How to turn on the waiting call on Xiaomi

Many Xiaomi smartphone owners face a situation where during a conversation, an incoming call is simply reset and the subscriber hears short horns, this is because by default or due to a reset by the operator, the Wait for a Call function can be disabled. Without this option, your smartphone perceives the second call as an obstacle and blocks it, preventing you from putting the first person on hold.

Activation of this service is critical for business people and those who can not afford to miss an important conversation. Fortunately, in the shell of MIUI or HyperOS, this process is as simple as possible and does not require a deep knowledge of the engineering menu. In this article, we will discuss all the activation methods, possible errors in connection and the nuances of the function in different conditions.

The service is enabled on the carrier side, so it requires a stable cellular signal to work, not just the Internet, and even if you've never used this tool, it may already be activated in your data plan, but disabled in your phone settings. Let's figure out how to check the status and turn on the option forcibly.

Why you need a waiting function and how it works

Call waiting is a standard telecommunications service that allows you to receive incoming calls during a conversation. When you talk to the first caller and the second call you, you hear a special signal in the handset, at which point a notification with the caller's number or name appears on the Xiaomi screen, and two buttons: answer or reject.

If you decide to answer, the first conversation will automatically go into hold mode. You can't hear the person, and they can't hear you while you're talking to the second person, so you can quickly resolve the issue and return to the main conversation without interrupting the entire communication, and without waiting, the second caller will hear the "busy" signal or get to the answering machine.

It is worth noting that this feature does not consume additional Internet traffic, as it works through voice channels of the cellular network. However, it can be paid depending on the conditions of your plan for the operator. Most often the service is turned on by default, but in the Android or MIUI settings, it can be deactivated by the user or shot down after updating the firmware.

⚠️ Warning: If you are in a low-reception zone or using VoLTE on an unstable network, the standby function may be delayed or not activated at all. 2-3 signal-level division.

Activation through the standard phone settings menu

The easiest and most reliable way to enable call waiting on Xiaomi is to use the built-in system settings menu, which works on most modern models, including the Redmi Note, Poco and the flagship Mi series. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of Android, but the logic remains the same.

To start, open the Phone app, which usually has a green or blue handset icon. In the upper right corner, you'll see a three-dot icon or a gear, which is the input to the settings menu. Click on it to expand the list of available call management options.

In the list that opens, find "Call Settings" or "Additional Settings." This is where the SIM card's settings are hidden. If you have two SIM cards on your phone, the system will tell you to choose which card you want to change the settings for. SIM-map and proceed to the next step.

Inside the SIM card settings menu, find the Waiting for a Call switch, which can be simply called Waiting or have a watch icon, put the slider in active position, the system will send a request to the operator's network, and in a couple of seconds the status will change to On.

If the status does not change or returns to the starting position after the slider is turned on, this can mean an operator-side problem or a temporary network failure. Try restarting the device and repeating the procedure. Also make sure that there are funds in the account if the service is paid.

Use of the USSD-service-management codes

Sometimes the graphical interface in MIUI It may or may not be a service status update. USSD-Codes are special commands that go directly to the operator's server, and this is a universal method that works even on push-button phones and older versions of Android.

To control the waiting of a call, the standard code *43# is used. To activate the service, type this code in the Phone application and press the call button. In a few seconds, you will receive a pop-up message from the network with an activation confirmation.

There are other codes for checking and disabling functions that can be useful in different situations, and here is a table with the main commands that are relevant for most operators (the “Big Four” in Russia and many CIS operators).

Once you enter the *#43# code, you will see a message telling you if the service is active. If the system says "Service is active" but the calls are still being reset, the problem may lie in the conflict of settings of the phone itself, which we will discuss in the next sections. USSD-codes do not require an internet connection and work even if there is no balance, if incoming codes are free.

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Save the *43# code in notes or use the quick dial widget to quickly return the function to working state in case of resetting by the operator.

