To turn off VoLTE on iPhone, open “Settings” → “Cellular” → “Cellular Data Options” → “Voice & Data” and turn off VoLTE. On Samsung Galaxy, turn off “VoLTE calls” in “Settings” → “Connections” → “Mobile networks”; on Google Pixel, turn off VoLTE in “Settings” → “Network & internet” → “SIMs”; on Xiaomi, turn off “Use VoLTE” in “SIM cards & mobile networks.” After that, calls will go not over 4G but over older 2G or 3G networks.
VoLTE (Voice over LTE) is a technology for making calls over 4G: according to Kyivstar, it delivers clearer sound, a fast connection and working internet during a call. It is worth turning off only if you have a specific problem. Below: when this is justified, steps for iPhone and Android, and the terms of Kyivstar, Vodafone Ukraine and lifecell. Menu names are taken from Apple, Samsung, Google, Xiaomi and carrier help pages as of October 21, 2026.
When to turn off VoLTE, and when not to
- Problems with calls or SMS. In its Pixel help, Google advises turning off VoLTE if voice calls or messages behave strangely. Among the first steps when outgoing calls do not work, Samsung lists turning off “Wi-Fi Calling” and VoLTE.
- Traveling abroad with Vodafone. Vodafone Ukraine says its VoLTE works only in Ukraine and asks you to turn off “VoLTE calls” in your phone settings before you leave and turn them back on after you return.
- Do not turn it off if calls already work. In September 2026, Kyivstar took 3G out of mass operation, and in its announcements about the move to 4G it advises turning on automatic network selection and VoLTE for stable calls.
How to turn off VoLTE on iPhone
Apple says the set of cellular network options depends on the carrier, so your screen may look slightly different. Ukrainian carriers describe the same path, only in the Ukrainian-language interface, ending with the VoLTE toggle.
Open cellular settings
Open “Settings” → “Cellular.” If your iPhone has several SIM cards or an eSIM from a Ukrainian carrier, choose the number in the SIMs section: each line has its own settings.
Result: The cellular settings for the right number are open.
Go to “Cellular Data Options” → “Voice & Data”
In the Ukrainian-language interface, these items have their Ukrainian names. Vodafone Ukraine requires iOS 17.0 or later for VoLTE on its network; if you have an older version, the option may be missing.
Result: The screen shows the network options for voice and data.
Turn off VoLTE
- If there is a VoLTE toggle (this is how Kyivstar, Vodafone and lifecell describe the screen), turn it off.
- If instead there is an “Enable LTE” option with “Off,” “Voice & Data” and “Data Only,” choose “Data Only.” According to Apple help, in this mode cellular data goes over LTE, while voice calls over LTE are turned off. The “Off” option turns off LTE completely, along with fast internet.
Result: Calls no longer go over 4G, and mobile internet over LTE keeps working.
How to turn off VoLTE on Android
On Android, the option has different names depending on the manufacturer. Google notes that VoLTE may be on or off by default, depending on the carrier’s network settings.
Find the mobile network settings
- Samsung Galaxy: “Settings” → “Connections” → “Mobile networks.”
- Google Pixel: “Settings” → “Network & internet” → “SIMs.”
- Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO: “Settings” → “SIM cards & mobile networks” → the SIM card you need (names based on Xiaomi’s machine-translated help page).
- Other models: Kyivstar describes the path “Settings” → “Mobile networks,” and Vodafone describes “Settings” → “Connections” → “Mobile networks.” If you cannot find it, type “VoLTE” into the settings search.
Result: The mobile network screen with the VoLTE toggle is open.
Turn off the toggle
On Samsung it is “VoLTE calls” (separately for each SIM), on Pixel it is VoLTE, and on Xiaomi it is “Use VoLTE.” Xiaomi also has a second method: in the Phone app, dial a service code that turns VoLTE on and off.
*#*#86583#*#*Result: VoLTE is off for the selected SIM card.
Check the icon in the status bar
According to Kyivstar and lifecell, when VoLTE is working, an Android smartphone shows a VoLTE or HD icon at the top of the screen next to the signal strength. If it is still there after you turn the feature off, restart the phone.
