Today’s Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones are full of complex settings that ordinary users often don’t think about. However, one of the features that directly affects the comfort of communication is VoLTE. The acronym can be intimidating, but behind it lies a simple and useful technology that makes voice communication better and more stable. If you noticed a VoLTE icon in the status bar of your device, but did not understand its purpose, then it’s time to figure it out.
In the age of 4G and 5G, old communication standards are slowly becoming a thing of the past, giving way to more advanced solutions. VoLTE technology allows voice as a data stream over an LTE network, which provides instant connectivity and crystal clear sound. This is not just a marketing ploy, but a real standard that most carriers and smartphones, including popular models from Xiaomi, support. Understanding the principles of this feature will help you customize the phone for maximum convenience.
The essence of technology and the differences from 3G
To understand why VoLTE is needed, just remember how calls were made in the 3G era. Before, when dialing a phone switched from fast 4G internet to slower 2G or 3G to transmit voice. It took time, and you only heard the beeps a few seconds after you pressed the call button. With the advent of Long Term Evolution (LTE), engineers found a way to send voice directly through a high-speed data network without interrupting the Internet connection.
The main advantage is that voice is encoded into digital data packets, just like WhatsApp or Viber, but without the use of app traffic. The operator's network processes these high-priority packets itself, and you get HD Voice, where the voices of the interlocutors sound naturally, without the characteristic metallic hue and noise.
And it also solves the problem of using voice and the Internet at the same time. On the old standards, when you call in, the Internet could be lost or slowed down very badly. In VoLTE, you can talk, send heavy files in messengers or watch high-resolution video without losing speed. For Xiaomi owners, this is especially true, because their MIUI and HyperOS shells are perfectly optimized for modern network protocols.
Benefits of using HD-call-up
The digitalization of voice has a number of tangible benefits for the end user, particularly audio quality. Broadband allows you to distinguish the timbre of the voice of the interlocutor, which makes the conversation more vivid and clear. Even in noisy places like the subway or a busy street, noise cancellation works more efficiently, because algorithms better isolate a useful signal from the overall data stream.
The second important aspect is the speed of connection, which reduces the time between pressing the call button and the first beeps to 1-2 seconds, and you no longer have to wait 5-7 seconds for the phone to switch to the desired standard of communication, which saves time and nerves, especially when you need to urgently contact someone.
The third plus is energy efficiency, although it might seem like a permanent job. 4G-The module consumes the battery, in practice, VoLTE often saves charge. 2G/3G/4G, A stable connection without voltage surges allows Xiaomi to last longer on a single charge.
- 🔊 High quality of sound: the interlocutor is heard clearly and clearly, as in a personal meeting.
- ⚡ Instant Start: Connection is established almost without delay.
- 🌐 Internet during a conversation: navigator and messengers work without interruptions.
- 🔋 Energy savings: no constant switching between communication standards.
💡
If you talk a lot at work, turning on VoLTE can significantly improve productivity, as you don’t have to ask the other person because of poor communication.
Checking of operator support and tariff
Before looking for settings in your phone, you need to make sure that your mobile operator supports this technology. In Russia and CIS countries, major providers have long implemented VoLTE, but the conditions may vary. For example, some operators require a special service connection or a specific tariff plan, although in most cases the function is turned on by default for subscribers with 4G-symcards.
It's important to understand that even if the phone supports the technology, it won't work without a network-side setting. IMS-network (IP If the SIM card is very old and was cut manually from the Mini-SIM format, it is better to replace it in the communication cabin with a new one, since old chips may not work properly with modern protocols.
You can check the status of support on the operator's website or through the personal account application, and you should also pay attention to the region: in some remote areas, 4G coverage can be unstable, and the phone will automatically switch to 3G, where VoLTE will not work, in which case the icon in the status bar will simply disappear.
| Operator. | Status of support | Do you need activation? | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTS | Supported | Automatically. | Works on most tariffs |
| MegaFon | Supported | Automatically. | 4G coverage required |
| Beeline | Supported | In my private office. | Possible paid option |
| Tele2 | Supported | Automatically. | Depends on the phone model. |
What if the operator supports, but the icon does not appear?
How to enable VoLTE on a Xiaomi smartphone
Xiaomi owners are lucky because they are in the shell. MIUI The settings are displayed prominently, but the location of the switch may vary slightly depending on the Android version and regional firmware (Global, China, EEA). The standard path usually looks like this: Open Settings, go to the section. SIM-maps and mobile networks, select the desired SIM card and find the switch Use VoLTE.
If you don't find this item on the menu, it may be hidden by the developers in your region, so you can try activating the feature through an engineering menu or a special application, but first you should check if the switch is hidden in the developer menu. To do this, go to Settings → About the phone and quickly click on the MIUI version several times until you see the message "You became a developer."
Once you activate the developer mode, go back to the settings, find the section Additional → For developers. There may be a clause allowing VoLTE to be enabled. However, on modern versions of Android, this method rarely works, because Google restricts access to these settings. A more reliable way is to use the code # #86583##, which forcibly includes checking for the presence of the feature.
☑️ The VoLTE Incorporation Algorithm
⚠️ Warning: After entering the activation code, you may need to restart your smartphone. If the icon does not appear immediately, try turning on and off flight mode.
Solving problems with displaying the icon
It happens that the function is enabled in the settings, the operator supports the technology, but the VoLTE icon in the status bar never caught fire. This may be due to a software failure or base station incompatibility. First of all, make sure that the mobile network type is selected Preferably 4G (LTE). If the mode is 3G only or 2G/3G, high-speed calls will not work.
Another common reason is the outdated firmware version. Xiaomi regularly releases updates that add support for new carriers and fix radio module errors. Check for updates in the About Phone section. If you use custom firmware, make sure that it has the necessary certificates to work with IMS.
Sometimes the problem lies with the SIM card itself, and if you've been using a SIM card for several years, replacing it with a new one with 4G/LTE support often solves the problem, because operators give it away for free or for a nominal fee in the salons, and it's worth checking if you have Super AON or other paid options that may conflict with voice over LTE.
- 📶 Check the coverage: make sure you are in a confident reception area 4G.
- 🔄 Network reset: in the settings menu, find the Wi-Fi and mobile network reset point.
- 📱 Testing another SIM card: insert another VoLTE-supporting carrier’s SIM card to check.
💡
If the VoLTE icon doesn’t appear under any circumstances, chances are your specific region or phone model isn’t certified by the carrier to work with the technology.
Impact on battery charge and traffic
Many users mistakenly believe that using VoLTE consumes Internet traffic. It's not. Voice packets are transmitted over a dedicated channel and are not charged like the regular Internet. In an operator's billing, they are counted as minutes of conversation according to your data plan, so you can talk as much as you want without fear of writing off megabytes.
On the battery side, the situation is ambiguous: on the one hand, the constant operation of the 4G module can consume more power in weak signal areas, since the phone has to amplify the signal; on the other hand, the lack of switching between 2G/3G/4G standards during a call reduces the overall load on the processor and radio module. In a good coverage, VoLTE will save more charge than waste it.
It is also worth noting that when using two SIM cards, the load can increase. If both SIM cards are active and are on 4G networks, the phone must support two communication channels simultaneously, in such cases, it is recommended that you select one main SIM card for data transfer in order to optimize the operation of the antennas.
⚠️ Attention: At very weak signal 4G The phone can search for the network all the time, which will quickly land the battery, so in such cases it is better to switch temporarily to "Only" mode. 3G".