Firewall or antivirus blocks the Internet on Xiaomi Redmi: 7 ways to unlock

You suddenly lost internet access on your Xiaomi Redmi, even though your mobile network or Wi-Fi is connected? Do you have errors like “No Internet connection” in your browser and apps refuse to update? Most likely, the problem lies in the MIUI firewall or the built-in Security antivirus, which mistakenly blocked network traffic, a situation typical of smartphones based on MIUI 12-14, where aggressive security settings sometimes perceive legitimate connections as a threat.

Unlike a PC where Windows firewall or third-party antiviruses (such as Kaspersky or Avast) block programs according to explicit rules, on Xiaomi, the algorithms of protection work are often hidden from the user. For example, Traffic Monitor in Security can limit background traffic to save battery, and Firewall can block suspicious traffic) IP-So we'll figure out how to diagnose the problem and get back to the network without resetting the phone to the factory settings.

1. Checking the activity of the MIUI firewall

First, make sure the lock is actually coming from the built-in firewall. On Xiaomi Redmi, it's integrated into the Security app and can run in the background even without you knowing it.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Security list (or "Security") and tap it.
3. Check the Permissions section: if Firewall or Traffic Control are active, the protection is working.

If the firewall is on but you haven’t manually configured it, chances are it will automatically lock one of the apps (like Google Play Services or Chrome) after you upgrade. On Redmi Note 10/11/12 models, the MIUI firewall will block traffic by default for high-data applications if they run in a background longer than 10 minutes.

2. Disabling the firewall in the Security application

The fastest way to bring the Internet back is to temporarily deactivate the firewall.

• 📱 Open the Security app (the shield icon on the desktop).
• 🛡️ Go to the Firewall section (or Firewall in global firmware).
• 🔄 Click the switch in the upper right corner to turn off the protection.
• 🔍 Check if the Internet came along. If so, the firewall is the problem.

If after turning off the firewall, the Internet worked, but you do not want to leave the phone without protection, add the necessary applications to the exceptions:

1. In the same section, place your firewall (cog) in the settings.
2. Select Exclusions and add apps that need constant access to the network (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram, Google Play Store).
3. Save the changes and turn the firewall back on.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (The firewall, especially in Chinese, can be called Traffic Monitor or Data Usage Firewall. If you don't find a section, search by settings (the magnifier in the upper right corner).

3. Set up the Security Scan antivirus

Xiaomi’s built-in antivirus (part of the Security app) sometimes blocks network connections if it considers them “suspicious.”

• 🔄 Firmware updates (antivirus resets trusted connections).
• 📥 Installation of a new application (e.g, VPN or alternative browser).
• 🌍 Public Wi-Fi connections (antivirus can block the network as unsafe").

To check the antivirus:

1. Open Security. → Scanner (or Virus Scan).
2. Settings (cogs) → Network protection.
3. Turn off the options of Blocking malicious sites and Wi-Fi Protection.
4. Restart your phone and check the internet.

If the network is working after the protection is turned off, but you want to keep the antivirus active, add the current Wi-Fi network or mobile operator to the whitelist:

• 📌 Back to Network Protection.
• 🔗 Select Trusted Networks and add your Wi-Fi or carrier (e.g. MTS, Beeline).

4. Network reset (if the firewall is not to blame)

If disabling the firewall and antivirus didn’t work, the problem may lie in the system settings of the network, for example, after updating the MIUI, the APN (mobile Internet) or DNS (Wi-Fi) parameters could be lost.

• 📵 Go to Settings. → SIM-Maps and mobile networks (or mobile network).
• 🔄 Select Network Settings Reset (or Reset Network Settings).
• 🔐 Confirm the action (required) PIN-code).

After discharge:

• 📶 For mobile internet: restart your phone and wait for automatic settings APN (or enter them manually – the parameters can be found on the website of your operator).
• 📡 For Wi-Fi: Connect to the network again and check if the Internet is blocked.

⚠️ Note: Network reset will delete all stored Wi-Fi passwords and associated Bluetooth devices. save important data in advance (for example, a screenshot). QR-wifi code).

5. Checking traffic restrictions in MIUI

V MIUI There's a hidden Traffic Monitor feature that can block the internet for individual apps if they exceed the traffic limit. SIM-Cards to prevent unexpected expenses.

To check the limitations:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Traffic settings.
2. Use the Data Usage (or Traffic Limitation).
3. Check if there are limits on mobile data or Wi-Fi, and if so, reset them or turn off the feature.

Also, please note the background traffic section:

• 📉 If you activate the option to limit background traffic, some apps (such as YouTube or Instagram) will not be able to update content in the background.
• 🔓 Disable the restriction or add the desired applications to the exceptions.

💡

If you have a free internet connection, but MIUI still restricts traffic, check the settings in the Special Permits section for SIM-Sometimes the system mistakenly applies limits even when the operator does not have them.

6. Alternative ways to unlock the Internet

If the standard methods don’t work, try these solutions:

• 🔧 Reset Security Settings: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Security → Storage and press Clear Data, this will reset all firewall and antivirus settings to factory.

Flight mode:

Turn on Flight Mode for 30 seconds, then turn it off, which will reset network connections and sometimes help bypass temporary locks.

For advanced users:

7.When to contact the service center

If none of the ways have restored access to the internet, the problem may be deeper:

• 🔧 Damage to system files after failed update MIUI.

If it doesn’t help, wait for the next patch (usually bugs with the network are fixed within a week).