Modern smartphones of the Xiaomi brand, working under the control of shells MIUI or HyperOS, which has a lot of indicators at the top of the screen that tell the user the current state of the device, one of these symbols is the word VoLTE, which can suddenly appear after a firmware update or a change. SIM-Many gadget owners immediately start looking for information about what this acronym means and whether its presence leads to additional costs or battery discharge.
In fact, the appearance of this icon indicates that your phone has moved to a higher standard for voice communication over fourth-generation networks, which allows you to combine a conversation on the phone and high-speed Internet without switching to older communication standards like 3G or 2G. This is especially true for users who often use navigators or messengers during conversation.
Despite the obvious benefits, some users may need to deactivate the feature, ranging from a desire to save battery power in the area of uncertain reception to a banal desire to remove unnecessary characters from the lock screen, and in this article we will discuss in detail how to manage this setting on Redmi and Poco devices.
Technology of the Voice over LTE standard
VoLTE stands for Voice over Long-Term Evolution, which literally means Voice over LTE. Traditionally, mobile communication has been divided into two streams: packet data for the Internet and channel switching for voice calls. When you took a call on older phones, the Internet often shut down or slowed down as the device switched to 2G or 3G. The new technology allows voice to be transmitted as a normal data stream over a 4G network, which provides crystal clear sound.
The main advantage is the speed of the connection. When dialing, the beeps start almost instantly, without the characteristic pause of a few seconds that was familiar in the 3G era. Also, the sound quality is much higher because you use a broadband audio codec. You hear not only words, but also intonations, which makes the conversation more natural, and this is especially important for business communication or communication with older relatives who may find it difficult to hear through the speaker.
But this feature requires support from several parties: First, your Xiaomi smartphone must have the appropriate modem and software; second, the carrier must maintain this standard in your region; and third, the plan must include the use of these networks; if at least one of these conditions is not met, the icon will not appear, and the phone will work as usual.
⚠️ Note: In some regions and at some tariffs, operators may charge for traffic used when talking over VoLTE as for normal Internet traffic, even if you have unlimited packets of minutes.
Advantages and disadvantages of the feature on Xiaomi smartphones
Using modern communication protocols on Redmi Note or Mi series devices has its pros and cons, which should be considered when deciding whether to turn on or off the option. On the one hand, you get an improved user experience, on the other hand, there are nuances in the operation of the device in the environment.
- 📶 Simultaneous operation: You can stay online 4G while talking, download files or play online games without interrupting the connection.
- 🔋 Energy efficiency: In areas of confident reception 4G The phone doesn’t waste energy switching between standards. 2G/3G/4G, What could theoretically extend battery life.
- 🎙️ HD-sound: The voice of the interlocutor is transmitted in high resolution, removes noise and distortion characteristic of old networks.
On the other hand, there are situations where the technology can work unstable. For example, in places where the 4G signal is weak and constantly jumps, the phone can often lose the network or reset calls trying to hold the connection over LTE. In such cases, automatic switching to 3G (CSFB) would be more reliable, but with VoLTE enabled, the device will cling to the weak signal to the last.
The effect on battery power is also worth noting: While the technology is more economical in theory, in practice, constantly searching for a 4G network in motion (for example, in transport) can consume more energy than a stable but slow 2G. Therefore, when traveling or hiking, many users prefer to turn off high-speed communication modules.
How to turn on or off VoLTE in MIUI settings
This feature is usually managed on Xiaomi smartphones via a standard settings menu. the interface may vary slightly depending on the shell version. MIUI 12, 13, 14 or new HyperOS, but the logic remains the same. SIM-support-card 4G and activated service from the operator.
Go to your device's settings menu. Find the connection section. In most cases, the path will be as follows: → SIM-maps and mobile networks. SIM-The map you want to change the settings for (if there are two of them) then go to Use VoLTE or Preferred Network Type. If the item is hidden, it can be activated through the engineering menu, as discussed below.
☑️ Pre-switch check
After activation or deactivation of the switch, it is recommended to restart the device, which will allow the communication module to re-register in the operator's network with new parameters. If after the reboot the VoLTE icon appeared or disappeared depending on your choice, then the procedure was successful.
Hidden Engineering Menu to Activate the Function
There are times when the operator supports the technology, the phone knows how to do it, but the switch is not in the usual settings menu, and this is often found on global versions of firmware for some regions or on custom builds, in which case the engineering menu, available through special code, comes to the rescue.
Open the Phone app and enter the combination ##4636##. If the code is correct, the Testing menu will open. Select Phone Information. Scroll down to Set Preferred Network Type, where you can select a mode like LTE Only or LTE/TD-SCDMA/GSM, which will force the phone to run on 4G networks.
⚠️ Warning: Be extremely careful in the engineering menu. Changing the parameters of the radio module without understanding their purpose can cause the phone to stop seeing the network at all.
The same menu often has a separate VoLTE Provisioned switch, and if you activate it, the system will force the technology to be supported, and then the icon will appear in the notification curtain, and if the code doesn't work, it's possible that your version of Android or the MIUI shell will block access to this menu for ordinary users.
What if the code doesn't work?
Effect of the mode of operation on battery charge and communication
The issue of power consumption remains one of the most pressing for Poco and Redmi smartphone owners. Many users mistakenly believe that the VoLTE icon in the status bar means that the function constantly consumes a lot of energy.
If you're in a zone where the 4G signal is weak (1-2 fission), the phone has to constantly increase the transmitter power and look for a base station. In this mode, the battery discharge is much faster, regardless of whether VoLTE is on or not. Moreover, trying to connect LTE in such conditions can be more energy-consuming than quietly working on a 2G network.
| Rey's work. | Sound quality | Connection speed | Impact on the battery (in the 4G zone) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2G / 3G | Low/Mediocre | Low (Internet falling) | Minimum |
| 4G (without VoLTE) | Average. | Medium (pause on call) | Average. |
| VoLTE (Included) | High (HD) | High (instantly) | Optimal. |
So in a city with good coverage, VoLTE is the most rational choice, and autonomy problems can only arise when you're always at the edge of coverage, where the phone is going to be scattering between standards.
Solution: The icon does not disappear or appear
Often, users are faced with a situation where the setting is made, but the visual indicator behaves unpredictable. If you disabled the function in the menu and the VoLTE icon is left, try resetting the network settings. This will not delete your personal data (photos, contacts), but will return the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile settings to factory values.
To do this, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. Press the reset button and confirm the action. After the reset, the phone will again request parameters from the operator. If the problem is not solved, perhaps the operator forcibly prescribes this service on the network side, and it cannot be hidden at the phone level without root rights.
💡
If the VoLTE icon is visually disturbing but you can’t turn it off, try changing the theme in the Themes app. Some third-party themes hide unnecessary indicators in the status bar or change their style to a less noticeable one.
In the reverse situation, when the icon does not appear although it should, check if the service is activated from the operator. USSD-request or write in support, and make sure your SIM-The card is not too old: cards issued 5-7 years ago, may not support new encryption standards and require replacement in the salon.
⚠️ Note: After resetting your network settings, you will have to re-enter passwords from all stored Wi-Fi networks and re-enter Bluetooth devices (earbuds, watches.