Mobile Internet on Xiaomi is slowing down? 10 proven ways to speed up 4G/5G

Have you noticed that mobile internet on your Xiaomi is slower than before? Pages are loaded forever, videos are constantly buffered, and instant messengers are hanging up when sending messages, POCO Mi – even on flagship models with support 5G Connection speeds can be poor, and the fault is not always with the operator: 70% of the time, the fault is with the wrong phone settings, outdated software or hardware limitations.

In this article, we’ll break down 10 real-world ways to improve mobile internet on Xiaomi, from basic settings to hidden engineering menu features.

• 🔍 Diagnose the current speed and identify bottlenecks"
• ⚡ Optimize network settings for maximum performance
• 📶 Choose the best frequency 4G/5G manually (yes, it is possible!)
• 🛠️ Fix software bugs that inhibit connection

All instructions are suitable for the devices on MIUI 12/13/14 HyperOS, including Redmi Note models 12/13, POCO F5/X5, Xiaomi 13/14 And older machines!

1. Diagnostics of the problem: why is the Internet slowing down?

Before treatment, you need to make a diagnosis. Slow mobile Internet on Xiaomi can be caused by:

• 📡 Problems with the operator: base station overload, maintenance work or tariff restrictions (for example, throttling after exhaustion of high-speed traffic).
• 📱 Suboptimal phone settings: automatic network selection, outdated APN, switch-on.
• 🔋 Hardware limitations: weak communication module (especially in low-end Redmi models) 9A/10A), processor overheating, antenna wear.
• 🦠 Software bugs: firmware errors, conflicts with applications (for example, VPN firewall).

How to check what exactly inhibits the connection?

1. Speed Test: Use Speedtest or FAST.com. Run the test 3 times in different places (home, street, office) if the speed is below 10 Mbps per day. 4G or 50 Mbps 5G — problem.
2. Signal check: enter in the dialer number ##4636##, Go to Phone Information and see Network Signal. -100 dBm says there's a weak surface.
3. Compare it to other devices: Ask a friend with another smartphone (not Xiaomi) to check the speed in the same place. If he's doing well, the problem is in your phone.

⚠️ Note: If the speed drops only in certain applications (for example, in TikTok or Telegram), and everything is fine in the browser, it is not the connection that is to blame, but the limitations of the application itself or its cache. → Annexes.

2. Basic settings: what can be done in 5 minutes

Start with simple steps – they help in 40% of cases:

2.1. Switch the network mode to 4G/5G (Not "Auto")

By default, Xiaomi selects network mode automatically, but sometimes it works suboptimal. 4G (or 5G, If your phone supports you, it can speed up the connection:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
2. Choose yours. SIM-map.
3. Click Network Type and install Only 4G (or 5G, if available).
4. Reboot the phone.

2.2 Update the settings APN

APN (Access Point Name is the "address" that connects the phone to the operator's Internet. APN They can slow down. Update them:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → [Yours. SIM] → Access points (APN).
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Reset to default values.
3. If it doesn’t help, add a new one. APN manually (options can be found on your operator's website).

Example of settings APN for MTS:

2.3. Turn off traffic saving mode

MIUI It has a built-in mobile traffic saving mode that limits the speed of background data transfer:

1. Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Traffic Savings.
2. Turn off the slider Saving mobile traffic.
3. Also check the settings of individual apps: some (like Google Play) may have their own limitations.

Compulsory connection to the 4G/5G (Not "Auto")|

APN Reset to factory or manually updated|

Traffic saving mode is off|

Phone reboots after changes-->

3. Advanced settings: engineering menu and hidden parameters

If the basic methods didn't work, it's time to dig deeper. Xiaomi (like other Android smartphones) has a hidden engineering menu where you can manually adjust mobile network settings. Careful: the wrong changes can lead to loss of communication!

Selection of the optimal frequency 4G (LTE Band)

Operators use different frequency bands to 4G. Some of them can be overloaded, others can be free, and you can prioritize certain frequencies in the engineering menu:

1. Enter the dialer code: ##4636##.
2. Go to the phone information.
3. Scroll down to Set your preferred network type and select LTE only.
4. Go back and select Settings. LTE Band (if this item exists).
5. Mark the frequencies that your operator supports (you can find out on its website or in the application, for example, "My MTS").

Examples of frequencies for Russian operators:

• 📶 MTS: Band 3 (1800 MHz), Band 7 (2600 MHz), Band 20 (800 MHz).
• 📶 MegaFond: Band 7, Band 20, Band 38 (2600 MHz for) 5G).
• 📶 Beeline: Band 3, Band 7, Band 20.

⚠️ Note: If the Internet is completely lost after changing the frequencies, go back to the engineering menu and select Auto or reset the network settings in Settings. → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting network settings.

Incorporating VoLTE and VoNR for stable communication

VoLTE technologies (voice on the 4G) and VoNR (voice on) 5G) Not only do they improve the quality of calls, but they also optimize the data transfer:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
2. Choose yours. SIM-map.
3. Activate VoLTE and VoNR sliders (if any).
4. Reboot the phone.

If the option is not on the menu, check:

• ✅ Does your operator support VoLTE (the list is on its website).
• ✅ Is the phone firmware updated (see section 4).
• ✅ Whether inserted SIM-slot-card SIM 1 (on some models, Xiaomi VoLTE works only with the first one) SIM).

