How to Turn Only 4G on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Setup Your Network

Why Xiaomi users want to disable 2G and 3G

Modern Xiaomi smartphones support several mobile standards, from outdated 2G to high-speed 5G. However, automatic switching between networks often leads to suboptimal operation. When a device constantly jumps between 2G → 3G → 4G, this creates three key problems:

First, the speed of the Internet drops — with a weak 4G signal, the phone can switch to 3G, where the download speed is 5-10 times lower. Second, an additional battery is consumed: each transition between networks requires re-authentication and scanning, which increases power consumption by 15-20%. Third, in 2G/3G/4G (auto) mode, the phone spends time finding the best network instead of immediately connecting to stable 4G.

This is especially true for owners of Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5 and Xiaomi 11T/12T models, where Qualcomm Snapdragon or MediaTek Dimensity communication modules support all standards, but are not always optimally managed. In this article, we will discuss how to force a network to only 4G (LTE) for all versions of MIUI - from 12 to 14.

Preparation: Checking the current network settings

Before you change your settings, make sure your phone actually supports 4G in your area.

1. Check the modem model. Go to Settings → About Phone → Full Specification. The Network section should specify the supported LTE bands (e.g. B1/B3/B7/B20 for Europe).
2. Find out your operator’s ranges. MTS, Beeline, MegaFon and Tele2 have different 4G frequencies. For example, in Moscow, MegaFon is actively using B7 (2600 MHz), and in the regions – B20 (800 MHz).
3. Check coverage. On the operator's website, find a 4G coverage map for your area. If the signal is weak, forced LTE Only mode can lead to a lack of communication.

If your Xiaomi isn’t catching 4G even in automatic mode, the problem may be:

• 📵 Lack of band support (for example, Chinese versions of Redmi do not work with European frequencies).
• 🔄 Outdated firmware (in MIUI 12 and below were bugs with network switching).
• 📡 Incorrect settings APN (especially after the change of operator).

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If the status bar displays a 4G+ (LTE-A) icon, your phone is already using frequency aggregation to increase speed, in which case the forced LTE Only mode can, on the contrary, degrade communication.

Method 1: through standard MIUI settings (for all versions)

This is the simplest method that works on 90% of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices with MIUI 12-14.

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to SIM cards and mobile networks (or Mobile network on some firmware).
3. Choose. SIM-The card you want to change your settings for (if there are two of them).
4. Tap on the network type (or preferred network type).
5. In the list of options, select LTE Only (or 4G). If there is no such option, see the hidden settings.

When you change the phone, it automatically reconnects to the network. If you don't have a 4G icon in the status bar after 10-15 seconds, try:

• 🔄 Reboot your phone – sometimes changes only apply after a reboot.
• 📶 Manually select the operator in the settings (Settings) → Mobile network → Network operators).
• 🛠️ Reset network settings (Settings) → Resetting settings → Reset the network settings).

Method 2: Hidden engineering settings (for advanced)

If the standard settings do not have LTE Only option, you can turn it on through the engineering menu, which works on all Xiaomi smartphones with Qualcomm Snapdragon processors (for example, POCO F3, Redmi Note 10 Pro) and devices on MediaTek.

Attention, improper actions in the engineering menu can disrupt the network.

1. Open the Phone app and type the combination: ##4636## Some firmware may require ##86583##.
2. In the menu that opens, select Phone Information (or Phone Information).
3. Scroll down to the Set preferred network type block.
4. In the drop-down list, select LTE only (or 4G only).
5. Press OK and restart the phone.

On devices with MediaTek (e.g., Redmi 9A, POCO M3), the path may differ:

• In the engineering menu, select Connectivity → BandMode.
• In LTE, check the boxes on all supported bands (e.g. B1/B3/B7/B20).
• In the WCDMA and GSM section, uncheck all the ticks.

Method 3: through USSD-operator

Some Russian operators provide USSD-commands for forced switching to 4G. This method does not require changing the phone’s settings, but only works if the operator supports this feature.

After shipping. USSD-team:

1. Wait for the confirmation SMS (usually within 1-2 minutes).
2. Reboot the phone.
3. Check the network type in the status bar.

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USSD-The team is a temporary solution. SIM-Settings cards may be reset.

Problems and Solutions: What to Do When 4G Doesn't Work

Even after setting up LTE only correctly, you can have problems, and let's look at typical situations and how to solve them:

⚠️ Attention, if only after switching on 4G Mobile phone is missing (no network icon), check:

• 📶 Coverage 4G in your area – the operator may not be providing the service on your frequency.
• 🔧 Settings APN — Go to Settings. → Mobile network → Access points (APN) Choose your operator profile.
• 📱 The firmware version is on MIUI 11 and below are bugs with a coercive regime 4G.

If your phone doesn’t support your carrier’s 4G bands (e.g., the Chinese version of Xiaomi in Russia), the only way out is to buy a new device or use 3G as the main network.

Another common problem is that voice is not available in LTE Only, because some carriers don't support VoLTE (voice over 4G).

• 📞 Enable VoLTE in Settings: Settings → SIM cards and mobile networks → Additionally. → VoLTE.
• 🔄 Get back in mode. 3G/4G (auto) if VoLTE is not available.
• 📲 Use messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) for calls.

Network mode comparison: which is better for battery and speed

To understand whether to switch to 4G only, compare the key parameters of different modes:

The following table shows that only 4G is optimal for:

• 🏙️ Urban conditions with good coverage.
• 🔋 Battery savings (10-15% longer).
• 📥 Downloading large files or streaming videos.

When traveling or out of town, it is better to leave 3G/4G (auto) to avoid loss of communication.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions