[GUIDE] [NO ROOT REQUIRED] [EPIC UPDATE] How to add VoLTE support for other carriers to the G8 (and other Qualcomm powered LG devices too!)

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Wish39

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2015
217
67
This guide will not work if you are running Android 12 :(

I'm gonna keep the intro simple, been a longtime user here on XDA, and recently I found that my T-Mobile LG G8 only supported VoLTE and VoWifi on, you guessed it, T-Mobile! So I did some research, experimented with my G8 for a bit, and I now have a method that works and does not need root at all. Basically, what we are doing here is just loading carrier profiles into the phone's modem so that the phone is able to complete IMS registration and correctly provision VoLTE when you insert a SIM card from another carrier.

If you are trying this on a LG V60, please turn off USB debugging before attempting this as multiple V60 owners have had trouble properly installing the modem driver and only resolved the driver issue by turning it off. Also, please try the 90E5 driver if the 9091 driver does not work for you.

This method does not work on the Sprint G8, any other Sprint LG devices, the Korean G8 and any other Korean LG devices since there is no Field Test option in the HiddenMenu in those devices.


Follow this post here, and make sure you read the original post in that thread as well. Also should work with other BL unlocked G8 models. Crossflash your G8 to Open US or Open CA firmware using this method! No unlocked bootloader or root needed!

DO THIS FIRST!!!!!: STEPS TO OBTAIN CARRIER MBN FILES FOR YOUR DEVICE (MBN files for the G8/G8x/G8s provided in Step 11 of the main guide)

1. Download a KDZ for your device. Sites like lgrom.com or lg-firmwares.com have KDZ's available to download. If you have an AT&T LG device just download a KDZ for another variant of your phone. Ex: If you have the AT&T LG Velvet, just download the Canadian Velvet's KDZ. Same for the AT&T G8, G8x etc.

2. Download and install
7zip, and the linked/attached KDZ extractor tool.

3. Extract the KDZ tool zip file, then place your downloaded KDZ into the same folder as the KDZ tools.
1646120728815.png

4. In the KDZ tools folder, find "OneKeyExtraction.bat" and double click on it.

5. When the CMD windows launches, press Y to start extracting the partitions from the KDZ.

6. Once it is finished, you should see a new folder in the KDZ tools folder that has the same name as the KDZ that you downloaded. Open up that folder.
1646121613132.png

7. As you can see the tool extracted all of the partitions that are contained in the KDZ file. We will need to open up either the modem_a or modem_b partitions to grab the needed MBN files. Scroll down to find those partitions. Doesn't matter which one you choose.

8. Right click on whichever one you chose, hover over "7zip", then click "Open archive".
1646122181314.png

9. 7zip will open up. The folders where the MBN's will be vary by device. Generally you should first look for a folder named "modem_pr", then once in it find the "mcfg_sw" folder. Here are some examples to help you find where the MBN files in your device's modem partition are. The files will be seperated into folders by region and carrier.
1646122816648.png

1646122875662.png

1646122958551.png

10. Once you find the files, extract them to whichever folder you want to.



Now here are the steps to load the MBN's:

1. Download the latest QPST Tools from here. Only runs on Windows. No Linux, sorry.

2. Extract the zip file you downloaded and open QPST.2.7.496.1.exe to install the QPST tools.

1633495073816.png

3. Once that is done, go to the Driver folder and open Qualcomm USB Driver V1.0.exe to install the drivers needed for the tool to communicate with your phone.

4. After that is done, there should be a QPST folder in your start menu. We'll come back to that later.

5. On your phone, go to the dialer and enter this code:
Code:
*#546368#*xxx# OR #*462633*#xxx# *xxx is the three numbers in your device's model code.

6. The HiddenMenu should pop up, choose Field Test, then LTE Data Test, and change the Tethering Mode from Android to QMICM. I recommend leaving your phone in this menu so that it is easier to switch back to the normal Android USB connection mode when you are done.

1633495857477.png
1633495872107.png
1633495890722.png

7. Connect your phone to your computer, it should be detected as "Qualcomm HS-USB Modem 9091". In Device Manager it should show up under the Modems section.

8. Go to the QPST start menu folder and open the "PDC" application.

9. Go to the Device dropdown, there should be an item named "Qualcomm Wireless HS-USB Ethernet Adapter 9091". This is your phone, select it.
1633496853860.png
10. This is what you should see. Notice how only the original carrier's (T-Mobile) modem profile is loaded into the phone's modem. Pretty lazy if you ask me.
1633497146862.png
11. Now you will need some modem profiles to load into your phone! As a little starter pack, here are a few carrier modem profiles for US, Canadian and Korean carriers. Download them here (these are only for the G8/G8x/G8s! Will not work with other devices!!!!!!). I have extracted these from my phone's modem_a partition using QFIL Partition Manager with the LG SD855 firehose, and these are present in the modem_b partition as well. LG left all of these profiles inside the phone but only actually loads one of them into the modem on carrier models....

