Private DNS on Xiaomi Redmi 9A: configuration, servers and security

Budget smartphone owners often face intrusive in-app and gaming advertising that overrides useful content and is annoying. The private DNS (Domain Name System) on Xiaomi Redmi 9A is becoming an effective tool for blocking unwanted banners without installing third-party programs.This feature, built into Android 9 and later, allows you to redirect domain name requests through secure servers, which also increases the privacy of your online activities.

Using Private DNS on MIUI devices can significantly speed up page response and solve access problems to some sites that are blocked by the provider. Unlike standard network settings, this method works at the operating system level, covering all device traffic, including application background processes. For owners of Redmi 9A, this is especially true, since the device runs on Android Go, where it is important to save processor and battery resources.

What is DNS and why should you change it to Redmi 9A?

Domain name system (DNS) It works like an Internet phone book, translating human-readable website addresses into digital ones. IP-Addresses that computers understand. Your Xiaomi Redmi smartphone is the default 9A uses the provider's servers, which may be slow or censored. DNS This allows you to bypass the limitations of the provider and speed up the process of β€œresolving” addresses.

The main reason users are changing standard settings is to get rid of ads in the browser and some apps.Filtering servers like AdGuard DNS cut off requests for ad domains before they reach your phone, which not only cleans the interface, but also saves mobile traffic, which is critical for limited-package gigabyte tariffs.

Security is the second important aspect: some DNS providers support encrypting requests, which protects you from being spoofed by malicious attackers (such as DNS spoofing), and for a budget device that often connects to open Wi-Fi networks in cafes or transport, this is an additional layer of privacy protection.

  • πŸš€ Speeding up the loading of web pages by using fast servers.
  • πŸ›‘οΈ Blocking of banner ads and trackers at the system level.
  • πŸ”’ Encryption DNS-requests for protection against data interception.

⚠️ Attention: Use of unreliable DNS-servers can lead to a leak of the history of visited sites or slow down the Internet. Choose only verified addresses from the list below.

How to enable Private DNS in Android settings

Activating the MIUI shell feature on Redmi 9A requires no root rights and takes only a couple of minutes. You need to go to the settings menu, but the path to the desired partition may vary depending on the firmware version.

Find the Connection and Sharing section or go straight to Wi-Fi. Some versions of MIUI have DNS settings in a separate Private DNS menu in the general system settings list. If you can't find a item, search by settings by querying "DNS."

β˜‘οΈ Check before changing the settings

Done: 0 / 4

After entering the menu Settings β†’ Connection and sharing β†’ Private DNS (or similar path, select the option "Host Name provider" DNSΒ». This is where you enter the address of the server you choose, and don't confuse this mode with Auto mode, which uses the standard settings of the provider.

Enter the server address (e.g. dns.adguard.com) and click Save. If the address is entered correctly, the system will confirm the connection. If you see an error "failed to connect", check the correct spelling of the address and the presence of an active Internet connection.

List of the Best DNS Servers to Block Ads

The choice of server depends on your goals: someone is more important than speed, and someone is more important than maximum filtering of ads. For Xiaomi Redmi 9A, the best choice will be servers that do not require complex configuration and are highly available.

ServiceHost addressSubstantive function
AdGuard DNSdns.adguard.comBlocking Advertising and Tracking
Cloudflare1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.comMaximum speed and privacy
Quad9dns.quad9.netBlocking malicious sites
Google Public DNSdns.googleStability and speed

AdGuard is the most popular choice among Android smartphone owners, as it effectively cuts ads in browsers and many apps. However, it is worth remembering that it does not block ads on YouTube or Instagram, since content is downloaded from the same domains as the main video.

If your goal is stability and no problems with accessing sites, use Cloudflare or Google. They do not filter ads, but provide very fast response and high reliability of the connection, which can be useful with a weak cellular signal.

πŸ“Š What? DNS The server you use most often?
AdGuard
Cloudflare
Google
Quad9
Standard provider

DNS setup for Wi-Fi and Mobile Network

It’s important to understand that setting up Private DNS in Android is globally applicable to all interfaces, which means that once you have a single address, you activate it for both Wi-Fi and mobile 4G/LTE. You don’t have to configure each type of connection separately, as was the case with older versions of Android.

However, if you want to use different DNSs for different networks (e.g., fast for home and filter for mobile), standard MIUI means to do this is difficult, in which case you will have to switch between the modes of β€œAuto” and β€œHost Name” manually when changing the connection type.

For most Redmi 9A users, it is best to leave one global setting, which ensures that even when switching from home Wi-Fi to mobile Internet, protection and filtering do not disappear, the system itself determines the availability of the server and forwards requests through it.

⚠️ Attention: If, after activation, DNS Internet stopped working in some applications (for example, banking), try to temporarily disable the function or change the server to Google (dns.google).

Solving frequent connection problems and errors

Sometimes, when you type in an address, the system says, "Didn't connect," or the Internet disappears, most often due to a misprint in the address, you can't use https:// or http:// in the input field, or you can specify ports through the colon, only a clean domain name, such as dns.adguard.com.

Another common problem is the unstable work of the DNS-If you select a little-known address, it may not be available in your region or it may be overloaded. 9A You will not be able to allow domain names, and sites will stop opening, although messengers may work (since they use them). IP-address).

What to do if the internet is completely gone?
If you lose access to the network after you turn on Private DNS, go to the DNS settings and select Unconnected or Auto mode. Then reboot your smartphone. If the problem persists, reset your network settings in the Connection and Sharing menu β†’ Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile Networks and Bluetooth.

It’s also worth checking if your provider is blocking third-party access. DNS-server (DNS In rare cases, providers redirect everything DNS-The solution may be to use DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) in the browser, but this is a separate setting, independent of the system Private. DNS.

The Effect of Private DNS on Speed and Battery

There is a myth that using third-party DNSs puts a lot of battery on the hands of the Xiaomi Redmi 9A with its capacious battery, the power difference between standard and private DNS is negligible. The address request operation takes milliseconds and does not load the processor.

As for speed, it depends on the geographic location of the server. If the server is far from your region, the response time (ping) can increase, and pages will open a little longer. Cloudflare and Google usually have points of presence around the world, so they work quickly in most countries.

Users often note that with AdGuard enabled, pages in the browser load even faster.This is not because of the speed of the DNS itself, but because the browser does not need to load heavy advertising scripts and images. For a weak Redmi 9A processor, this is a tangible increase in performance when surfing.

πŸ’‘

Check your internet speeds through Speedtest before and after a DNS change to gauge the real performance gains in your area.

πŸ’‘

Well-chosen DNS-The server can speed up the loading of pages by cutting off advertising traffic without affecting the battery charge.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do I need to restart my phone after setting up the DNS?
The changes are usually immediate, but if the internet is not up or the settings are not applied, it is recommended to turn on and off flight mode or restart the Redmi 9A device to reset the network caches.
Does Private DNS block YouTube ads?
No, standard. DNS-filters cannot block ads inside the official YouTube app, as they are downloaded from the same domains as the video content, requiring modified clients or a Premium subscription.
Can ISP see which websites I visit if DNS is enabled?
If you are using the β€œPrivate” mode DNSΒ» (DNS-over-TLS, the provider sees only IP-The address of the server to which you are connected but does not see specific requests for domains. IP-address can still be seen.
Will it work for other Xiaomis like the Redmi 8 or Note?
Yes, the Private DNS feature is built into Android 9 and higher. All modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones running current versions of MIUI support this technology equally.
What to do if the server address is not saved?
Make sure you only type in the host name without protocol (http) and ports. Check the keyboard layout for extra spaces. If the MIUI is a problem, try typing the address in your notebook, copying it, and pasting it into the settings field.