Many owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones face a situation where, in the area of uncertain reception, the device begins to constantly switch between communication standards. Instead of stable, albeit slow, 4G Internet, the phone tries to catch a 3G or even 2G signal, which leads to call interruptions and inability to use instant messengers, this problem is especially acute in country houses, in cottages or in buildings with thick walls, where the signal level fluctuates on the verge of network loss.
The solution may be to force the gadget to LTE Only mode, which causes the modem to ignore older communication standards and work exclusively on fourth-generation networks. However, in the standard Android settings menu, this option is often hidden from ordinary users. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to turn on LTE only on Xiaomi devices in different ways, using both built-in system capabilities and third-party utilities.
First of all, LTE Only may stop receiving regular voice calls if your carrier or data plan does not support VoLTE (Voice over LTE) technology, in which case incoming calls will simply be reset and you will not hear the horns. So before you start setting up, make sure that the VoLTE service is connected to your carrier, or be ready to use voice messengers.
Why you need LTE Only and how it works
The principle of mobile communication is built on the priority of networks. The smartphone always strives to connect to the fastest available network, but when the signal deteriorates, it automatically switches to more stable, albeit slower, 3G (UMTS) or 2G (GSM) standards. In conditions of weak coverage, this leads to constant jumps in the communication indicator, which not only annoys, but also decomposes the battery of the device much faster due to constant network searches.
LTE Only forcibly prohibits the communication module from switching to 3G and 2G. Even if the 4G signal level drops to a minimum, the phone will cling to it to the last, instead of going into a “two-graph” network, this ensures stable ping in online games and continuous loading of pages in the browser. However, as mentioned earlier, voice communication in this mode is possible only through data channels.
⚠️ Attention: Compulsory inclusion LTE Only can cause complete loss of communication in areas where the coverage 4G You can't call, you can't take the call, you can't get it. SMS until you return the standard network settings.
The use of this regime is most justified in the following scenarios:
- 📶 You are in the “spotted” area where 4G It is, but the phone is constantly dropping it on. 3G.
- 🎮 You are critical to low ping for mobile games, and stability is more important than having voice communication.
- 🏠 You use your smartphone as a modem to distribute the Internet to other devices (PC, TV) and voice functions are not needed.
It is important to understand that switching to this mode does not physically amplify the signal. The antenna of the smartphone remains the same. The mode only changes the logic of choosing a base station, prohibiting switching to low frequencies. If your 4G tower is too far away or closed in the relief, turning on LTE Only can lead to complete loss of the network ("No Service").
Verification of VoLTE support before activation
Before you go to the engineering menus, you need to make sure that your phone and carrier are ready to work in 4G mode. The key element here is VoLTE technology. If it is not active, turning on LTE Only mode will make it impossible to make regular calls. Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones support this feature hardware, but software can be hidden or disabled by the provider.
You can check for support in the standard settings menu. Usually, the path is: Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Choose yours. SIM-If there's a "Use VoLTE" or "Calls through" switch. LTE", If the switch isn't there, it may be hidden in the engineering menu or not in the firmware for your region.
Global ROMs often have VoLTE unlocked for most operators, while Chinese versions (China ROM) or globalized Chinese (China-based Global ROM) may require additional activation through special codes or applications.
⚠️ Note: Even if there is a VoLTE switch on the menu, it does not guarantee its operation.The service must be connected on the carrier side.Contact your carrier support to clarify the charging and availability of VoLTE in your region.
For users who want to be confident in support, there is a table of compatibility of popular operators and technologies:
| Operator. | Support for VoLTE | APN setup is required | Stability in LTE Only |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTS | Yes (automatically) | No. | Tall. |
| MegaFon | Yes (you often need to include in the LC) | No. | Medium/High |
| Beeline | Yes. | No. | Tall. |
| Tele2 | Yes. | No. | Depends on the region. |
Method 1: Activate through CIT Engineering Menu
The most common and safe method that does not require root rights is the use of a hidden engineering menu. CIT (Customer Integration Test: This interface is designed to test the hardware components of the phone, but also gives access to advanced modem settings. On Xiaomi devices, this menu is logged in through a special menu. USSD-code.
Open the Phone app and dial ##6484##. If the code works, the testing menu will open. However, accessing the Band Selection settings often requires another code that opens the network testing menu. Try entering ##4636##. If the first code brought you to CIT, look for Testing or Testing, and then go to SIM Card Status.
From the ##4636## menu (which can be opened directly or via CIT), select Phone Information. Scroll down to Set Preferred Network Type. From the dropdown, select LTE Only. From there, the phone should switch to 4G mode only.
