How to improve the quality of mobile Internet on a Xiaomi smartphone: from settings to hardware solutions

Slow mobile internet on Xiaomi is a problem that even owners of flagship models Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or Xiaomi 13 Ultra face. The reasons can be dozens, from the wrong settings of APN to hardware limitations of the communication module. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to improve speed from basic (which will take 2 minutes) to advanced (require root rights or disassembly of the phone).

It's important to understand that if you're below 5 Mbps at full 4G, the problem is almost always software-solvable, but if the phone only sees 2G/E where other devices have 4G+, it could be the communication module or antenna, and that's where you need repairs. We'll teach you how to distinguish between the two.

This article is relevant for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones based on MIUI 12-14 (including global and Chinese firmware). Most methods work on custom builds such as Pixel Experience or LineageOS, but the path to settings may differ.

1. Checking the baseline parameters: SIM-map, network mode and operator

Before digging deep into the settings, make sure the issue is not on the operator's side or SIM-Here are three key points to check first:

• 📱 Type SIM-cards: if you have an old Mini-SIM or Micro-SIM card, it can physically limit speed.Modern Xiaomi supports Nano-SIM with VoLTE and 5G.
• 📡 Network mode: in the settings of the phone can be forced to turn on 3G or 2G. This is true for regions with poor coverage, but in cities such a restriction is meaningless.
• 🏢 The operator's problem is that sometimes the slow Internet is not the fault of the phone, but a temporary problem on the provider's side. SIM-card.

To change the network mode on Xiaomi, go to:

Settings → SIM- Maps and Mobile Networks → [Select SIM] → Network Type

Set 4G (preferably) or 5G (if supported). If 5G is not available, update your firmware or check the model's compatibility with your network.

⚠️ Note: On some models POCO (for example, POCO X3 Pro) after resetting the network mode is reset to 3G. This is a firmware bug – check your settings after any update.

Optimizing APN Settings: Why Standard Settings Are Slowing Down the Internet

APN (Access Point Name is the "entry point" that the operator provides to the Internet. APN They can limit speed even when the signal is full. On Xiaomi, these settings sometimes get lost after updates or changes. SIM-map.

To set up the APN manually:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → [Choose. SIM] → Access points (APN).
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select the New Access Point.
3. Enter your operator’s parameters (see table below).
4. Save the settings and restart the phone.

If the speed has not increased after manual adjustment, try:

• 🔄 Remove all saved APN and let the phone download them automatically (reboot the device afterward).
• 📲 In the field, Tip. APN Add default,supl,mms (sometimes helps with problems with the system) MMS).
• 🔍 Check if the box is just right in front of you. 2G/3G customized APN (must be off).

💡

If after changing the APN, the Internet disappears completely, return the standard settings: go to Settings → System → Resetting → Network settings reset.

Signal Diagnosis: How to Know if the Phone or Operator is to Blame

Before you change anything on your phone, you need to make sure it's the phone that's the problem, not the network coverage, and you use an engineering menu and third-party apps to do that.

Method 1: Code for the engineering menu (works on most Xiaomi):

##4636##

In the menu that opens, select Phone Information and pay attention to:

• Network type: LTE or NR (5G)
• Network status - if disconnected, SIM-card inactive.
• Signal - a value below -110 dBm indicates a weak coating.

Method 2: Network analysis apps, install one of these apps from Google Play:

• 📊 Network Cell Info Lite – shows detailed information about towers, frequencies and signal level.
• 📡 LTE Discovery – analyzes speed, delays and connection type (4G/5G).
• 🔍 OpenSignal – Compares carrier coverage in your region.

⚠️ Note: If the engineering menu displays Network Type: Unknown or Signal: 0 dBm, this may indicate a malfunction of the communication module.

4.Software Solutions: Disabling Background Processes and Optimizing MIUI

MIUI is known for its love of background processes that can eat up traffic and slow down the Internet.

• 🚫 Background Traffic Limitation: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → [Select the application] → Mobile data and disable Background data for unnecessary programs.
• ⚡ Disabling Auto Updates: in Settings → The phone. → Update system disable Automatic booting on mobile network.
• 🔄 Network reset: sometimes helps to return factory speed. → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting Wi-Fi, Mobile Network and Bluetooth.

Another hidden brake is the power saving mode, which is that the Super Battery Mode or Ultra Mode that's turned on restricts the performance of the communications module, to check this out:

Settings → Battery and performance → Battery mode

Expose Balanced or Performance.

Disable background data for social networks and messengers

Set the battery mode to "Balanced"

Reset network settings (if the speed dropped after the update)

Disable auto-update applications over the mobile network-->

Hardware methods: from replacement SIM-maps before antenna repair

If the software methods didn't work, the problem could be the hardware.

• 🔧 Status. SIM-cards: scratched contacts or a cracked card can impair communication. SIM To another phone and check the speed.
• 📶 Antenna and communication module: if the phone fell or got wet, the antenna tracks could have been damaged).
• 🔌 Tray SIM-maps: on some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro), the tray may not fit tightly, causing the contacts to oxidize.

If you suspect a hardware malfunction, do the following:

1. Check the internet speed on another SIM-card (for example, friends or colleagues).
2. If the speed hasn't changed, the phone is a problem. If it's grown, it's the SIM or the carrier.
3. Contact the service center for the diagnosis of the communication module (the cost of verification is from 500 rubles).

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with metal body (for example, Mi 11) antenna lines often suffer from falls. If after the screen repair the signal deteriorated, check if the master did not damage the antenna cable.

💡

If the phone doesn’t see the 4G/5G network that other devices have in the same location, there’s a 90% chance that the problem is hardware – a communication module diagnosis is required.

6.Alternative methods: from firmware to external antennas

If standard methods don't work, you can try advanced solutions, which take longer and sometimes more technical skills, but can give you a significant boost in speed.

• 🔄 Firmware change: On some Xiaomi models (especially with MediaTek), custom firmware (such as the Pixel Experience) improves the performance of the communication module.
• 📶 External antenna: For stationary use (for example, in a country house), you can connect an external antenna via an adapter MHF4. This is true for models with an antenna connector (for example, Xiaomi Mi Max 3).
• 🔧 Replacement of the communication module: Aliexpress sells modules for popular models (price - from 1,500 rubles), but it is difficult to replace it yourself - you need a soldering station and experience.

If you decide to firmware, follow this algorithm:

1. Make a backup of data through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. Unblock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi website (you need a Mi Account).
3. Install TWRP and run custom firmware with support for your model.

💡

Before you run your firmware, check reviews about a particular build on the 4PDA or XDA-Developers forum.Some firmware can "kill" IMEI, making the phone unusable for calls.

7.Special cases: specific problems of Xiaomi models

Some Xiaomi models have unique mobile internet bugs, and here are the most common:

If your model is not on the list, but the problem is similar, try:

• 🔍 Search for information on the forum 4PDA phone-themed.
• 📲 Contact Xiaomi with the Mi Community app.
• 🔧 Reset your phone to factory settings (before doing this, make a backup!).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions