Verizon Motorola Moto Z4 (XT1980-4) on T-Mobile - How do I get VoLTE to work?

**techguru** · 03-18-2023, 01:24 PM

Phone goes into GSM mode when I make a call.

Do I need to manually add IMS settings?

https://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=6045

Planning to root this phone if that helps any.

**Serial Port** · 03-18-2023, 01:44 PM

Since Verizon no longer supports CDMA and the phone lacks VOLTE (Voice over LTE) it would be logical for it to change to GSM when no other frequencies are available. Instead of wasting time trying to "root the phone", just get a fully capable 4G or 5G phone instead and stop waiting for more network frequencies to become unavailable. CDMA is essentially a dead technology in the US and only used by a small number of cell carriers currently.

Don't forget that the phone supports LTE for data only and not voice like on 4G devices which that phone does not. Time to upgrade your phone instead of wasting more money on old technology. Rooting the phone is not as simple as changing the phone settings, that phone is not a 4G device and you can't make it do so as it doesn't have the required hardware components and they can't be added to the phone physically or through an OS update.

**techguru** · 03-18-2023, 02:08 PM

LOL, are you an AI bot? (sound like one spewing totally inaccurate information). This is a VoLTE phone and has been working on Verizon VoLTE up to until the Verizon service was canceled just a couple of weeks ago and number ported to T-Mobile.

Primary 4G network LTE Cat12 (Bands 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 14, 20, 66) VoLTE

https://phonedb.net/index.php?m=device&id=18174

**rpz1** · 03-18-2023, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by techguru

This is a VoLTE phone and has been working on Verizon VoLTE up to until the Verizon service was canceled just recently and number ported to T-Mobile.

Primary 4G network LTE Cat12 (Bands 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 14, 20, 66) VoLTE

https://www.phonemore.com/specs/moto...o-z4/xt1980-4/

Very correct. That phone is 4G and does support VoLTE and has T-Mobile 4G bands except 71. It's android 9 at least and may have updated to 10, so not to long in the tooth.
Did you check the hidden menu to make sure VoLTE is still enabled. Also check apn (for your carrier) and network type?

**Serial Port** · 03-18-2023, 03:14 PM

First of all, I am not a bot and while you can disagree with me, I do expect to be treated as the forum moderator that I am. Secondly, according to the attached link: https://www.phonescoop.com/phones/ph...more%20rows%20, that is not a 4G device as it that phone has 4G LTE but not VOLTE. I didn't just make it up, I looked up the phone specifications first at the Phone Scoop device page.

Just out of curiosity, I looked up the same phone on Phone Arena and got almost the same, exact results: https://www.phonearena.com/phones/Mo...oto-Z4_id11076. Based on this, I stand by my assertion that the phone does have LTE for data, but not VOLTE like you are implying it does.

**techguru** · 03-18-2023, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by Serial Port

First of all, I am not a bot and while you can disagree with me, I do expect to be treated as the forum moderator that I am. Secondly, according to the attached link: https://www.phonescoop.com/phones/ph...more%20rows%20, that is not a 4G device as it that phone has 4G LTE but not VOLTE. I didn't just make it up, I looked up the phone specifications first at the Phone Scoop device page.

Just out of curiosity, I looked up the same phone on Phone Arena and got almost the same, exact results: https://www.phonearena.com/phones/Mo...oto-Z4_id11076. Based on this, I stand by my assertion that the phone does have LTE for data, but not VOLTE like you are implying it does.

Well I don't know why those sites omit the VoLTE information (omission of status does not mean one way or the other) but give this site a try as it does list a lot more details.

https://phonedb.net/index.php?m=device&id=18174

and this one

https://www.devicespecifications.com/en/model/265450a4

**techguru** · 03-18-2023, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by rpz1

Very correct. That phone is 4G and does support VoLTE and has T-Mobile 4G bands except 71. It's android 9 at least and may have updated to 10, so not to long in the tooth.
Did you check the hidden menu to make sure VoLTE is still enabled. Also check apn (for your carrier) and network type?

Ya it supports Android 10.

What is the hidden menu code for this model? (I don't use android much, thought I'd take over this one to learn it better).

APN for data is set and working (seems to have auto pulled it from the SIM) but there is no IMS APN that I can see.

**rpz1** · 03-18-2023, 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by Serial Port

First of all, I am not a bot and while you can disagree with me, I do expect to be treated as the forum moderator that I am. Secondly, according to the attached link: https://www.phonescoop.com/phones/ph...more%20rows%20, that is not a 4G device as it that phone has 4G LTE but not VOLTE. I didn't just make it up, I looked up the phone specifications first at the Phone Scoop device page.

Just out of curiosity, I looked up the same phone on Phone Arena and got almost the same, exact results: https://www.phonearena.com/phones/Mo...oto-Z4_id11076. Based on this, I stand by my assertion that the phone does have LTE for data, but not VOLTE like you are implying it does.

Just for future reference, Phonescoop uses the term HD Voice for VoLTE and shows it toward the end of the specs. Some sites call it Enhanced LTE.

I like Phonemore for specs since it breaks them down by specific model number. You need to Expand band detail under Frequency, bands. You'll see it lists VoLTE there after the bands. If you look at the xt1980-3 it has all the bands including T-Mobile 71 but not Verizons 5. The OPs is an xt1980-4. https://www.phonemore.com/specs/moto...o-z4/xt1980-4/

But sometime even it has inaccuracies. I never found a spec site which is 100% accurate for all models numbers.

**rpz1** · 03-18-2023, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by techguru

Ya it supports Android 10.

What is the hidden menu code for this model? (I don't use android much, thought I'd take over this one to learn it better).

APN for data is set and working (seems to have auto pulled it from the SIM) but there is no IMS APN that I can see.

From your Moto native phone dialer enter *#*#4636#*#* and a menu will open. Go to Phone Info and scroll down and you'll see if VoLTE is on or off. If not and you can turn it on then back out of the menu.
But first if you haven't, check also in the regular network settings in Android. On my android 9 Moto E6 that's Settings>Network and internet>Mobile network>Advanced>Enhanced 4G LTE Mode...should be on (that's VoLTE). I don't know if the T-Mobile sim changes any of those, I'm on Verizon. If you don't see that then check what I said about the hidden menu toggle. Then go to Network settings and see if it's there.

I don't know about the T-Mobile IMS APN setting. You might post in the T-Mobile forum and ask that.

**techguru** · 03-19-2023, 04:32 PM

BTW, I'm having to spend $60 ($50 screen + $10 battery) to make this phone usable. The battery had swelled up and cracked the screen.

Would $60 or less get me something better (preferably 5G)?

**rpz1** · 03-19-2023, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by techguru

BTW, I'm having to spend $60 ($50 screen + $10 battery) to make this phone usable. The battery had swelled up and cracked the screen.

Would $60 or less get me something better (preferably 5G)?

5G no. And depending where you live 5G isn't leaps and bounds better then LTE.

Something better for sub $60 no also. Used good condition Verizon unlocked Z4's like yours are on ebay for $80-$100. What you use it for, features that are important, brand, carrier etc. become very subjective.
A sub $60 4G/LTE is more then adequate for some, a pain for others, but they're out there.

So did you ever get VoLTE working ?

**mframe** · 03-19-2023, 06:46 PM

I wouldn't even bother repairing that phone for your intended use. I don't think you would be able to root that phone as Verizon locks the bootloader of their branded phones. Your difficulty with finding a VoLTE toggle is also because it has Verizon firmware. Even when SIM unlocked, Verizon hides or disables certain settings to make it less usable on their competitors.

**techguru** · 03-21-2023, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by rpz1

From your Moto native phone dialer enter *#*#4636#*#* and a menu will open.

Does nothing. :-(

**rpz1** · 03-21-2023, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by techguru

Does nothing. :-(

It should bring up the menu, has on every moto I ever owned, and that's all I own.
Did you get the *#*# at the beginning of the 4636 and #*#* after in the correct order. And no need to hit enter after.
Unless of course Verizon crippled that aspect of the phone too.

Highly recommend when you get a new phone you get factory unlocked. Cost a bit more but worth it.
Just do your research to find the factory unlocked model# and manufacturing PN. Allot of Ebay sellers for example claim factory unlocked but when you mine into the specs and those #'s you find it's an unlocked branded phone.

**mframe** · 03-21-2023, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by techguru

Does nothing. :-(

The code does not work because the Verizon-branded phone's firmware blocks it. You can probably get around it by using an app such as "4G LTE Switcher", which would bring you right to that menu.

Even if you can set that VoLTE switch to ON in that menu, I don't know if it will make VoLTE work with a non-Verizon carrier.