How to change the number on Xiaomi smartphones: all the ways and nuances

Have you ever encountered a situation where your Xiaomi phone or PBX can’t reach you because of incompatible dialing modes? or have you noticed that some numbers are dialing longer than usual? The reason often lies in the settings of tone and pulse dialing — parameters that many users don’t even know about. In this article, we will discuss how to change the way you dial on Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark models), why this is important, and what pitfalls can occur.

Modern mobile networks have long since switched to tone dialing (DTMF), but some legacy systems (such as office PBX or banking) still require pulse mode. Fortunately, MIUI allows you to flexibly configure this setting - you need to know where to look. We will look at current methods for MIUI 14/13/12, as well as alternative solutions for cases where standard settings are not available.

What is a tone and a pulse set – what is the difference?

Before changing the settings, it is important to understand how these two modes differ:

• 📞 Tonal set (DTMF): Each symbol that is pressed is transmitted as a unique sound signal (a combination of two frequencies). GSM/4G/5G. Allows you to quickly dial numbers and interact with voice menus (for example, in banks or support services).
• 🔢 Pulse set: each clicked character is converted into a series of electrical pulses (like in older disc phones) used in legacy PBX or some enterprise systems. The set takes longer, but is compatible with non-supportive equipment. DTMF.

In practice, the difference is noticeable when calling numbers with additional services, for example, if you need to enter an internal number or access code after dialing the main number (as in hotels or offices), the pulse mode may not work, and vice versa, some old PBX simply “do not hear” the tone signals.

⚠️ Attention: Most modern Xiaomi smartphones have their tone dial enabled by default, and if you haven't had any problems calling, you don't have to change that setting. Incorrect settings can make it impossible to reach certain numbers!

Where is the dialing setup in MIUI?

Depending on the firmware version, the path to settings may vary. We will look at current options for MIUI 12-14:

For most models (Xiaomi 13/12/11, Redmi Note 12/11/10, POCO X5/F5, etc.):

1. Open the phone application (pipe icon).
2. Press three points (⋮) top-right → Select Settings.
3. Go to Call or Call (in some versions – Additional).
4. Find the item Type of set, Dialing mode or DTMF-pitch.
5. Select the desired option: Tonal (recommended for most cases) Pulse (only for outdated PBX)

If there is no such item on your menu, it could mean:

• 📱 You have a simplified version. MIUI (for example, for the European region).
• 🔄 Firmware is outdated – update it through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🛠️ The manufacturer has removed the option in new versions (relevant to the MIUI 14 on some models).

How to change the dial through the engineering menu (for advanced users)

If the standard path didn't work, you can try changing the settings through the engineering menu, which is suitable for power users and requires caution!

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the combination: ##4636## (some models may not work).
3. In the menu that opens, select Phone Information (or Phone Information).
4. Scroll down to the Set preferred network type block.
5. Below, find the DTMF tone or Pulse dial and change the value.

⚠️ Warning: Do not change other options in the engineering menu without understanding their purpose! this can lead to network loss, call problems or even damage IMEI. If you are not sure, use standard settings.

An alternative method for some models:

Dial in the Phone app: ##36446337## → select BandMode → search for the DTMF option.

Problem Solving: What to do if the dialing number does not change?

Sometimes even after changing the settings, the dialing mode is not applied.

If none of the methods worked, try resetting your network settings:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
2. Choose yours. SIM-map.
3. Click Network Reset (or APN Reset).
4. Reset the device.

💡

If you need to switch between modes frequently (for example, to work with different PBX), create shortcuts on the home screen using the Shortcut Maker or Tasker app.

Features on different models Xiaomi

Not all Xiaomi smartphones handle the set settings the same way. Here are the key differences:

• 📱 Flagship models (Xiaomi) 13/12/11, Mix 4/Fold): They usually have a full set of settings, including the choice of tone/pulse mode.
• 📲 Mid-size segment (Redmi Note) 12/11, POCO X5/F5): Some options may not be available in the standard menu, but the engineering codes are working.
• 💰 Budget models (Redmi) A2/10A, POCO C50): Often, they don't have the option of dialing mode, so the solution is to use third-party apps to make calls (like Google Phone).
• 🛡️ Models for China (firmware China) ROM): They may have advanced settings, but they don't have localization. DTMF.

On smartphones with Qualcomm Snapdragon processors (e.g. Xiaomi 12 Pro, POCO F4 GT), the engineering menu opens with the code ##4636###, and on devices with MediaTek (Redmi Note 11, POCO M5) - through ##36446337##. If none of the code worked, check the processor model in Settings → About Phone → Full Specification.

Third-party applications for flexible set settings

If standard methods are not suitable, alternative solutions can be used:

• 📱 Google Phone: Google's official tone dial app. Install from Google Play and make it the default app for calls.
• 🔧 ExDialer: a third-party call with advanced settings DTMF. Allows you to adjust the duration of tones and pauses.
• 🛠️ True Phone Dialer: Supports impulse dialing and has a built-in spam blocker.

To make the third-party application the main one:

1. Install the selected application from Google Play.
2. Go to Settings → Applications → By default → Phone App.
3. Select the app installed (such as Google Phone).

⚠️ Note: When using third-party calls, some features MIUI (For example, recording conversations or integrating with Mi Account may not work properly.

1. Check the current version of MIUI in Settings → About Phone

2.Make sure that SIM-The card is active and catches the network

3. Remember the current settings (take a picture of the screen)

4. Prepare a backup. SIM-crash-card-->

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When changing the dial mode, users often make the following mistakes:

1. Change mode without reset: some settings apply only after start of the device. Always restart the smartphone after changes.
2. Use of impulse mode with modern SIM-card: most operators (MTS, Beeline, MegaFon, Tele2) do not support impulse dialing.
3. Change of settings in roaming: in some countries operators block non-standard dialing modes.
4. Ignoring firmware updates: newer versions of MIUI often fix dial bugs. Check for updates regularly.

If after changing the settings, outgoing calls are lost:

• 🔄 Return the tonal mode by default.
• 📞 Check the balance. SIM-Cards (sometimes operators block non-standard calls with zero balance).
• 🔧 Reset network settings: Settings → SIM-map → Resetting mobile network settings.

💡

If you're not sure what mode you want, always choose toneset, which is compatible with 99% of modern networks and services, and pulse mode is only relevant for old PBX (for example, in some government agencies or hotels).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions