Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face the need to fine-tune their network connection to improve speed or bypass the provider’s limitations. This is a kind of address book of the Internet, which translates human domain names into digital ones. IP-addresses required for communication between devices.
When you type in a browser, your phone doesn't understand the lettering, it needs numbers. DNS-The server performs the function of the translator, finding the right one. IP-Address. Default on smartphones. MIUI HyperOS and your mobile carrier or Wi-Fi router servers are used, but they don’t always work consistently or quickly.
Understanding what DNS is and how to manage it solves a variety of problems, from long page loading to the inability to connect to certain applications. In this article, we will discuss in detail the architecture of DNS on Xiaomi devices, how to change them and the impact of these parameters on overall network performance.
The principle of DNS operation in the Android operating system
The fundamental challenge of the domain name system is to store information about matching names and addresses distributedly. In the Android ecosystem, which runs the MIUI shell, this process happens automatically every time you request a network, but standard setting is not always optimal for all regions and providers.
DNS backup is a mechanism whereby the system accesses alternative servers if the main one doesn't respond. In older versions of Android, this worked inefficiently, but modern versions of Android 9 and higher used by Redmi support the Private DNS protocol. This allows you to encrypt requests, protecting them from interception by the provider.
Use of third-party DNS-services such as Google DNS It's often called Cloudflare, which allows you to speed up network response, and this is especially true when the provider is overloaded or uses inefficient hardware to route requests, and replacing the standard address with a faster one is an easy way to optimize the network.
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Use the Speedtest app or DNS Benchmark on your phone to check the response rate of the current DNS-server before making changes.
It is worth noting that changing these settings does not require root rights. Xiaomi’s system restrictions allow users to freely change network settings within the standard security interface, making the procedure accessible even to inexperienced users.
Why change the DNS on the smartphone Xiaomi Redmi
The main reason why Xiaomi users are thinking about changing DNS, It's a problem with access to content, and many ISPs block access to certain resources at the level of the Internet. DNS-Changing the server allows you to bypass such locks without installing additional VPN-applications that can reduce the speed of the connection.
The second important aspect is data security: Standard DNS queries are often transmitted in the open, allowing attackers on Wi-Fi networks to intercept information about the sites visited, and using secure protocols such as DNS-over-TLS encrypts this traffic.
- 🚀 Speeding up the loading of web pages by using low-ping servers.
- 🛡️ Blocking Advertising and Trackers at the Network Level by Using Specialized DNS.
- 🌍 Bypassing regional restrictions and blockages imposed by the provider.
- 🔒 Protection against phishing sites when connecting to Family Shield or analogues.
⚠️ Attention: When using public DNS-servers make sure you trust the service provider, as it technically receives the logs of your requests, even if the site traffic is encrypted.
In addition, some game servers may be more stable when using DNS routers. Gamers often note a decrease in packet loss in online games after switching to Cloudflare or Google servers, which is due to better traffic routing by large technology companies.
Types. DNS-Protocols: Legacy and Private DNS
Xiaomi's settings offer two fundamentally different approaches to addressing: the first is a classic method that is prescribed for each Wi-Fi network or mobile access point separately, and the second is a global Private DNS setup that operates at the operating system level.
The classic method, often called Static DNS, manually IP-This means that if you switch from home Wi-Fi to mobile Internet, you have to change the settings again.
Modern Private Method DNS (available on Android 9+) It uses a DNS-over-TLS protocol that encrypts all traffic requests. IP-Addresses, just specify hostname of the provider, and this setting applies to all connections at once.
| Characteristics | Classic DNS (Static) | Private DNS (TLS) |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption | Absent. | Complete (TLS) |
| Scope of action | Only the selected network | The whole phone (Wi-Fi + LTE) |
| Input format | IP-address (digits) | Hostname (domain) |
| Support | All versions of Android | Android 9 and higher |
Technical details of Private DNS
For Redmi owners with the latest firmware, it is recommended to use Private DNS. This provides a uniform security policy and does not require reconfiguration when changing location. The old method only makes sense on very old devices or for specific corporate networks.
How to set up Private DNS on MIUI and HyperOS
The process of activating secure DNS on Xiaomi smartphones is as simple as possible for developers. You do not need third-party applications or access to the hidden engineer menu. All the necessary tools are in the standard system settings menu.
