The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7, launched in early 2019, is still a popular device due to its excellent price-to-quality ratio, but current data speed requirements can reveal the limitations of its network modules. Users often face a situation where web pages load slowly and video content is constantly buffered, which is especially noticeable when using mobile traffic or unstable Wi-Fi networks. The problem lies not only in the hardware, but also in the software settings of the MIUI shell, which are not always optimized for maximum connection performance by default.
There are many ways to improve communication quality without having to buy new hardware or flash the device. Network optimization can take just a few minutes, but the results will be noticeable immediately: ping in games will decrease, and file download speeds will increase. In this article, we will discuss both the standard methods available in the settings menu and more advanced techniques that require special codes or the use of engineering menus.
Before you start taking drastic measures, you should rule out the trivial causes of a bad signal, such as contamination of antenna inserts or physical damage to the module after a fall. On the Redmi Note 7, antennas are located around the perimeter of the body, so a dense case with metal elements can block up to 40% of the signal. Once you make sure that external factors are excluded, you can move to software setting up the system to unlock the full potential of your smartphone.
Basic diagnostics and resetting of network settings
The first step in solving communication problems is to make a thorough diagnosis of the current state of the connection, because often the cause lies in accumulated system errors or profile conflicts. A standard reboot is not necessary, you need to perform a complete reset of network parameters, which will return all settings of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile Internet to factory values. This action is safe for your personal data, photos and contacts, but will require re-entering passwords from wireless networks.
To perform this operation, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Recover and Reset and select Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile Internet and Bluetooth settings. Once confirmed, the system will restart network modules, clear the DNS cache, and update the APN configuration for your carrier. Many users note that this procedure helped restore normal speed where other methods were powerless.
☑️ Checklist before network reset
It is also worth paying attention to the operation of the SIM card, as old contacts or physical damage to the chip can cause periodic connection breaks. Try to remove the tray, wipe the SIM card contacts with soft cloth and install it back, making sure that it sits tight. If you have the opportunity, check the SIM card on another device to exclude problems on the operator side or the plastic itself.
⚠️ Note: After resetting your network settings, all saved Wi-Fi passwords will be deleted, so write them down beforehand or make sure you remember combinations to access your home network.
Optimizing Wi-Fi settings on Redmi Note 7
The wireless connection in Xiaomi smartphones often suffers from aggressive energy savings that can prematurely turn off the Wi-Fi module when you lock the screen. To fix this, you need to go to the advanced Wi-Fi settings and turn off the Traffic Savings feature if it is active, and also prevent the system from turning off Wi-Fi in sleep mode. This is especially important for background synchronization of mail and messengers when the phone screen is turned off.
Another important aspect is the choice of frequency range, as the Redmi Note 7 supports 802.11ac and work in the 5 GHz band. Switching to this frequency avoids interference from neighboring routers and household appliances that overflow the standard 2.4 GHz range, providing a more stable and faster data channel. However, it is worth remembering that the 5 GHz radius is smaller and the signal is worse through walls, so this method is effective only in the vicinity of the router.
For manual frequency settings go to Settings → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi assistant → Set up Wi-Fi and select your preferred range. If your router is broadcasting the same network with a combined name (Smart Connect), try to divide them in the router settings by giving the networks different names, for example, «Home_2.4» and «Home_5». Connect to the network with the prefix «5», You will immediately notice the difference in response speed.
- 📶 Use analyzer applications (such as Wi-Fi Analyzer) to find the least loaded channel in the 2.4 GHz band.
- 🔒 Make sure that your network security is set to WPA2/WPA3, Because older encryption protocols can limit speed.
- 🔄 Reboot the router regularly, as long running time without turning off leads to buffer overflow and performance drop.
It’s also worth checking if the Wi-Fi Assistant feature is included in settings that automatically switches your phone to mobile internet when there’s a weak Wi-Fi signal. While this feature is useful, it may not work properly, causing constant jumps between networks and breaking up active downloads or video calls.
Set up mobile internet and APN profiles
Mobile Internet on Redmi Note 7 may work slowly due to incorrect settings of the access point (APN), Especially if you've changed operators or moved to another region, the automatic settings that come to SMS are not always optimal, so manually editing the settings can greatly increase the speed of page loading. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Access points (APN).
