How to use Xiaomi’s mobile internet with WiFi enabled: the complete guide

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a situation where the home wireless network is unstable and data transfer speeds leave much to be desired. At the same time, the tariff plan offers unlimited 4G or 5G, which could solve the problem, but the system by default blocks its use while WiFi is active. This limitation is inherent in the logic of Android and the MIUI shell, but there are proven ways to bypass this barrier.

Modern technology allows you to combine both channels to increase stability or force the traffic of certain applications to the mobile network. Parallel interfaces require a competent configuration, because standard tools of the menu “Storki” will not achieve this. We will look at both the standard features of Xiaomi and advanced methods through the engineering menu.

Before you start to make complex manipulations, it is worth noting that the priority of WiFi in the system is not accidental: it saves battery power and does not consume batch data of the user. However, for gamers, streamers or those who work with large files, the ability to switch is critical. In this article, we will discuss all the available options for solving the problem in detail.

MIUI's regular capabilities: acceleration and switching

The MIUI shell, which is installed on Redmi and Poco smartphones, has built-in tools to optimize network connectivity. A feature known as Wi-Fi Acceleration or Dual Wi-Fi allows the device to use both channels simultaneously to increase bandwidth, but this only works in scenarios, such as when downloading files through an on-board bootloader or in supported games.

To activate the basic settings, you need to go to the system settings menu. The path usually looks like this: Settings → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Assistant. Here the user can find the option “Switch to mobile Internet”, which automatically activates data transfer if the wireless signal becomes too weak. This is not exactly what you need to force mobile traffic, but helps in situations of unstable reception.

Some models support dual channel mode, which summarizes speed. It is important to note that this feature increases battery consumption and may not work with some routers. If your goal is just stable ping in games, check for Game Turbo in security applications, where there is often a separate setup of network priorities.

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Use Game Turbo mode to prioritize traffic in games – the system itself will redistribute network resources, giving preference to the game application, even if the WiFi signal is weaker than the mobile one.

And you have to keep in mind that standard methods don't give you complete control, they only allow the system to make its own switching decisions, and that full separation of data streams will require more in-depth adjustments, which we'll look at later.

Set up DNS to redirect traffic

One of the most effective ways to get certain applications to work over the mobile network while the rest of the phone is sitting on WiFi is by manipulating the mobile network. DNS-The idea is to disable the use of servers. DNS default for WiFi connections, which sometimes forces the system to look for alternative paths for requests.

First, you need to change your DNS settings in WiFi settings. Click on the arrow next to your network name and find the DNS settings field. Switch from Auto to Manual. You can use Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) as servers, however, more fine-tuning is often required through DNS (Private DNS) to achieve traffic separation.

In Android 9 and above, and current versions of MIUI, there is a “Private DNS” feature, which is located along the Connection and Sharing path → Private DNS. If you select the “DNS Provider Host Name” option and enter the incorrect address or address of a server that is not responding via WiFi, the system can start using a mobile channel to resolve domain names, which will actually launch the Internet via a SIM card.

It doesn't work on all firmware the same way, and in some cases, it just leads to the loss of the Internet. DNS-So it's important to be able to roll back changes quickly, and it's also important to remember that this decision affects the entire application at once, not selectively.

Use of engineering menus and hidden settings

For advanced users who are not afraid to experiment with system parameters, you can log in to the engineering menu, which is a hidden diagnostic section where you can control the radio module directly, and be careful: changing the wrong parameters can lead to network failures.

To get to the menu, open the Phone app and dial the combination ##4636##. If the code didn't work, your version of MIUI may be blocking access and you'll need to install a special shortcut app from the Play Market Store. From the menu that opens, select Phone Information.

We're interested in the section that relates to the preferred network type. Although there's no direct "WiFi + 4G" switch here, you can try changing the radio mode. For example, setting up LTE only (LTE only) mode can force the module to be active, which sometimes helps the system understand the priority of the mobile channel. However, this is a risky method, since you can lose voice communication if the operator does not support VoLTE.

⚠️ Warning: Changing the settings in the engineering menu (4636) may result in loss of signal or inability to make calls!

Another hidden feature is the ability to turn off the Internet check (Captive Portal), the system constantly polls the servers of Google or Xiaomi to check for the Internet. If it sees that WiFi is available but there is no access to the WAN, it can switch to data itself. This logic can be tricked by changing the address of the verification server in global settings through ADB, but this requires a connection to a computer.

Forced Launching Through Application Managers

If system settings seem too complex or inefficient, third-party applications designed specifically to manage network interfaces come to the rescue, and utilities such as NetBridge, Speedify, or WiFi Switcher can create local tunnels or virtual interfaces.

The principle of their work is often to create a local proxy or VPN-like connection that redirects traffic to selected applications over the mobile network, while the rest of the system stays on WiFi. This is ideal for those who need, for example, only a browser or torrent client to download over 4G.

But it has its drawbacks: First, many of these applications require root rights to work properly; second, creating a permanent tunnel can significantly reduce connection speeds and increase ping; and free versions often have traffic or speed limits.

Compatibility problems and features of routers

Sometimes the problem isn't with the smartphone, but with the configuration of the home router. Some routers incorrectly label the connection as "limited" or "no internet access," even if there is Internet, in which case Xiaomi's Android smartphone automatically switches to mobile Internet, thinking that WiFi isn't working.

This behavior can be artificially triggered if the router allows you to configure filtering or parental controls, for example, if you block access to Google's verification servers for a particular device, the phone will decide that there is no Internet, and turn on data transfer, but this will result in the fact that nothing will work through WiFi at all, which may be inconvenient for local tasks.

Also worth mentioning is the frequency conflict. If your router only works in the 2.4GHz band and your smartphone supports 5GHz and 4G LTE, priority may be given to a less loaded channel. Make sure that the WiFi settings do not tick the “Do not switch to mobile data” box if this option is available in your firmware version.

⚠️ Warning: Artificially creating network conflict (e.g., blocking) DNS On a router, some smart devices in the home (lamps, sockets) may stop responding because they rely on a stable local channel.

Impact on battery and performance

Using two radios simultaneously, WiFi and mobile internet, always leads to increased power consumption, and smartphone antennas are forced to work in a high-speed mode, trying to maintain two active connections, which can lead to heating of the case and rapid battery discharge, especially on models with the smallest battery.

Also, constantly finding the optimal path for data packets puts a strain on the processor. In the background, synchronization processes can run that try to use both channels, causing a resource race. If you notice that the phone started warming after turning on experimental network settings, it's best to return everything to factory settings.

To minimize damage, it is recommended to use such modes only when necessary, for example, turn on mobile Internet in parallel with WiFi only while downloading a heavy file or online game, and the rest of the time rely on standard logic of the system.

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The parallel work of WiFi and mobile internet is a trade-off between speed/stability and device autonomy, and only use this capability when you really need it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)