How to completely disconnect the Internet on Xiaomi phone: Wi-Fi and mobile data

Why to turn off the Internet on your smartphone and when it really needs to

Shutting down the Internet on Xiaomi is a procedure that seems simple only at first glance. In practice, users face nuances from randomly turning on mobile data to background consumption of traffic by applications. For example, even in “On the plane” mode, some models continue to connect to networks via Wi-Fi Calling or VoLTE, if these functions are activated.

The main reasons for a complete network shutdown:

• 🔋 Battery savings – mobile internet and Wi-Fi in the background consume up to 15-20% charge-by-charge 8 hours.
• 📵 Digital detox – forced restriction of access to social networks and instant messengers.
• 💰 Traffic control – preventing unexpected charges for exceeding the limit of the operator.
• 🛡️ Security – blocking data leakage through background processes (relevant for corporate phones).

It's important to understand the difference between a temporary shutdown and a full shutdown. For example, deactivating mobile data through the notification panel is a temporary measure that is reset after a reboot. SIM-The card is saved until manual inclusion.

Method 1: Quickly shut down via notification panel

The most obvious method is to use a notification curtain, which works on all Xiaomi models (from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra) and does not require deep customization. However, it has a limitation: after a phone restarts, the Internet can turn on automatically if the Auto-Recovery option for mobile data was previously activated.

Step-by-step:

1. Swipe your finger down from the top of the screen to open the notification bar.
2. Find the Mobile Data (Antenna) and Wi-Fi (Wave) icons.
3. Tap each icon once, and they will turn grey (unplugged).

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (For example, the global version for POCO F5) Mobile data may not be in the curtain, in which case use the extended panel - swipe down twice or hold your finger on the curtain for 1 second.

Method 2: Completely disabling mobile data in settings

If you need to guarantee that you can turn off the mobile Internet before manually turning on, use the settings menu. SIM-cards, which is especially useful for phones with two SIMs (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro)+).

How to do this:

1. Open the Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
2. Choose the right one. SIM-card (if two of them).
3. Transfer the mobile data slider to the off position.
4. For reliability, also disable 4G/5G and Roaming (if not used).

💡 Useful tip: If after disconnecting mobile data, the phone still consumes traffic, check the settings VPN and Proxy in the Settings section → Connections → Some applications (e.g. Orbot) can redirect traffic bypassing restrictions.

Method 3: Disconnect Wi-Fi with Automatic Connection Lock

Wi-Fi on Xiaomi can be turned on automatically if you previously connected to the network and activated the option Autoconnect. To avoid this, it is not enough to just turn off Wi-Fi through the curtain - you need to block the function in the settings.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings. → Wi-Fi.
2. Touch it. ⚙️ (gear) → Additional settings.
3. Turn it off: 🔄 Auto-connection to open networks 🔄 Notifications of new networks 🔄 Wi-Fi in Sleeping Mode (Select Never)

Go back and manually turn off Wi-Fi with a slider.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (For example, for Xiaomi 13T) There is a bug: after the system update, Wi-Fi settings are reset. If you notice that the network is turned on itself, check the firmware version in Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI If necessary, go back to a stable assembly.

Method 4: In-plane mode with selective shutdown

Air mode blocks all wireless connections, but on Xiaomi it can be configured flexibly, for example, leaving only Bluetooth on for the headset or NFC on for payment, completely shutting down the Internet.

How to set up:

1. Activate Flight Mode through the curtain or in Settings → Connections.
2. After activation, open the curtain and manually turn on only the necessary functions: 🔵 Bluetooth (for headphones) 📶 GPS (navigation) 💳 NFC (contactless)

Mobile data

Wi-Fi

switched off

💡

If you need to temporarily turn the Internet on in flight mode (for example, to pay for parking), do it through the curtain, and then turn it off again. MIUI 15 There is a bug: when you re-enable the air mode previously activated networks (Wi-Fi/Mobile data) can be activated automatically.

Method 5: Radical shutdown via engineering menu (for advanced)

If standard methods don’t work (for example, on custom firmware or after a failed update), you can block the network through an engineering menu, which requires caution – wrong actions can disrupt the communication module.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##
2. In the menu that opens, select Phone Information.
3. Scroll down to the Set your preferred network type block.
4. Select GSM only (2G only) or Turn off the radio (if available).
5. Press OK and restart the phone.

⚠️ Note: After using the engineering menu, some functions (e.g., VoLTE or ViLTE) may not work properly. To get it back, repeat the steps and select the following: LTE/NR auto (for 4G/5G).

💡

The engineering menu is a powerful tool, but it doesn't save after you reset your phone to factory settings. If you're planning to sell or repair Xiaomi, bring back the standard network settings.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after the Internet is shut down, Xiaomi users face unexpected challenges.

• 🔄 The Internet is turned on after the reboot → Check the AutoRecovery Mobile Data settings in Settings → Battery. → Energy saving regime.
• 📶 Badge 4G/5G stays in the state line → It could be a firmware bug. Try changing the theme to the standard one.
• 🔒 Some apps bypass the lockdown → Use Background Limitation in the settings of each application.
• 📵 Impossible to call after mobile data is turned off → Make sure you do not turn off VoLTE (needed for calls to the phone) 4G).

If none of these methods worked, check your phone for viruses (for example, through Mi Security) or reset your network settings:

1. Settings → About the phone → Resetting settings.
2. Select Network Settings Reset (does not delete files, only network settings).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions