How to turn off the Internet to Android Xiaomi: the full guide

Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often face the need to temporarily or completely restrict their device’s access to the network, ranging from simple traffic savings to a desire to focus on working without distracting notifications. The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS feature multiple network traffic control mechanisms that allow for flexible connection management.

There are several levels of disconnection, from simply turning off Wi-Fi to deeply blocking background processes for individual applications. Complete disconnection of all communication channels may be required in emergency situations when you need to instantly interrupt data transfer. In this article, we will discuss in detail each available method, explain their features and help you choose the best option for your situation.

Some users mistakenly believe that standard In-Air mode is enough to be completely isolated. However, Android system services can continue to transmit minimal data packets even in this mode unless the appropriate permissions are configured, and we'll look at how to maximize the effect and actually break the connection.

Quick shutdown through notification curtain and control panel

The most obvious and quick way to break a connection is to use the Quick Access Panel. On Xiaomi smartphones, it's called by a top-down swipe. Here are the switches for the main communication modules. Clicking on the Wi-Fi icon or Mobile Internet instantly breaks the connection.

However, it is worth considering that simply turning off sliders does not always guarantee a complete shutdown of all network processes. Some system applications may try to restore a connection or use cached data. For most users, this method is basic and most convenient in everyday use.

If you only need to turn off one type of connection, such as leaving calls but removing the Internet, just click the appropriate icon. Double tap usually opens the advanced settings of a particular module where you can detail the connection settings.

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Use the Flight Mode feature to instantly shut down all radios, including Bluetooth and GPS, if you want to completely isolate your device.

Therefore, for a permanent effect, a deeper intervention in the system settings is required.

Using the “In-Air” mode for complete isolation

Airplane Mode is designed for situations where you need to completely disable all wireless interfaces, activating this mode blocks the operation of the cellular network, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and this is the most reliable way to guarantee the interruption of any external connection.

Unlike manually turning off Wi-Fi, flight mode prevents the phone from trying to search for available networks, and this also has a positive effect on battery autonomy, since communication modules stop consuming energy to search for a signal, you can turn it on through a curtain or in the settings menu.

⚠️ Note: In flight mode, you will not be able to receive incoming calls and SMS-Messages, as the cellular network also shuts down. Use this method only if waiting for calls is not a priority.

An interesting feature of Xiaomi’s shells is that it can selectively turn on modules even when in active flight mode, for example, you can turn on flight mode and then manually activate Wi-Fi to listen to music, leaving the cellular network off.

This flexibility allows you to create unique use cases, such as leaving Bluetooth on to connect your smartwatch while the rest of the communication is blocked, making it versatile for a variety of tasks.

Blocking network access for individual applications

Often times, you don't have to turn off the Internet for the whole system, but only for a particular application. For example, a game may require a constant connection that you don't need, or the messenger is distracting with notifications. MIUI has a built-in tool to solve this problem.

To control access, go to security settings. This is a powerful data transfer tool that allows you to see traffic statistics and manage application rights, and you can deny the program access to both mobile Internet and Wi-Fi.

The list that opens shows all the programs installed, and there are two icons opposite each of them: a green arrow (mobile data) and a blue icon (Wi-Fi), and by clicking on them, you can change your status to a red cross, which means you can't access them.

This method is especially useful for saving traffic in roaming or when the limits of the mobile operator are coming to an end. System applications can also be limited, but care should be taken not to disrupt the operation of important services.

Once the settings are applied, the changes take effect instantly, and the application will try to connect to the network, but the system will block the request at the kernel level, and the user will receive a notification of a connection error within the program itself.

Disabling background data and saving traffic

Even if you're not using the Internet right now, many apps are still running in the background, sending and receiving data, and this can be a waste of your traffic and battery power, and background data is a channel that needs to be monitored separately.

Each Xiaomi app has a Traffic Saving or Background Connection setting, where you can select “No Limitations,” “Restrict Background,” or “Totally Disallow,” and the latter option ensures that the app doesn’t do anything until you open it.

There is also a global traffic saving setting, which is in the main network settings, and when activated, the system automatically limits background activity for all applications except those you add to the exclusion list.

This is a great way to extend battery life at the end of the day, and the smartphone will stop constantly waking the processor to check for updates, which will positively affect the overall performance of the device, but important notifications can come late.

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A complete ban on background data for instant messengers will result in you not seeing a new message until you open the app yourself.

It is recommended to periodically check data usage statistics to identify parasitic applications that consume traffic without the user's knowledge. MIUI Provides a detailed report on days and hours.

Setting restrictions for mobile Internet and Wi-Fi

Managing network connections on Xiaomi Android devices allows you to set limits and schedules. It's not a complete shutdown, but an effective way to control it. You can set up automatic shutdowns when you reach a certain consumption threshold.

In the settings section SIM-You can set a traffic limit for maps and mobile networks, and when you've run out of data, the system will automatically shut down the mobile Internet, and this prevents unexpected costs if you forget to turn off the data.

There are also limitations to Wi-Fi networks, which means you can forget unnecessary networks or you can set up your device so that it doesn't automatically connect to open access points, which improves security and prevents data from leaking through unsecured channels.

⚠️ Warning: When setting traffic limits, be sure to leave a small margin or use unlimited rates for mission-critical applications so as not to lose communication at the right time.

You can also set up a schedule for mobile internet to be turned on and off, for example, the internet can automatically shut down at night when you sleep and turn on in the morning, through third-party apps or built-in automation scenarios.

Using these tools requires initial setup, but in the long run, it eliminates the need to constantly monitor the status of connections manually.

Hidden functions and commands for advanced users

For those who want to gain maximum control, there are hidden menus of engineering settings, which allow you to control the parameters of the radio modules at a deeper level, accessed through the code in the dialer, for example, ##4636##.

In the Phone Information menu that opens, you can find the "Install preferred network type" switch, and if you choose "GSM only" or "LTE only", you can force the phone to use a certain communication standard or, conversely, turn off data transmission by leaving only voice.

adb shell svc data disable

An even more radical method is the use of USB debugging and ADB commands. The command above allows you to programmatically turn off mobile data, which works even if the sliders in the interface do not respond, but this method requires a connection to a computer.

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Use ADB commands with caution. Incorrectly changing system settings can lead to unstable network performance or inability to make calls before rebooting.

It is also worth mentioning the possibility of disabling IPv6 if your carrier does not support this protocol correctly, this is solved in the APN settings. Changing the APN protocol setting to IPv4 can only eliminate some connection problems.

Advanced users can use firewall applications that require root rights, and they allow you to create complex traffic filtering rules by blocking access to specific data. IP-addresses or domains, which is a level of corporate-class protection.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)