How to turn off the firewall on Xiaomi phone: the complete guide

Many users of Xiaomi smartphones are faced with a situation when system protection begins to block the work of legitimate applications. An embedded firewall is an important security element, but it sometimes interferes with the proper operation of specific software, games or tools for developers. MIUI.

In this article, we will not only look at how to disable protection, but also the nuances of network filters in the shell from the Chinese manufacturer, you will learn where hidden settings hide and why a complete shutdown can be dangerous. It is important to understand that in pure Android there is no single button “turn off firewall”, since this is a system component of the kernel.

We will look at the methods for both standard users and those who are ready for a deeper intervention in the system, and be prepared for the fact that the menu interface may vary slightly depending on the version of HyperOS or MIUI.

What is a firewall on Android and Xiaomi

A firewall is a network screen that monitors incoming and outgoing traffic on your device. On Xiaomi smartphones, this feature is often integrated into the system's Security app, its main task is to prevent unauthorized applications from accessing the Internet and block malicious connections.

Unlike Windows computers, where the user is used to seeing explicit port settings, in a mobile environment, the firewall is more often a permission filter, and it decides whether a particular application (App) can transmit data over Wi-Fi or a mobile network.

The system layer of protection in MIUI is quite aggressive, it can block background activity of applications, considering it suspicious or resource consuming, which leads to notifications from messengers arriving with a delay, and games to fly out when trying to connect to the server.

⚠️ Warning: Complete shutdown of kernel-level security services makes your device vulnerable to attacks from public Wi-Fi networks.

Users often confuse antivirus protection with the network screen: the former look for viruses in files, the latter control data flows. At Xiaomi, these functions are combined into a single interface, which sometimes causes confusion when configuring.

Setup of the built-in application Security

The easiest and most secure way to manage network access is in a standard application. You don't need superuser rights for the basic setup. Open the Security app on the home screen or in the Tools folder.

Inside the menu, find the traffic section, which, depending on the firmware version, might be called Data Transfer or Traffic Manager, and that's where the basic levers of network activity are hidden.

Then you'll select Connectivity Speed or Connectivity, and you'll see a list of all installed programs, and you'll see two columns with Wi-Fi and mobile data icons (4G/5G), and green stands for resolution, red for prohibition.

If you need to turn off the verification for a particular application, just click on the red icon to turn green. This is the analog of adding an exception in the firewall. For system processes, the names can be in English or in technical code.

• 📱 Open the Security app.
• 📶 Go to the section Data Transfer.
• 🔒 Find the right app in the list.
• ✅ Click on the red cross to allow connection.

Remember, the changes are immediate. If the application is not working properly because of the lock, it should work correctly after the icon status change.

Limiting background activity and saving battery

Often the problem is not the network screen, but the MIUI energy saving system, which forcibly cuts off the connections of the background processes, which looks like the firewall, and to fix this, you need to customize the behavior of each application individually.

Go to your smartphone Settings. Go to the Apps section and select All Apps. In the list, find the program that is causing the problem. We need to change its startup and operating settings in the background.

In the app menu, find AutoStart and turn it on. Then go to Battery Savings and select No Limits, which will give the app priority and prevent the system from blocking its network activity for the sake of saving power.

⚠️ Warning: Setting “No Limits” mode for a large number of applications can significantly reduce the battery life of your Xiaomi.

It's also worth checking the notification settings, and sometimes the system doesn't block the traffic itself, but the app's ability to show you information. Make sure the Show Notifications switch is activated.

Using the Developer Mode for Debugging

For more advanced users who need deep network setup, there is a developer mode that allows you to manage the more subtle Android settings that are hidden from the average user, and you can turn it on by quickly clicking 7 times on the build number in the About Phone section.

Once activated, a new Developers item will appear in the settings menu, and we're interested in the network-related sections inside, and you can find options to disable certificate verification or change DNS behavior, which can bypass some limitations.

However, be careful. Changing the parameters in this section can lead to unstable operation of the system. SSL-Certificates (Disable) SSL Verification will make your data vulnerable when using public networks.

You can also find the option to reset your network settings in the same menu, and if you've experimented with settings and something goes wrong, using Reset Wi-Fi, mobile Internet and Bluetooth will bring everything back to factory values.

Third-party solutions: NetGuard and AFWall+

If Xiaomi’s standard tools aren’t enough, specialized firewall applications come to the rescue, requiring more complex access rights but giving full control of every byte of traffic, and NetGuard is considered the leader in this area.

To work such programs without root-rights, the method of creating local VPN-The application creates a virtual network interface through which it passes all traffic, filtering it according to the rules. VPN shifting IP, only as a tool of control.

If you have root rights (obtained through Magisk), you can use AFWall+, a powerful tool that works directly with Linux kernel iptables, and it allows you to create complex rules that are not available to ordinary users.

Installing a third-party firewall may conflict with built-in MIUI Security. It is recommended to disable traffic monitoring in a standard application if you use a third-party counterpart to avoid double filtering and connection errors.

• 🛡️ NetGuard is the best choice for users without root rights.
• 🔥 AFWall+ — Professional tool for root users.
• 📱 NoRoot Firewall is a simple alternative with basic functionality.

Problems with Wi-Fi and mobile Internet

Sometimes the firewall is not involved, and the problem lies in the settings of the connection itself. MAC-If the router is blocking the device, you should try changing the type of address.

Go to your Wi-Fi settings, click on the gear next to your network. Find Privacy and switch from Random MAC-address "MAC-Device address. This often helps if the router is configured to filter through hardware addresses.

You should also check the date and time settings. Incorrect system time leads to errors. SSL-certificates, and the browser or application will report that the connection is not secure, although the firewall has nothing to do with it.

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If the internet is gone after the MIUI update, try resetting your network settings, which won’t delete your photos or contacts, but will return your standard connection settings.

In rare cases, switching the IPv4/IPv6 protocol helps. In the settings of the access point or Wi-Fi, you can try to change the IP protocol.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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Competent setting of exceptions is more effective and safer than a complete shutdown of system protection.