How to set up Xiaomi to only catch 4G (LTE)

Are you tired of the constant jumps between 3G and 4G on your Xiaomi, when the Internet speed sometimes sags to dial-up levels, then suddenly recovers? Orperhaps your operator is actively implementing 5G, but the coverage is still raw, and the phone stubbornly clings to an unstable new network instead of a proven LTE? In this article, we will examine all the working ways to forcefully lock the network on 4G – from standard MIUI settings to engineering codes and editing configuration files.

The problem is relevant for most models Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO based on MIUI 12-14, but is especially acute on budget devices (for example, Redmi Note 10/11 or POCO M4 Pro), where the manufacturer often saves on quality antenna modules. Even flagships like Xiaomi 13 Ultra can “glutch” with network choice if the region is weak 5G coverage or the operator has not configured connection priorities. We tested all methods on the current firmware of 2026 – from MIUI Global to Xiaomi.EU – and selected only those that work.

Important: some of the ways require root rights or custom firmware installation, and if you're not prepared for radical action, start with the first three sections, which cover 90 percent of cases and don't require a system hack.

1. Standard network setup in MIUI

So, to start with the simplest one, the built-in MIUI tools, even if you've never digging into the settings, it's only going to take a minute to do this. Open the Settings app and go to the Settings section.

Settings → SIM- Maps and Mobile Networks → [Select SIM] → Network Type

Here you will see the options available. On most Xiaomi devices, the options look like this:

• 📡 4G (recommended) – automatic choice between 4G/3G/2G (default).
• 📶 3G — compulsory regime only 3G (UMTS).
• 📞 2G — only GSM (EDGE/GPRS).
• 🚀 5G — priority 5G, but with a fall on 4G/3G (Not available on all models).

The problem is that the 4G Only option is not here, and the manufacturer deliberately hides it so that users do not block their voice access (in some regions, 4G VoLTE is not stable).

⚠️ Warning: If your mobile phone is lost after the network type change (no calls), return the settings to the original state. 4G) in your region.

To activate the hidden LTE Only option, follow these steps:

Open the dial and type ##4636##

Go to the tab "Phone Information"

Scroll down to the "Installation Network Type" block

Select "LTE only" (or "LTE/WCDMA" if the first option does not work)

Save the changes and restart the phone-->

2. USSD-code-in 4G

If the standard settings do not give the desired result, try special ones. USSD-They work at the modem level and often allow you to bypass the shell limitations. MIUI, But these are validated on most devices from 2020 to 2026:

The most reliable code is the first one.

1. Select the tab “Phone Information”** (not to be confused with “Battery Information”!).
2. Scroll to the Network Type Installation block.
3. Slip it and select “LTE only” in the drop-down menu (if there is no such item, try “LTE/WCDMA”).

On some firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.EU) after applying this code, the phone can automatically reset the network settings after rebooting «LTE only" send" USSD-#86583## will block the reset.

MTS

Beeline

MegaFon

Tele2.

Yota

Other-->

3. APN setup for stable 4G

Sometimes the problem isn't with the phone, but with the APN (Access Point Name) hotspot. Operators often configure APNs so that the device can jump between generations of networks to save resources. We can create custom APNs that will only force 4G.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → [Yours. SIM] → Access points (APN).
2. Slip on the three points in the upper right corner and select "New Access Point".
3. Fill in the fields according to the table below (options for major Russian operators).
4. Save your settings and select the new APN as active.

After applying the new APN:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📶 Check the network indicator – it should show 4G or LTE (non-H+ or 3G).
• 📉 If the internet speed has dropped, go back to the standard. APN (The operator may be blocking custom settings).

💡

If the APN has stopped working after the change, check the APN Type field, which should contain at least the word default.

4. Engineering menu (for advanced)

If previous methods didn't work, it's time to turn to the Engineering Mode, which is a hidden part of Android where you can manually configure modem settings, including network priorities. Careful: the wrong changes here could lead to loss of communication!

Instructions:

1. Open the dial and type ##36446337## (or #36446338## on new models).
2. Go to the tab “MTK Settings” (for MediaTek chips) or “Qualcomm Settings” (for Snapdragon).

On Qualcomm chips, the path might look like this:

Engineer Mode → Qualcomm Settings → Network Mode → LTE Only

On MediaTek:

Engineer Mode → MTK Settings → BandMode → WCDMA/LTE Mode → LTE Only

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI Engineering menu is blocked. If the code doesn't work, try installing the app. MTK Engineering Mode (for MediaTek) or QPST (for Qualcomm) from the Play Market.

5. ADB-forced-command LTE

If you have a computer and you have a little patience, ADB (Android Debug Bridge) will allow you to change your network settings at the system level, which works even without root, but requires USB debugging enabled.

Steps:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (Tap 7 times)
2. Enable USB Debugging: Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging by USB
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install it. ADB-Drivers and open the command line in the folder with adb.exe.
4. Follow the commands in order:

adb shell


settings put global preferred_network_mode 9




settings put global mobile_data_always_on 1

Transcript of commands:

• 📱 preferred_network_mode 9 — It is the only way to enforce the “only” regime. LTE» (significance 9 = LTE only).
• 🔄 mobile_data_always_on 1 — prevents the disabling of mobile data in the background.

To check the current network mode, use:

adb shell settings get global preferred_network_mode

If the command returns 9, the settings are successfully applied. On some Xiaomi.EU firmware, the value is reset after the reboot. To fix it, add the command to the autoload script (Tasker or MacroDroid).

6. edit the build.prop file (root only)

This is the most radical method that is guaranteed to block all networks except 4G. Requires root rights and accuracy - an error in build.prop can lead to bootloop (cyclical reboot).

Instructions:

1. Install any file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /system/build.prop and back up the file.
3. Open build.prop in a text editor and add two lines at the end: ro.telephony.default_network=9 persist.radio.lte_vr_enable=1
4. Save the file, set the rights to 644 (rw-r--r---) and restart the phone.

Explanation of the lines:

• 📝 ro.telephony.default_network=9 — enforced LTE only at the system level.
• 📡 persist.radio.lte_vr_enable=1 — includes VoLTE (voice by voice) 4G), That the calls work.

⚠️ Note: If after editing build.prop phone stopped booting, download to TWRP, mount the section /system And restore the original file from the backup. Do not edit build.prop without a backup!

7. Alternative methods (if nothing has worked)

If all of the above methods have not worked, consider these options:

• 📲 Install custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience), where network settings are more flexible. MIUI (for example, IR-blaster).
• 📡 Use of external 4G-modem (e.g. Huawei) E3372) And it's a radical solution, but it gives you 100% control over the network.
• 🔧 Replacement of the antenna module (relevant for Redmi Note) 8/9, fall off 4G because of poor soldering contact, cost of repair: 1 000–2 500 ₽.
• 📞 Requesting support from the operator to link your number to the LTE-only tariff (not all operators provide such a service).

If you decide to use custom firmware, choose VoLTE-enabled builds (e.g. Xiaomi.EU or crDroid). Without it, calls won't work. Check model compatibility on the XDA Developers forum before you run firmware.

💡

Before installing custom firmware, be sure to unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool. Without this, the phone will not boot after firmware!

FAQ: Frequent questions