Why Xiaomi is not seeing 5GHz network and how to fix it
Have you noticed that your Xiaomi smartphone only connects to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, even though the router supports a faster 5GHz band? This is a common problem faced by owners of Redmi, Poco and Mi devices. The reasons can vary from incorrect router settings to limitations in phone firmware. In this article, we will discuss how to force switch Wi-Fi to 5GHz, even if the network does not appear in the list of available connections.
The 5GHz range provides faster data rates and less interference compared to the loaded 2.4GHz band. However, it has downsides: smaller coverage area and worse wall penetration. If your Xiaomi doesn't see the 5GHz network, it doesn't always mean a malfunction - maybe just disabled support for this range in settings or the router is incorrectly configured. Next, you'll learn how to check and fix it yourself.
Check 5GHz support with your Xiaomi smartphone
Before you try to switch to 5GHz, make sure your phone supports this range at all. Most modern Xiaomi models (starting with the Redmi Note 5 and later) are equipped with dual-band Wi-Fi modules, but there are exceptions, for example, budget devices like the Redmi 9A or Poco C31 can only work at 2.4GHz.
To check the compatibility:
- 📱 Open the Settings. → The phone. → Full specifications.
- 🔍 Find the Wi-Fi or Wireless Networks section.
- 📋 See the supported standards: if specified 802.11a/n/ac/ax, piece 5 GHz is supported.
Xiaomi list without 5GHz support
If your model supports 5GHz, but the network is not displayed, the problem lies in the settings of the router or phone.
Setting up a router for correct operation with 5 GHz
Often the reason is not the phone, but the wrong settings of the router, and many users do not even suspect that their router can be configured so that the 5 GHz network is either disabled, hidden, or operates in a mode that is incompatible with Xiaomi.
Here’s what to check in the router settings (the instruction is universal for TP-Link, Asus, Keenetic, Xiaomi Mi Router and others):
- 🌐 Go to the router control panel (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).
- 🔧 Go to the Wireless Mode (Wi-Fi) section) → 5 GHz settings.
- 📡 Make sure that:
- 🔄 Save settings and restart the router.
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If the router's settings don't have a separate 5GHz partition, your model may not support this range. Check the router's specifications on the manufacturer's official website.
After changing your router settings, wait 1-2 minutes and update the network list on your phone. If the 5GHz network never came, go to Xiaomi settings.
Manual switching to 5 GHz in Xiaomi settings
If the router is configured correctly, but the phone still only connects to 2.4 GHz, you can try to force the range to be manually selected. In most MIUI firmware (including MIUI 12/13/14 and HyperOS), this is done through hidden developer settings.
Follow the instructions:
- Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version (you will be notified "You're a developer!").
Settings → Additional → For Developers
Choosing a Wi-Fi range
Wi-Fi frequency band
5 GHz
Auto (prefer 5 GHz)
Reboot your phone and connect to the network again.
✔️ Developer mode activated
✔️ In the 5GHz router settings, enabled and visible
✔️ The 5GHz network name is different from 2.4GHz
✔️ Phone reboots after changes-->
If there is no Wi-Fi range selection option, this may mean that:
- 📵 Your Xiaomi model doesn’t support 5GHz (see section above).
- 🔄 Phone firmware is outdated – update it through Settings → Updating the system.
- 🛠️ The manufacturer has disabled this feature in your region (rarely, but it happens).
What to do if 5GHz network is not listed
Sometimes, 5GHz is not visible on the list of available connections, although the router and phone support it.
| Problem. | Decision |
|---|---|
| The network is hidden (hidden SSID) | In the router settings, turn off the “Hide SSID” option for 5 GHz or add the network manually on your phone. |
| Incompatible Wi-Fi channel | In a router, set a 5GHz channel manually (e.g., 36, 40, 44, 48) instead of "Auto." |
| Too weak a signal. | Bring the phone closer to the router or check the transmission power in the router settings. |
| Country-specific restriction | In some regions (for example, Russia) can block 5 GHz channels above 149. Change the country in the router settings to "USA" or "Europe". |
If none of these methods worked, try adding the network manually:
- Go to Settings → Wi-Fi → Add network.
- Enter the 5GHz network name (SSID) just like you would on the router (registration is important!).
- Select the security type (WPA2-PSK or WPA3-PSK).
- Enter the password and save it.
Yes, no problem | Only after manual settings |No, no network |I don't know how to check-->
Update firmware and reset network settings
If the problem persists, it may be the legacy firmware or network settings failure that is to blame: Updating MIUI or HyperOS to the latest version often solves Wi-Fi issues.
How to update firmware:
- 📲 Go to Settings. → Updating the system.
- 🔄 Click "Check Updates" and install available updates.
- 🔋 Make sure your phone is at least 50% charged before upgrading.
If the update didn’t work, try resetting your network settings:
- Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Reset your Wi-Fi, mobile network, and Bluetooth settings.
- Confirm the reset (passwords from Wi-Fi will have to be re-entered).
- Restart your phone and try connecting to 5GHz again.
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Network reset removes all stored Wi-Fi and Bluetooth passwords. Write down or take photos of important data in advance!
Important: Some Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro) may require a re-activation of the developer mode after a network reset to access the Wi-Fi range settings.
Alternative methods: applications and ADB-team
If standard methods do not work, you can try special applications or ADB-commands for forced switching to 5 GHz. This method is suitable for advanced users.
Method 1: WiFi Analyzer (or analogues):
- 📊 Install the app from Google Play.
- 📡 Open the Frequency tab to see which networks are running at 5 GHz.
- 🔗 Try to connect to the desired network through the application.
Method 2: ADB-teams (requires PC):
- 🖥️ Install. ADB on the computer and connect the phone to USB (plugged).
- 📝 Enter the command to check supported ranges: adb shell dumpsys wifi | grep "Supported frequencies"
- 🔧 If 5 GHz supported, try to force the range: adb shell settings put global wifi_frequency_band 5
Risks of using ADB
These methods should only be used if other methods have not worked, and in most cases, the router and phone settings described above are sufficient.