These profiles may also work on the G8x, V50, and G8s since those phones have the same SOC as the G8, and by extension the same modem chip.

12. Once you are ready, press the Load button and navigate to whichever carrier profile you want to add, I will load AT&T as an example. After going inside the folder for the carrier you want to load, there should be a file named "mcfg_sw.mbn". This is the profile. Don't bother adding any profile that has "row" in it's name, those usually don't give you support for VoLTE.
1633498811451.png
13. When you are ready, click Open and your carrier profile will be loaded into your phone! You can go and add as many carriers as you want, I loaded all US and Korean, and some Canadian carrier profiles into my G8.

Do not load the same profile multiple times, this may cause issues with VoLTE and cell connectivity.
1633501377502.png

14. When you are done, go back to the LTE Data Test menu and set the tethering mode back to Android. Your phone now has VoLTE support for the carriers that you loaded into it!

If you have another Qualcomm LG device, you can also follow this guide, you just need to enter the HiddenMenu dialer code specific to your device, and have carrier config files that are either specifically for your device, or from another phone that has the same chipset as your device* (*may or may not work).

Here's AT&T VoLTE working with a Tracfone AT&T sim card on my previously incompatible T-Mobile G8:
1633502003068.png
1633502017259.png

Hope this guide has helped you guys!
 

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AsItLies

Senior Member
Nov 4, 2009
1,714
633
tucson
Samsung Galaxy S10
Wow, great info. That could help a lot of people, especially with at&t, and probably some others. I use t-mo (mint) and they seem to allow any device to use volte. It won't be long and that will be the only option to make a call.

cheers
 

Wish39

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2015
217
67
Oh I forgot, if anyone has a European G8, would you mind using QFIL Partition Manager to extract either the modem_a or modem_b partition, doesn't matter as long as its one of them lol. This is so people with US and Canadian models can load profiles to add VoLTE support for European carriers.

Wow, great info. That could help a lot of people, especially with at&t, and probably some others. I use t-mo (mint) and they seem to allow any device to use volte. It won't be long and that will be the only option to make a call.

cheers
AT&T may still block VoLTE on the phone since the IMEI will come up as a non-AT&T device, but it'll work fine if you have a provider that just uses their towers, like Tracfone for example.
 

AsItLies

Senior Member
Nov 4, 2009
1,714
633
tucson
Samsung Galaxy S10
Oh I forgot, if anyone has a European G8, would you mind using QFIL Partition Manager to extract either the modem_a or modem_b partition, doesn't matter as long as its one of them lol. This is so people with US and Canadian models can load profiles to add VoLTE support for European carriers.


AT&T may still block VoLTE on the phone since the IMEI will come up as a non-AT&T device, but it'll work fine if you have a provider that just uses their towers, like Tracfone for example.

Yup, good point. Have never used at&t but have read they check imei, forgot about that. Another good reason not to use at&t!
 

JMak00

Senior Member
Jun 23, 2008
121
7
Beaverton, OR
Google Pixel 6
I'm gonna keep the intro simple, been a longtime user here on XDA, and recently I found that my T-Mobile LG G8 only supported VoLTE and VoWifi on, you guessed it, T-Mobile! So I did some research, experimented with my G8 for a bit, and I now have a method that works and does not need root at all. Basically, what we are doing here is just loading carrier profiles into the phone's modem so that the phone is able to complete IMS registration and correctly provision VoLTE when you insert a SIM card from another carrier.


Hope this guide has helped you guys!
Wow! The OP replied to me on a reddit post I made carping about my Sprint LG G8 getting gimped with the TMo-Sprint merger and being forced to change devices. I'll roll these instructions this weekend and get a Tmo SIM card totest.

Thanks, OP!!!
 

C D

Senior Member
Very nice work, OP.

In case any V50 users are looking at this, it seems that unfortunately for most variants, the Field Test is not there in the hidden menu out of the box. On my Sprint V50, there is a different dialer code to get to the hidden menu which is missing both Field Test and SVC Menu options, and it's not until you root the phone and replace some files from the OP partition with those found in the VoLTE fix thread from the G8X forum that the universal 546368 code works and brings up the hidden menu with Field Test as an option.
 

Bwangster12

Senior Member
Jan 3, 2011
965
107
New York
Really weird, I have an LG G8 Sprint model that has been unlocked for use on T-Mobile for well over a year. The hiddenmenu code above just does not work. When I get to the last #, nothing happens. I've tried entering it many times.
 

C D

Senior Member
Really weird, I have an LG G8 Sprint model that has been unlocked for use on T-Mobile for well over a year. The hiddenmenu code above just does not work. When I get to the last #, nothing happens. I've tried entering it many times.
If it's anything like the Sprint V50, see if 5689#*820# works. But I suspect that even if it works, there won't be a Field Test option.
 

Bwangster12

Senior Member
Jan 3, 2011
965
107
New York
If it's anything like the Sprint V50, see if 5689#*820# works. But I suspect that even if it works, there won't be a Field Test option.
Yeah, same result.

If I use *#*#7262626#*#*, upon pressing the last * the code disappears and I'm still on the dialer.

 
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Wish39

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2015
217
67
Yeah, same result.

If I use *#*#7262626#*#*, upon pressing the last * the code disappears and I'm still on the dialer.

Try dialing ##3424# and enable DIAG mode, then see if the phone shows up in PDC.

Edit: If the phone asks for a MSL/service code then you can call Sprint to get the code.

There are more dialer codes here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/v50-hidden-menu.3954462/post-84460695
 
Last edited:

Bwangster12

Senior Member
Jan 3, 2011
965
107
New York
Last edited:

Bwangster12

Senior Member
Jan 3, 2011
965
107
New York
Its weird, as far as I can tell... my device has VoLTE enabled on Tmobile, eventhough its DEFINITELY a Sprint model. Aside from that, I use Google Voice, which essentially lets me make calls and use data at the same time anyway.
 
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oromerortega

New member
Oct 7, 2021
1
0
Oh I forgot, if anyone has a European G8, would you mind using QFIL Partition Manager to extract either the modem_a or modem_b partition, doesn't matter as long as its one of them lol. This is so people with US and Canadian models can load profiles to add VoLTE support for European carriers.


AT&T may still block VoLTE on the phone since the IMEI will come up as a non-AT&T device, but it'll work fine if you have a provider that just uses their towers, like Tracfone for example.

So it stays on LTE when making calls?
Can anybody extract the modem profile for Mexico, carrier Telcel. It should be in an LG-G8s for Mexico. Thanks
 

AsItLies

Senior Member
Nov 4, 2009
1,714
633
tucson
Samsung Galaxy S10
Its weird, as far as I can tell... my device has VoLTE enabled on Tmobile, eventhough its DEFINITELY a Sprint model. Aside from that, I use Google Voice, which essentially lets me make calls and use data at the same time anyway.

I've tried that and didn't work for me. Yes you can make a call, but it's not volte, it's dropping down (the LTE icon doesn't stay on, and as soon as you get off the call, it pops back up).

While this isn't necessarily helpful, a kind of catch-22, if you do go the route of rooting and flashing the US Open OP partition, you get the 'field test' etc settings, but then you wouldn't need them as you'd already have volte and vowifi.

It's amazing all the ways carriers restrict devices to only work on their networks. E-sims must be their nightmare from hell! ;)
 

Bwangster12

Senior Member
Jan 3, 2011
965
107
New York
I've tried that and didn't work for me. Yes you can make a call, but it's not volte, it's dropping down (the LTE icon doesn't stay on, and as soon as you get off the call, it pops back up).

While this isn't necessarily helpful, a kind of catch-22, if you do go the route of rooting and flashing the US Open OP partition, you get the 'field test' etc settings, but then you wouldn't need them as you'd already have volte and vowifi.

It's amazing all the ways carriers restrict devices to only work on their networks. E-sims must be their nightmare from hell! ;)
Yeah, I saw that thread, but hesitant to mess with the phone and risk screwing something up. As I use Google Voice, I don't think I read need VoLTE to work.
 

AsItLies

Senior Member
Nov 4, 2009
1,714
633
tucson
Samsung Galaxy S10
Yeah, I saw that thread, but hesitant to mess with the phone and risk screwing something up. As I use Google Voice, I don't think I read need VoLTE to work.

Hmmm you haven't been keeping up with industry news. T-mo indicated a long time ago they are doing away with old 2g towers and reprovisioning them as 4g towers. IOW, it won't be long before you'll be unable to make a phone call if u don't have volte.

I'll be glad to help walk you through doing what's in that thread, it's not too bad and can be done in steps. The result isn't just volte and vowifi, but also no sprint bloat.

