How to measure the speed of the Internet on Xiaomi: 7 proven methods

You've noticed that pages load slower than usual, video slows down, and online games are constantly "lagging"? The first thing you need to check is the real speed of the Internet on your Xiaomi device. But where exactly to look at this data? Unlike computers, where speed is displayed right in the tray, on Xiaomi smartphones and routers, this information is hidden deeper — and it's not always obvious where to look for it.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to check speed, from standard tools in settings to hidden engineering menus and third-party applications. You’ll learn how to test both Wi-Fi and mobile Internet (4G/5G), as well as where to look at statistics on Xiaomi Mi Routers.

1. Standard method: Network status menu in settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which show the current connection speed, but do not always reflect the actual bandwidth (for the differences, see below).

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to Wi-Fi (or Mobile Network if you are checking 4G/5G).
3. Click on your network name (e.g. TP-Link_1234).
4. In the window that opens, look for Network Status or Speed.

Here you will see two key parameters:

• 🔄 Download speed – how much data your device is receiving (measured in Mbps).
• 🔺 Upload speed – how much data is sent (important for streams, video calls).

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If there is no "Network Status" item, upgrade MIUI to the latest version. In older firmware (below MIUI 12), this section may not be available.

⚠️ Warning: The numbers in this menu show the current data rate, not the maximum network bandwidth. For example, if you're not downloading anything, the speed may be close to zero -- that's OK. For an accurate test, use the methods in the following sections.

2. Hidden engineering menu: real-time data

For advanced users, Xiaomi has an engineering menu that displays detailed network settings, including physical-level speeds, which works on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the combination: ##4636### (some models may require ##36446337###).
3. Select Wi-Fi Information (or Network Info for mobile Internet).

On this menu you will see:

• 📶 Link Speed is the maximum router connection speed (e.g. 866 Mbps for Wi-Fi 5).
• 📊 Signal Strength is the signal level (in dBm; the closer to 0, the better).
• 🔄 RX/TX Rate is the current receive/transmission rate (updated in real time).

⚠️ Attention: Not all parameters in the engineering menu are intuitive. For example, RSSI (signal level) in -70 dBm is normal, and -90 dBm is already a weak signal. For decoding the values, use the table below.

3. Testing through applications: Speedtest, Ookla and analogues

Xiaomi’s built-in tools show the speed of the here and now, but for an objective assessment, you need to conduct a full test.

• 🚀 Speedtest by Ookla is the most popular server solution around the world, showing ping, upload/return speeds, and comparing it to the averages in your region.
• 📡 Fast.com (from Netflix) is a minimalist test optimized to test streaming speed.
• 🛡️ nPerf – additionally tests connection stability and latency (useful for gamers).

How to test correctly:

1. Connect to the network you want to check.
2. Close all background applications (especially messengers and cloud services).
3. Run the test 2-3 times in a row and average the results.
4. Compare it to your provider’s tariff (for example, if the tariff is “100 Mbps”, and the test shows 10 Mbps – the problem is on the operator or router side).

⚠️ Warning: Test results vary by server, for example, if you choose a server in another city or country, the speed may be slowed down due to the distance. Always choose the nearest server manually.

4.Speed check on Xiaomi Mi Router routers

If you are using a Xiaomi Mi Router router (such as Mi Router 4A, AX3600 or BE7000), you can check the Internet speed directly in its web interface.

Instructions:

1. Connect to the router network (via Wi-Fi or cable).
2. Open your browser and type in the address bar 192.168.31.1 (or miwifi.com).
3. Sign in (the default login and password is usually admin).
4. Go to the Status or Internet section.
5. Find the WAN Speed block – here is the current connection speed to the provider.

What you can find on this menu:

• 🌍 WAN Speed is the speed between the router and the provider (if it is low, the operator has a problem).
• 📶 Wi-Fi Speed: Speed between router and connected devices (if low, a problem with router settings or interference).
• 🔄 Traffic Statistics - Network load graph (helps to identify peak speed drops).

Disable all devices except one |

Reboot the router (Power button or via web interface)|

Select the provider server manually (if you have such an option)|

Check if the speed limiter (Qos) is on

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⚠️ Warning: If the speed in the status of the router is high (for example, 100 Mbit / s), but on the Xiaomi smartphone tests show 10 Mbit / s - a problem in the Wi-Fi settings (channel, bandwidth, 802.11). Try to change the channel to 5 GHz or reduce the bandwidth to 20 MHz.

5.Diagnostics through ADB: for power users

If standard methods don’t provide enough data, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), an Android debugging tool that provides raw network data, including core-level speeds, which is suitable for Xiaomi models with unlocked bootloader or root rights.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB Tools on your computer.
2. Turn on USB Debugging on your smartphone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → Press 7 times, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
3. Connect the phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell cat /proc/net/dev Here rx_bytes and tx_bytes — the number of bytes received and sent. To translate to speed, run the command twice at intervals in 10 seconds and subtract the values.

Alternative command for real-time monitoring:

adb shell watch -n 1 "cat /proc/net/dev"

adb shell "sleep 10; cat /proc/net/dev" | grep wlan0 > net2.txt


diff net1.txt net2.txt | awk '{print $4/10/1024 " MB/s"}'

Where net1.txt — pre-test, net2.txt — after.-->

⚠️ Warning: Use ADB requires caution. Incorrect commands can disrupt the system. Do not change files to /proc/ or /sys/, this will cause a crash.

6. Comparison with the provider's tariff: what to do if the speed is lower than promised

You've checked the speed by all means, but it's significantly lower than the rate you're asking for?

1. Check the tariff: Check with the provider what speed is guaranteed for your tariff (for example, “up to 100 Mbps” does not mean that you will always receive 100 Mbps).
2. Test at different times: Speed may drop during peak hours (evening).
3. Connect by cable: If you are testing a router, use an Ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi – this will eliminate interference.
4. Check the hardware: 🔌 Make sure the cables are not damaged (especially if PPPoE is used). 📡 For Wi-Fi: the router must support the standard at least 802.11ac (for speeds above 100 Mbps). 📱 On a smartphone: models older than the Redmi Note 8 may not support modern Wi-Fi 6 standards.

Call for support:

Typical bottlenecks:

• 🐢 Traffic throttling: Some providers artificially limit speeds for torrents or streaming services.
• 📡 Channel congestion: In apartment buildings, a single Wi-Fi channel can use up to 20 routers, which causes interference.
• 🔌 Outdated hardware: Routers with 100 Mbps ports (rather than 1 Gbps) limit speed even at fast fare.

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If the cable speed is high and the Wi-Fi speed is low, the problem is with the wireless settings. Try changing the channel to 5 GHz or reducing the bandwidth to 20 MHz.

7. Frequent errors in speed checks

Many users make mistakes that distort test results, and here are the most common:

• 📱 Testing against the background of downloads: If at the time of the test there is a system update or a file is downloaded, the speed will be underestimated.
• 🌐 Selecting a long-distance server: A server in another city or country will always show the worst result due to delays.
• 🔋 Battery discharge: At levels below 20%, the smartphone may limit performance, which will affect speed.
• 📡 Ignoring interference: Microwaves, wireless headphones, and neighboring routers on the same channel reduce Wi-Fi speeds.

How to avoid mistakes:

1. Before the test, switch your phone to Flight Mode for 10 seconds, then turn on only Wi-Fi/mobile network.
2. Use a wired connection to test the router (if possible).
3. Repeat the test 3-5 times and take the average.

⚠️ Warning: If you test the speed through VPN, the results will be incorrect -- the traffic is going through a remote server, which adds delay. Turn off VPN before checking.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions