Modern Xiaomi smartphones have powerful communication modules, but in unstable coverage or when at the border of service areas, there is often the problem of constantly switching between 3G and 4G standards. This not only annoys with connection breaks during a conversation, but also significantly consumes battery power. The solution is the forced fixation of the network in LTE Only mode, which causes the device to ignore slower standards and remain in the 4G zone even with a weak signal.
In the standard Android settings menu, this option is often hidden from users to avoid problems with incoming calls on networks without VoLTE. However, using an engineering menu or special applications, you can access these hidden features. LTE Only can block incoming voice calls if your carrier or data plan does not support VoLTE technology. SIM-Cards with modern voice transmission standards.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the current ways to activate only 4G mode on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices. We will look at both software methods through system codes and the use of third-party utilities, and also pay attention to the possible risks and ways to return everything back if necessary.
Why you need LTE Only mode and how it affects the smartphone
The main reason users want to activate LTE Only on their gadgets is to stabilize the Internet connection. In automatic mode mode modem constantly scans the airwaves, trying to find the best network. If the 4G signal becomes weaker than a certain threshold, the system switches to 3G or even 2G (EDGE/GPRS), which leads to a sharp drop in page loading speed and buffering video content.
Also, constantly searching for the network and switching between towers of different communication standards is a serious strain on the modem processor. Xiaomi with its energy-efficient batteries still suffer from this phenomenon, especially when traveling outside the city. Fixing on LTE allows you to reduce the number of reconnection cycles, which in the long run has a positive effect on the autonomy of the device.
But there's a flip side to this coin: fourth-generation voice is done via VoLTE (Voice over LTE) technology, and if your carrier doesn't support this feature or it's not activated in your smartphone settings, the device should switch to 3G when you call in. In LTE only, this switch is physically impossible, and the subscriber simply won't hear the beeps, the call will be unavailable.
Verification of VoLTE support and preparation SIM-map
Before you go deep into the engineering menu, you need to make sure your infrastructure is ready to work in LTE Only. Without VoLTE support, you risk turning your smartphone into a device that can only receive SMS and Internet, but not calls. Most of the modern Big Four operators have already implemented this technology, but it requires the right setup.
First, check whether the VoLTE service is activated on the operator side. This can be done through your mobile provider's personal account or application. SIM-The card is not too old: Mini-SIM cards or very old Micro-SIMs may not work properly with new security protocols, requiring replacement with Nano-SIM.
On Xiaomi smartphones with a shell MIUI Or HyperOS settings are often hidden. To activate a switch in a standard menu, you sometimes need to enter a special code in the "ringer" or use a hidden menu. → SIM-maps and mobile networks and see if there's a "Use VoLTE" option. If there's no one, activate "Only" mode. LTE" may be risky.
💡
If your inbox is missing after LTE Only is turned on, try activating VoLite via an engineering menu or ask the operator to update their network profile.
Activate LTE Only through the Xiaomi Engineering Menu
The most reliable and common way to lock in a network is to use an embedded engineering menu. On Xiaomi devices, access to it is often closed, but there are several codes that can help open this interface. Note that on different versions of Android and MIUI, the codes may differ or not work at all.
Try entering one of the following codes in the Phone app:
- 📞 ##4636## – Classic Android Code for Testing.
- 📞 ##3646633## - code for MediaTek (often found in budget Redmis).
- 📞 ##6484## — CIT Menu (testing menu of Xiaomi equipment).
If ##4636## has worked, you will be taken to the Check menu. Select Phone Information. Scroll down to Set Preferred Network Type. In the dropdown, select LTE Only. The signal in the status bar should blink and the 4G/LTE icon will stick.
⚠️ Attention: If you have chosen LTE Only and you've stopped taking calls, don't panic. Go back to the same menu and select mode. LTE/TD-SCDMA/WCDMA/GSM (or similar to Auto to restore normal operation.
It’s worth noting that on Qualcomm processors (Snapdragon), which are often used in Xiaomi flagships, the menu may look different, and it may require the inclusion of developer mode or the use of additional utilities if the standard path is blocked by the manufacturer.