4. firmware update: why it's critical for internet speed

Firmware (MIUI HyperOS, or HyperOS, directly affects the mobile module, and manufacturers regularly release updates that are not available:

• 🔄 Correct bugs in the modem (for example, breaks in the connection when switching between the two modems) 4G and 5G).
• 📈 Optimize the algorithms of network selection.
• 🛡️ Close vulnerabilities that can be exploited by malicious applications to steal traffic.

How to check and update the firmware:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If you have an update, download it and install it. Importantly, connect your phone to charge and use Wi-Fi to keep mobile traffic out of the way.

If the automatic update does not find the latest versions, try installing the firmware manually:

1. Download the latest stable version MIUI HyperOS for your model from the official Xiaomi website.
2. Move the firmware file (.zip format) to the root folder of the phone.
3. Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Select a firmware file.
4. Confirm the installation and wait for the process to be completed.

⚠️ Note: Do not install firmware from third-party developers (customs) ROM) — This can lead to loss of warranty and unstable modem operation. Use only official versions from the Xiaomi website.

💡

Regular firmware updates are the only way to get fixes for modem hardware bugs that slow down the internet.

5. Hardware solutions: when the "iron" is to blame

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

Checking the antenna and SIM-map

A weak signal is often associated with:

• 📱 A damaged antenna (especially if the phone falls or gets wet).
• 🪪 Worn-out SIM-card (over 5 years old).
• 🔌 Bad contact in the slot for SIM-map.

How to check:

1. Look at this. SIM-If you have a new card, replace it with a new one. USIM).
2. Check the slot: take out the tray for SIM-cards and gently blow it (no alcohol!) Make sure the contacts are not bent.
3. Testing with another SIM-Card: Ask a friend for a work permit SIM You're the same operator and check your speed. If it's better, your problem is yours. SIM.

Processor overheating and speed throttling

Xiaomi (especially Snapdragon processor models) 7xx/8xx) They're prone to overheating, which leads to trottling, which is an artificial decrease in productivity, including Internet speed:

1. Install the app CPU-Z Open the Thermal tab (Temperature).
2. If the processor temperature is above 60°C in plain or 80°C under load - the phone overheats.
3. Try cooling it (remove the case, turn it off for 10 minutes) and retest the speed.

How to reduce overheating:

• ❄️ Turn off unnecessary background processes in Settings → Annexes → Auto-start.
• ⚡ Reduce screen resolution and refresh rate (if supported).
• 🔋 Replace the battery if it swells (this is a common cause of overheating).

💡

If your phone is too hot when using mobile internet, try turning it off. 5G leave only 4G — This will reduce the load on the modem and temperature.

Alternative methods: VPN, DNS and other tricks

Sometimes slow internet isn't about the phone, it's about operator restrictions or traffic routing. Consider some non-obvious ways to speed up the connection:

6.1. Modification DNS-server

DNS-Operator servers can be slow. DNS (Google or Cloudflare speed up the loading of websites:

1. Install 1.1.1.1: Faster Internet.
2. Follow the instructions in the application for setting DNS.
3. Or set it up manually: Settings → Connections and sharing → Private DNS → enter dns.google or 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com.

6.2. Use of VPN throttle-by-pass

Some operators artificially limit the speed for certain services (for example, torrents or video). VPN This can help you bypass these limitations:

• 🛡️ Recommended VPN: ProtonVPN (free), Windscribe.
• ⚠️ Avoid the unknown. VPN — They could steal your data.
• 📊 Before connecting, check the speed without VPN, later VPN — If the difference is positive, the restrictions were imposed by the operator.

6.3.Switching off IPv6 (if he's intruding)

In some networks IPv6 It's unstable and it can slow down the connection:

1. Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Mobile Network.
2. Choose yours. SIM-map → Access points (APN).
3. Click on the current one. APN And in the field, APN remove ipv6 (If you have one, save the changes.

7.Extreme measures: resetting settings and contacting the service

If none of the above has worked, radical methods remain:

7.1. Complete reset of network settings

This procedure removes all stored Wi-Fi networks, passwords, Bluetooth and mobile settings, returning them to factory:

1. Go to Settings → System → Resetting settings.
2. Select Network Resetting.
3. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

7.2. Hard Reset (total phone reset)

If the problem is caused by deep software failures, a full factory reset can help.Warning: this will remove all data from the phone!

1. Make a backup copy of important data (photos, contacts, messages).
2. Go to Settings → System → Resetting → Delete all data.
3. Confirm the reset and wait for the process to be completed.

Calling the service centre

If the Internet is still not working well after all the manipulations, the problem may be:

• 📡 Faulty modem (requires replacement of motherboard).
• 🔌 A damaged antenna (often after falling).
• 🔋 A bloated battery that presses on the board and disrupts communication.

In this case, contact the official Xiaomi service center. Diagnosis is usually free, and repairs cost 1,500-5000 ₽ depending on the problem.

💡

If resetting the settings did not help, and you do not want to go to the service - try flashing your phone through Fastboot (instructions are on the forum). 4PDA). But remember: it is risky and gives no guarantee!

FAQ: Frequent questions about mobile Internet on Xiaomi