How to turn off the Internet on Xiaomi phone: the complete guide

Owning a modern smartphone involves constant communication with the global network, but there are situations when you need to completely isolate the device from the outside world. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices often face the urgent need to stop data transfers, whether to save traffic, eliminate system failures or ensure complete privacy. Shutting down the Internet is a basic but critical feature that allows you to instantly break the connection with application servers and stop background synchronization.

There are many scenarios where users don’t just temporarily hide notifications, but physically break the communication channel, which can be necessary when they’re in a roaming zone where the cost per megabyte of traffic is tens of rubles, or when they urgently need to free up the communication channel for an important voice call on 2G/3G networks. MIUI and its new version of HyperOS provide flexible tools to manage network connections, allowing them to act both radically and point-by-pointly.

In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods, from quickly switching switches in the curtain to deep tuning system parameters through the engineering menu, how to block network access for individual programs, how to completely disable data transmission at the modem level, and what hidden features the system offers for advanced users. Understanding these mechanisms will help you manage your smartphone more effectively and protect personal data.

Quick shutdown via control panel and settings

The most obvious and quickest way to break the network connection is to use standard operating system interface elements. In the MIUI shell, the control center is usually swiped down from the top right corner of the screen (depending on the navigation settings). There are two main switches here: Wi-Fi and Mobile Data. Clicking on the Wi-Fi icon instantly breaks the connection to the wireless access point, which is useful when you are at home and want to switch to a tariffed mobile Internet or vice versa.

To turn off the mobile Internet, just click on the icon with two arrows, usually signed as "Mobile Data." Once deactivated, the icon 4G, LTE or 5G in the status bar will disappear, and the system will stop transmitting data packets through the SIM card. However, it is worth remembering that when you turn off only mobile data, Wi-Fi can remain active if it was turned on earlier.

⚠️ Note: When you turn off mobile data via the control panel, some system services, such as device search or time synchronization, may temporarily go into standby mode or use alternative communication channels if Wi-Fi remains active.

More detailed control is carried out through the main settings menu. → SIM-And you get access to advanced control, and you can not only turn off data, but you can also choose the type of network you want, which indirectly affects the speed and availability of the Internet, for example, switching to "Only" mode. 2G» In fact, it makes the use of modern Internet impossible due to low speed, leaving only voice calls and calls available. SMS.

• 📶 Control Center: Swipe down for quick access to Wi-Fi and LTE.
• ⚙️ Deep settings: Menu SIM-maps allow you to set priorities and types of networks.
• 🔌 Flight mode: Radical method that shuts off all radio modules at once.
• 📉 Background Limitation: Ability to disable data transfer in the background without completely shutting down.

Use of flight mode for complete isolation

Flight mode (or “In the plane”) is the most effective way to instantly turn off all wireless communication interfaces on a Xiaomi device. Activating this mode through the quick access panel or settings menu forcibly stops the GSM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC modules. Unlike simply turning off mobile data, the flight mode sends a signal to the base station that the subscriber is unavailable, which leads to a complete disconnection and the incoming calls or SMS are impossible.

A unique feature of this mode in Android based on MIUI is the flexibility of the configuration. Once the flight mode is turned on, the user can manually activate the Wi-Fi module or Bluetooth, while remaining cut off from the cellular network. This is the ideal scenario for those who want to save power from the modem battery and eliminate background activity of mobile applications, but still need local wireless communication or listening to music via Bluetooth headphones.

Sequence of action:


1.Swipe down from top right corner.




2.Push the aircraft icon.




3. (Optional) Turn on Wi-Fi manually.

It is important to understand the difference between the states of the radio module: When the flight mode is turned off, but the mobile data is turned off, the phone continues to register on the network, send and receive location signals (LBS) and is ready to receive calls. In flight mode, the radio part is completely turned off programmatically, which also contributes to a decrease in electromagnetic radiation levels and significant savings in battery energy in conditions of poor signal reception.

