Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones have powerful capabilities for high-speed networks, but sometimes the device defaults on a slower data standard, which can be due to software failures, firmware settings, or unstable signal in your location. If you notice that the 3G or H+ icon is constantly burning, even in the city center, this significantly limits the speed of loading pages and applications.
In most cases, the problem is solved by changing priority types of networks in the engineering menu or through hidden settings of the system. Android, which runs the shell MIUI or HyperOS, allows the user to force the modem to switch modems. However, it is worth considering that forced on LTE where it is physically not, will lead to complete loss of communication, so it is important to understand the difference between software setting and operator coverage.
In this article, we’ll look at all the legal and safe ways to switch to 4G, from standard settings to the use of an engineering menu. You’ll learn how to diagnose a problem, what codes to use to access hidden features, and what to do if the phone stubbornly fails to catch fast Internet. Forced switching to 4G only mode can make incoming and outgoing calls impossible if your carrier does not support VoLTE technology.
Diagnostics: Why the phone can't see 4G
Before embarking on radical changes to settings, make sure that the equipment and SIM card are technically ready for fourth-generation networks. Often users try to squeeze the maximum out of the device, forgetting the basic requirements of telecom operators. If the SIM card was issued more than 5-7 years ago, it may not physically support LTE standards, even if the tariff plan implies it.
It is also worth checking the status of the service in your operator’s personal account. Sometimes switching to 4G requires manual activation of the service or replacing the tariff with a more modern one. In rare cases, the problem lies in the wear of the SIM card contacts or damage to the tray of the Xiaomi smartphone itself.
Note the following factors that can block the transition to high speed:
- 📶 Coverage area: Make sure you are in a confident reception area 4G, As the phone can be dropped on the border 3G connection stability.
- 📱 Smartphone model: Some Redmi budget models or global versions of Chinese smartphones may not support Bands used by your carrier in the region.
- ⚙️ Energy saving settings: Aggressive algorithms MIUI can limit the modem to save battery power, forcibly switching the network to cheaper maintenance 3G.
⚠️ Note: If after replacing the SIM card and checking the balance icon 4G It has not appeared, perhaps in your region, technical work on the operator's towers is temporarily underway.
For accurate diagnosis, you can use special applications that show the signal level and type of connection in real time, which will help you to understand whether the phone sees a 4G tower, but can not connect to it, or the signal is missing completely.
Basic settings of access point and network type
The easiest and safest way to try to bring back high-speed internet is to check the standard network settings in the smartphone menu. Android sometimes gets confused by 2G/3G priority after upgrading or changing the SIM card. First, you need to go to the settings section where mobile settings are managed.
Open the settings menu and find the item SIM-So what you're interested in is choosing a particular SIM card, if there are two, and the network type parameter. 4G (LTE)" Or something like that. 3G" or"2G/3G The phone will not physically try to find the fourth generation network.
Then you should check the settings of the access point APN. These are the parameters of the phone, through which gateway to connect to the Internet operator. Incorrect APN settings are a common cause of slow speeds.
Follow the following steps to verify:
- On the menu. SIM-Maps and mobile networks select your SIM card.
- Click on Access Point (APN).
- In the upper right corner, click the menu (three dots) and select Reset to the original settings.
Once you reset the APN settings, it is recommended to restart the device, which causes the modem to re-register on the network with the current gateway parameters, and if that doesn't work, you can try to create a new access point manually by taking the current data from the official website of your carrier.
Using an engineering menu to change network mode
If standard settings fail, you can use Android’s hidden engineering menu, a powerful hardware testing tool that allows you to force the radio to switch modes, and on Xiaomi smartphones, it is often accessed through a set of special code in the Phone app.
Dial the combination ##4636##. If the code works, the Testing menu will open. Select Phone Information. Here you will see the drop-down list "Configure preferred network type." This list contains many options, from old GSM standards to modern LTE and 5G.
☑️ Check before changing network settings
You have to choose the word LTE and TD-SCDMA or WCDMA (e.g. LTE/TD-SCDMA/WCDMA/GSM). Don't choose the "LTE Only" option if you're not sure about the perfect coverage, or voice communication will disappear. Once you select, the setting is instant, but for reliability, it's better to turn on and off flight mode.
The table below will help you understand the designations of network types:
| Designation | Description of technology | Speed and destination |
|---|---|---|
| GSM | Standard 2G | Voice and Slow Internet (E/G) |
| WCDMA | 3G standard (UMTS) | Voice and the Middle Internet (H+/3G) |
| LTE | Standard 4G | High-speed Internet and HD-calls (VoLTE) |
| NR | Standard 5G | High speeds (if supported) |
It's important to understand that when you reboot your smartphone, the settings in the engineering menu can reset to factory settings, which is the normal behavior of the system, which protects the user from errors, and if you want to constantly force switch, you have to use additional methods or applications.
Application of third-party applications for fixing 4G
As the engineering menu is reset after the reboot, many users turn to specialized applications from Google Play, programs like Force LTE Only (4G/5G) or NetMonster that allow you to change network priorities without entering code every time, using the same system APIs as the engineering menu, but provide a user-friendly interface.
These applications often require ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or root rights to run on newer versions of Android (11, 12, 13, 14). Without this, the app can show settings but cannot apply them due to security limitations. If you don’t have experience with USB debugging, it’s better to limit yourself to standard methods.
The process of setting priority through the application usually looks like this:
- 📲 Launch: Open the app and go to the tab "Method 2 (New)" or similar for new Android.
- 🔗 Connection: Follow the instructions for connecting via ADB (computer required) or provide special permissions.
- 🔒 Fixing: Select the mode LTE Only or LTE/WCDMA and press the "Set" or "Apply" button".
⚠️ Attention: Using third-party modem management apps can lead to unstable communication.In case of problems, uninstall the application and restart the phone.
The advantage of these slits is that you can switch between modes quickly, for example, you can set "LTE Only" for fast downloading files, and return "Auto" before an important call to avoid missing a 3G call.
Specificity of working with two SIM-maps on Xiaomi
Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often use two SIM cards, which makes their own adjustments to the network configuration. 4G And then you have to do it on one SIM card at a time, and then the second SIM card automatically goes into mode. 2G/3G wait-in.
If you notice that one of the SIM cards does not see 4G, Check which one is selected as the main one for data transfer. SIM-The cards and mobile networks have an Internet location, make sure that the SIM card you want to use is the one you want to use, and switching between SIM cards can take anywhere from 5 to 15 seconds, during which time the connection can be interrupted.