How to Improve the Internet on Xiaomi Phone: A Complete Guide

Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones are famous for their performance, but even flagship models can have difficulty connecting to the network in poor coverage. Users often face a situation where the indicator shows the presence of 4G or 5G, but the pages in the browser load endlessly or the video is interrupted. This can be caused not only by the provider’s problems, but also by incorrect settings of the device itself that require your attention.

In this article, we will look at proven ways to stabilize connections and increase data rates. You will learn about hidden engineering menus, the right configuration of access points and methods that will help you bypass the software limitations of the operator. Sometimes just change one parameter to make Wi-Fi or mobile Internet work at maximum efficiency.

Before you get to the tricky side of things, you should rule out the trivial reasons: check the balance, make sure the SIM card is not physically damaged or too old. Older 2G/3G cards may not support modern encryption and speed standards, which is critical for 4G/LTE networks. If the card is okay, move to software setting.

Basic diagnostics and resetting network settings

The first step is always to check the current status of the connection. Often a MIUI or HyperOS system accumulates errors during long periods of operation, which leads to a "stick" of the communication module at a certain frequency. Simply restarting the device may not help if the network settings are not completely reset, which will return all settings of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile Internet to factory values.

To do this, you need to go to your smartphone's settings menu. Find Connections and Sharing or Advanced Settings, depending on the firmware version. There you will find Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. Click on it and confirm the action. Note that passwords from saved Wi-Fi networks will be deleted and you will have to re-enter them.

Once reset, the phone will re-register on the operator's network, requesting fresh configurations, which often solves the problem when the device "clings" to a remote tower with a weak signal instead of a near one. If the speed has not increased, move to more subtle settings.

⚠️ Before resetting, make sure you remember passwords from important Wi-Fi networks, as it will be impossible to recover them from your phone’s memory after this procedure.

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If the net is completely lost after reset, try to remove it. SIM-map, wipe the contacts with a lastic and paste back, then restart the device.

Optimization of APN access points

One of the most effective measures to speed up mobile internet is manually configuring APN (Access Point Name) access points. Operators often provide standard settings that are not always optimal for a particular region or phone model. Changing the protocol and type of APN can significantly reduce ping in games and speed up page loading.

To get into the settings menu, open Settings, go to SIM-Maps and mobile networks. Select your active SIM card and click on Access Point Names (APN). In the upper right corner, click the plus to create a new dot, and it's important to enter the data provided by your operator correctly, but with minor adjustments.

In the APN type field, default is often the default,supl. Try adding dun (for Internet distribution) or changing the protocol type. In the APN protocol option, select IPv4/IPv6, even if only IPv4 is the default. The dual-protocol mode allows the device to choose the most stable connection path.

• 📡 Protocol type: Install IPv4/IPv6 Maximum compatibility with modern towers.
• 🔒 Type of authentication: Try changing the PAP on CHAP or vice versa, if the connection is unstable.
• 🚀 MMS Protocol: Make sure it is also installed in the IPv4/IPv6.

Once you make the changes, be sure to save the new access point and activate it by ticking the box. Then turn on and off flight mode to make the changes effective. Check speed through Speedtest and compare it to previous performance.

Using an engineering menu to select a network

Xiaomi smartphones have a hidden engineering menu that allows you to control the radio module at a deep level, a powerful tool for those who want to force the phone to a certain communication standard, for example, to only have the device on 4G LTE, so that it does not “roll” in 3G or 2G in areas of uncertain reception.

To enter the menu, open the Phone app and enter the code ##4636##. If the code doesn't work, your firmware version may block this entry and you'll need to install a special app from the Play Market store, such as "Force LTE Only." From the menu that opens, select "Phone Information."

Find the drop-down list for Set Preferred Network Type. The default value is "LTE/TD-SCDMA/WCDMA." For maximum speed, select the option that only contains LTE Only. Be careful: after that, you can stop accepting incoming calls if your operator does not support VoLTE technology, since the 3G/2G network for voice will be disabled.

⚠️ Attention: Regime"LTE Only" may cause you to be unable to make regular voice calls, but only use this mode to distribute the Internet or if you have a VoLTE service connected.

To get the call back, simply select LTE/WCDMA/GSM (auto connect) mode or reboot the phone.This method is especially useful in places where there is a 4G signal, but it is very weak, and the phone is constantly trying to switch to a more stable but slower 3G, causing connection breaks.

Frequency settings for Wi-Fi and DNS

Xiaomi's Internet problems often lie not in the mobile network, but in the Wi-Fi connection. By default, the phone can automatically select the frequency, but in apartment buildings, the 2.4 GHz range can be very noisy by neighboring routers. Forced transition to 5 GHz can dramatically improve the situation.

Go to your Wi-Fi settings, tap the gear next to your network. If the router is dual-band, make sure you're connected to the network with the end _5G. Also in the advanced Wi-Fi settings (in the "Advanced" section or through the developer menu) you can change MAC-address from "accidental" to"MAC-Device address. Some older routers may not work correctly with random addresses.

Another important aspect — DNS-Servers. Standard ISP servers can respond slowly. In Wi-Fi settings, click on the arrow or network name, find Settings. IP" and switch with DHCP Static, in the field. DNS 1 type in 8.8.8.8 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) to speed up the opening of websites.

Remember that 5GHz has a shorter range and is worse at passing through walls. If you're far from the router, the phone can switch to 2.4GHz on its own to keep the connection running, even if the speed drops.

Elimination of background activity and MIUI limitations

The MIUI and HyperOS shells are known for their aggressive battery optimization, which often kills background processes, including file uploads or navigator work. The system may be that an application you're not using right now should not consume traffic. This needs to be fixed manually.

Go to Settings -> Applications -> All applications. Find programs that are important to you (browser, messengers, maps). Go to "Activity Control" or "Battery Savings." Select the option No restrictions. This will prevent the system from limiting the background data transfer for the selected software.

Also check your mobile network settings. In the Data Use section, make sure that mission-critical applications are allowed to transfer data in the background. Sometimes users accidentally turn off this switch and then wonder why notifications only come after the application is opened.

• 🔋 Power saving mode: Turn it off if you need top network speed as it limits the radio module.
• 📉 Traffic limit: Check if there is a daily limit after which the system blocks the Internet.
• 🚫 Blockers: Built-in “Defender” can block ads, which sometimes breaks the layout of sites and slows down their loading.

Disabling unnecessary animations and visuals can also subjectively speed up the interface, although this affects the speed of the Internet indirectly, freeing up the CPU resources to process network packets.

Hardware factors and location selection

The physical causes of a bad signal cannot be discounted either: Cases, especially metal or magnetic ones for car holders, can shield the antennas of a smartphone. Antennas in modern Xiaomi are often located around the perimeter of the body, and a dense case can block the signal from the path to the tower.

Try to remove the case and check the signal level. It also matters the position of the phone in space. In some models, one part of the body receives the signal better than the other. If you are in the zone of insecure reception, even a 90 degree rotation of the phone can add one division on the signal scale.

If you use two of them SIM-Maps, remember that in Dual mode SIM Dual Standby second card can periodically poll the network, creating micro-gaps in the main data line. In the settings of the mobile network, you can temporarily disable the second SIM card, if it is not needed to direct all the power of the modem to the main.

⚠️ Note: Antienna stickers sold online are 99% marketing and do not improve reception.

In extreme cases, when software methods do not help, it is worth considering buying a new router with support for frequency aggregation or externally. USB-antennas if your phone supports the connection through OTG (Although this is rare for smartphones).

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Comprehensive approach: The combination of the right APN setup, Wi-Fi frequency selection and battery limitations removal gives the best result.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)