Owners of smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO Often, you notice that there's an extra icon next to the network indicator that says VoLTE, and this symbol can appear suddenly after you update your firmware, change your firmware. SIM-It's a map or a network reset, causing users to question its purpose. 4G or LTE, But they have different functionality, and understanding the purpose of this icon will help you optimize your mobile Internet and improve voice communication.
Voice over technology LTE (Voice through LTE) It allows voice calls to be transmitted directly through the fourth generation network, bypassing switching to outdated standards. 2G and 3G. Previously, when an incoming call, the phone forcibly reset the Internet speed to the EDGE or 3G, This feature can now allow you to talk and use high-speed Internet at the same time without losing quality.
The icon shows that your Xiaomi has successfully registered with a carrier that supports the technology and is ready to make high-quality calls (HD Voice), which is not just an indicator of the presence of a network, but a confirmation of the operation of an advanced communication protocol. In today’s world, it is a de facto standard that is gradually replacing traditional channel switching.
What does the VoLTE icon mean and how does it work?
VoLTE means the transmission of voice traffic as packet data on a network. LTE. Unlike classic calls, where voice is encoded by a narrowband codec, it uses broadband codecs to provide a more natural voice sound and better legibility. When you see this icon, your Xiaomi smartphone uses a different name. IP-protocol for transmitting sound, which technically makes the call look like a call through messengers, but with priority in the operator's network.
The main advantage is the speed of the connection, dialing and putting the connection in almost instantaneously, often faster than you hear the beep. LTE-If you download a heavy file or watch a stream, the speed will not drop to the minimum, as it would be if you switched to a computer. 3G. For gamers, this is critical, as the ping remains stable even during incoming calls.
It is worth noting that the function requires support from the telecom operator. In Russia, all major providers (MTS, MegaFon, Beeline, Tele2) If the badge is missing, you may be in the coverage area. 2G/3G Or the operator is doing the technical work. SIM-The card was new enough as very old cards may not support the necessary security profiles.
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Check if your plan supports your plan. HD-Some operators may have this option disabled by default in their personal account.
Differences from the usual challenges and advantages of technology
The move to VoLTE marks a significant step forward in mobile communications: users of Redmi Note or Xiaomi Mi smartphones can notice the difference not only visually by icon, but also by hearing. The sound quality is cleaner, background noises and the effect of metal voice disappear, achieved by using the AMR-WB (Adaptive Multi-Rate Wideband) codec, which transmits a wider range of frequencies.
Compare the key parameters of traditional calls (CSFB) and modern (VoLTE):
| Parameter | Traditional Challenge (2G/3G) | VoLTE (4G/5G) |
|---|---|---|
| Sound quality | Low, narrow range | HD-quality, wide range |
| Connection speed | 3-7 seconds | 1-2 seconds |
| The Internet | Speed reduction to 3G/2G | Full speed LTE |
| Battery consumption | High (module switching) | Low (one-mode operation) |
Another important aspect is power consumption: when a phone is constantly jumping between 4G and 3G on incoming calls, modem consumes more power. Using a single LTE standard allows the battery to run slower, especially in areas of uncertain reception, where the phone is constantly searching for the network.
Requirements for the function on Xiaomi
For the icon to catch fire and work consistently, you need to meet a number of conditions: it is not enough to have a modern smartphone; the entire data chain must be compatible. Owners of Xiaomi devices must check several critical parameters in the settings and with their operator.
- 📱 Smartphone Support: The hardware should support Voice over LTE. Almost all Xiaomi models released after 2016 are equipped with the necessary modems.
- 📡 Network coverage: You should be in a confident reception area 4G. If the network LTE Unstable, the phone may be forced to switch to 3G, and the badge disappears.
- 🆔 Settings SIM-Cards: The operator must activate the service on your side. SIM-card USIM, If you are using the card older 5-7 years.
- ⚙️ Firmware: In global versions MIUI or HyperOS may be hidden to some regions, where changing the region in settings or using an engineering menu can help.
⚠️ Note: If you have changed your phone settings to China or India, the icon may appear automatically, as the technology is ubiquitous in these countries, but this may affect the performance of some local Google services.
Also, in dual SIM modes, the function can only work on one card at a time, usually the one chosen for mobile data. The second SIM card at this point can only display 4G without the prefix VoLTE.
How to enable VoLTE in the settings of the smartphone
In most cases, activation occurs automatically when installed. SIM-However, if the icon does not appear, you need to check the settings manually. MIUI It may vary depending on the version, but the logic remains the same.
First, go to Settings. → SIM-Select the SIM card you want to activate the function for, find Use VoLTE and put the switch to the active position. If there is no such item, try the following algorithm of actions through the engineering menu, which is available on most Xiaomi devices.
☑️ Verification of VoLTE activation
Alternative way to include via hidden menu:
- Open the phone application (caller).
- Enter the command #86583##.
- If done correctly, you will see a notification “VoLTE Carrier check was DISABLED” (meaning unblocking the operator check).
- After that, the VoLTE switch should appear in the usual settings menu.
The team's not working?
If the icon does not appear after the reboot, make sure that the network type selects LTE preference, not only 3G or 2G.
Why the icon is missing or not displayed
It's quite common for a VoLTE icon to disappear, and it could be a move to a weak signal area where LTE is not available, and it could be a firmware update that changes the network profile settings, and sometimes the problem is with the carrier itself, who is doing the tower maintenance.
A common cause is a settings conflict after a system update. MIUI or HyperOS can reset network preferences, so you should recheck your settings. SIM-Also check if the flight or energy saving mode is activated, which may limit the operation of the communication module to save charge.
If you use custom firmware or an unlocked bootloader, some of the system files that handle operators can be modified, in which case the icon may not appear, although the function will technically work, or vice versa, the phone will force the network to reset.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to edit build.prop files or use root rights to force VoLTE to turn on unless you are sure of your actions.This may lead to complete network loss and the need to flash your device.
Impact on battery charge and mobile traffic
There's a myth that VoLTE is much faster at planting a battery. In fact, as mentioned earlier, not switching between 3G and 4G standards on the contrary saves battery life. The communication module runs in a stable mode without expending energy to re-register on another type of network. However, if the 4G signal is very weak, the phone will constantly increase the transmitter power, which will really increase the consumption.
As for traffic, voice packets are transmitted through a special channel with a high priority (QoS – Quality of Service), operators do not usually charge this traffic as normal Internet traffic. Minutes are spent from your bundle tariff for voice communication, not from gigabytes. Even if you run out of minutes, the call may not take place, but Internet traffic will not be charged for it.
However, video calls via native video over LTE can consume Internet traffic if they are not part of the operator's service package. Be careful when using video calls via a standard call, as opposed to voice calls.
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VoLTE saves battery power by not constantly switching between communication standards and does not consume Internet traffic when making voice calls.
Solution and Advice for Setup
If after all the manipulations, the icon never appeared, try to delete the network profile. Go to the mobile network settings and select Reset APN settings or Restore default settings. This will return the correct access point parameters that may have been lost.
It's also worth checking if you're limited to background data for system services. Sometimes aggressive battery optimization in MIUI blocks service registration processes in the VoLTE network. Add system services to power saving exceptions.
In rare cases, physical cleaning of contacts helps. SIM-card or re-installing the SIM card to another slot.Some users note that repositioning the card to slot 1 solves the problem if the second slot does not support the feature.