Result: The VoLTE or HD icon no longer appears.
VoLTE at Kyivstar, Vodafone and lifecell
For VoLTE to work, the carrier must enable it on your number, and the SIM card must support 4G. To turn it off, the toggle on the phone is enough: carriers do not publish separate codes for disabling VoLTE on a number on their pages.
| Carrier | Activation on the number | VoLTE when roaming | Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyivstar | Enabled by the carrier; check the SIM: *245*4# | In some countries, no separate activation needed | Chat, 466 |
| Vodafone Ukraine | *888*7# or My Vodafone, status *888*71# | No, only in Ukraine | 111, chat in My Vodafone |
| lifecell | *127# or My lifecell | In the carrier’s list of countries | 5433 |
Vodafone adds a condition that people often forget: the smartphone must be official and intended for Ukraine. Kyivstar also names a phone bought abroad or not made for the general market as a reason VoLTE may not work. What you can and cannot learn about such a phone from its number is covered in our article on how to check a phone’s IMEI.
VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling
Wi-Fi calling (VoWiFi) is a separate feature, and turning off VoLTE does not disable it. According to lifecell, the technologies work independently, but if VoLTE is off and the phone loses Wi-Fi, the current call will drop. Vodafone clarifies the order: an iPhone calls over VoLTE first, while Android uses Wi-Fi by default. For a more reliable connection, both carriers advise keeping both technologies on.
3G networks are being shut down, and voice is increasingly moving to 4G. What the next generation of mobile networks will change is covered in our article on the future of 5G.
If it didn’t work
- There is no VoLTE option in settings. The model may not support VoLTE on your carrier’s network, or the carrier has not enabled the technology on your number. Check your model in the list on the carrier’s VoLTE page.
- The toggle on Xiaomi is grayed out. Xiaomi explains the message saying VoLTE is temporarily not supported for the SIM card this way: VoLTE is unavailable on the network in that region or location, not on the phone itself.
- After turning it off, calls got worse or stopped working. Turn VoLTE back on and make sure automatic network selection is chosen in settings — Kyivstar recommends exactly this combination.
- The internet does not work during a call. This is expected if the call went over 2G. To talk and use the internet at the same time, VoLTE must be on.
- The problem persists. Restart the smartphone and install the system update, then contact your carrier: Kyivstar — 466 or chat, Vodafone — 111 or chat in My Vodafone, lifecell — 5433.
Sources and methodology
Analysis of public sourcesChecked 21 October 2026
- Apple — About LTE settings on iPhone support.apple.com
- Samsung — How to use VoLTE on Samsung Galaxy samsung.com
- Kyivstar — VoLTE: a new voice transmission technology kyivstar.ua
- Vodafone Ukraine — VoLTE & VoWiFi vodafone.ua
- lifecell — VoLTE and VoWiFi lifecell.ua
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I turn off VoLTE?
Calls will stop going over 4G and will go over 2G or 3G instead. On 2G, mobile internet does not work during a call, and abroad, in countries without 2G and 3G, calls will become unavailable.
Do I have to pay for VoLTE?
No. Kyivstar, Vodafone Ukraine and lifecell provide VoLTE at no extra charge, and calls are billed as regular calls under your plan.
How can I tell whether VoLTE is working on my iPhone?
Kyivstar says the LTE icon stays active on an iPhone during a call. Vodafone suggests another method: go to “Settings” → “General” → “About” and tap “Carrier” several times until the IMS status “Voice & SMS” appears.
What does the VoLTE or HD icon on the screen mean?
It shows that an Android phone is using VoLTE. The icon appears at the top of the screen next to the signal strength and disappears if the feature is turned off or the call is not going over 4G.
Should I turn off VoLTE when roaming?
It depends on the carrier. Vodafone Ukraine asks you to turn off “VoLTE calls” before traveling, because its VoLTE works only in Ukraine. With Kyivstar and lifecell, VoLTE works when roaming in some countries, and there is no need to activate it separately.
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