Xiaomi smartphone owners often notice the 4G or LTE icon at the top of the screen, but not everyone understands what exactly lies behind this acronym. Long Term Evolution is the wireless high-speed data standard that has become the foundation for modern mobile Internet. It is thanks to this technology that we can watch high-resolution video, play online games and quickly download heavy files on the go.
However, there are situations where the user needs to switch to an older communication standard, for example, the user needs to switch to a newer communication standard, 3G or 2G. This may be necessary in areas with poor coverage, where LTE-signal is unstable, or to save battery power, as a constant search network 4G It uses energy faster. On Xiaomi's shelled devices. MIUI HyperOS or this process has its own features, which we will describe in detail.
In this article, we’ll explore the technical details of fourth-generation networks, explain why your phone sometimes gets stuck in 3G mode, and provide a step-by-step algorithm for manually controlling your network type. You’ll learn not only to turn off LTE through a standard menu, but also to use hidden engineering codes to fine-tune your smartphone.
What is LTE and how does it work in a smartphone
LTE (Long Term Evolution is often mistakenly called technology. 4G, Although technically it's a transitional stage between the third and fourth generations of communication, the main difference from its predecessors is the architecture of the network, which is completely built on the basis of the network. IP-This allows data to be transmitted at much faster speeds and with less latency, which is critical for today's video and streaming applications.
In Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, the built-in modem is responsible for working with these networks, which automatically selects the best available standard. When you are in the zone of confident reception, the device operates in LTE mode, providing maximum speed. If the signal weakens, the phone tries to switch to H+ or 3G to maintain the connection, but this process of switching (handover) can cause short-term communication breaks.
⚠️ Attention: Forced shutdown LTE in areas where the network 4G It is stable, will lead to a significant decrease in Internet speed, and only use this mode if there are specific technical problems or to save energy.
It's important to understand that 4G requires more powerful signal processing. The smartphone antenna and modem consume more power to maintain high-speed connectivity, especially if the signal level fluctuates, which is why many users notice that with active LTE, the device discharges faster than with third-generation networks.
Why you might need to shut down 4G on Xiaomi
There are several scenarios where knowing what it is like to turn off Xiaomi in a phone becomes a practical necessity. The first and most common reason is unstable coverage. In some remote areas or inside buildings with thick walls, the 4G signal may be weak, but the phone will stubbornly try to "grab" it instead of switching to stable 3G. As a result, the Internet may not work at all, although formally the LTE icon is on fire.
The second reason is battery saving. As mentioned earlier, finding and holding a fourth-generation signal is energy-intensive. If you want to maximize battery life on your smartphone while you're standing by or using voice-only calls, switching to 3G or 2G mode will save up to 15-20% of energy by reducing the load on the radio module.
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In areas with very weak signal (1 division), disabling LTE and switching to 3G often improves the quality of voice calls, as second- or third-generation networks better break through obstacles.
The third aspect is related to specific tasks, such as using old modems or routers that do not work properly with modern encryption standards on 4G networks. Some users also prefer to turn off LTE for children to limit traffic consumption and prevent the accidental download of heavy files.
| Parameter | 2G (EDGE/GPRS) | 3G (UMTS/HSPA) | 4G (LTE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max. Speed (theor) | up to 0.4 Mbps | up to 42 Mbps | up to 300 Mbps |
| Energy consumption | Low. | Average. | High. |
| Stability in buildings | Tall. | Medium | Depends on the frequency. |
| Delay (Ping) | Tall. | Medium | Low. |
Standard way to disable via MIUI settings
The safest and easiest method of network type management is built into the shell interface MIUI It doesn't require superuser rights or third-party software installations. Open the main menu and find the Settings icon. SIM-If you have a dual-sim phone, select the card you want to change the settings for.
In the menu that opens, look for Network Type or Preferred Network Type. When you click on it, you will see a list of available options. The standard choice is 4G (recommended). To turn off LTE, you need to choose 3G (preferably) or 2G (only), after selecting the setting, the setting is applied instantly, and the icon in the status bar will change accordingly.
☑️ Shutdown algorithm LTE
It is worth noting that in some versions of the firmware or depending on the operator’s regional settings, the choice of the network type can be hidden or blocked, in which case the system automatically selects the best standard, and the user cannot interfere with this process through the standard menu.
⚠️ Attention: When switching to "Only" mode 2G" You will not be able to use mobile internet at normal speeds, and in some cases voice calls over VoLTE may become unavailable.
Using engineering code to fine-tune
If the standard menu doesn’t work or the network selection point is missing, the Android Engineering Menu comes to the rescue.This is a hidden hardware testing interface that is available on most Xiaomi smartphones. To log in, open the Phone app and type in the ##4636##. Immediately after entering the last star, the Testing menu will open.
In the list that opens, select Phone Information. Scroll down to Set Preferred Network Type. Here you will see a drop-down list with a lot of technical notations. To disable LTE, you need to select an option that doesn't have LTE or 4G in its name. It's usually WCDMA only (3G only) or GSM only (2G only).
Examples of values to select:
LTE/TD-SCDMA/UMTS/GSM (Auto) - Standard Mode
WCDMA only - 3G only
GSM only - 2G only (EDGE/GPRS)Once you have selected the right option, the connection will restart. If you want to return everything back, just select the first item on the list marked as recommended. Be careful: changing some parameters in this menu can temporarily disrupt the work. SIM-cards, so don't change the values you're not sure about.
What if the code doesn't work?
Communication problems: when LTE interferes with, not helps
Paradoxically, LTE sometimes causes a total lack of connectivity, and it happens in border areas where there is a 4G signal, but it's extremely weak. Xiaomi's smartphone sees the network, tries to connect, can't establish a stable channel, and tries to connect again, and this cycle causes the network indicator to disappear altogether, and incoming calls do not pass.
In such situations, forced switching to 3G solves the problem: Third-generation networks often have a wider range of base stations and work better at low frequencies that penetrate well into rooms. By locking a phone in 3G mode, you provide a stable, although not as fast, channel.
Another common problem is the device's warming: constantly searching for a 4G network in poor reception conditions makes the modem run to its limits, which leads to heating of the lower part of the case and rapid discharge. If you notice that the phone is very warm in certain places (for example, at home or in the country), try temporarily turning off LTE.
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In areas of uncertain reception, 3G fixation often restores stable internet and voice communication, eliminating persistent connection breaks.
The effect of network modes on the autonomy of the device
The issue of power consumption is acute for smartphone owners with worn-out batteries. LTE mode requires more power from the antenna to transmit data, especially if the distance to the tower is large. Studies show that in a weak 4G signal, energy consumption can increase by many times compared to working on 2G/3G networks.
If you plan a long hike, a trip to an area without charging, or just want your phone to stay on standby longer, switching to 2G mode (GSM) is a radical but effective method.In this mode, the phone spends almost no energy exchanging data packets in the background, since the channel bandwidth is minimal.
But there are trade-offs to be made, because if you turn off LTE, you're not only losing speed, you're also losing the ability to use your navigator in real time or receive instant messaging, so it's a good idea to use it situationally rather than on a regular basis.