How to completely disable 2G on Xiaomi: instructions for all models

Why Xiaomi Owners Want to Turn off 2G and Should They?

2G (GSM/EDGE) is a mobile technology that dates back to 1991, which is considered obsolete today, but many carriers still support it for compatibility with older devices. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often find their phones automatically connect to 2G even when more modern 4G/LTE or 5G networks are available. This leads to slower Internet, longer page load times and even increased battery consumption due to constant switching between networks.

The main reasons why users want to turn off 2G on Xiaomi:

• 📶 Low Internet speed — 2G 236 Kbps is limited, which is not enough for modern applications.
• 🔋 Fast battery drain – the phone wastes energy searching and switching between networks.
• 📱 Unstable connection – frequent breaks of calls and messages when automatically switching to the Internet 2G.
• 🛡️ Security vulnerability — 2G It does not support modern encryption, which makes data transmission less secure.

There are a few things to consider before you turn off 2G: First, in some regions (especially in rural areas), 2G may be the only network available. Second, if your carrier does not support VoLTE (voices over 4G), disabling 2G can lead to call problems.

What Xiaomi models support 2G shutdown

The manual 2G shutdown feature is available on almost all Xiaomi smartphones released after 2016, but the settings interface may vary depending on the MIUI version and regional firmware.

If your model is not listed in the table, check the version. MIUI in settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI). For older firmware MIUI 12 shutdown option 2G older versions may require activation of developer mode or use ADB-team.

⚠️ Note: On some devices with dual SIM-settings 2G They can be used separately for each SIM. Make sure you turn off the SIM. 2G for all slots used.

Step-by-step: how to disable 2G on Xiaomi through settings

The easiest way to disable 2G is to use the standard settings menu, which is suitable for most modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices with MIUI 12 and later:

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to section. SIM-maps and mobile networks (or mobile network on some firmware).
3. Choose. SIM-map for which you want to disconnect 2G (If you have two SIMs, repeat the steps for each).
4. Click on Network Type (or Preferred Network Type)
5. In the window that appears, select one of the options: 🔄 3G/4G (Cars – the phone will only be used 3G and 4G. 🔄 4G (preferably or only 4G — priority LTE. 🔄 5G/4G/3G (if available, excludes 2G, but maintains new standards.

Save the changes and restart the phone (recommended for settings).

If the 2G option is not available in the Network Type menu, this could mean:

• 📱 You have an outdated version. MIUI (firmware update).
• 🌍 Your firmware is global (Indian, European), where the option is hidden.
• 🔧 You need to activate the developer mode (instruction below).

⚠️ Note: On some devices after disconnection 2G You may miss the network icon in the status bar, although the connection will work. This is normal behavior - check the speed of the Internet through Speedtest.

Disable 2G through the Engineering Menu (for power users)

If standard settings do not allow you to disable 2G, you can use the Engineering Mode (Engineer Mode), which is suitable for devices based on Qualcomm Snapdragon processors (most Xiaomi and POCO).

To open the engineering menu:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the code ##4636##
3. In the menu that appears, select Phone Information (or Phone Information).
4. Scroll down to the Set preferred network type section.
5. Choose one of the 2G-free options: LTE/WCDMA auto (3G + 4G) LTE only (4G only) NR/LTE/WCDMA (5G + 4G + 3G)

For devices on Mediatek (e.g. Redmi 9A, POCO C31), use the code:

##36446337##

In the menu that opens, go to Connectivity → Band Selection and manually turn off 2G bandwidths (e.g. GSM 900, GSM 1800).

Shutdown 2G assisted ADB-Teams (for advanced teams)

If none of the previous methods worked, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting the phone to a computer and basic command line knowledge, and the advantage of the method is that it works even on locked firmware.

Instructions:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on the MIUI Version until the notification “You are a developer” appears.
2. Turn on USB debugging: Return to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate the USB debugging switch.

command-line

terminal

adb shell


settings put global preferred_network_mode 9




exit

Where 9 is the code for LTE/WCDMA (3G+4G) mode.

• 7 - LTE only (4G)
• 20 — NR/LTE/WCDMA (5G + 4G + 3G)
• Reboot the phone.

For devices with two SIM-maps are recommended to be disconnected 2G Step-by-step: first for one SIM, then for the second, checking the stability of the connection after each change.

💡

If after all the manipulations, the network is unstable, return the default settings and contact your carrier’s support team, perhaps the problem lies in the settings on the provider side, not the phone.

How to check if 2G is disabled

Many Xiaomi users are faced with the fact that even after changing the settings, the phone continues to connect to 2G.

• 🔄 Automatic switching at weak signal 3G/4G.
• 📡 Features of the firmware (some versions) MIUI ignore manual settings).
• 📱 Hardware limitations (on budget models may not support some frequencies).

To make sure that 2G is disabled, follow these steps:

1. Check the network indicator: E (EDGE) or G (GPRS) – you are still on the 2G network. 3G, H+, 4G or 5G icons – 2G are disabled.
2. Use applications to analyze the network: 📊 Network Signal Guru – shows the network type, signal level and frequencies used. 📡 LTE Discovery – displays detailed connection information (including frequency bandwidth).

Check the speed of the Internet:

• Run the speed test in Speedtest or Ookla.
• If the speed is below 1 Mbps, you are most likely connected to 2G.

If tests show that the phone is still using 2G, try:

• 🔄 Reset the device.
• 📵 Temporarily turn on flight mode for 30 seconds, then turn off.
• 🔧 Reset network settings (Settings) → SIM-map → Resetting mobile network settings).

FAQ: Frequent questions about 2G shutdown on Xiaomi