Xiaomi smartphone owners often notice a new VoLTE sign next to the network indicator in the status bar of the device, which can cause confusion, especially if it was not there before, or if the user is not familiar with modern voice communication technologies. In fact, it’s an indicator that your smartphone has switched to voice transmission through the Internet. LTE-Fourth generation network, providing significantly higher sound quality.
Voice over technology LTE (voice LTE) It allows voice calls to be streamed like data, similar to how instant messengers work, but with real-time priority, which means that when you make an incoming or outgoing call, your phone doesn't switch to outdated standards. 2G or 3G, and stays fast. 4G-This is why the Internet connection does not break down or fall to low speeds during a conversation, which is especially important for navigators and online games.
In Xiaomi brand devices, support for this feature is often turned on by default, but its work depends on your carrier and the settings of a particular phone model. Understanding how this technology works will help you not only remove unnecessary icons, but also significantly improve the quality of communication if you are in the zone of uncertain reception of the signal.
Technological essence of VoLTE on Xiaomi smartphones
To understand what VoLTE means on Xiaomi, you need to look at how the architecture of mobile networks has changed (2G and 3G) They used some frequencies for voice and others for the Internet, and when you took a call, the phone physically switched the radio to the voice frequencies, which caused you to have a voice frequency. 4G-The interquette was temporarily shut down. VoLTE technology bridges this gap by packaging the voice into a single voice. IP-packet.
Redmi and POCO smartphones, equipped with modern modems from Qualcomm or MediaTek, are able to process these packets with minimal latency, which gives the effect of “instant connection”: the beeps begin to go almost immediately after pressing the call button, without the characteristic pause of 2-3 seconds, characteristic of old networks, while the sound quality becomes broadband (HD Voice), covering a wider range of frequencies of the human voice.
It's important to note that the function requires support from the carrier base station, and if you're in a remote area where there's only 2G or 3G coverage, VoLTE will disappear and the phone will go into standard mode, but in urban areas, having this technology is the standard for comfortable communication.
- 📶 Simultaneous operation: the ability to talk and use fast Internet without switching network modes.
- 🔊 HD-Quality: Sound becomes cleaner, noises disappear and the effect of the metallic voice.
- ⚡ Energy efficiency: The communication module does not need to waste energy on constant switching between frequencies 2G/3G and 4G.
💡
Use VoLTE in buildings with thick walls: LTE signals often penetrate better than older standards, which can improve audibility in basements or offices.
Major differences 3G common 4G/LTE
Many users confuse the 4G icon and the VoLTE label, considering them synonymous. This is a misconception. 4G (or LTE) is the data standard, the "pipe" on which the Internet flows. VoLTE is a service that uses this "pipe" to transmit voice. Without the VoLTE feature enabled, the phone will "fall" into 3G when it calls, even if the 4G icon is on standby.
Compare the characteristics: in third generation (3G) networks, the width of the channel for voice is limited, which cuts down on high and low speech frequencies. As a result, the interlocutor sounds deaf. In LTE networks with VoLTE support, the channel width increases several times. In addition, the time to first byte connection delay is reduced from 5-7 seconds to 1-2 seconds.
Another critical difference is battery drain: Constant network search and switching between standards (CSFB - Circuit Switched Fallback) consumes more power than stable operation in one LTE mode. Therefore, on Xiaomi smartphones with VoLTE enabled, standby and talk autonomy may be higher.
⚠️ Note: If you are roaming abroad, VoLTE may not work or be charged as internet traffic.It is recommended to check with your carrier before traveling to avoid unexpected write-offs.
The table below shows the key differences between technologies:
| Parameter | 2G / 3G | 4G LTE (without VoLTE) | VoLTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sound quality | Low/Mediocre | High (data only) | HD (high) |
| Internet access when you call | Available (slow 2G/3G) | No (communication interrupted) | Available (fast 4G/5G) |
| Connection speed | 3-5 seconds | 1-2 seconds | |
| Battery consumption | High (constant switching) | Medium. | Low (stable mode) |
Requirements for activating the feature on Xiaomi
In order for VoLTE to appear in the status bar of your Redmi Note or Mi, you need to meet several conditions at the same time, and the absence of at least one of them will cause the feature to not work, even if it is enabled in the settings.
First, your plan should support voice transmission through the LTE. Most large operators have this option enabled automatically, but on old tariffs or virtual operators (MVNO) There may be limitations, SIM-The map should be modern (USIM), more 5-7 years ago, as older chips may not support the required encryption protocols.
The third condition is the technical capability of the smartphone: almost all Xiaomi models, starting with the Redmi Note 4 and Mi 6 series, as well as all current models, have built-in support. However, in some regions (for example, in Russia for certain models), support may be software hidden or require a global version to be re-flashed.
- 📱 Compatible smartphone: The model must have the appropriate modem and software.
- 📡 Operator coverage: You must be in a confident reception area 4G/LTE.
- 💳 Settings SIM: In the parameters of the mobile network should be ticked "Enable VoLTE".
☑️ Testing of VoLTE Readiness
Instructions for including VoLTE in MIUI and HyperOS
In the shells MIUI And the new HyperOS, the control of this function is put in a separate menu, but the path to it may slightly differ depending on the version of Android. SIM-map.
To activate, go to Settings, then select the item SIM-Maps and mobile networks. Click on the right one. SIM-If there are two, you can customize each one. In the menu that opens, find the Use VoLTE switch and activate it. If there is no switch, try entering the engineering code.
In some cases, especially on global firmware for countries where VoLTE has not yet been deployed, the switch may be hidden, so you can type a command in the dialer: # # #86583#. After you type in, the message "VoLTE Carrier check was disabled" should appear, which will force the VoLTE menu to turn on.
Path to activate:
Settings ->SIM- Maps and Mobile Networks ->[Your SIM] -> Use VoLTE (On)⚠️ Warning: When using engineering codes, be careful not to change other options in the engineering menu unless you are sure of their purpose, as this can lead to unstable operation of the communication module.
What if the code doesn't work?
Common problems and ways to solve them
Despite the technology’s fine-tuning, Xiaomi users may experience situations where VoLTE is not working or is not working properly. One of the common problems is that the icon is on fire but calls fail or fail, often indicating a conflict between the phone’s network settings and the operator’s profile.
Another common situation is that VoLTE appears and disappears, which is typical for border areas where the 4G signal is unstable, the phone tries to hold the voice call in LTE, but when the signal quality drops, it has to switch to 3G, which causes the icon to disappear, and the problem can also be hidden in outdated APN settings.
To solve problems, follow the following steps:
1. Reboot the smartphone.
2. Remove and re-insert SIM-map.
3. Reset your network settings to factory settings (Settings -> Connection and Sharing -> Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth).
If nothing helps, your carrier may not support VoLTE for your specific phone model in your region, so you can wait for firmware updates from Xiaomi to add new carrier profiles.
- 🔄 Resetting: Often resolves programmatic link profile conflicts.
- 📲 Software Update: Check for system updates in About Phone.
- 👤 Support: Contact the Salon for a replacement SIM-new card with support USIM.
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The main reason for problems with VoLTE is the mismatch between the phone settings and the operator profile, and not the malfunction of the smartphone itself.
The impact of technology on autonomy and traffic
There's a myth that VoLTE eats a lot of Internet traffic. It's not quite true. An HD voice packet consumes about 0.5 to 1 MB per minute. If you have unlimited rates, you won't notice that. If you're charging per minute or traffic is expensive, you should be careful, although modern tariffs usually include minutes per packet, not gigabytes.
As for the battery, Voice over LTE can actually consume a little faster in weak signal areas, since the 4G module is more energy-intensive than 2G. However, in areas of confident reception, it saves life, eliminating the constant jumps between communication standards. Xiaomi owners with capacious batteries are unlikely to notice the difference in the screen time.
It's important to understand that not using VoLTE to save traffic makes no sense in today's environment, and the convenience of instantaneous connection and the ability to use a navigator while talking outweighs the minimal cost of megabytes.