Many owners of Xiaomi smartphones sooner or later face a situation where the modern standard of communication LTE (4G) becomes not an advantage, but a cause of discomfort: In areas of uncertain reception, deep basements or crowded towers, the Internet speed drops to zero, and the phone begins to discharge intensively, trying to hold the connection.
Forced 3G switching (WCDMA) is not just a whim, but a necessity to maintain the device’s autonomy and ensure the stability of voice communication. The MIUI system installed on Xiaomi devices hides this functionality from the eyes of the average user, considering it too complex.
But with the right codes and paths to hidden menus, you can easily change the priority of networks. In this article, we’ll look at proven methods that work on most current models, from Redmi budgeters to Mi flagships.
Why you might need to turn off 4G on your smartphone
The main reason users are looking for a way to change 4G to 3g to Xiaomi is because of the instability of coverage. When the LTE signal is weak, the communication module starts operating at maximum power, which leads to a sharp jump in power consumption. The smartphone literally “lands” the battery in a few hours, constantly losing and searching for the network again.
The second important aspect is voice, because LTE-based VoLTE (Voice over LTE) technology is not implemented by all carriers and is not supported by all tariff plans, and as a result, when an incoming call is made, the phone has to “collapse” the network to 3G or 2G, causing a noticeable delay before the beeps or even a call reset.
- 🔋 Extending battery life in poor signal conditions.
- 📞 Stabilizing voice calls without connection breaks and delays.
- 🌐 More stable, albeit slower, internet when traveling or out of town.
In addition, in some regions, 3G coverage may simply be better and wider than the latest 4G towers, which are not yet optimized, and the forced choice of network mode allows you to lock the device at the most reliable frequency.
⚠️ Note: Forced switching to mode only 3G You can't use high-speed Internet where it's available. You can automatically reset your settings when you're out of the bad reception zone.
Use of the Engineering Menu through Codes
The fastest and most efficient way to change the priority of the network is to use a special engineering menu. MIUI It's available without installing third-party software, and you have to open a standard caller to call the menu and enter a special one. USSD-code.
Type ##4636#. If the code is entered correctly, the screen of the smartphone will instantly switch to the section "Testing". Here you are interested in the item "Phone Information". This section is where the settings of the radio module are located.
In the menu that opens, find a drop-down list called Set Preferred Network Type. The default is usually “LTE/TD-SCDMA/WCDMA” or the like that contains LTE. You need to select an option that does not have the LTE acronym, such as “WCDMA only” or “WCDMA preferred.”
#4636## - Code for logging into the engineering menuAfter selecting the desired setting, the 4G icon in the screen cap should disappear, changing to H, H+ or 3G. If this does not happen, try turning on and off Flight Mode for a couple of seconds.
⚠️ Warning: Do not change other options on the engineering menu unless you know exactly what they are responsible for. IMEI or the inoperability of the communication module.
⚠️ Note: On some new versions MIUI The code may be blocked by the manufacturer, in which case you will need to use third-party applications from the Play Market.
Configure through the system menu SIM-map
If the engineering code doesn’t work or seems too complicated, try the standard way through system settings. Xiaomi provides basic network management functionality, although it’s less detailed than the engineering menu.
Go to Settings, then select the section. SIM-You can then select the SIM card you want to change the type of network for. Click on Network Type or Preferred Network Type».
In the list that opens, select the option “3G” or “Prefer to 3G.” The system will try to rewire the connection. However, it is worth noting that this method does not always guarantee hard fixing. The smartphone can automatically switch back to 4G if it considers the LTE signal strong enough.
This is ideal for those who are afraid of getting confused in technical terms, and it's safe and completely reversible by simply returning the settings to their original state.
Application of third-party applications for network management
In cases where MIUI system constraints block access to hidden functions, specialized applications come to the rescue, which are actually a graphical shell for the same engineering codes, but provide a more user-friendly interface.
One of the most popular tools is the Force LTE Only app (4G/5G) or its analogues available on Google Play. After installing and launching the app, you will need to click on the "Method 1: Android 11+" button or select the appropriate version of the OS.
- 📱 Download the app from a trusted source (Google Play).
- 🔓 Allow access to phone and calls when the system is requested.
- 🔽 In the list of "Set Preferred Network Type" select «WCDMA only».
The main advantage of these tools is the ability to quickly return everything back with a single button, which is especially useful if you are temporarily in a bad reception zone and then plan to return to the city.
Security of Third Party Applications
Do not worry about the safety of using such programs, they do not make changes to the firmware, but only manage the current communication session.
Comparison of network speed and stability
Before you can get your settings fixed, it's helpful to understand the difference between modes of operation. When you switch to 3G, you sacrifice speed for stability. For instant messengers and navigation, that's often enough, but for streaming 4K video, it's not.
The table below shows a comparison of the characteristics so you can weigh the pros and cons before changing 4g to 3g to Xiaomi completely.
| Parameter | 4G mode (LTE) | 3G mode (WCDMA) |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum speed | up to 300 Mbps | up to 42 Mbps |
| Ping (delay) | Low (20-50 ms) | Medium (80-150 ms) |
| Energy consumption | High (at low signal) | Moderate and stable |
| Stability in the room | Often lost. | Tall. |
As the data shows, 3G loses in speed but gains in signal penetration, and buildings' walls are worse at delaying the low frequencies that 3G often runs on than high-frequency LTE bands.
💡
If the Internet is gone after switching to 3G, check the APN settings. Sometimes 3G requires manual settings, although they usually come automatically.
Return to the factory network settings
If you've had problems with communication experiments, or you just want to get it back to normal, there are a few ways to reset, and the easiest way is to reboot the device, but it doesn't always reset the radio module's forced settings.
For guaranteed returns in the engineering menu (#4636##), select LTE/TD-SCDMA/WCDMA or LTE/WCDMA/GSM auto, which will give the smartphone the right to choose the best available network.
You can also take advantage of a full network settings reset. Go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Reset your Wi-Fi, mobile internet and Bluetooth settings. This action will delete stored Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth settings, but resolve software conflicts of communication modules.
☑️ Checklist before resetting settings
Remember that after a reset, the phone may be able to “seek” the network for a while, so give it a couple of minutes to stabilize the connection.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Will 3G Switching Affect Voice Call Quality?
Can the phone receive 3G calls only?
What if the #4636### code doesn’t work on my Xiaomi?
Will the phone run out faster on 3G?
Should I take it out? SIM-switch-card?
💡
The main conclusion: Forced switching to 3G is an effective tool for saving battery and stabilizing communication in areas of poor coverage, which is easily implemented through the engineering menu of Xiaomi.