How to improve the quality of communication on the phone Xiaomi: from weak signal to stable 5G

Have you noticed that your Xiaomi has become worse at catching the network? Calls are interrupted, the Internet slows down, and the signal indicator shows 1-2 sticks where there used to be full coverage? The problem of weak communication is familiar to many owners of smartphones of this brand - from budget Redmi to flagship Mi 13 Ultra. The reasons can be due to software failures and hardware limitations, but in 80% of cases the situation can be fixed without going to the service center.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can improve communication on Xiaomi, POCO and Redmi phones, from basic settings to hidden engineering menus, how to make your phone hold 4G/5G consistently, why the subway signal goes missing, and what to do if the carrier blames your device, and we’ve also tested some non-obvious life hacks that work even on older models like the Redmi Note 5.

We warn you right away that some methods require superuser rights, but most solutions are available without them, so let's start with the simplest and gradually move on to advanced techniques.

1. Check the basic network settings

Before digging deep, make sure the phone is properly configured to work with your carrier. configuration errors can cause the signal to be artificially degraded.

Open the Settings. → SIM-Maps and mobile networks and follow the following steps:

• 📶 Manual network selection: instead of auto-search, try manually selecting your carrier (e.g. MTS, Beeline, MegaFon) and sometimes the phone clings to a weak tower from a nearby operator, even if your network is available.
• 🔄 Type of network: if you have problems with 4G, Try to forcefully turn on only 3G (On some models, Xiaomi helps to disable VoLTE (voice through). LTE), If the operator does not support it well.
• 📱 APN-settings: Reset the access point settings (APN) To do this, press Access Points (APN) → Reset to default values. Wrong ones. APN This is often the reason for the lack of mobile internet.

If you don't improve your communication after this manipulation, move on to the next step, but first check if you have power saving mode on, which may limit the operation of the communication module. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Power saving mode and turn it off.

2. firmware updates and modified radio modules

Manufacturers regularly release updates that optimize antennas and communication modules. If your Xiaomi has not been updated for a long time, this can be the reason for a bad signal.

Check the relevance of the firmware:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. If you have an update, install it, especially for newer models (Xiaomi 14, POCO F6), where fresh firmware contains fixes for 5G.
3. After the upgrade, restart your phone – sometimes the changes only take effect after the reboot.

If the official updates don’t work, you can try custom radio modules (for advanced users). For example, for the Redmi Note 10 Pro, there are modified versions of modem.img that improve signal reception. However, installing them requires an unlocked bootloader and can lead to a loss of warranty.

3. Engineering menu: hidden antenna settings

Xiaomi phones have a hidden engineering menu where you can manually adjust communication settings, which is a powerful tool, but you need to use it carefully, because the wrong changes can make things worse.

To get into the engineering menu:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the combination: ##4636###.
3. Select Phone Information (or Phone Information).

In this menu, pay attention to the following parameters:

• 📡 Set preferred network type: you can choose the type of network, LTE only).
• 🔍 Signal strength: shows the actual signal strength in dBm (decibels). -70 before -100 dBm, if it's worse. -110 dBm, the connection will be unstable.
• 🔄 Enable/disable Bands: Some models can manually turn off unused frequencies so that the phone doesn’t waste time scanning them.

Attention! Do not change the settings unless you are sure of their purpose. For example, disabling the main frequencies (Band 3, Band 7, Band 20) can lead to a complete loss of communication.

View the signal level (dBm)

Check the current network type (LTE/3G/2G)

Reset your settings to factory (if something goes wrong)

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4. Hardware causes: antenna, SIM card and body

If the software methods didn't work, the problem could be the hardware, and the most common ones are:

• 📱 A damaged antenna: even a slight drop can disrupt the antenna module's contact with the motherboard).
• 🪪 Worn-out SIM-map: microcracks on the chip or contaminated contacts worsen communication. Try replacing the SIM with a new one (preferably nano-SIM format).
• 🔋 CPU overheating: At high load (games, video editing), the phone can artificially limit the power of the communication module to lower the temperature.

You can check the antenna yourself:

1. Remove the back cover (if it is removable).
2. Examine the antenna tracks on the motherboard – they should be whole, without oxidation.
3. If the antenna is on a flexible plume (like in the Redmi Note 8 Pro), check if it is tightly connected to the connector.

Critical: On plastic-enclosed models like the POCO X3, antenna lines are often printed directly on the board, and if they are damaged, they cause a total loss of communication, and this can only be repaired in the service.

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If the phone fell and the connection went down, the antenna connector probably left, press it back carefully (don't use force!) and check the signal.

5. Optimization for 5G: Why Xiaomi is not catching the new network well

Many Xiaomi users complain that 5G is unstable, appears, disappears, and speeds are lower than promised, the reasons are rooted in the implementation of the module and the operator’s settings.

Here's what we can do:

• 🔧 Turn it on. SA-Default mode: by default, many phones work in NSA (non-autonomous 5G), dependant 4G. Switch to the switch. SA (autonomous 5G) In the engineering menu (if your operator supports this mode).
• 📶 Turn off automatic network selection: in Settings → SIM-map → Type of network Select Only 5G (If it's available, it'll make the phone cling to even the weak one. 5G-signal.
• 🔄 Update your eSIM profile: If you use a virtual SIM, update your profile through your operator’s app. Outdated profiles can block access to your site. 5G.

It is also worth considering that not all Xiaomi models work equally well with 5G. For example, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G uses the Dimensity 920 module, which is better catching the network than the Snapdragon 778G in the POCO X4 Pro. If 5G is critical for you, check the support for the desired frequencies before buying (for example, n78 for Russia).

Attention! In some regions, operators use the DDS-Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DS) when 4G and 5G And so the answer is, you divide the frequency, and in this case, the phone can hang between the networks, and the solution is to force the lockdown. 4G engineer.

6.Alternative methods: from amplifiers to "folk" methods

If none of these things worked, you can try out-of-the-box approaches, some of which seem strange but have a scientific basis.

• 📎 Scotch on SIM-map: sometimes the SIM contacts don't fit tightly enough to the reader. Carefully paste a piece of SIM tape on the back of the SIM card (not on the chip!) so that it presses a little harder. 9A, POCO M3).
• 🧲 Magnetic case: If you have a case with a magnet (for example, for wireless charging), try to remove it.
• 🔋 Disabling the second slot SIM: If you use two SIMs, try to keep only one. The dual module can cause interference, especially if the second SIM is inactive.
• 📡 Signal amplifier: You can buy a mobile signal repeater for your home or office, and it's suitable if the problem isn't with the phone, but with the operator's weak coverage.

Another non-obvious thing is the color of the phone: In metal-body models (Mi 11, Mi Mix 4), antenna lines run along the edges, and some colors (like black) can better pass the signal due to the coating features. This is not critical, but if you choose between two identical models, prefer cooler shades.

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Before buying a signal amplifier, check whether it supports the frequencies of your operator. For example, for MegaFon in Moscow, Band 7 (2600 MHz) and Band 20 (800 MHz) are relevant.

7. When is the time to bring the phone to service

If you've tried all the ways, but the connection still leaves much to be desired, it may be that the problem requires professional intervention.

• 🚨 The phone does not catch the network at all (even after resetting the settings).
• 🔥 The antenna module overheats (the body in the upper part becomes hot).
• 🔧 After falling or getting moisture, the connection disappeared abruptly.
• 📉 The signal level in the engineering menu shows -120 dBm and worse with normal operator coverage.

The service center will check:

1. Integrity of antenna tracks on the board (under the microscope).
2. The operation of the radio module (test equipment).
3. The quality of the antenna connectors soldering.

The cost of repairing the antenna on Xiaomi varies from 1,500 to 5,000 rubles, depending on the model and the degree of damage. For example, replacing the antenna plume with the Redmi Note 10 will cost ~ 2000 rubles, and restoring the tracks on the Mi 11 Ultra - up to 5,000 rubles.

Attention! If the phone is warranty, don't disassemble it yourself, it voids warranty obligations. In official Xiaomi service centers, diagnosing a communication problem is usually free.

FAQ: Frequent questions about communication on Xiaomi