In the list that opens, select your operator’s active profile or create a new one by clicking the New Access Point button. Special attention should be paid to the fields “APN Type” and “APN Protocol”: you need to prescribe default,supl,dun in the type field, and set the protocol to IPv4/IPv6. These changes allow the smartphone to use all available data channels and work correctly with modern geolocation services and multimedia messages.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Description of the impact |
|---|---|---|
| Name. | Any (e.g. FastNet) | For the convenience of the profile |
| Type APN | default,supl,dun | Activate all types of traffic |
| Protocol | IPv4/IPv6 | Ensures compatibility |
| MCC/MNC | Do not change (automatically) | Operator identifications |
Secret codes for signal verification
After making changes, be sure to save the profile and select it as the main one, and then turn on and off the air mode for the application of settings. If the speed hasn't changed, try removing all existing access points and creating one new one from scratch, as old profiles can conflict with each other «IP-address instead of the standard value.
⚠️ Attention: Do not change the fields MCC and MNC, if you are not sure of their importance for your region, as this can lead to a complete loss of communication and inability to register with the operator’s network.
Using DNS to speed up response
One of the most effective and safest ways to speed up the loading of web pages on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is to change the standard one. DNS-Provider servers for faster and more reliable. DNS (Domain Name System is responsible for converting human-readable site addresses into digital ones. IP-address, and if the provider's server is overloaded, the opening of sites will begin with a noticeable delay. DNS Google or Cloudflare often solves the problem of “long start loading».
In modern versions of the shell MIUI Android 9 and higher has a built-in “Private” feature DNS», which encrypts requests and speeds up processing. → Connection and sharing → Private DNS and select Host Name of the Provider mode, where you enter the address of one of the fast servers, such as dns.google or 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com.
- 🚀 Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) – often shows the best response speed in Europe and the CIS.
- 🌐 Google Public DNS — It is characterized by high stability and reliability of work.
- 🛡️ AdGuard DNS — It allows you to block ads at the system level, which also saves traffic.
After entering the address, save your settings and check the Internet speed by opening a few heavy sites. If you notice that some local resources have stopped opening, return the setting to Auto mode, as some providers block access to their services through third-party DNS. In most cases, this change makes navigation in the browser more responsive and smooth.
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Changing the DNS does not increase the maximum channel speed, but significantly reduces the server response time, making the Internet more lively and faster to use.
Hidden settings and engineering menu
For advanced users who want to make the most of the hardware of the Redmi Note 7, hidden menus of the engineering test system are available, logged in through a special set of codes in the Phone app, which allows access to parameters hidden from the average user. For example, code ##4636## opens the testing menu, where in the “Phone Information” section you can force the network mode to be set.
The “Select Preferred Network Type” menu recommends that you select LTE Only if you are in a 4G confident reception zone. This will prevent your phone from switching to 3G or 2G at the slightest signal weakening, which often causes sharp ping spikes in online games. However, beware: in “LTE Only” mode, incoming voice calls may stop if your carrier does not support VoLTE technology.
Codes for accessing hidden functions:
#4636## - Menu of Testing and Information
#6484## - CIT Menu (Component Check)
##225## - Calendar and Event InformationAnother useful feature in the engineering menu is to reset network usage statistics, which sometimes helps with “sticking” speeds at low values. You can also check the signal level in dBm (dBm): a value above -90 dBm is considered excellent, from -90 to -100 dBm is good, and anything below -110 dBm indicates a very weak signal, where software optimization is already ineffective.
⚠️ Warning: Changing the parameters in the engineering menu can lead to unstable operation of the communication module, so write down the initial values before making changes so that you can return to them.
Impact of MIUI Updates and Background Processes
Often the Internet is not affected by network settings, but by background processes and MIUI optimization, which aggressively restricts application activity to save battery life, check the battery settings for applications that are supposed to run in the background (messengers, mail, navigator), and set the No Limits mode, which will prevent the Internet from being turned off for these programs when the screen is locked.
Also, check for system updates regularly, as in security and stability patches Xiaomi often fixes network driver errors. Go to Settings → About phone and click on the MIUI version logo to check for new versions. Sometimes after a major update, you need to perform a full reset (Wipe Data), as old configuration files can conflict with the new firmware version.
- 🧹 Clear the cache of the Security app and the Mi Credit system service, which can accumulate network connection errors.
- 📉 Turn off the “Game Acceleration” feature in the “Security” app if it is not properly prioritizing traffic.
- 🔋 Make sure the power saving mode is not activated as it severely restricts background data transfer.
If the Redmi Note 7 is slow after all the manipulation, consider installing third-party launchers or disabling Google system services that may consume traffic. However, in most cases, comprehensive DNS, APN and frequency settings solve the problem of low speeds, returning the smartphone to a second life.
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To check the real speed of the Internet, use the Speedtest by Ookla app or the Fast.com service, comparing results before and after making changes to the settings.