Capability exchange enhancements include filtering and/or indexing. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) determines UE capabilities to be reported to a network based on one or more of: one or more enquiries from the network, received system information, a home operator policy, configuration associated with public land mobile network (PLMN) information of one or more networks, a user preference, or a service type. In other aspects, a UE may report a subset of UE capabilities for features used for the connection establishment. Following connection establishment, the UE may use an identifier to communicate a more complete set of modes of operation that the UE is currently capable of performing. Base stations of the network may share the reported subset so that the UE may avoid transmitting the subset to a target base station.