First, you open the main settings menu and find the connection section, and the path may vary slightly depending on the version of the MIUI shell or HyperOS, but the logic remains the same. We're looking for a item called Private DNS or Private DNS.
☑️ Algorithm of settings Private DNS
After switching to the Settings menu → Connection and sharing → Private DNS (path: Settings → Connection & sharing → Private DNS), The system will offer three options. The default is "Auto," which means using the provider's settings. We need to select the option "Host Name provider." DNS" (or "Private" DNS provider hostname").
In the text box you need to enter the server address. To use Google services, type dns.google. For Cloudflare, the address will be 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com. Once you enter, click Save. If the address is entered correctly, the connection will be established instantly.
⚠️ Note: When entering a host name, do not use prefixes. http:// or https://, And don't add ports through the colon, just a clean domain name, like security.cloudflare-dns.com.
If the Internet is lost or the pages stop loading after saving the setting, then the entered server is not available in your region or is blocked by the provider, in which case, return the setting to Auto or Disconnected mode and try an alternative address.
Static DNS for Wi-Fi Networks
In situations where using a Private DNS is not possible or you need to configure only for a specific Wi-Fi network (for example, a home), the static DNS method is used.
First, you go to the Wi-Fi menu and find your network in the list of available ones. Click on the arrow next to the network name or select "Configure" (depending on the version of MIUI). We need to change the IP settings from DHCP to Static.
When switching to static mode, fields for manual input will open. IP-addresses, gateways and DNS. It's important not to change. IP-address of the router (gateway), and to prescribe only addresses DNS-servers in the appropriate fields DNS 1 and DNS 2.
- 📍 DNS 1: 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) or 8.8.8.8 (Google).
- 📍 DNS 2: 1.0.0.1 (Cloudflare) or 8.8.4.4 (Google).
- 📍 Gateway: Normally 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 (do not change!).
- 📍 Network prefix length: Usually 24.
Once you have all the numbers, click the Save button, and the phone will reconnect to the network, and requests will start to go through the servers, a method that is less secure than Private DNS, because requests are not encrypted, but it is effective at bypassing simple locks.
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Static DNS is only valid on one selected Wi-Fi network, and when switching to mobile Internet or other Wi-Fi settings will be reset to automatic.
Popular DNS server addresses for use
Choosing the right DNS provider is half the success, and there are many free services out there, each with its own characteristics: some focus on speed, others on privacy, and others on parental control.
Google Public DNS remains the most popular solution, with its servers providing a huge infrastructure and fast response rates around the world, but some users have expressed concerns about Google’s collection of query statistics.
The alternative is Cloudflare, which bills itself as the world’s fastest and most private DNS, which doesn’t sell user data and deletes query logs every 24 hours, making it the number one choice for many Xiaomi users.
Google DNS:
Primary: 8.8.8.8
Secondary: 8.8.4.4
Hostname: dns.google
Cloudflare DNS:
Primary: 1.1.1.1
Secondary: 1.0.0.1
Hostname: 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com
OpenDNS (Cisco):
Primary: 208.67.222.222
Secondary: 208.67.220.220
Hostname: dns.opendns.comThere are also specialized DNSs, such as AdGuard DNS, which block ads and trackers before they even hit your smartphone screen, which can save traffic and speed up loading of heavy sites.
Diagnostics of problems and reset network settings
Sometimes after shifts DNS-There may be connection problems with servers, sites may not load, and applications may give out network errors, in which case you should not panic; most often, the problem is solved by simply resetting network settings or cleaning the cache. DNS.
Android doesn't have a direct "Clear DNS cache" button like Windows (IPconfig /flushdns command). However, you can use flight mode. Airplane mode is a force-to-force reconnects communication modules and updates network configurations.
If the problem persists, Private DNS and static DNS settings in Wi-Fi may conflict. Make sure that the Wi-Fi settings for the current network are IP automatically (DHCP) if you are using a global Private DNS. Double settings can lead to routing errors.
⚠️ Note: If you entered an incorrect hostname in a Private DNS and lost access to the Internet, and the settings menu is not opened due to lack of network, try to start the phone in Safe Mode or reset the network settings through the Recovery menu.
To completely reset all network settings (Wi-Fi passwords, Bluetooth pairs, cellular network settings) go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. This will return all network settings to factory values, including DNS.