Let me know if u want to do that, we'll take it off line.

cheers
 

Bwangster12

Senior Member
Jan 3, 2011
965
107
New York
Hmmm you haven't been keeping up with industry news. T-mo indicated a long time ago they are doing away with old 2g towers and reprovisioning them as 4g towers. IOW, it won't be long before you'll be unable to make a phone call if u don't have volte.

I'll be glad to help walk you through doing what's in that thread, it's not too bad and can be done in steps. The result isn't just volte and vowifi, but also no sprint bloat.

Let me know if u want to do that, we'll take it off line.

cheers
I'd be open to trying it... really appreciate your help. I sent you a DM on XDA.
 

Wish39

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2015
217
67
Hmmm you haven't been keeping up with industry news. T-mo indicated a long time ago they are doing away with old 2g towers and reprovisioning them as 4g towers. IOW, it won't be long before you'll be unable to make a phone call if u don't have volte.

I'll be glad to help walk you through doing what's in that thread, it's not too bad and can be done in steps. The result isn't just volte and vowifi, but also no sprint bloat.

Let me know if u want to do that, we'll take it off line.

cheers
Do you mind if you can send over the crossflashing steps? Been thinking of crossflashing my G8 to get rid of the T-Mobile ****ware and so I don't get blasted with a pink T-Mobile splash screen everytime I power on and off the phone lol.
 

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  • 1
    Can't see this option in Verizon V60 version. Used the hidden menu code ##7764726600 and accessed field test. Screenshot attached. Can you please help in this regard?
    same, no hidden menu, not a single hidden menu or unhidden menu code works on verizon v60
  • 16
    This guide will not work if you are running Android 12 :(

    I'm gonna keep the intro simple, been a longtime user here on XDA, and recently I found that my T-Mobile LG G8 only supported VoLTE and VoWifi on, you guessed it, T-Mobile! So I did some research, experimented with my G8 for a bit, and I now have a method that works and does not need root at all. Basically, what we are doing here is just loading carrier profiles into the phone's modem so that the phone is able to complete IMS registration and correctly provision VoLTE when you insert a SIM card from another carrier.

    If you are trying this on a LG V60, please turn off USB debugging before attempting this as multiple V60 owners have had trouble properly installing the modem driver and only resolved the driver issue by turning it off. Also, please try the 90E5 driver if the 9091 driver does not work for you.

    This method does not work on the Sprint G8, any other Sprint LG devices, the Korean G8 and any other Korean LG devices since there is no Field Test option in the HiddenMenu in those devices.


    Follow this post here, and make sure you read the original post in that thread as well. Also should work with other BL unlocked G8 models. Crossflash your G8 to Open US or Open CA firmware using this method! No unlocked bootloader or root needed!

    DO THIS FIRST!!!!!: STEPS TO OBTAIN CARRIER MBN FILES FOR YOUR DEVICE (MBN files for the G8/G8x/G8s provided in Step 11 of the main guide)

    1. Download a KDZ for your device. Sites like lgrom.com or lg-firmwares.com have KDZ's available to download. If you have an AT&T LG device just download a KDZ for another variant of your phone. Ex: If you have the AT&T LG Velvet, just download the Canadian Velvet's KDZ. Same for the AT&T G8, G8x etc.

    2. Download and install
    7zip, and the linked/attached KDZ extractor tool.

    3. Extract the KDZ tool zip file, then place your downloaded KDZ into the same folder as the KDZ tools.
    1646120728815.png

    4. In the KDZ tools folder, find "OneKeyExtraction.bat" and double click on it.

    5. When the CMD windows launches, press Y to start extracting the partitions from the KDZ.

    6. Once it is finished, you should see a new folder in the KDZ tools folder that has the same name as the KDZ that you downloaded. Open up that folder.
    1646121613132.png

    7. As you can see the tool extracted all of the partitions that are contained in the KDZ file. We will need to open up either the modem_a or modem_b partitions to grab the needed MBN files. Scroll down to find those partitions. Doesn't matter which one you choose.

    8. Right click on whichever one you chose, hover over "7zip", then click "Open archive".
    1646122181314.png

    9. 7zip will open up. The folders where the MBN's will be vary by device. Generally you should first look for a folder named "modem_pr", then once in it find the "mcfg_sw" folder. Here are some examples to help you find where the MBN files in your device's modem partition are. The files will be seperated into folders by region and carrier.
    1646122816648.png

    1646122875662.png

    1646122958551.png

    10. Once you find the files, extract them to whichever folder you want to.



    Now here are the steps to load the MBN's:

    1. Download the latest QPST Tools from here. Only runs on Windows. No Linux, sorry.

    2. Extract the zip file you downloaded and open QPST.2.7.496.1.exe to install the QPST tools.

    1633495073816.png

    3. Once that is done, go to the Driver folder and open Qualcomm USB Driver V1.0.exe to install the drivers needed for the tool to communicate with your phone.

    4. After that is done, there should be a QPST folder in your start menu. We'll come back to that later.

    5. On your phone, go to the dialer and enter this code:
    Code:
    *#546368#*xxx# OR #*462633*#xxx# *xxx is the three numbers in your device's model code.

    6. The HiddenMenu should pop up, choose Field Test, then LTE Data Test, and change the Tethering Mode from Android to QMICM. I recommend leaving your phone in this menu so that it is easier to switch back to the normal Android USB connection mode when you are done.

    1633495857477.png
    1633495872107.png
    1633495890722.png

    7. Connect your phone to your computer, it should be detected as "Qualcomm HS-USB Modem 9091". In Device Manager it should show up under the Modems section.

    8. Go to the QPST start menu folder and open the "PDC" application.

    9. Go to the Device dropdown, there should be an item named "Qualcomm Wireless HS-USB Ethernet Adapter 9091". This is your phone, select it.
    1633496853860.png
    10. This is what you should see. Notice how only the original carrier's (T-Mobile) modem profile is loaded into the phone's modem. Pretty lazy if you ask me.
    1633497146862.png
    11. Now you will need some modem profiles to load into your phone! As a little starter pack, here are a few carrier modem profiles for US, Canadian and Korean carriers. Download them here (these are only for the G8/G8x/G8s! Will not work with other devices!!!!!!). I have extracted these from my phone's modem_a partition using QFIL Partition Manager with the LG SD855 firehose, and these are present in the modem_b partition as well. LG left all of these profiles inside the phone but only actually loads one of them into the modem on carrier models....

    These profiles may also work on the G8x, V50, and G8s since those phones have the same SOC as the G8, and by extension the same modem chip.

    12. Once you are ready, press the Load button and navigate to whichever carrier profile you want to add, I will load AT&T as an example. After going inside the folder for the carrier you want to load, there should be a file named "mcfg_sw.mbn". This is the profile. Don't bother adding any profile that has "row" in it's name, those usually don't give you support for VoLTE.
    1633498811451.png
    13. When you are ready, click Open and your carrier profile will be loaded into your phone! You can go and add as many carriers as you want, I loaded all US and Korean, and some Canadian carrier profiles into my G8.

    Do not load the same profile multiple times, this may cause issues with VoLTE and cell connectivity.
    1633501377502.png

    14. When you are done, go back to the LTE Data Test menu and set the tethering mode back to Android. Your phone now has VoLTE support for the carriers that you loaded into it!

    If you have another Qualcomm LG device, you can also follow this guide, you just need to enter the HiddenMenu dialer code specific to your device, and have carrier config files that are either specifically for your device, or from another phone that has the same chipset as your device* (*may or may not work).

    Here's AT&T VoLTE working with a Tracfone AT&T sim card on my previously incompatible T-Mobile G8:
    1633502003068.png
    1633502017259.png

    Hope this guide has helped you guys!
    2
    Thanks ! Some questions
    Was this menu available in Android 11 on korean phones ?
    Do you know if I need to root the pone to do so ? Is there a BIG chance to brick the phone ?
    Will I keep getting updates if one pops up (very low probability) ?
    Will I keep the Quad DAC feature if I change the firmware ?
    Do you know if I could directly put an european firmware ? In Europe it's another phone, the G8S not the G8...
    Field test menu is unavailable in korean models, no matter which android version.
    Root is not needed to cross flash LG ROM. It's needed for custom ROMs.
    I have cross flashed my V50 and I'm not getting updates with OTA. It tells me the phone is up to date.
    Quad DAC works if you flash original LG software.
    I wouldn't try to flash a ROM from another model. You'd better try to cross flash some US version if there is no european ROM for G8.
    1
    If it's anything like the Sprint V50, see if 5689#*820# works. But I suspect that even if it works, there won't be a Field Test option.
    Yeah, same result.

    If I use *#*#7262626#*#*, upon pressing the last * the code disappears and I'm still on the dialer.

    1
    Its weird, as far as I can tell... my device has VoLTE enabled on Tmobile, eventhough its DEFINITELY a Sprint model. Aside from that, I use Google Voice, which essentially lets me make calls and use data at the same time anyway.
    1
    Can't see this option in Verizon V60 version. Used the hidden menu code ##7764726600 and accessed field test. Screenshot attached. Can you please help in this regard?
    same, no hidden menu, not a single hidden menu or unhidden menu code works on verizon v60