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If you need to quickly reset your Internet connection, turn on flight mode for 10 seconds, then turn it off.This will force the device to re-register on the network and often solves the problems with the "hanging" 4G.

Point blocking of access to the network applications

Often, the user does not need a global Internet shutdown, but only to deny access to a particular application that consumes too much traffic or is excessively intrusive. The MIUI and HyperOS shell has a powerful control tool built in to manage access rights for each installed program individually, allowing you to leave the work of instant messengers and mail, while blocking access to the network for games or heavy media services.

To set the restrictions, go to Settings → Applications → All apps. Select the program you want from the list, find “Other permissions” or “Data Use” (the path may vary slightly between firmware versions). Here you will see switches for “Wi-Fi” and “Mobile Network” and disable them, you will ban the application from any network activity, even if the Internet on the phone is turned on.

Special attention should be paid to system services and applications of Google or Xiaomi that can work in the background. Blocking network access for system components such as System Update or Mi Cloud can lead to unstable smartphone operation or stop synchronizing important data.

• 🚫 Background Limitation: Data transfer ban when an application is folded.
• 📱 Individual control: Set up rights for each set APK-file.
• 🔒 System Restrictions: Blocking access to Google Play services or MIUI.
• 📊 Monitoring: Reviewing traffic statistics to identify “gluttonous” apps.

Configuring the limitations of background data transmission

Background data is a mechanism that allows apps to update content, receive notifications and synchronize information even when you are not using them at the moment. For many Xiaomi users, it is critical to turn off this functionality to extend battery life or avoid charging for roaming traffic.

To activate this mode, go to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Traffic savings: Enabling this feature automatically prevents all apps from using mobile internet in the background. The apps you open and use will have access to the network, but once you fold them, the connection will be severed. This is an effective compromise between complete isolation and the ability to use a navigator or browser.

⚠️ Attention: Turning on traffic savings may delay incoming notifications from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) and email, as the permanent communication channel with the server will be closed.

In addition, the “White List” of applications is often available in the traffic saving menu, and by adding the necessary programs (such as corporate mail or messenger for work), you allow them to work in the background, while all other games and social networks will be “frozen” in terms of networking, a fine-tuning that requires understanding the processes that occur in the operating system.

Comparison of disconnection methods and their effect on the system

The choice of the method of disconnecting the Internet depends on your goals: whether you just need to save traffic, secure data or fix a technical failure. Each of the methods examined has its own technical features and consequences for the operation of the Android operating system. Below is a table comparing the main methods by the degree of impact on the functionality of the device.

As you can see from the table, flight mode is the most radical solution, completely cutting off the device from the cellular infrastructure. The methods of selectively locking applications or disabling mobile data are more local and allow you to maintain the basic functionality of the phone, the choice of a particular tool should be based on the current situation and requirements for security or resource savings.

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For complete privacy and stopping all network processes, a combination of flight mode with manual inclusion of only the necessary modules is best suited, or a deep configuration of access rights for each application.

Advanced Methods: Engineering Menu and ADB

For users with technical knowledge, there are deeper methods of managing network interfaces that are not available through the standard interface. One such way is using the MTK or Qualcomm engineering menu, which is hidden deep in the system, and is usually logged in through a set of special codes in the Phone application, for example, ##4636## or ##3646633# (code depends on the processor model and firmware version).

Inside the engineering menu, in the Phone Information section or similar, you can find settings for the preferred network type. Switching the Set Preferred Network Type to "GSM Only" or "WCDMA Only" (without LTE/5G) actually limits Internet speed to a minimum, making full surfing impossible, although formally the connection will be installed, which is useful for testing the operation of second and third-generation networks.

An even more powerful tool is USB debugging and the use of the ADB command line, which, by connecting the phone to a computer, can send commands to force the network services to stop or change global settings that are not visible on the regular menu, but using this method requires caution, since an incorrect command can lead to unstable system operation or a bootloop.

Example of ADB command to reset network settings:


adb shell svc data disable




adb shell svc wifi disable

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)