Users of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often encounter an obscure “VoLTE” icon in the screen status bar, which may appear suddenly after a firmware update or change. SIM-Many people wonder if this is a superfluous function that consumes battery power or Internet traffic, but it's actually an indicator of modern voice technology, which is a significant improvement in communication quality.
Owners of MIUI or HyperOS devices can control this option, but often the settings are hidden or not obvious. In this article, we will discuss in detail what is behind this acronym, why it can interfere with roaming and how to force it to turn off if the operator does not support the function correctly. Understanding VoLTE will help you optimize the operation of your gadget.
What the VoLTE icon means and how it works
VoLTE stands for Voice over LTE, which translates to Voice over LTE. Traditionally, mobile phones use 2G and 3G networks for voice calls, switching to them when they receive or make a call. VoLTE technology allows voice streaming directly through a fourth-generation 4G network without lowering the standard of communication during a conversation.
The main advantage is the connection speed and sound quality. When you call with VoLTE enabled, the subscriber hears you as clearly as when talking through instant messengers, but without delays and freezes. HD-The voice provides a wider range of frequencies, making speech natural and legible even in noisy places. 3G, This allows you to use high-speed internet at the same time.
- 📶 Instant connection: dialing the number for 1-2 seconds instead of the usual 5-7 seconds.
- 🗣️ High quality sound: support for wide bandwidth codecs for crystal clear voice.
- 🌐 Simultaneous work: the ability to sit on the Internet at high speed 4G/5G during conversation.
It is important to note that the function requires support from your mobile operator and the presence of a corresponding SIM card. If you see an icon but the communication quality has not improved, it is possible that the base station in your area is overloaded or not configured to transmit voice over LTE. In such cases, it is useful to know how to deactivate the option.
Why you should disable VoLTE on the smartphone Xiaomi
Despite the obvious benefits, the technology can be uncomfortable in some situations. Often users want to remove the VoLTE icon because it just takes up space in the status bar and distracts. However, there are more technical reasons to disable this feature on Xiaomi devices.
One of the main problems is the unstable operation in areas of uncertain reception. 4G weak, the phone will constantly try to hold the connection LTE for voice calls, which can lead to call interruptions or the complete disappearance of the network. 3G (Disabling VoLTE often stabilizes communication.
⚠️ Attention: In international roaming, enabled VoLTE can lead to unexpected charges if your operator charges voice traffic as internet data, not as normal minutes.
And you also have to consider the increased energy consumption, and although it's considered energy efficient, it's always looking for the grid. 4G and operation of the module HD-If you're away from civilization and every minute of your phone's life is worth its weight in gold, turning off the extra functions is a smart move.
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If VoLTE lost the Internet during the call, this is normal for 3G networks. To work simultaneously voice and data in old networks requires 3G+ technology, which is not supported by all operators.
Standard way to disconnect through phone settings
The easiest and safest method to manage the feature is found in the standard Android settings menu. In most modern Xiaomi and Redmi models, this switch is available to the user without the need for special codes or a computer. The algorithm of actions may vary slightly depending on the shell version. MIUI.
First, you need to open the main settings menu of your device, find the partition that's responsible for the connections «SIM-Maps and mobile networks, or simply Mobile Network, is where the basic parameters of the communication module are concentrated.
Settings → SIM- Maps and Mobile Networks → Select SIM- Card → Use VoLTEIn the menu that opens, you'll see "Use VoLTE" or "LTE Calls." If the slider is active (blue or green), then the function is on. Pressing it will put the switch inactive, and the icon in the top row should disappear. If the item is not on the menu, move to the next section of the instructions.
- 📱 Open the "Settings" (cog icon).
- 📡 Go to section «SIM-maps and mobile networks».
- 🔢 Choose the right one. SIM-card (if two of them).
- 🔘 Find the “Use VoLTE” switch and turn it off.
☑️ Pre-switch check
How to Enable Hidden VoLTE Menu Through Engineering Code
In some versions of MIUI firmware for the Russian market or global versions, operators hide the ability to control VoLTE from the usual menu, in which case the switch is simply absent, and you can solve the problem through an engineering menu that is hidden from ordinary users.
