Energy consumption: Under ideal signal conditions, battery consumption is minimal, but with a weak signal 4G The communication module works more intensively.
• 💰 Tariffing: Some operators may charge minutes of conversation on VoLTE separately or only within packages, which must be checked with the service provider.

It’s worth noting that in some regions, 4G coverage can be intermittent. If a phone constantly tries to keep VoLTE in the “leaky” zone, this can lead to the fact that you can not make a call at all, since switching to 3G will not happen.

Standard way to disable through settings

The easiest and safest way to manage the feature is in the smartphone settings menu. However, the interface between MIUI and HyperOS is constantly changing, and the location of the switches may vary depending on the Android version and regional firmware.

First, try to find the option in the standard menu:

1. Open the Settings app on your Xiaomi device.
2. Go to section. SIM-maps and mobile networks.
3. Select a SIM card for which you need to change the parameters.
4. Find the Use VoLTE switch and deactivate it.

If the switch is missing or inactive (locked in gray), it means that the carrier or firmware is blocking manual control, in which case the standard path will not help, and you will need to use an engineering menu or codes.

Once the function is turned off, the HD or VoLTE icon should disappear from the status bar. The phone will start using 2G/3G networks for voice calls, and the Internet during a conversation can temporarily switch to EDGE or H+ if SVLTE technology is not configured.

Using an engineering menu to hide the icon

Often, users want to remove the annoying icon from the status bar rather than disable the technology itself (because it improves quality), and there is a hidden engineering menu in Xiaomi smartphones with MediaTek and Qualcomm processors.

To get into it, open the Phone app and enter a special code. For most Xiaomi devices with MediaTek chips, the code ##3646633## is suitable. For Qualcomm processors, the code may differ, often using ##4636###.

⚠️ Warning: Be extremely careful in the engineering menu. Changing unknown parameters can lead to disruptions! sloshing of the communication module or complete loss of signal. Change only those settings that you understand.

Instructions for MediaTek menu:

• 📱 In the menu, select the Telephony tab.
• 📡 Go to the VoLTE section.
• 🔘 Find a point. IMS Switch or VoLTE Switch and select Disable.
• 💾 Press the Set button to save the changes.

For the Qualcomm menu (via #4636##)

• 📱 Select Phone Information.
• 🔍 Find the Set Preferred Network Type.
• 🔄 Select a mode without VoLTE, for example, LTE Only (only the Internet) or WCDMA preferred (for compulsory use) 3G).

Forced 3G Transfer to Save Energy

If your goal is to eliminate the use of 4G for calls and save battery power in the area of poor reception, force the phone to 3G mode (WCDMA). This is guaranteed to turn off VoLTE, since the technology works exclusively on LTE networks.

To do this, perform the following actions:

1. Enter the code ##4636## in the call app.
2. Select Phone Information (Phone Information).
3. Find the drop-down list to Set your preferred network type.
4. Choose WCDMA only or WCDMA preferred.

After this procedure, the badge 4G or LTE It will disappear, and the phone will only work on third-generation networks, and the VoLTE badge will also disappear. LTE/WCDMA/GSM (auto connect).

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Forced 3G is a radical but 100% way to get rid of VoLTE and 4G coverage issues in basements or rural areas.

It is worth remembering that in WCDMA only mode, mobile internet speeds will be significantly lower, which can be critical for watching videos or loading heavy pages.

Comparison of network modes

To better understand what changes are happening in your Xiaomi smartphone when you manipulate the settings, it is useful to compare the different modes of operation of the communication module.

And you can see from the table that if you don't go with VoLTE in favor of 3G or 2G, you can reduce the quality of your communications, but you can increase stability in certain conditions, and the choice of mode depends on your priorities: quality and speed, or maximum compatibility with towers.

⚠️ In some countries, operators have already started to shut down networks 2G and 3G. Forced phone transfer to these modes could lead to complete loss of communication in the near future.

Solution and resetting of settings

Sometimes, when you change your settings, the network may not appear, or the phone will not see the SIM card, and in such cases, you should not panic, most often, a simple restart of the device or resetting the network settings to factory values helps.

To reset network settings on Xiaomi:

• 🛠️ Go to Settings. → Connection and sharing.
• 🔄 Find the Reset point Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth.
• ✅ Click Reset Settings and Confirm Action.

This operation will not delete your personal data (photos, contacts), but will forget the passwords from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth device settings. After the reboot, the phone will re-register in the operator’s network, applying the current settings.

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If the VoLTE icon disappeared on its own after the system update, check the access point settings (APN). Sometimes resetting the APN to default values returns functionality.

In conclusion, managing VoLTE on Xiaomi smartphones gives the user the flexibility to configure the connection, whether it’s to save battery, remove an extra icon or solve a problem with call cliffs – all these tasks are solved through standard or engineering menus.