Private DNS server on Xiaomi: which is better to choose and how to configure

Owners of smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO Often, people face situations where the Internet is unstable, pages load for a long time or intrusive advertising pops up in applications, and the solution to these problems often lies not in the operator's tariff, but in the settings of domain names. DNS (private DNS) β€” It's encryption technology. DNS-requests, which allows not only to speed up the response of servers, but also to increase the level of security of the connection.

Unlike the standard settings your mobile operator prescribes, using an alternative server gives you complete control over traffic. On devices with a MIUI shell or a new HyperOS, this feature is built into the system, but requires the right choice of service provider for maximum efficiency.

In this article, we’ll take a look at which private DNS server on Xiaomi is best for your goals, whether it’s speed, privacy or ad blocking.You’ll learn how to enter settings correctly and what to do if settings don’t apply right away.

Why Change the Standard DNS to Xiaomi

By default, your smartphone is using DNS-servers that are automatically provided by a cellular provider or Wi-Fi router, which is convenient because it requires no action, but often leads to reduced speed and no traffic filtering. DNS-Operator servers can be overloaded, causing delays when opening sites.

Using a third-party DNS allows you to bypass the limitations of the provider and speed up access to frequently visited resources, and some servers are able to filter requests to advertising domains before they reach your device, which reduces the load on the processor and saves traffic.

⚠️ Attention: Not all DNS-Servers support DoT encryption protocol (DNS over TLS). Using unsecured servers on public Wi-Fi networks can make your requests visible to attackers.

Another important aspect is bypassing locks. Although it is not a full-fledged VPN, changing the DNS sometimes helps to access resources that have been blocked at the provider level due to erroneous entries in local tables.

TOP-3 best DNS Providers for Xiaomi

The choice of a particular server depends on your priorities: some users are looking for maximum speed, others for protection from advertising, and others for privacy, based on tests of speed and stability of connection in the networks of Russia and the CIS, you can identify leaders.

Cloudflare is the top performer, with 1.1.1.1 servers known for their speed and log-keeping policies, and Xiaomi is a great choice if your goal is to just speed up the internet and improve security without any extra settings.

  • πŸš€ Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) – the best balance of speed and privacy, perfect for gaming and streaming.
  • πŸ›‘οΈ Google Public DNS β€” High reliability, but less privacy than Cloudflare.
  • 🚫 AdGuard DNS β€” specializes in blocking ads and trackers, can slightly slow down the loading of heavy pages.

If you want to block ads in apps and browsers without installing additional software, AdGuard will be an indispensable tool, but it is worth remembering that aggressive filtering can sometimes β€œbreak” the work of some applications that depend on advertising SDKs for authorization.

πŸ“Š What is the criterion of choice DNS more important to you?
Page loading speed
Blocking ads
Data confidentiality
Stability of connection

How to turn on Private DNS on MIUI and HyperOS

The setup process on Xiaomi smartphones is as simple as possible for developers. You don’t need root rights or install third-party apps. All the necessary tools are already built into the Android system since version 9, and are available in MIUI 12/13/14 and HyperOS shells.

You have to go to the settings menu first, and the path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same. Open your smartphone settings and find the connection section.

β˜‘οΈ The Private Incorporation Algorithm DNS

Done: 0 / 6

In the menu that opens, you will see three options: "Auto", "Off" and "Host Name of the provider Private". DNS". To use a third-party server, you need to choose the third option. It is in the input field that you need to write the address of the selected one. DNS-provider.

It is important to enter the domain name of the host, not IP-Android requires hostname format to establish secure connection TLS. If you enter numbers (e.g. 1.1.1.1), the system will give an error and will not save the settings.

To make it easier for you to decide on the choice, we have prepared a comparative table of the main parameters of popular DNS-Pay attention to the functional features, as they directly affect the experience of using the services.

ProviderDomain to enterBlocking adsSpeed.
Cloudflaredns.cloudflare.comNo.Tall.
Googledns.googleNo.Medium
AdGuard Defaultdns.adguard.comYeah (basic)Medium
AdGuard Familydns-family.adguard.comYes + Filter 18+Medium

As you can see from the table, standard DNS from Google and Cloudflare do not block ads, their task is speed and accessibility.

It’s worth noting that the AdGuard family filter blocks not only ads but adult content as well, making it a great choice for children’s smartphones.

What if the internet is gone after the DNS change?
If after entering the settings, the Internet stopped working (pages do not load, applications write a network error), then the selected DNS-The server is not available on your network or is blocked by the provider. Go back to the settings and select Auto or Off mode to restore the connection.

Solution: Errors in connection

Often, users are faced with a situation where the settings entered are not saved or marked by the system as erroneous, most often due to an unstable Internet connection at the time of entering or a typo in the host address.

Make sure you enter the address without prefixes. https:// or http://. The system knows which protocol to use, and if you have extra characters, you'll have to make a validation error, and if you have to check the keyboard layout, you'll have to type the address in Latin.

⚠️ Note: Some corporate Wi-Fi networks or providers may block ports used for the purpose of DNS over TLS (This is usually port 853. DNS It will not work even if the settings are correct.

If the problem persists, try switching from Wi-Fi to mobile internet (or vice versa) and re-applying the settings. Sometimes resetting network settings in the Settings menu β†’ Connection and Sharing β†’ Resetting Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth helps.

DNS Effects on Speed and Battery

There is a myth that the shift DNS It can significantly increase the autonomy of a smartphone, and in fact, the impact on the battery is minimal. DNS-but if the request is DNS-The server responds faster, the screen may go out a little earlier due to reduced load waiting time.

In terms of speed, the effect is more noticeable: response times can drop by a few milliseconds, which is critical for online gaming, but the actual download speed (Mbps) depends on the bandwidth of the provider's channel and will not change dramatically.

πŸ’‘

Use the "Ping" app & DNSΒ» Google Play to check which one is DNS-The server gives the least ping in your location, and the results may vary from city to city.

In some cases, choosing the wrong DNS can make things worse. If the server is geographically far away, delays in opening new pages can increase.

Data security and privacy

Use of private DNS encrypts requests between your phone and the server, which means your ISP sees you connected to the server. DNS-It's a service that doesn't see which sites you're visiting, and it's a big step towards digital hygiene.

Still, he did. DNS-So it's important to choose companies with proven reputations that declare no-logs policies, and Cloudflare and Google are considered to be fairly reliable, even though they are large corporations.

πŸ’‘

Private DNS protects against the ISP’s eavesdropping on the local network, but does not hide your IP-The address does not change the geolocation as it does. VPN.

For maximum anonymity DNS Not enough, it is necessary to use full-fledged VPN-However, for everyday use and protection on public Wi-Fi networks, Private DNS β€” It is a great and free tool.

Can Private DNS and VPN be used at the same time?
Yes, it's possible. VPN-Applications can overlap system settings DNS And then you can use your own servers, and in those cases, you'll have to prioritize your internal settings. VPN-client.
Will DNS work to block YouTube ads?
No. YouTube ads are broadcast from the same domains as the main video, and blocking those domains through the DNS will cause the video to stop downloading altogether, and YouTube needs special clients or a Premium subscription.
Should I reboot my phone after changing the DNS?
Usually, the changes take effect instantly, but if you see that the Internet is not working or the settings are not sticking, rebooting the device will help clear the network cache and apply the new parameters correctly.
Does Private DNS work on older versions of MIUI?
The native Private DNS feature appeared in Android 9. If your Xiaomi runs on an older version of Android, there will be no system function, in which case you can use third-party applications such as "Intra" or "DNS Changer", but they require additional permissions.