VoLTE on Xiaomi: what does the icon mean and how to activate it

The appearance of an unfamiliar VoLTE icon in the status bar of your Xiaomi smartphone often raises questions from users, which indicates that the device has moved to fourth-generation voice technology, providing crystal clear sound and instant connection. Unlike the old standards, where the phone switched to the phone when calling. 3G or 2G, This is where the conversation goes through high-speed. LTE-channel.

Many Redmi and Poco owners notice this indicator after a firmware update or change. SIM-It's a feature that's actually a sign of the modern operator infrastructure and the compatibility of your gadget. However, if the icon is on and the calls are broken, or, conversely, you want to save battery power, knowing the nuances of the technology becomes critically important.

In this article, we will explain in detail why this parameter is important for the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem, how to force the activation of hidden settings, and what to do if the desired icon does not appear when there is a supported tariff.

VoLTE technology: the principle of operation and advantages

Voice over LTE is a high-speed wireless standard that allows voice calls to be streamed as data over a 4G network. Before this technology, a smartphone had to roll back to third-generation (3G) or even second-generation (2G) networks when it was called in or out. This took time, and you often heard the beeps only seconds after dialing. Now, the connection is almost instantaneous.

The main advantage of the technology is the simultaneous transmission of voice and data. While in the past during a conversation, the Internet on a phone could disappear completely or slow down very much, with active VoLTE you can play online games, watch high-resolution videos and download files without losing communication quality. Voice stream and Internet traffic go through different channels within the same LTE frequency.

The sound quality of this feature is significantly higher than that of traditional networks; the dynamic frequency range is expanded, making the voice of the interlocutor more natural and legible, removing the characteristic “phone” echo. For Xiaomi users, this is especially true, since many of the brand’s models are originally designed to work with modern communication standards.

⚠️ Note: Using VoLTE may require support from your mobile carrier.Even if the phone shows an icon, without a connected service on the provider side, the communication may not work.

In addition, the technology allows for more conferencing and more stable connectivity in crowded areas, and audio compression algorithms in 4G networks are more advanced, reducing the load on the smartphone processor during long conversations.

Why VoLTE icon may not show up on Xiaomi

The absence of the VoLTE indicator on the screen of a Xiaomi smartphone does not always mean that the function is turned off. Often it happens that the service is activated by the operator and supported by the device, but the MIUI software shell simply hides the icon to save space or due to regional firmware restrictions. In global versions of the software, this symbol can be hidden by default, whereas in Chinese builds it is always visible.

Another common reason is the lack of proper access point configuration. APN. If the mobile network settings do not include a parameter responsible for IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem: Phones will not be able to register on voice networks LTE. This is often found when manually setting up the internet or using it. SIM-maps issued several years ago.

Also, frequency compatibility should be considered. If you are in an area where 4G coverage is weak, the phone can automatically switch to 3G, and the VoLTE icon will disappear. In some cases, the problem lies in an outdated version of basic radio modulation, which can only be updated through a service center or firmware.

• 📱 Hidden setting: In some versions MIUI display icon disabled in the engineering menu or hidden by the interface developers.
• 📡 Problems with SIM: Old one. SIM-The card may not support profiles USIM, necessary for VoLTE.
• 🌍 Regional restrictions: Firmware for certain countries may block the feature for specific operators.

Hidden activation via the engineering menu

For advanced users who are confident in operator support but can't see the icon, there is a way to activate through the system menu, which allows you to force the display of the indicator to activate the protocol, even if the standard settings menu does not allow this.

The first step is to get into the hidden test menu. To do this, open the standard phone dialer and dial the combination ##86583#. The screen should appear a pop-up message "VoLTE Carrier check was disabled." This means that the operator system check is disabled, and the phone will stop hiding the feature if it is technically available.

If the first combination didn't work, try the alternative code ##4636##, which opens the extended test menu, and select "Phone Information" from the list that opens, find the "VoLTE Provisioned" or "Enable VoLTE" switch and activate it, and then the icon should appear in the status bar.

##86583##
##4636##

It is worth noting that on new versions of Android and HyperOS shells, access to these codes may be restricted for security reasons, in which case activation is possible only through the use of the code. ADB-commands or special applications to change system settings that require root rights.

Setting up an APN access point for voice communication

The correct operation of VoLTE technology depends on the settings of the Internet access point. Operators use a special parameter in the APN profile, which tells the network about the readiness of the device to receive voice calls via LTE. If this parameter is missing or spelled out incorrectly, the phone will work in normal mode, ignoring the 4G capabilities for calls.

To check and change settings, go to the Settings menu. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Choose yours. SIM → Access points (APN). Select your operator’s active access point (e.g, MTS, Beeline, Megafon, or create a new one. You're interested in the "Type" field. APN" (APN Type).

This field should have an ims setting. Often there are already values like default,supl. You need to add a comma word ims to make the string look something like this: default,supl,ims. It is the presence of ims that activates the multimedia subsystem required for VoLTE.

After making changes, be sure to save your profile and select it as active, and in some cases, you may need to reboot your device or turn on flight mode for 10-15 seconds to re-register on the network.

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If the "APN type" field is not available for editing, try creating a new access point from scratch by copying the data from the official operator's website, and add the ims option manually.

The impact of VoLTE on battery charge and communication quality

There is a common myth that running in 4G mode and using VoLTE discharges the battery much faster. In practice, the opposite is true: in areas of confident LTE reception, this technology can be even more energy efficient. A smartphone does not need to constantly switch between 2G/3G/4G modes, which is one of the most energy-intensive processes for a radio module.

However, if 4G coverage is unstable in your region, the phone will constantly search for a signal, trying to stay on the LTE network. In such conditions, battery consumption can really increase, in which case it is more logical to switch the network type in the settings to 3G (preferably) or 2G/3G, sacrificing Internet speed for the sake of autonomy.

Communication quality when using VoLTE on Xiaomi devices is usually rated high by users. HD-And the problem is, if you're calling a caller who doesn't have VoLTE support or is in the zone, you're suppressing background noise more effectively. 2G/3G, The call will still pass, but the quality will be determined by the host network.

⚠️ Note: When calling via VoLTE, traffic may be consumed from your Internet package if the operator has not allocated voice traffic to a separate free channel.

The technology also allows faster completion of calls, as it does not waste time switching modes, which means that the radio is occupied less time, which in the long run also positively affects the power consumption of the device as a whole.

Solution: there is a badge, but calls are not coming

When the VoLTE indicator is on, but when you try to make a call, the connection is disrupted or transferred to 3G, requires a comprehensive diagnosis. First of all, make sure that the service is activated on the operator side. Often, on the tariff plans of archival lines, this option is not connected by default.

The second step is to check the settings of the smartphone itself. → SIM-Make sure the "Use VoLTE" switch is activated. If there is no such switch, try resetting the network to factory settings. This action will delete the stored Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth pairings, but return the network settings to their original state.

Sometimes, a conflict is caused by third-party software or modified firmware, and if you installed custom software or obtained root rights, the system files responsible for the RIL (Radio Interface Layer) could be changed, in which case only a return to stock firmware through the Mi Flash Tool will help.

• 📞 Balance check: Make sure there are funds in the account, some operators block VoLTE when the balance is negative.
• 🔄 Reset: Completely reset network settings in the menu" Advanced settings".
• 💿 Replacement SIM: Replace the old one. SIM-map USIM cameraman.

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If the VoLTE icon is on, but calls do not pass – in 80% of cases, the problem is solved by replacing it. SIM-new card with support USIM or activation of the service from the operator.