VoLTE icon on Xiaomi: what it is and how to turn it on

You turned on your Xiaomi smartphone and noticed a new icon next to the signal indicator that didn't exist before, usually the letters VoLTE, which can appear in the notification curtain or right in the status bar. For many users, this becomes a cause for concern, because unknown characters are often associated with unnecessary costs or malfunctions of the device.

In fact, the appearance of this indicator indicates the opposite — your phone has switched to a better voice mode, which means that the device has connected to the operator’s network that supports voice over 4G (LTE), now calls will be cleaner and the connection will be established instantly, without a drop in Internet speed during a conversation.

In this article, we'll go into detail about how this technology works, why it's here, and whether you need to manually adjust something, how to activate a feature when it's hidden, and what to do if the icon is on fire but calls don't go through, and how HD Voice works across Redmi and Poco models.

VoLTE technology: how it works and why it is necessary

VoLTE stands for Voice over LTE, which translates to Voice over LTE. Traditionally, mobile operators used 2G and 3G networks exclusively for voice calls, and 4G was dedicated only to data, and when you started a conversation, the phone was forced to switch to an older communication standard, which took time and reduced the sound quality.

VoLTE technology allows voice to be transmitted as a data stream within a fourth-generation network, which offers significant advantages over classical communication, becomes bulky and crystal clear, disappears background noise and distortion characteristic of old networks, and establish the connection is almost instantaneous.

Another important advantage is the ability to use the Internet and voice simultaneously. In older networks, when an incoming call was made, the Internet could shut down or slow down very much. With VoLTE enabled, you can safely play online games, watch high-resolution videos or download files without interrupting the conversation.

Operators are rolling out this feature everywhere, as it unloads base stations and allows more efficient use of the frequency resource. For Xiaomi users, this means that modern models are set to work in this mode by default, if the operator provides such a service in your region.

⚠️ Attention: VoLTE communication quality depends on network coverage 4G/LTE If you're in a sensitive area, the phone can automatically switch to your local area. 3G, and the badge disappears.

How to turn on and set up HD-call-ups

In most cases, modern smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco automatically activate this feature if there is a compatible smartphone. SIM-However, if the icon doesn't appear, or if you want to check the settings, you need to go to the device menu. MIUI or hyperos.

To activate, open Settings, then go to the section SIM-Select the right SIM card if there are two. Find a switch to Use VoLTE or Allow VoLTE and activate it. If the switch is already active but the icon is not, try rebooting the device.

Sometimes carriers hide this option in the standard menu, in which case you can try to activate the function through an engineering menu or special codes, although new versions of Android access to them is often closed.

If the icon never appeared after the setting was turned on, make sure yours is SIM-The card is quite new. Operators sometimes require the old cards to be replaced with new cards. USIM It's also worth checking if the network settings have "Only" mode. 3G/2G».

Why the VoLTE icon appears and disappears

The unstable appearance of the VoLTE indicator often causes users to be confused, and this can happen for several reasons, both hardware and software, and understanding these causes will help avoid panic and correctly diagnose the problem.

First of all, it's a matter of coverage. LTE networks are not solid, especially outside major cities. When moving, the phone constantly scans the available towers. If the 4G signal drops below a certain threshold, the device switches to 3G to ensure communication stability, and the VoLTE icon disappears.

The second reason could be operator-side work or network failures, in which case the icon can flash or disappear for all subscribers in a particular area, and battery power affects the function: in power saving mode, some Xiaomi models can turn off constant search for 4G networks for voice calls to extend the time of operation.

There is another nuance about roaming: If you are in another region or country, the home carrier may not have a VoLTE service agreement with local networks, in which case the phone will work as normal, even if the 4G icon is displayed.

Technology comparison: VoLTE vs. Wi-Fi Calling and 3G

Users often confuse different technologies for improving communication. To understand the benefits of VoLTE, it is worth comparing it with traditional 3G communication and the alternative in the form of calls over Wi-Fi. Each technology has its own data transfer characteristics and hardware requirements.

Unlike 3G, where voice and data channels are separated, VoLTE uses batch transmission, which saves battery life on a smartphone, since the communication module does not need to constantly switch between frequencies. Wi-Fi Calling, in turn, allows you to call where there is no cellular network, but there is Internet, but the quality depends on the speed of the router.

Below is a table that will help you quickly navigate the differences between these technologies and understand what exactly is being used in your case.

The choice of technology is made automatically based on the priorities set in Xiaomi’s firmware. Usually, the phone will always tend to use VoLTE if the LTE signal is strong enough. Switching to Wi-Fi Calling only occurs with a very weak cellular signal, if this feature is configured.

Possible problems and ways to solve them

Despite the automation of processes, Xiaomi users may face situations where the function is declared but not working. The icon may burn, but the calls do not pass, or the interlocutor cannot hear you.

The first thing you need to do is check the status of the service with your mobile operator, and even if the phone supports the technology, it may not be connected at the tariff level. USSD-command or use the operator's personal account.

The second step is resetting your network settings, which will not delete your personal data, but will return the connection settings to factory values. To do this, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. After the procedure, the phone will restart and re-register on the network.

⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to activate VoLTE via hidden engineering menus (#4636##) if you are not sure what you are doing.Incorrect radio settings can lead to the complete disappearance of the network.

If the problem persists, it may be a software conflict: some calling or memory cleaning apps may block system services, and try to update the Phone app and Google Play services to the latest versions.

The impact of VoLTE on traffic and battery consumption

One of the most common questions is whether voice calls over LTE will consume Internet traffic. Many users fear that minutes of conversation will eat up the entire package of gigabytes. It is important to be clear right away: VoLTE voice traffic is charged by the operator as regular minutes, not as Internet data.

Technically, voice is transmitted as data packets, but in the operator's network, they are marked in a special way and are not counted in the Internet traffic counter. Your minutes balance will decrease according to the tariff plan, but the volume of downloaded megabytes will remain unchanged.

As mentioned earlier, the lack of need to switch between communication standards (2G/3G/4G) during a conversation reduces the load on the processor and radio module.

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If you are in a very weak 4G signal zone, the phone will spend a lot of energy maintaining the connection, in such cases it is better to temporarily turn off VoLTE in the settings to save battery power.

However, if you use Wi-Fi Calling at the same time as mobile internet, the power consumption may be higher than usual due to the simultaneous operation of two communication modules, but otherwise the transition to a new communication technology is a step towards greater autonomy of the device.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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VoLTE is the future communication standard that delivers high-quality audio and connectivity stability, and if your carrier and phone support this feature, using it is the best choice for daily communication.