How to bring the speed of the Internet to the screen Xiaomi: a detailed guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to constantly monitor the speed of their connection to the network, especially when using an unstable Wi-Fi signal or mobile Internet with a limited tariff. The standard interface of the MIUI shell or HyperOS does not always offer a convenient widget for displaying the current speed in real time on the desktop or in the status bar.

There are several proven methods to do this without getting root permissions. You can use the built-in features of the system, install specialized widgets or use third-party applications from Google Play. The choice of the particular method depends on whether you want to see the information: in the notification curtain, on the home screen or in the floating window on top of other programs.

In this article, we will take a look at all the options available, from standard settings to advanced utilities, and not only will you learn how to output kilobytes per second, but you will also learn how to interpret this data correctly to optimize the operation of your device, which will help you quickly diagnose problems with your provider or router.

Use of built-in widgets of MIUI and HyperOS system

The easiest and safest way to get data rate information is to use standard shell tools. Xiaomi engineers have provided basic widgets that do not require additional software installation, but their functionality can vary depending on the version of Android and regional firmware.

To activate, you need to pinch an empty area on your desktop or pinch a two-finger to open the edit menu. In the interface that opens, select "Widgets" or "Add widgets." In the list of available items, find the section associated with tools or network.

Here you can find the Statistical or Traffic Monitor widget. Drag it onto the screen and you can access basic information. It's worth noting that the standard widget often only shows the total traffic consumed per month, not the current speed in real time. To display exactly the speed (KB/s or Mbit/s), you may need to choose a special widget format if it is available in your shell version.

• 📱 Click the empty space on the desktop to enter the editing menu.
• 📊 Select the “Widgets” tab at the bottom of the screen.
• 🔍 Find the “Security” or “Traffic Statistics” widget».
• ⚙️ Select a display format that includes the current data rate.

⚠️ Note: Some global versions of the firmware MIUI A standard widget may not display real-time speeds, showing only accumulated traffic, in which case alternative methods described below should be used.

Setting up the speed display in the status bar through the applications

If standard tools don't meet your needs, specialized tools come to the rescue. Applications like Internet Speed Meter Lite or Network Speed Indicator allow you to output the speed value directly to the status bar, next to Wi-Fi icons and batteries, which is the most ergonomic option, since the information is always in front of your eyes and does not occupy a place on the desktop.

Once you install this app from Google Play, you need to give it permissions, and Android, starting with the newer versions, has a strict control over access to network statistics, and you need to go to the app's settings and allow display over other windows, as well as access to data.

An important advantage of these programs is the minimal consumption of resources, they use system APIs to get data without loading the processor with constant ping measurements, but be careful with the choice of software: some unscrupulous developers can introduce advertising or collect user data.

Settings → Applications → Internet Speed Meter → Permissions → Display on top of other applications

To work properly in the background, it is recommended to add the app to the battery exclusion list, which will prevent the process from being forced to stop by Xiaomi’s energy saving system.

• 🚀 Download a proven network monitoring app from Play Market.
• 🔓 Grant permission to “Display on top of other applications».
• 🔋 Turn off energy savings for this application in battery settings.
• 📶 Enjoy the speed display in the top corner of the screen.

⚠️ Warning: Avoid installing apps with names like Booster, Clearer, or Super Speed that promise to speed up the internet, which don’t show real speed, but only create visibility, often slowing down the device with ads.

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To minimize battery consumption, choose applications with a minimalist interface and no constant animations in the status bar.

Developer tools for detailed network analysis

For users who need more technical data, there is a developer mode in Android, which allows you to activate the network speed mapping in the status bar at the system level, without installing third-party software. However, this method does not work on all versions of Android and firmware. MIUI equally.

To get into the developer menu, you need to click on the build number several times in the About section. Once activated, a new option will appear in the settings "Advanced Settings" or "Advanced", where the developer mode hides, and you need to find an option inside that is associated with speed display or network monitoring.

Using developer tools provides the most accurate data, as it is taken directly from device drivers, eliminating errors that can occur in third-party applications due to the features of shell optimization, but the interface may be less user-friendly.

It is worth remembering that activating the developer mode gives access to critical system settings. It is not recommended to change the settings, the value of which you do not know, as this can lead to unstable operation of the smartphone.

Third-party widgets and floating windows for gamers

Gamers and users running heavy applications often need speed monitoring during play to rule out lags due to connection issues. Floating Widgets are ideal for this. They display speed on top of any running application.

Popular apps like NetSpeed Indicator or Xiaomi's built-in Game Turbo modes allow you to display a small indicator. In Game Turbo, this feature is often already built in: when swiping during the game, you can see the load on the network and the processor. If standard functionality is not enough, third-party widgets offer a more flexible look.

You can adjust the transparency, font size and color of the indicator so that it doesn't interfere with the view, but remains noticeable, which is especially useful when downloading large files or streaming high-quality videos, when you need to make sure that buffering is at full channel speed.

• 🎮 Launch a game or heavy app.
• 💾 Activate the floating speed widget through the monitor app settings.
• 🎨 Set up transparency so that numbers don’t overblock the interface.
• 📉 Watch for ping jumps and speed in real time.

Comparison of speed display methods on Xiaomi

The best way to choose depends on your specific tasks and device model. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, built-in widgets save battery, but are less informative, while third-party applications provide detailed statistics but require resources.

Owners of low-end Redmi or POCO models with a small amount of RAM should be careful with installing heavy monitoring applications, in their case it is better to limit yourself to standard means or light indicators in the status bar, so as not to slow down the system.

Users of Xiaomi flagship lines with large screens and AMOLED-matrixes can recommend widgets on the desktop with beautiful graphics, which will also serve as an element of personalization of the interface.

⚠️ Attention: Constantly active network monitoring in the background can prevent the smartphone from going into deep sleep mode, which will lead to faster battery discharge during the day.

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The optimal balance between functionality and resource consumption is the use of lightweight indicator applications, working through the system API, constant survey of servers.

Diagnostics of speed problems on Xiaomi devices

Just seeing the speed numbers is not enough, it's important to be able to analyze them. If the indicator shows low values, you need to diagnose. Often the problem is not with the provider, but with the settings of the router itself or interference in the radio channel.

First, check if the Internet works on other devices. If the problem is only on a Xiaomi smartphone, try switching Wi-Fi mode. In the settings of the router or phone, you can force the frequency to choose 5 GHz instead of 2.4 GHz, which will significantly increase the speed in the line of sight of the router.

You should also pay attention to the settings. DNS. Replacement of the standard DNS A provider at 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8 often speeds up network response, although it does not increase the physical bandwidth of the channel. This is especially true for users of mobile networks, where routing providers may be suboptimal.

Settings → Wi-Fi → Click on network name → IP settings (Static) → DNS 1: 8.8.8.8

If you’re using mobile internet, make sure that the access point settings (APN) select the right type of network, such as LTE/TD-SCDMA/WCDMA/GSM, so that the phone doesn’t get stuck in 3G or Edge mode when 4G coverage is available.

• 📡 Check the signal: the number of sticks is not always equal to the quality of the connection.
• 🔄 Reboot your router and smartphone to reset network errors.
• 🌐 Test the speed at different frequencies (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz).
• 📝 Compare the widget readings with the results of tests on like Speedtest sites.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)