☑️ Checklist activation through the engineering menu
It is important to know that newer versions of the MIUI and HyperOS shells may block developers from accessing this menu through code, and if nothing happens when you enter the code, try the following:
- 📱 Make sure that SIM-The card is active and inserted into the slot, the settings of which you change.
- 🔄 Restart the device and try to enter the code again.
- 🌐 Try entering the code in flight mode and then turn off flight mode.
If ##4636## is not working, it means that the engineering menu is closed at the system level, in which case, move to the next section, which describes the method using third-party activator applications.
Method 2: Use the 4G Switcher application
If standard codes don’t work, specialized apps from the Google Play Store come to the rescue. The most popular and proven tool is the 4G Switcher (or its analogues, such as Force LTE Only (4G/5G)), which does not require root rights, but requests permission to use special features (Accessibility Service) to emulate clicks in the system menu.
The activation process is as follows: download the 4G Switcher app from the Play Market. Launch it and provide all the permissions requested. In the main menu of the application, click the "Method 2" button (or similar one that offers login through settings). The app will automatically take you to the system menu "Special features." Find the 4G Switcher list and activate the switch.
Once the availability service is turned on, go back to the app, and it will show the "Open 4G/5G Settings" or "Enter Settings." Press it. The app script will open the hidden network type selection system menu, you will only have to select LTE Only from the list, and then the 4G icon will be fixed in the status bar.
What to do if the application crashes?
The advantage of this method is that it works even on versions of Android where code is closed, but it's worth remembering security: you trust a third-party application with access to interface management. Use only proven programs with high ratings and a lot of reviews.
⚠️ Warning: After the smartphone is restarted, the network settings may reset to Auto. You will have to restart the application or script to activate the mode. LTE This is standard Android security behavior.
Alternative methods and hidden commands
For advanced users who aren’t afraid to experiment, there are additional ways to influence a radio module, one of which is to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) from a computer, which requires connecting the phone to a PC via USB and having drivers and platform tools installed.
By connecting the phone and enabling USB debugging, you can send a command to change your preferred network.
adb shell svc phone setPreferredNetworkType 13Here, the number 13 corresponds to LTE Only mode. Digital codes may differ depending on the modem model (Qualcomm, MediaTek), so this method is less predictable.
Another option is to use apps to hide excess frequencies. For example, the MTK Engineering Mode app (for MediaTek processors) allows you to manually disable the 2G and 3G bands. On the Telephony → BandMode menu, you can uncheck GSM and WCDMA, leaving only LTE. This is a more “rough” but effective method that works at the driver level.
💡
If you use a dual-sim phone, remember that the network settings apply only to the one that is used. SIM-The card that is selected for the default data transfer. The second card can remain in standby mode. 2G/3G.
And don't forget that you can reset your network settings. Sometimes the problem isn't the lack of mode, but the software failure. Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. This action will bring all network settings back to factory settings, which can help if previous settings were damaged.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
Once you turn on LTE Only, you may encounter a number of problems, the most common being network loss, and if the indicator shows "No Service" or "Emergency Calls Only," it means that the current location has no or too little 4G coverage to run smoothly, and only if you go back to automatic network selection.
Another problem is that you can't call. As I said before, without VoLTE, the calls won't work. If VoLTE is connected, but the calls still fail, try resetting the access point settings. APN. Go to the mobile network settings, select your SIM-Map, press "Access Points (APN)" and select "Reset settings".
And users sometimes complain about battery drain, which can happen if the phone is on the edge of coverage and constantly "screams" into the air, trying to hold down a weak 4G signal. In such cases, LTE Only mode damages autonomy.
- 🔋 Quick Discharge: Return automatic network selection if you are in a bad reception area.
- 📞 No incoming: Check the status of the VoLTE service with the operator or enable forwarding to another number.
- 📉 Low speed: Possibly tower 4G It's overloaded. 3G It could be faster with fewer users.
💡
LTE Only is a tool for specific conditions of a weak but present 4G signal. In areas of confident reception, its inclusion will not give a noticeable increase in speed, but can provide a more stable ping.
How to Get Back to Normal Work Mode
Deactivation of LTE Only mode is done in the same way as activation. If you used the engineering menu using the code ##4636##, just go back there and select LTE/WCDMA/GSM (auto connect) or the same one containing the word "Auto", which will give the phone the right to choose the best communication standard available.
If you've used a switching app, run it again. The interface usually has a "Disable 4G Only" or "Back to Auto" button. Pressing this button will restore the standard settings. Remember to do this when you leave the area of poor coverage, so you don't get lost.
If the phone is stuck in a no-network mode and the menu doesn’t open, a reboot will help. In some cases, if the settings are damaged, you may need to completely reset your network settings through the recovery menu or even reset to factory settings (Factory Reset), although this is extremely rare.