How to Connect 4G on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Network Setup

Modern Xiaomi smartphones have powerful modems that can support high-speed data transfer, but often users are faced with a situation when the device is running in 3G or even 2G. This can be caused by both software limitations and incorrect network settings. The speed of mobile Internet directly affects the comfort of using the navigator, streaming services and video calls.

In this article, we will take a closer look at all the steps in activating the fourth generation of communication, where engineering menus hide, how to set the APN for your carrier, and what to do if your phone stubbornly ignores the presence of LTE towers. Network setting is a basic skill that will help you get the most out of your gadget without going to the service center.

Before you start complex manipulations, make sure your plan supports technology. LTE. Without the appropriate service from the operator, any actions with the phone will be useless. SIM-standard-card USIM, Older cards may not physically support high speeds.

Compatibility check and basic settings

The first step should always be to diagnose the hardware. Not all Xiaomi models work equally well with the frequencies of Russian or foreign operators. For example, budget devices may not support some Band bands that are used for LTE in your region. You can find out the supported frequencies on the official website of the manufacturer or in the specifications on the box.

Make sure that SIM-The card is inserted into the correct slot. In two-symbol models, often only the first slot is inserted (SIM 1) supports networking 4G, The second may be limited to the standard 2G/3G. If you have a card installed in SIM 2, Try rearranging it. This trivial action often solves the problem instantly.

After a physical check, we go to the software, and go to the settings and see if there's a traffic saving or energy saving mode that can force the phone to switch to slower but energy efficient networks. Autonomic is important, but it shouldn't be at the expense of communication where coverage is good.

⚠️ Note: If after rebooting the phone icon 4G or LTE It never appeared, and in neighboring phones with the same SIM-the card network is caught, the problem may be in a software firmware failure or damage to the antenna module.

The basic setting usually occurs automatically upon receipt. SMS However, if this does not happen, you need to manually check the network type. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Choose. SIM-map → Network type. This should be selected. LTE or 4G/3G/2G (motor-car).

Manually configuring APN access points

Often the reason for the lack of high-speed Internet is incorrect data access point APN (Access Point Name), a smartphone can see the network, but can not log in to it for data, these settings are individual for each carrier.

To make changes, go to the Settings path. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → (Choose yours. SIM) → Access points (APN). In the upper right corner, click the menu button (three dots or plus) and select "New Access Point" or "Reset to Default." Reset often helps if there's accumulated "junk" from old SIM cards in the list.

If automatic reset didn't work, create a profile manually. You'll need data from your operator's official website. Usually you only need to fill in two fields: Name (any, for example, MTS Internet) and APN (for example, Internet.mts.ru). The remaining fields are best left blank or standard, so as not to cause conflict.

Once you have entered the data, be sure to click the save menu (three dots → Save) and activate the created point by ticking next to it. Without saving and activating, the changes will not take effect. Restart the device so that the modem re-registers on the network with new parameters.

It is important to understand that for some corporate tariffs or specific services (for example, IoT SIMs), the settings may differ, in such cases it is best to request the current parameters from operator support.

Engineering menu and choice of frequency ranges

If the standard methods don't work, the Android engineering menu comes to the rescue, it's a hidden part of the system, designed for testing hardware, and you can get there on Xiaomi through a set of special code in the "caller." Type ##4636#. If the code doesn't work, your version of MIUI may block this input and you will need to install a third-party application, such as Activity Launcher.

In the menu that opens, select Phone Information. Find Set preferred network type. Here is a long list of options. You need to choose the one that contains LTE in the title, such as LTE/TD-SCDMA/CDMA/EVDO/GSM/WCDMA.

You should pay special attention to the Band Mode option (if it is available in your menu version), you can force on or off specific frequencies (Bands). LTE It runs at 1800 MHz (Band 3) and you have it off, 4G It's not gonna work. LTE-ranges for maximum coverage.

Be very careful with the engineering menu, and changing the parameters of the radio module without understanding their purpose can cause the phone to stop seeing the network at all, in which case only a complete reset or flashing will help.

⚠️ Warning: Never choose your modes "LTE Only" if you're in a low-cost area. In this mode, the phone won't be able to switch to the "Switch" mode. 3G to make voice calls (unless VoLTE technology is used) and you will be left without communication.

Using VoLTE and the impact on speed

VoLTE (Voice over LTE) technology allows high-quality voice transmission directly over a 4G network without lowering the speed to 3G during a conversation. On Xiaomi smartphones, support for this feature is often hidden by default, especially in global firmware for regions where operators have not yet implemented the standard.

Activation of VoLTE can have a positive effect on connection stability. When the phone does not “jump” between 3G and 4G during an incoming call, the overall ping becomes more stable. Activation often requires the input of a special command through the engineering test menu or the use of third-party utilities like VoLTE Enabler.

However, it is worth considering that enabling VoLTE requires support from the operator and the availability of the corresponding service on the tariff. If you turn on the feature in the phone, but the operator does not support it, an HD or VoLTE icon may appear, but nothing will work, or there will be problems with outgoing calls.

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Before turning on VoLTE, check with the operator whether your SIM-This is a map of this technology, and in some cases, you need to replace the old SIM with a new one with support. USIM.

You can check VoLTE status from the same engineering menu (#4636##.#.) Find the "VoLTE Provisioned" or "Enable VoLTE" switch. If the icon doesn't appear in the notification curtain after turning on, try rebooting the radio interface by turning on and off "Flight Mode."

Solving the Problems of Defining a 4G Network

There are times when all the settings are correct, but mobile Internet does not work. One of the common reasons is the use of unoriginal or outdated firmware. Chinese versions of Xiaomi (CN), re-flashed to global (Global) without unlocking the bootloader, may have incorrect regional settings of the modem.

The problem can also be in the case itself: Metallic or too thick protective cases can shield the signal, especially in areas of insecure reception. Remove the case and check the signal level. If the number of sticks has increased and 4G has appeared, the problem is solved by replacing the accessory.

And don't forget the software failures of the Android operating system itself: accumulated cache files or conflicts after an update can disrupt network services, in which case the effective method is to reset the network settings to factory.

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Resetting your network settings does not delete your personal data (photos, contacts), but erases saved Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth pairs. This is a safe procedure to restore the modem.

To reset, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. Confirm and wait for the reboot. After that, re-enter your Wi-Fi password and check the mobile Internet.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)