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How to Enable 5G in Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco Phones [2 Methods]

In this guide, we will show you two different methods to enable 5G in Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco phones. Two of the powerhouses of the telecom industry have just rolled out their 5G plans. And as expected, quite a few users are ready to join this bandwagon at the earliest. After all, who wouldn’t want a near about 1GB of download speed? However, at the time of writing the rollout is still in its initial stages, so welcoming it onto your device is no straightforward path.

enable 5g in xiaomi

Before you could pave the way for the 5G network onto your device, you will have to clear all the roadblocks present in the path. Speaking in a more technical term, you and your device will first have to checkmark a few prerequisites off the list, and only then will you be able to enable 5G in Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco phones. So without any further ado, let’s get started.

Perform a few 5G Tests on your Xiaomi Device

enable 5g in xiaomi

First and foremost, there are a few 5G prerequisites that your device needs to qualify. If your device doesn’t pass these tests, then you might have an issue or two in opting for the 5G network. So without further ado, let’s check out what exactly are these tests.

STEP 1: Make sure your Device is 5G Supported

As obvious as it may sound, you should double-check that your device supports 5G. For that, you could either have a look at the back of your device’s box or check out our comprehensive coverage on the list of all Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco 5G-supported and 5G-ready phones in India.

STEP 2: Check if your Phone is 5G Supported ‘or’ 5G Ready

Although both the 5G Supported & 5G Ready phones are 5G compatible, yet, there exists a small difference between them. 5G Supported phones mean the device supports 5G but is not yet enabled. It will be enabled by the OEM in the subsequent OTA update. Until then, you wouldn’t be able to use 5G even if Jio enables it on your phone number.

For example, the OnePlus 8 is 5G-supported but as of now, 5G isn’t enabled. So you will have to wait for Google to roll out an OTA update that will enable 5G on your device. On the other hand, 5G Ready devices come with 5G enabled out of the box. For example, the OnePlus 9 Pro is 5G Ready. So as soon as Jio activates 5G on your phone number, you will be able to use it straight away.

STEP 3: Get 5G Invitation Code [for Jio]

As of now, Jio is currently testing its 5G rollout with the beta testers. So you will first have to join this testing group via the My Jio app and then only you will be able to activate 5G on your phone number. So check out our guide on How to Get an Invitation for Jio 5G Welcome Offer.

enable 5g in xiaomi

STEP 4: Make sure you live in 5G Supported Regions

Next up, make sure that you live in a city where 5G is supported. When it comes to Jio, only Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Varanasi qualify as 5G-supported regions, at least for the time being. In the case of Airtel, 5G is currently available in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Siliguri, Nagpur, and Varanasi. You could expect more cities to be added by the end of this year, for both Airel and Jio.

STEP 5: Make sure you have a 5G Recharge Plan

Some operators require you to have a 5G ready plan recharged beforehand. While there is no specific 5G recharge plan for Jio as of now, but you will atleast have to be on the Rs 239 4G plan to qualify. Similarly, Airtel 5G Plus will require you to be on an existing 4G SIM.

STEP 6: Verify Dual 5G SIM support

If your device has a dual SIM card slot, then double-check that both these slots support 5G. In this regard, if your device has any of the below-listed chipsets, then it supports Dual 5G SIM [you could check the device;s chipset using the CPUZ app or GSMArena website]

  • MediaTek Dimensity 1000
  • MediaTek Dimensity 1000+
  • MediaTek Dimensity 820
  • Snapdragon 865

If your device doesn’t have any of the aforementioned chipsets, then it might not have Dual 5G SIM support. Well, there’s nothing to worry about as such, because one of the SIM Slots would still support 5G. So what you need to do is switch your SIM card from one slot to another and then check out the results.

STEP 7: Verify 5G Towers nearby [Optional]

While it is an optional check, but we would still recommend you check that there exists a 5G network near your location. Here’s how it could be done:

  1. Download and install the Ookla Speed Test app from Play Store.
  2. Then launch it and give it the Location Permission.
  3. Now go to its map tab and it will start scanning for the 5G tower.enable 5g in xiaomi
  4. All the locations marked in blue on the map signify the presence of 5G signals.
  5. You could further zoom in to get the exact precise location as well.

How to Enable 5G on Xiaomi/Redmi/Mi Phones

Once the 5G service is enabled for your phone number, you could then easily enable it on your Xiaomi device. There are two different methods of doing so and we have listed both of them below. You may refer to the one that is in sync with your requirement.

Via Settings menu

  1. Head over to the Settings menu on your device.
  2. Then go to SIMs > Preferred Network Type.xiaomi 5g phones
  3. Now select either 5G or 5G/4G/3G from the list.
  4. 5G is now enabled and activated on your Xiaomi device.

Using Dialer Code

  1. Bring up the dialer on your phone and input the below code:
    *#*#4636#*#*

    enable 5g in xiaomi

  2. Then go to Phone Information and scroll to “Set preferred network type”.
  3. Now tap on it and select “NR only” or “NR/ LTE” [recommended].

What is the Difference between NR Only and NR/LTE on Xiaomi 5G

If you have opted for the dialer code method to enable 5G, then you mgit have noticed  “NR only” and “NR/ LTE”, out of which, we recommended the latter one. Why is that so? If you select NR only, then your device will be forced to use only the 5G network. So in places where there are weaker 5G signals, you might not be able to make calls or send messages.

enable 5g in xiaomi

Therefore, it is recommended to opt for NR/LTE. This way if your device isn’t in a region that has stronger 5G [NR] coverage, then it will be able to automatically switch over to 4G [LTE]. For the same reason, if you get an option to choose between 5G or 5G/4G/3G, make sure to opt for the latter one [5G/4G/3G].

So this was all from this guide on how you could enable 5G on your Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco device. If you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, do let us know in the comments. We will get back to you with a solution at the earliest.


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