To access hidden settings, you need to use the phone app. USSD-A code or combination of characters. Xiaomi smartphones most often run code that opens the test menu.
##4636##Once you enter the last star, the menu should open automatically, and if it doesn't, your version of the shell may block the code, so you can try downloading the Activity Launcher app from Google Play, find activity Testing and run it. From the list that opens, select Phone Information.
Inside this menu, scroll down to the Set Preferred Network Type box, which may include a checkbox called "VoLTE provisioned," which forcefully activates modem-level support for the technology, and be careful: changing the settings in the engineering menu can affect network performance.
⚠️ Warning: Do not change the settings in the "Set Preferred Network Type" section unless you are sure of your actions. 2G) This can result in a complete loss of communication that can only be restored by resetting the network settings.
What if the code doesn't work?
Comparison of voice technologies: VoLTE, 3G and 2G
To get a good idea of what the settings are, it’s helpful to understand the difference between communication standards, each with its own voice traffic features, and the table below will help you compare key features of the technologies used in Xiaomi networks.
| Characteristics | VoLTE (4G/LTE) | 3G (UMTS/HSPA) | 2G (GSM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sound quality | HD (High) | SD (Standard) | Low. |
| Connection speed | 1-2 seconds | 3-5 seconds | 5-10 seconds |
| Simultaneous Internet | Yes (4G) | Depends on the operator. | No (GPRS/EDGE only) |
| Battery consumption | Medium/Low | Medium. | Low (on standby) |
As you can see from the table, VoLTE is the most progressive standard. However, in an environment where 4G coverage is fragmentary, the phone can constantly “jump” between 4G and 3G, which causes characteristic clicks in the dynamics and puts the battery down faster, in such scenarios, using 3G may even be preferable for stability.
2G technology is now used mainly as a backup. If your phone displays an "E" or "G" icon, it means that 4G and 3G coverage is missing. Voice calls in this mode always work, but the quality of communication leaves much to be desired. Disabling VoLTE does not affect the ability to switch to 2G in the absence of other networks.
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Turning off VoLTE does not shut down 4G internet, it only bans voice transmission over that network, and the internet will continue to operate at high speeds if mobile traffic is turned on.
Impact of the Communications Operator and Regional Features
The VoLTE function on Xiaomi is directly dependent on the policies of your mobile operator. In Russia, the main operators (the “big four”) support this technology, but the conditions for its activation vary, some operators require an application or a paid service connection, although most of the feature is free.
It is important to understand that the icon can be displayed even if the service is not activated on the operator side, in which case the phone will try to establish a connection over VoLTE, but the call will still pass through normal 3G/2G channels, or will not take place, which creates the illusion of working a function when it is not actually supported.
- 📡 Megafon, MTS, Beeline, Tele2: VoLTE is usually supported by default in major cities.
- 🌍 Virtual operators (MVNO): They may not have their own infrastructure for VoLTE.
- 🌐 Foreign SIM cards: VoLTE is often unavailable without special rates.
If you have changed operator but the icon is still there, check the settings again. Sometimes you need to restart the device after you have replaced it. SIM-maps so that the phone correctly reads the new network parameters (APN Without the correct configuration on the provider side, enabling the feature on the phone is useless.
Solving badge problems and frequent errors
Sometimes, a VoLTE icon can stick or behave incorrectly, such as burning constantly even when you are in an area without 4G coverage, or disappearing after each phone restart, which may indicate a software glitch in MIUI firmware or a conflict of network profiles.
The first thing you should do is try resetting your network settings, which will not delete your personal data (photos, contacts), but will return all connection settings to factory values, which often helps to eliminate configuration errors that interfere with the correct operation of the communication module.
Settings → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile Network and BluetoothIf the problem persists, a custom firmware or a modified version of MIUI may be installed that cuts out Google services or carrier services, in which case it may be necessary to flash to the official global version of the software or install operator certificates manually.
⚠️ Warning: If the VoLTE icon is lit red or flashing, this may indicate a critical login error on the network IMS. In this case, it is recommended to remove SIM-card, wipe contacts and insert it again, or contact the communication salon to replace the SIM card with a new one (with support) USIM).