Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to assess the real bandwidth of the communication channel, which may be due to the desire to check the quality of the service provider, diagnose problems with page loading, or simply make sure that the tariff plan meets the stated conditions. In the MIUI operating system and the new HyperOS, there are several built-in tools and hidden features that allow you to quickly get this data without installing third-party software.
But standard display methods often show only the fact of connection, not numerical speeds. To analyze the data flow in detail, the user needs to know where to look for engineering menus or how to properly use system floating windows. Understanding these mechanisms allows you to instantly switch between Wi-Fi and mobile traffic if one of the channels is unstable.
In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to monitor traffic in real time, learn how to activate the current speed mapping in the status bar, how to run a deep test through the engineering menu, and which applications are best suited for professional network diagnostics on Chinese brand devices.
Built-in speed monitoring in the status bar
The easiest and fastest way to always see the current data rate is to activate the corresponding option in the interface settings. This feature does not require additional files to be installed and works at the system level, displaying data in real time next to the battery indicator. To activate, you need to go to the Settings menu, then select the Notifications section and the status bar (or Notifications and control panel).
In the list of parameters that opens, you should find Network Speed and switch to the active position. After that, a value will appear in the upper left or right corner of the screen (depending on the version of the shell) showing the amount of data transmitted per second (for example, 150 KB / s or 12 MB / s).
⚠️ Note: If you don't see the numbers after you turn on this option, try restarting the device. On some global firmware versions, the path may be different: → Additionally. → Advanced settings → Network speed.
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To save battery power, the system can temporarily hide the speed indicator if there are no active loads running in the background, which is normal behavior of energy-saving MIUI algorithms.
It's worth noting that the values displayed can jump, which is the norm for wireless connections. A sharp drop to zero means no packet transfer at the moment, not a communication break. If you see consistently low values when you're actively booting, this is an excuse to check the router settings or the cell tower signal.
Using the Engineering Menu for Testing
More advanced users can access a hidden engineering menu that provides detailed information about signal quality and connection speed, and this section is logged in through a special code in the Phone app, dial the combination ##6484##, and then the CIT menu will open.
The test list should look for a network-related item, which can be called WiFi, Cellular or Network, depending on your Xiaomi model. Within this section, the Speed Test feature is often available, which runs a link check to the company's servers, and the results are displayed as a graph and numerical values of ping, download and upload.
☑️ Checking in the engineering menu
The engineering menu also allows you to see the signal level in dBm, which is much more informative than the standard "rods" in the corner of the screen. A value above -85 dBm is considered excellent, while readings below -105 dBm indicate poor coverage, which directly affects the final speed of the Internet.
Third-party applications for accurate measurement
While system tools are useful, it is better to use specialized applications to get the most accurate data on channel bandwidth: They download test files from servers located in different parts of the world and calculate the average speed, the leader in this category is Ookla Speedtest, which has an optimized version for Android.
Another great option is Netflix's Fast.com app, which is as simple as possible: it starts testing immediately when it launches without requiring too much clicking. It's ideal for quickly checking whether your Internet streaming will pull up 4K video. Also worth mentioning is nPerf, which performs comprehensive analysis, including testing the speed of opening web pages and the quality of the video stream.
| Annex | Substantive function | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Ookla Speedtest | Complete network test | Selection of a specific server |
| Fast.com | Quick download test | Minimalist interface |
| nPerf | Integrated analysis | Checking the quality of streaming |
| Internet Speed Meter | Real-time monitoring | Graphic of traffic history |
When using such utilities on Redmi or POCO smartphones with a MIUI shell, it is important to give the necessary permissions. The system can aggressively “kill” background processes, so for proper monitoring in real time, the application must be fixed in memory or enable auto-start.
Set up an APN access point to speed up
Sometimes the slow Internet speed is not due to the provider’s problems, but to the incorrect settings of the access point (APN) in the smartphone. In Xiaomi devices, you can manually edit these settings, which in some cases helps to stabilize the connection and increase the response speed of servers.
To enter the settings, go on the Settings path → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Choose yours. SIM-map → Access points (APN). In the list that opens, click on the active access point. Here you can try changing the Protocol setting. APN on IPv4/IPv6, If only one of them is selected, also in the field of the type. APN You can prescribe default,supl,dun to prioritize certain types of traffic.
⚠️ Please do not change the meaning of the "Name" fields and «APN» You can use random, if not sure, settings of your operator, and the wrong data can lead to a complete lack of mobile Internet.
After making the changes, be sure to save the settings (usually through a three-dot menu) and restart the smartphone.This action will reset the network caches and force the device to register with the network with the updated settings.
Diagnostics problems with Wi-Fi connection
If mobile traffic is comfortable with speed, and there are problems through Wi-Fi, the diagnosis should be aimed at the wireless module and router. First of all, you should check what frequency your smartphone is running. Modern Xiaomi models support the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
The 2.4 GHz range has a longer range, but low speed and high noise from neighbouring routers and appliances. The 5 GHz range provides high speed but worse breaks through walls. To check the current frequency, you can tap the Wi-Fi icon in the notification curtain or look at Settings → Wi-Fi → properties of the connected network.
Secret code for checking Wi-Fi
You should also pay attention to the settings. DNS. Use of public use DNS-Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) can speed up the opening of sites even if the physical speed of the channel remains the same. IP on "Static».
Optimizing the system for a stable Internet
Network speed is affected not only by signal, but also by operating system load. Background processes, gallery synchronization, application updates and widgets can eat up a significant portion of traffic. MIUI has a Traffic Limitation feature that allows you to control the appetites of each application.
Go to Settings → Applications → Application Manager (or through the Security → Traffic app) and you can prevent background data transfers for programs that don’t need a constant connection, not only saving traffic, but also freeing up a channel for important tasks such as video calling or online gaming.
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Regularly cleaning the DNS cache and resetting network settings help eliminate software errors that accumulate over time and slow down the connection.
Also, make sure your device doesn’t activate Traffic Savings mode in your browser or system if you need top speed.This mode compresses pages, which saves megabytes, but can slow down heavy content loading and distort the display of sites.