Configure through the engineering menu (for advanced)

In some cases, especially on custom firmware or after deep changes in the system, standard settings may not be available, then you can use the Xiaomi engineering menu, which requires caution, since changing the unnecessary parameters can disrupt the radio module.

To enter the engineering menu, open the Phone app and dial the code ##4636##. If the code didn't work, your shell version may be blocking access. From the menu that opens, select Phone Information. You'll need to find Turn off radio here, it should be turned off, and below find the settings associated with Call Waiting.

However, the safer way through the engineering menu is to check the network type. Sometimes the wait doesn't work if the phone is stuck in 2G/3G mode only. Make sure that the preferred network type selects LTE/TD-SCDMA/GSM or a similar option with 4G support. Switching network modes can restart network registration and update the service profile.

⚠️ Warning: Do not change the values in the engineering menu if you are not sure about their purpose. IMEI Or calibrate the antenna, and your goal is to check the status of the service or the type of network.

If you accidentally change the extra, you can always reset your network settings to factory settings. Go to Settings → About Phone → All settings → Reset WLAN, mobile networks and Bluetooth. This will return all network profiles to their original state, and you will have to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords, but network functions should work correctly.

Problems with waiting for a call on two-symbol devices

Xiaomi smartphone owners often use two SIM cards, which creates additional nuances in the operation of the standby function. By default, the setting applies only to the SIM card that makes or accepts a call at the moment, which means that you need to check and enable the option separately for the SIM 1 and for the SIM 2.

A common problem is that when you're actively talking on the first SIM, the second one can be busy logging in or transferring data if it's not configured correctly. Modern versions of MIUI have a "Help on Second SIM" feature that temporarily disables the second card during a call on the first one to keep the connection quality. If this feature is active, the second incoming call may not arrive at all.

To avoid conflict, it is recommended that:

• 📞 Check the call waiting settings for each SIM card separately through the SIM and Mobile Networks menu».
• 📶 Make sure that the second SIM card is not set to “Only” mode 2G», If you are waiting for important calls, as in some regions 2G grids overloaded.
• 🔄 Reboot the phone after changing the SIM card settings so that the communication module is correctly re-registered in the operator’s network.

It is also worth considering that some “Internet” plans may not support voice calls or the default standby function. If the second SIM card is a tariff without minutes, turning on the call waiting may not work, since the voice channel itself cannot be installed.

The impact of caller apps and blockers

Xiaomi’s standard Phone app is sometimes replaced by third-party counterparts, such as Truecaller, Google Phone, or various number-definitions, which can have their own incoming call processing settings that override the system.

If you use a third-party caller, go to its settings and find the Calls or Additionals section. There should be a standby switch. It's important to understand that the third-party app only visualizes the call, but management still goes through the Android system API. However, access rights conflicts can block the display of the second call.

In addition, aggressive spam blockers can automatically reject a second call, considering it suspicious if the first conversation is already underway.

• 🛡️ Open a security application or antivirus.
• 🚫 Find the "Black List" or "Call Block" section».
• ✅ Make sure you don’t check “Block all incomings during a conversation».

Frequent errors and ways to fix them

Even after being turned on correctly, users may experience a situation where the feature is not working, and one common reason is Do Not Disturb or Sleep mode, in which the phone may ignore repeated or secondary calls to keep the wearer awake.

Also, the problem may be VoLTE (Voice over LTE).If your carrier supports VoLTE, but in the phone settings this feature is turned off (or vice versa, it is turned on, but the network does not support), there may be conflicts when trying a second call. Try temporarily disabling VoLTE in the SIM card settings and check the waiting.

If nothing works, reset your network settings. This won't delete your photos or contacts, but will return all your connection settings to factory settings. → Connection and sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. After the reboot, reset the call waiting via USSD-code.

⚠️ Note: If you use a corporate SIM card or virtual operator (MVNO), The call waiting function can be blocked at the subscriber profile level, in which case only a call to the operator's support service will help.

Questions and Answers (FAQ)

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Call waiting is a basic communication tool that must be activated by each smartphone user for comfortable communication.