How to Choose Your Preferred Xiaomi Network

Modern Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with powerful modems that can work in dozens of frequency bands. However, factory settings often prioritize connection stability over maximum speed, which may not suit advanced users. The preferred type of network is a parameter that dictates to the phone which communication standard to use first when there are several available signals.

Device owners often face a situation where the phone gets stuck on 3G or H+, ignoring faster LTE, or constantly jumps between standards, consuming battery power. Understanding how this mechanism works allows you to significantly improve the quality of communication in areas of insecure reception. In this article, we will discuss all aspects of network mode choice.

The wrong mode can result in you being left without communication on the trip, or you will waste battery life where 4G coverage is not available. It is critical to understand that forcing 4G to be turned on in an area where it is physically absent will lead to the complete disappearance of the signal (No Service).

What is the preferred type of network

This parameter in the Android operating system and the MIUI shell (or HyperOS) sets priorities for the radio module. When you select a particular mode, you instruct the communication processor to search for a specific standard network first, and if no network is found, the phone will switch to the next one on the priority list.

There is a misconception that choosing 4G only always gives you better internet, which works only in ideal conditions, but in reality, the signal can be weakened by walls, weather or distance from the tower, at which point a phone set to a strict priority can lose connection, instead of smoothly switching to 3G.

Communication standards have evolved from GSM to modern 5G. Each has its own frequency ranges and signal penetration characteristics. Low frequencies are better at bending obstacles but have lower bandwidth. High frequencies give huge speeds but don't get through concrete well.

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Use 4G Only if you are in a secure reception zone and you are critically interested in stable high speed, for example, for streaming or video calls.

Basic communication standards in the Xiaomi menu

You'll find a few acronyms in your Xiaomi smartphone settings, and you'll see what they mean and what they're meant for, and understanding these terms will help you not poke blindly, but consciously manage connectivity.

GSM is the basic 2G standard. It only provides voice and very slow Internet (EDGE) services, which is essential for emergency calls in remote villages where there is no other coverage. 3G (UMTS/WCDMA) is the third generation standard, providing acceptable speeds for instant messengers and navigation, but already inferior to modern requirements.

LTE (Long Term Evolution) is what we call 4G. It's the basic standard for mobile internet today. It provides high speed and low ping. The latest models also include 5G (NR), which is not yet broadly covered in most regions, but is the standard of the future.

• 📡 GSM/2G: Just a voice and SMS, Internet is almost non-existent.
• 📶 3G/H+: Balance between coverage and speed, good for calling through messengers.
• 🚀 4G/LTE: High speed, ideal for video and gaming, but worse breaks through walls.
• ⚡ 5G/NR: Extreme speed, available only in the centers of major cities.

The choice between these modes depends on your current tasks. If you're waiting for an important call in a building with thick walls, 3G priority may prove to be more reliable than moody LTE.

How to change your network settings through the Engineering Menu

The standard Android settings menu often hides the full network selection options, offering only generic options like “Preferred to be 4G.” For more fine-tuning, there is an engineering menu that is accessed through a special code in the Phone app.

If the code didn’t work, you may have your firmware version or regional modification blocking that entry, and you can try an alternative route through the MIUI Hidden Settings app or special utilities from the Play Market.

Once you enter the code, select Phone Information. Find the drop-down list for Set Preferred Network Type, and you'll see a variety of options here, from GSM only to LTE/WCDMA/GSM.

Be careful: choosing GSM Only or WCDMA Only mode may temporarily prevent you from accepting incoming calls if there are no corresponding towers in your location.

Modes of operation: LTE Only and other options

One of the most popular queries is how to turn on LTE Only, which forces the modem to ignore 2G and 3G. This is useful if the phone constantly “jumps” between 3G and 4G, which causes the Internet to appear, then disappear, and the battery quickly goes down.

But there's a serious drawback to this mode: most carrier networks have voice in 4G via VoLTE, and if your carrier doesn't support VoLTE, or if it's not enabled on the tariff, LTE Only will not allow you to call or take a call, and the Internet will work, but the phone will turn into a tablet.

LTE/WCDMA/GSM (auto connect) is the most balanced mode, allowing the phone to decide which standard is best, and if the 4G signal is weak, it will switch to 3G to save the connection, which is the default smart mode.

Choose your mode based on your carrier's coverage. In large cities, LTE/WCDMA is the best choice. In rural areas, it's best to leave automatic mode with all the standards.

Problems with switching between 3G and 4G

A common problem with Xiaomi users is the constant jumps in the network indicator: the phone sees a weak 4G signal, tries to connect, can't, falls on 3G, then sees 4G again and the cycle repeats. This not only annoys, but also drains the battery.

In such cases, fixing on 3G (WCDMA Only) helps, if you do not need high speed, but call stability is important. Alternatively, you can try fixing LTE if you are sure that you are in coverage, but the phone is lazy to keep 4G.

It is also worth checking the settings of the access point (APN). Sometimes the wrong parameters APN prevents correct switching between generations of networks. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Access points (APN) and select the reset to the default settings.

⚠️ Attention: Forced imposition of the “Only” regime 4G" Some operators may block incoming SMS Banks, if they come through channels 2G/3G, VoLTE is not configured correctly.

The impact of network choice on battery charge

Network search is one of the most energy-intensive processes for a smartphone, and when you're at the edge of coverage, the modem is running at the power limit, and if you're setting LTE priority and you're barely catching the signal, the power consumption can increase dramatically.

In extremely weak signal conditions (such as in a basement or train), it makes sense to manually switch to 2G/3G. These standards require less power to maintain a connection and better penetrate obstacles.

Flight Mode, which is enabled for 10 seconds, helps the modem reboot and find the nearest tower with the best signal, which also saves energy in the long run. Don't ignore this simple trick.

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For maximum autonomy in the area of uncertain reception, it is better to manually choose 3G than to allow the phone to search for 4G.

Resetting network settings to factory

If you're confused about your settings, you've changed something in the engineering menu and you can't catch the network, the easiest way to do this is to reset your network settings, and it won't delete your photos or contacts, but it will forget your stored Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth settings.

Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. Press Reset button at the bottom of the screen. After the reboot, the phone will return to the factory network selection options recommended by the operator.

This method also helps if 4G settings are lost or data transmission problems after the MIUI firmware update, a universal solution for 90% of software communication glitches.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)