Slow internet on Xiaomi smartphones is a common problem faced by users of both budget Redmi models and flagship devices of the Mi series. Owners of gadgets often notice that after updating the firmware MIUI or HyperOS, the speed of page loading drops, and the video begins to buffer. This is not always the fault of the mobile operator or provider, since the software limitations of the shell can significantly affect the quality of data transfer.
There are many hidden settings that are activated by default to save battery power, but they also choke the network module. To return to a comfortable network use, you need to conduct a comprehensive diagnosis and change several key parameters in the engineering menu and standard system settings.
In this article, we will look at proven methods to help you speed up the Internet in Xiaomi. We will look at both secure custom settings and more advanced optimization methods available through the developer menu. You will learn which DNS settings are best to use and how to properly configure the access point for maximum performance.
Diagnostics of current connection and reset network settings
Before making complex changes to the system, you need to make sure that the problem lies in the software settings of the smartphone, and not in the physical coverage or malfunction of the SIM card. The first step should always be a complete reset of network parameters, which eliminates accumulated configuration errors.
To do this, go to Settings → Connection & Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. Press the reset button and confirm the action. This will return all network adapters to factory values by removing stored Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth settings, but often this solves the problem of sticking to the communication module.
It’s also worth checking if the traffic saving mode is on, which aggressively restricts the background activity of applications. In MIUI, this setting may not work correctly, blocking the necessary connections. Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Traffic consumption and make sure that there is a “No Limits” restriction for important applications.
⚠️ Note: After resetting your network settings, you will have to re-enter passwords from all Wi-Fi networks and re-pair Bluetooth devices, as all this information will be deleted.
If things don't improve after the reset, check the physical condition of the SIM card, remove the tray, wipe the contacts of the card with soft cloth and set it back, sometimes oxidation of the contacts leads to periodic breaks in the connection and a drop in speed to the minimum values.
Access Point Optimization (APN) for Mobile Networks
One of the most effective ways to increase the speed of the Internet over a mobile network is to manually configure the access points APN (Access Point Name). Operators often change the settings of the servers, and automatic settings can become outdated or work incorrectly.
To enter the settings menu, type ##4636## in the Phone app and select Phone Information, then Access Point Settings. Here you will see a list of available profiles. Create a new access point or edit an existing one by looking at the Name and APN fields.
In the APN field, it is recommended to write an address corresponding to your operator, but without unnecessary prefixes. For example, for MTS it is often Internet.mts.ru, and for Beeline it is Internet.beeline.ru. It is also important to change the APN protocol to LTE/4G or IPv4/IPv6, if only one of them is the default.
☑️ Checking settings APN
Remember to save the changes and be sure to restart the device. After turning on the smartphone, make sure that the 4G or LTE icon appears in the status bar. If the phone switches to 3G or H+, then the settings are applied incorrectly or your zone has poor 4G coverage.
Configure DNS to speed up system response
Standard. DNS-Mobile operators' servers are often overloaded, leading to long loads of "heavy" sites and delays in gaming. DNS-Servers such as Google or Cloudflare can significantly reduce response times.
In modern versions of MIUI and HyperOS, the DNS setting is made in a convenient menu. Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. The default value here is "Auto", but for maximum speed it must be changed.
Select the option “DNS provider hostname” and type in the address dns.google or 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com. This will switch your smartphone to using secure and fast servers, ignoring the slow carrier gateways.
Why does DNS affect speed?
After settings, check the speed through Speedtest. The ping difference can be anywhere from 10 to 50 ms, which is critical for online gaming and video calls. If the Internet stopped working completely after the DNS change, return the value of "Auto" - your operator may be blocking third-party DNS.
Secrets of the developer menu for network modules
The hidden developer menu contains options that allow you to force the radio module to switch modes, which can be useful if your phone gets stuck on old communication standards, ignoring the faster towers nearby.
To activate the menu, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on MIUI 7 times. Then, under "More" you will see "Developers" and look inside for "Networks" or "Mobile Networks".
Here you are interested in the option "Preferred network type." Make sure you select the value of LTE preferred or NR/LTE/GSM (if 5G is supported). Sometimes switching to "LTE Only" helps so that the phone does not try to catch unstable 3G in border areas.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Impact on speed |
|---|---|---|
| Type of network | LTE / 5G preferred | High (Fast Frequency Priority) |
| Carrier aggregation | Included (if available) | Critical (channel summation) |
| Roaming data | On (for internal networks) | Medium (access to partner towers) |
Also on the developer menu is the option "Always turn on the mobile Internet," which allows you to use the mobile network to transfer data even when Wi-Fi is connected, if the latter is slow, which is useful to bypass public restrictions.
Removing background load and MIUI limitations
The MIUI shell is known for aggressive memory and battery optimization, which often results in artificially restricting the background activity of network modules, and the system can “freeze” synchronization processes, considering them to be excessive load.
Go to Settings → Battery and Performance (or simply “Battery”). Find the power saving mode and switch it to “No Limits” or “Performance.” In “Energy Saving” mode, the speed of background downloads and application updates can drop significantly.
Next, check the settings of a particular application that consumes a lot of traffic. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, select the desired messenger or browser and click Battery. Select No restrictions.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling battery restrictions will result in faster battery consumption as apps will constantly update data in the background.
Another important aspect is removing the DNS cache and network services. Although there is no direct button on Android to clear the network cache, you can use the command via ADB or simply restart the phone in Safe Mode to check if a third-party app is to blame for the brakes.
Use of third-party applications and IP reset
If standard methods fail, you can use specialized software, and applications like Network Signal Guru or BetterNet allow you to analyze the connection state more deeply and force you to change some parameters of the radio module.
However, the simplest and often most effective method is the resetting. IP-To do this, turn on the air mode on the 10-15 Then turn it off, and it'll cause the network to assign a new device to your device. IP-address and possibly reconnect you to a less busy base station.
Also worth noting are the accelerator applications built into MIUI. The Security app has a function called Acceleration that clears RAM. Although this does not directly affect the communication channel, freeing up CPU resources helps to process incoming data packets faster.
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Use the “Reset Network Settings” function in the Security app once a month to get accumulated errors from network drivers.
Remember that some of the Play Market accelerators are just marketing ploys and can even slow down when you show ads.
Hardware factors and frequency range selection
Xiaomi’s Internet speed is not only software-dependent, but hardware-based. Budget models often have simplified antenna modules that are less signal-capturing than flagships, and in such cases, software optimization will only yield marginal improvement.
It is important to consider supported bands (Bands): If your carrier uses the B7 or B38 band for 4G and your phone does not support them or the antenna is damaged, you will not achieve high speed.
In the Phone Information section, you can see Set Preferred Network Type. Experimenting with the choice between LTE Only and GSM/WCDMA/LTE, you can find a balance between stability and speed. In some cases, Forced 3G (WCDMA) is more stable than congested 4G.
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If no software method has worked, the problem may be a physical malfunction of the antenna module or the antenna itself. SIM-cards - in this case, only the replacement of the sim in the operator's cabin or repair in the service will help.
Also make sure that the smartphone case is not made of metal or metallic materials with a metallic spray, such accessories can shield the signal, reducing the data rate by 30-50%.