Modern mobile communications is facing a problem of reception quality in buildings with thick walls or in remote areas where the base station signal is weak. Wi-Fi Calling (VoWiFi) technology allows you to make voice calls and send messages. SMS-For owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices, this feature is often hidden in the depth of system settings or depends on the carrier, which raises a lot of questions among users.
Activation of this option does not require obtaining complex rights or flashing the device, but the process may differ depending on the version of the MIUI shell or HyperOS. In some cases, additional steps must be taken to change the region or make changes to the configuration files of the system. Understanding the principles of VoWiFi will help you stay connected even in underground parking lots or in the country where only a home router catches.
In this article, we will go into detail all the ways to activate the service, check the compatibility of your tariff plan and consider the possible reasons why the phone icon with the Wi-Fi symbol does not appear on the screen. Network readiness and the right sequence of actions are the key to successful configuration.
What is Wi-Fi Calling and How Does it Work for Xiaomi?
Wi-Fi Calling technology is a standard for transmitting voice traffic via IP protocols, similar to how instant messengers work, but with integration directly into the system "caller." When you dial a number, the smartphone automatically detects that the cellular signal is weaker than the available Wi-Fi, and switches the call to the Internet channel without breaking the connection. This is especially true for Xiaomi devices, which often have powerful Wi-Fi modules, but may have cellular antennas focused on the frequency ranges of other countries.
The sound quality of VoWiFi is usually much higher than that of standard VoWiFi. GSM-However, it is worth considering that traffic is consumed from your home or public Internet, and not from minutes of the operator's batch offer, although billing is like a regular call. Connection stability depends on the upload speed of your wireless network.
It is important to understand the difference between regular calls through apps like WhatsApp or Telegram and native Wi-Fi Calling. In the first case, the interlocutor must be online and have an installed application, and in the second case, the call goes to your regular number, and you can communicate with any subscriber, even if he has a button phone without Internet.
⚠️ Note: When using Wi-Fi Calling while roaming abroad, the call may be charged as incoming or outgoing within the home network, but always check with your carrier to avoid unexpected costs.
The Android system on Xiaomi smartphones prioritizes network types according to the specified settings. If the Prefer Wi-Fi mode is activated, the device will try to hold a call over the Internet even if there are 1-2 divisions of cellular communication, which can lead to unexpected switches when leaving the router’s range.
Verification of support function operator and tariff
Before looking for a coveted switch in a menu, you need to make sure your mobile carrier provides a VoWiFi service and that it is connected to your number. Large Russian carriers have already implemented this technology, but it often requires a separate activation through your personal account or sending it to the user. USSD-Without the support of the network, no manipulation of the phone will work.
It is also critically important that SIM-The map was new and supported the standards. 4G/LTE, Because Wi-Fi Calling is closely linked to VoLTE infrastructure, if you use an old simco clipped with Nano-SIM scissors, the probability of successful activation tends to zero, in which case you should contact the communication salon to replace the card with a new one with support for modern protocols.
To check the status of the service, you can use the following commands or actions depending on the provider:
- 📱 MegaFon: Wi-Fi calls are often activated automatically, but you can check the status in the MegaFon app».
- 📞 MTS: Requires activation of the option “Calls over Wi-Fi” in the personal account or through the team *111*1268#.
- 🌐 Beeline: You need to make sure that the service "Beeline Wi-Fi" is connected and VoLTE is active.
- 🔴 Tele2: The function is available in the appendix "My Tele2» service-section.
Remember that even when you have an operator-side service on the phone, you have to have the appropriate profile settings, and sometimes it's enough to just reboot the device after you activate the service in the operator's personal account to make the configuration work.
Basic settings through the smartphone menu
On most modern Xiaomi models with the current version of the firmware, the setting is done through the standard menu. First, make sure that the wireless module is on and the phone is connected to the network «SIM-maps and mobile networks" or similarly depending on localization.
Inside the selection menu SIM-If you don't have one, try changing the region of the device, and often manufacturers hide this feature for regions where it's not officially certified with local operators. Changing the region to India, Ukraine or Russia (if available) could unlock hidden menus.
☑️ Checklist of basic settings
After turning on the tumber in the settings, the status bar next to the network indicator should appear the corresponding icon. If the icon does not appear, but the settings are saved, try switching the network mode to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Preferred network type on preferred 4G (LTE).
| Action. | The Way to the MIUI Menu | The Way to HyperOS |
|---|---|---|
| Main settings | Settings → SIM-map | Settings → Network and Internet |
| SIM card selection | Click on the operator's name | Choose. SIM-map |
| Activation. | Switch "Calls over Wi-Fi" | Wi-Fi Calls Switch |
| Priority | Settings → Calls through Wi-Fi | Prefer Wi-Fi for calls |
It’s worth noting that dual-symbol devices are set up separately for each card. If you plan to use Wi-Fi Calling for only one SIM, make sure you don’t confuse the slots when setting priorities.
Change of region and hidden settings
If the standard menu does not have a switch, the most effective method is to change the region, a safe procedure that does not require data resetting, but can affect the operation of some pre-installed applications and services (for example, Mi Pay or themes). To perform this operation, go to Settings → Additional settings → Region.
It is recommended to choose countries where VoWiFi technology is widely used and actively promoted by operators, often helps installing the region “India” or “Ukraine”, after changing the region, the phone may require a reboot, after which the settings menu will be used to reboot the phone. SIM-If that doesn't work, you can try activating the hidden engineering menu.
Using engineering menu codes is a riskier method that can lead to unstable modem operation, only if the change of region has not yielded results. There are special applications from the Google Play store that allow you to activate hidden functions, but their use is at your own risk, as they require wide permissions.
⚠️ Warning: Change of region may temporarily block work NFC-Payment (Mi Pay) and change the list of available frequencies LTE, Therefore, after checking the presence of the function, it is recommended to return the original region if the function has worked.
Setting up a router for stable communication
The quality of calls over Wi-Fi depends on the settings of your router. If the network is congested or has a high ping, the conversation will be intermittent or interrupted. To ensure the best quality, it is recommended to use the 5 GHz band, which is less busy and provides a higher data rate compared to 2.4 GHz.
If your router supports this technology, set the priority for the devices making calls or for the type of traffic "Voice/VoIP" that will reserve part of the channel for voice packets, even if other devices are downloading heavy files.
It is also important to ensure good Wi-Fi coverage in the place where you normally talk. If the signal is weak (1-2 division), the phone will constantly try to switch to the cellular network, which will cause the call to break, in which case the repeater or Mesh system will help to expand the coverage area.
Solution and troubleshooting
Even with the right setup, there can be situations when Wi-Fi Calling doesn’t work. One common reason is the outdated firmware version. Check for updates in About Phone → MIUI. Operators periodically update lists of compatible devices, and new patches may contain the necessary profiles.
If the icon appears but calls don't pass, try resetting the network settings.This will delete saved Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth pairs, but often solves problems with registering on the operator's network.The path to reset: Settings → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth.
In some cases, the problem lies in antivirus or VPN-applications that can block the ports needed for voice traffic. VPN and firewall at the time of the call to check their impact.