☑️ Algorithm of actions in the engineering menu
Use Force LTE Only (4G/5G)
If standard codes don’t work, as is often the case with newer versions of MIUI 13, 14 and HyperOS, Google Play applications come to the rescue. One of the most popular and effective is Force LTE Only (4G/5G), which allows you to bypass system restrictions and force the modem to run.
Once installed, launch it. The program interface offers two main methods of operation: "Method A: Android 11+" and "Method B: Android 10 and below." For modern Xiaomi smartphones, the first option is usually chosen. The application will request permission to use special features (Accessibility), which must be provided to emulate clicks.
Inside the app, click Enter Input, then select Phone Information, and the system menu that I mentioned will open, find the drop-down list of network types, and set LTE Only, and then you can exit the app, and you can save the setting until you reboot or manually reset.
| Method | For which versions of Android | Requires a Root-Right. | Efficiency at Xiaomi |
|---|---|---|---|
| System code | All versions. | No. | Medium (often blocked) |
| Force LTE application | Android 10-14 | No. | Tall. |
| ADB team | All versions. | No (PC needed) | Maximum |
| Root + Modules | All versions. | Yes. | Maximum (risky) |
What if the Force LTE app doesn’t open the menu?
Adjustment through ADB: a method for advanced users
For those who are not afraid of the command line, the most flexible way to manage network preferences is to use the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) debugging bridge, which allows you to make changes to system databases that are not available through a conventional interface, and often works where other methods are powerless.
To start, activate the developer mode on your Xiaomi smartphone. Go to Settings → About phone and quickly click on the MIUI version seven times. Then, in the advanced settings, turn on "Debugging on USB." Connect the phone to your computer with a cable and install ADB drivers on your PC.
Open the command line on your computer and enter the following command to check the connection:
adb devicesYou'll see a request for debugging permission on your smartphone screen, confirm it. You can then use the command to force LTE to be on, but the syntax may vary depending on the processor. Many devices have the command:
adb shell settings put global preferred_network_mode 10Here's the number. 10 frequently conforms to the regime LTE Only, but this value is not universal. Some models may require other codes (e.g., the codes are not universal, 9, 11 or 12). To find out your current mode, use the command adb shell settings get global. preferred_network_mode.
⚠️ Attention: Use ADB Introducing incorrect parameters can cause the communication module to stop seeing SIM-map until full flashing or resetting settings.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
Once LTE Only is enabled, users may face a number of nuances: the most common problem is the complete lack of communication in places where 4G coverage is physically absent (basements, rural areas, remote highways), unlike automatic mode, the phone will not switch to 3G, and you will be left without communication at all.
Another problem is typical of two-symbol Xiaomi smartphones. LTE Only one on one. SIM-The second card can be switched to the mode 2G/3G Or shut down altogether because the modem's resources are limited, and in some cases, this causes the second SIM to become unavailable to incoming users.
If you notice that the Internet speed has dropped even though the 4G icon is on, you may be in the congested tower zone. In automatic mode, the phone could switch to less loaded 3G, where the real speed would be higher. In LTE only mode, it has no choice.
💡
LTE Only is a situational solution, and use it when you need stable internet in a 4G secure area, but remember to return automatic mode before traveling to unknown areas.
How to return the default network settings
If the network experiment failed or you just need to restore the standard behavior of the smartphone, there are several ways to return, the easiest way is to go back to the menu where you changed the settings (through a code or application), and select a item. LTE/WCDMA/GSM (auto connect) or similar containing the word “Auto".
If the menu doesn't open or the settings don't apply, resetting the network settings will help. Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. Click Reset. This action will not delete your personal data (photos, contacts), but will return all network settings to factory values.
Sometimes it helps to just reboot the device after the change of mode. If the phone is "hang" in the network search mode, try to extract the SIM-The card, turn off the phone, insert the card back and turn on the device. The smartphone must re-register on the network according to the current settings.