Modern Xiaomi smartphones by default support voice calls over an LTE network, known as VoLTE. This allows you to talk simultaneously using high-speed Internet without switching to 3G or 2G. However, in some situations, this feature can cause unstable communication, increased battery consumption or simply be unnecessary if your carrier does not support this standard in your region.
Users often find that the standard settings menu does not provide an obvious switch for this option, especially in global versions of MIUI or HyperOS firmware. Sometimes the VoLTE icon appears in the status bar on its own, even if you did not manually configure it, in which case you need to use deeper methods of system tuning.
In this article, we will take a look at how to disable VoLTE on Xiaomi in a variety of ways.We will look at standard settings, hidden engineering menus, and specialized applications.You will learn why this feature can interfere with the operation of the device and whether it should be turned off to improve connection stability.
Why you should disable VoLTE on Xiaomi smartphones
Voice over LTE is designed to improve communication quality, but in practice, implementing this feature in the MIUI shell is often questionable, primarily because of coverage issues. If you are in an area where the 4G signal is weak and unstable, the phone will constantly try to hold the connection for voice calls, which leads to call breaks.
Another common cause is the rapid discharge of the battery. Constant search and retention of the channel for HD-Voices require additional modem resources if you're not using the function. HD Voice, its work in the background becomes a waste of energy. Disabling VoLTE often helps to extend battery life in conditions of poor reception.
⚠️ Note: Before making changes to your network settings, make sure your carrier provides voice services as standard. 3G or 2G. In some regions, operators have already fully switched to 4G, Disabling VoLTE may make it impossible to make calls.
Also worth mentioning is SIM compatibility: Old SIM cards or cards that are not replaced with USIM on certain carriers may not work properly with LTE protocols for voice, which can result in the phone not seeing the network at all or showing a sign-up error, in which case a return to the classic mode is the only way out.
Basic Disconnection through the Standard Settings Menu
The easiest and safest way to control voice calls is through the standard interface, but the location of the switch may vary depending on the Android version and regional firmware, and in most cases, the path is as follows: You need to open the settings, go to the section SIM-maps and mobile networks and select the desired SIM card.
You should look for a item called "Use VoLTE" or "Wi-Fi Calls." If the switch is active, just click on it to deactivate the function. After that, the phone should re-register on the network, and the HD or VoLTE icon in the status bar will disappear. This action does not require rebooting the device.
- 📱 Open the main menu of your device settings.
- 📶 Go to subsection "SIM-maps and mobile networks".
- 🔘 Find the "Use VoLTE" switch and turn it off.
- 🔄 Wait for the network indicators update in the upper bar.
In some versions of firmware, especially Chinese or global ones with specific region settings, this item may be hidden. If you do not find the switch along the specified path, try changing the region in the settings Additional → Region to India or Indonesia. Often after changing the region and rebooting, the desired menu item becomes available.
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If after switching the settings, the network is lost, turn on the flight mode for 10 seconds, and then turn it off for forced re-registration in the operator's network.
Using an engineering menu to disable the function
If the standard interface doesn't allow you to manage the communication parameters, the engineering menu comes to the rescue, it's a hidden part of the system, designed for testing equipment, but accessible to ordinary users, and it uses a special code to enter it in the Phone application.
Dial the combination ##4636##. If the code is correct, the "Verify" menu will open. Select "Phone Information" here. Here is a wide list of options. We are interested in the "VoLTE Provisioned" or "Turn off VoLTE" switch (depending on the menu version), changing the status of this flag forcibly tells the modem that the service should not be used.
| Parameter | Description | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| VoLTE Provisioned | Status of service support by the operator | Turned off (to turn off) |
| Set Preferred Network Type | Type of preferred network | LTE/TD-SCDMA/UMTS... |
| Ping Test | Connection check | Not required |
It is important to note that in new versions of HyperOS and the latest security updates, access this menu through the USSD-If the code is not working, try entering it without pressing the call button.
⚠️ Note: Do not change other settings in the engineering menu unless you are sure of their purpose.Resetting the preferred network type can cause the phone to stop catching. 4G completely.
What if the code doesn't work?
Hidden codes and commands for different models
Different Xiaomi Redmi and Poco models can respond to different system commands. In addition to the basic engineering code, there are alternative ways to activate hidden functions. For example, some devices run code ##86583##, which forcibly turns on or off the hidden VoLTE switch in the system.
When you enter the correct code, you will see a pop-up notification: “VoLTE carrier check was disabled” or “enabled.” This means that the system restriction has been removed and you can now manage the feature through a standard settings menu that was previously hidden. This is especially true for Russian operators who do not have official certification from Xiaomi for VoLTE operation in this region.
- 🔢 Code ##4636## - Enter the test menu.
- 🔓 Code #86583## Unlocks the hidden VoLTE switch.
- 🔒 Code #86583## (Re-enter) – Return to factory restrictions.
- 📶 Code ##7266336## - displaying VoLTE status (on some models).
After successful application of the unlock code, return to Settings → SIM-And you have to have a new item that you can turn off the function permanently, and if you want to get it back to the way it was, just type the same code again, and it works like a switchboard.
☑️ Checking before changing codes
Application of third-party applications for network management
When embedded tools and codes fail, specialized applications from the Google Play store come in, they don't require root rights and work by creating shortcuts to hidden system activities. One of the most popular and reliable tools is Force LTE Only (4G/5G).
Once you install the app, run it and select the method "Method 2: (Android 11+)" or "Method 1", depending on the version of your OS. In the menu that opens, find the Phone Information section. Here you will see a lot of checkboxes. Find the item associated with VoLTE and uncheck it. This action is similar to working through an engineering menu, but done through a third-party interface.
Another useful tool is NetMonster or Cell Info Lite. Although primarily designed to monitor the signal, some have fast network mode switching features. However, specialized utites-switches are best suited to directly disable VoLTE.
⚠️ Note: Third-party applications can be removed by the energy saving system MIUI. Add the app to the autoboot and disallow battery saving for it so that settings don't reset after the restart.
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Third-party apps are a bridge to Android’s hidden features when the manufacturer restricts access to them in the standard interface.
Problems and Solutions After VoLTE Disconnection
Once you turn off VoLTE, there may be new nuances in the way your communication works, and the most common scenario is that when you make an incoming or outgoing call, the Internet will switch to 3G (H+) or even 2G (E). This is normal behavior for a network without VoLTE: voice is transmitted using old protocols, and data goes to a different frequency range.
If the connection is lost completely or the phone shows “No network”, it is possible that in your region the operator has already disabled 2G/3G support for voice calls (frequency refurbishing), in which case you will have to return the setting back, and it is worth checking whether the “Only 4G” mode is on the engineering menu, since without VoLTE in this mode, it will be impossible to call.
Sometimes users notice that after the function is turned off, the audio quality in the dynamics has deteriorated, which is expected because HD Voice is no longer used, but the stability of the connection in areas of insecure reception usually increases.
- 📉 The internet is falling to 3G When talking, it’s normal without VoLTE.
- 🔇 The sound quality has deteriorated – the technology has been turned off HD Voice.
- 📡 Phone loses network – check if the mode is not “only” LTE".
- 🔋 Battery keeps charge longer – modem runs in simpler mode.