How to see the signal level on the Xiaomi phone: all the ways (including hidden)

The signal strength of the cellular network on Xiaomi is a key parameter that affects call quality, mobile Internet speed and the stability of instant messengers, but the standard indicator of sticks in the status bar often shows inaccurate information: It can show 2-3 division when the actual signal is weak, or vice versa, over-coating in areas with interference, especially for owners of Redmi Note, POCO and budget models Xiaomi, where antennas are less sensitive to weak signal.

In this article, you will learn how to accurately measure signal strength on any Xiaomi smartphone, from Xiaomi 14 flagships to old Redmi 4X. We will look not only at standard methods through Android settings, but also at hidden engineering menus, USSD- codes and third-party applications that show signal in decibels (dBm), a unit of measurement used by professional communication testers, which will help you determine why the phone is not catching the network well, compare coverage of different operators, or choose the best location to install a router with a SIM- card.

1. Standard method: indicator in the notification panel

The easiest way to do this is to look at the signal level icon at the top of the screen, which is displayed next to the operator's name on Xiaomi smartphones (e.g. MTS, Beeline), and the number of sticks varies from 1 to 4:

• 📶 1 stick is a weak signal (possible call interruptions, slow internet).
• 📶📶 2 sticks - medium level (calls pass, but there may be interference).
• 📶📶📶 3 sticks – good coverage (stable communication and internet).
• 📶📶📶📶 4 Sticks are an excellent signal (maximum speed 4G/5G).

But there's a big drawback to this method: the indicator shows the relative signal strength, not the absolute signal strength, for example, two sticks in the city center can mean -85 dBm (good signal), and the same two sticks in the country house -110 dBm (bad), to see the exact values, you need to use other methods to see the exact values.

⚠️ Warning: On some Xiaomi models (e.g., POCO F5), the signal indicator may "hang" after switching between 4G and 5G. To update it, turn on/off flight mode or restart the phone.

2 Secret USSD- Codes for Signal Verification

Xiaomi smartphones support USSD- service codes that output technical information about the network, which work on all models, including the Redmi 12, Xiaomi 13T and older devices, the main advantage is that you do not need to install additional applications.

Here are the main teams:

To use the code:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the combination (e.g. ##4636##) and press the call button.
3. In the menu that appears, select Phone Information or Network Information.
4. Scroll down to the signal level block – there will be a value in dBm (e.g. -92 dBm).

Pay attention to the values:

• 🟢 From -50 to -85 dBm is a great signal.
• 🟡 From -86 to -100 dBm is medium (interference possible).
• 🔴 From -101 to -120 dBm is weak (calls may break).

⚠️ Warning: On some firmware MIUI (especially global versions), code ##4636## may not work. In this case, use alternative methods from the following sections.

3. Engineering menu: professional network analysis

For those who want to get the most detailed information about the signal, the Engineering Mode is a good option, hidden in MIUI firmware and contains data that is normally only available to communications professionals.

• 📊 Signal level in dBm and ASU (absolute units).
• 📡 Cell Identifier (Cell ID) and base station location.
• 🔄 Handover information (transfer of connection between towers).
• 🌐 Network type (GSM, UMTS, LTE, 5G NR).

To open the engineering menu:

1. Enter the phone code ##36446337## (or #3644633## on some models).
2. Choose Engineer Mode (MTK) or Engineering Mode.
3. Go to Telephony → Network Information.
4. Note the parameters: RSSI is the signal level in dBm. RSRP is the reference signal power (for 4G/5G). SINR is the signal / noise ratio (the higher the better).

Example of good indicators in the engineering menu:

• 🟢 RSSI: -80 dBm, RSRP: -95 dBm, SINR: 15 is a stable bond.
• 🔴 RSSI: -110 dBm, RSRP: -120 dBm, SINR: 0—connection may be interrupted.

💡

If you are often in places with a bad signal, write down Cell ID and LAC from the engineering menu, which will help the carrier to more accurately identify the problem when calling for support.

Applications for signal monitoring

If you need to constantly monitor the signal level (for example, to compare coverage of different operators or find the best location for the antenna), it is more convenient to use specialized applications.

• 📊 Charts of signal change in real time.
• 🗺️ Geolocation-based coverage maps.
• 🔍 Detailed information about the cell (operator, frequency, technology).

The best apps for Xiaomi:

How to use Network Signal Info:

Install the app from Google Play|Open it and give access to phone functions |Select the Signal or Network|Note the values of dBm and ASU|To compare operators, click Refresh and switch the SIM- card-->

The advantage of apps over built-in tools is that you can save your measurement history and plot graphs, for example, you can capture the signal level in different rooms of the house and choose the optimal place to install the Xiaomi Mi Router with a SIM- card.

5. Signal verification via Android settings (no codes)

If you don’t want to use USSD- codes or third-party apps, you can see the signal level through hidden Android settings.This method works on all Xiaomi smartphones, including models with MIUI 14 and later.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and click on it 7 times to activate the Developer Mode.
3. Return to the main Settings menu and select Additional → For Developers.
4. Scroll down and find the USB Debugging option (you don’t have to turn it on).
5. Now open Settings → SIM- Maps and Mobile Networks → Access Point Name (APN).
6. At the top of the screen, a signal level indicator in dBm will appear (for example, Signal strength: -92 dBm).

This method is convenient because it does not require code entry or software installation. However, some MIUI firmware (especially Chinese versions) may not have a signal level item, in which case use the engineering menu or applications from the previous section.

6 Signal Analysis for 5G- Networks

If you support Xiaomi 5G (Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi, and others K60), Standard signal testing methods may not show the full picture. 5G Additional parameters:

• 📶 RSRP (Reference Signal Received Power) is the reference signal power (similar to RSSI for 4G).
• 📶 RSRQ (Reference Signal Received Quality) is the signal quality.
• 📶 SINR (Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio) is the ratio of signal to interference.

To see these parameters:

1. Install the 5G Mark or NetMonster app (links in the previous section).
2. Activate 5G in settings: Settings → SIM- Cards and Mobile Networks → Preferred Network Type → 5G.
3. Open the application and go to the tab with network information.
4. Note: NR 5G RSRP should be above -100 dBm. NR 5G SINR optimally >10.

If the RSRP values are below -115 dBm and the SINR is below 5, your phone is at the edge of 5G coverage. In this case, it makes sense to switch to 4G manually to improve communication stability.

💡

On Xiaomi 5G-enabled smartphones (like the POCO F5 Pro), 5G signal can be weaker than 4G even if you have a network indicator. Always check RSRP and SINR in specialized applications!

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

If your Xiaomi signal level is consistently low, the causes can range from hardware malfunctions to network settings.

If none of these methods helped, there may be a problem with the hardware:

• 🔌 Check if the SIM- card tray is damaged (especially if the phone is falling).
• 📡 On models with dual SIM (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro+), try using only one card - sometimes the second slot conflicts.
• 🛠️ If the signal is lost after repair, the antenna or the plume may be damaged, in which case, contact the service center.

⚠️ Warning: Some Xiaomi smartphones (e.g., POCO X3 Pro) may lose signal after the display is replaced due to damage to antenna contacts. If you have recently changed the screen, check the integrity of the plumes!

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions