How to improve the signal on Xiaomi smartphones: from Wi-Fi to mobile network

Have you noticed that your Xiaomi has become worse at catching the network? Calls are interrupted, the Internet slows down, and GPS loses satellites at the most inopportune moment? Signal problems are one of the most common complaints of owners of Redmi, POCO and Mi smartphones, but most of them are solved without going to the service center. In this article, we will analyze all possible causes of a bad signal — from software failures to hardware limitations — and give step-by-step instructions how to fix them.

It's important to understand that weak signals are not always the fault of the phone. Sometimes the problem lies in the carrier, network congestion, or even physical obstacles (walls, weather, distance from the tower). However, 70% of the time, the fault is incorrect settings, outdated software or conflicting applications. We have collected unique optimization methods that you will not find in standard manuals, such as how to manually select 4G frequency or turn off energy saving for a modem.

This article is suitable for all modern Xiaomi models, including Redmi Note 12/13, POCO F5/X5, Mi 11/12/13 and others. If after all the manipulations the signal has not improved, at the end there is a checklist for hardware malfunction diagnostics.

1. Checking the basic parameters of the network

Before you dig deep, make sure the problem isn't the basics.

• 📶 Signal level in status bar. If there's 1-2 division, the problem might be in the operator's coverage area. Check the coverage map on MTS, Beeline or MegaFon.
• 🔄 Flight mode. Sometimes it's activated randomly (like through quick settings). Turn it off in the notification curtain.
• 📱 SIM card. Reboot your phone and check if the SIM is inserted correctly. On hybrid slot models (like the Redmi Note 10 Pro), make sure the slot is not contaminated.
• 🔋 Power saving mode. Power saving enabled may limit the modem. Turn it off in Settings → Battery.

If the basics are fine but the signal is still weak, move to the next section. Note: some MIUI firmware (especially global ones) may have a signal level bug. To check the actual quality of the connection, call another phone or run a speed test (for example, through Speedtest).

2 - Optimization of mobile network (4G/5G)

The weak mobile internet signal is often due to incorrect network settings. MIUI has hidden settings that allow you to manually set network priority, disable unnecessary bandwidths, and even force you to connect to 4G instead of 3G.

Follow the instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
2. Choose yours. SIM-card (if there are several).
3. Go to Network Type and install 4G (preferably) or 4G Only (if 5G is unstable in your area).
4. Activate the Enhanced 4G (VoLTE) option to improve call quality.
5. Enable Autoconnection to the network (if there is such a point).

For advanced users: If your Xiaomi supports 5G bands (like the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or Xiaomi 13T) but the network is unstable, try manually selecting the range.

Enter the dialer in ##4636##


Go to "Phone Information" → "Installation of a network type"




Select "LTE only" or "NR/LTE/TD-SCDMA/GSM auto" (for 5G)

⚠️ Warning: Not all operators support VoLTE at all rates. If calls stop working after this option is enabled, turn it off and contact the operator to activate the service.

Setting 4G/5G Priority

Enable VoLTE (if supported)

Disable energy saving for modem

Check the operator’s coverage in your area-->

3. set up Wi-Fi for maximum stability

If the signal problems are only Wi-Fi, check first:

• 📡 Router distance. The further away, the weaker the signal. The optimal distance is up to 10 meters without obstruction.
• 🔌 Wi-Fi channel. If your home has a lot of networks, they can interfere with each other. Use the WiFi Analyzer app (available on Google Play) to find the least loaded channel.
• 🔄 Range: Modern routers support 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The former is better through walls, the latter is faster but less stable over distance.
• 🔒 Type of encryption. Outdated WEP or TKIP can cause problems. Use WPA2-PSK or WPA3.

To change the Wi-Fi settings on Xiaomi:

1. Open the Settings. → Wi-Fi.
2. Click on your network name and select Change Network.
3. Install additional → bandwidth in Auto or select 5 GHz (if the router supports).
4. Activate Intelligent Wi-Fi acceleration (if any).

If the signal is weak, try resetting the network settings:

Settings → System → Resetting → Resetting Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth

⚠️ Warning: Some firmware MIUI (especially custom ones) have a bug that automatically connects to Wi-Fi. If the phone doesn't connect to the saved network, remove it from the list and reconnect.

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If your Xiaomi often loses Wi-Fi in sleep mode, turn off the option “Stop Wi-Fi in sleep mode” in additional network settings.

4. Improve GPS and geolocation accuracy

Bad GPS performance on Xiaomi is a common problem, especially in cities with tall buildings or indoors. If maps take a long time to determine location or get lost, try:

• 📍 Enable high-precision location. Go to Settings → Privacy → Permissions → Geodata and select High-Accuracy mode.
• 🛰️ Update A-GPS. To do this, use the GPS Status & Toolbox app (download to Google Play) and press Manage A-GPS state → Reset, then Download.
• 🔄 Calibrate the compass. In the same app, select Compass Calibration and follow the instructions (rotate the phone in the shape of an eight).
• 📱 Turn off energy saving for geolocation. In Settings → Battery → Select apps, find Google Services and Google Maps, install them without restrictions.

If GPS does not work at all (for example, there is no signal in Google Maps or Yandex.Navigator), check:

• Updates for Google Play Services (update to Google Play)
• GPS antenna operation (if the phone fell or urinated, the module could be damaged).
• Developer Settings: Enable USB Debugging and Fictitious Locations (sometimes helps reset GPS cache).

5. Verification for viruses and conflicting applications

Few people know, but viruses and optimizers can block network signals, such as some cache cleaners (like Clean Master) aggressively shut down background processes, including system communications services, and VPN- applications and firewalls that can restrict network access.

What to do:

1. Check your phone for viruses with Malwarebytes or built-in MIUI Security (Settings) → Security).
2. Remove suspicious applications, especially those that request access to SMS, calls, or the network.
3. Disable VPN (if you use it). Some VPNs (such as Psiphon or Turbo VPN) may conflict with the mobile network.
4. Run your phone in Safe Mode (press the power button → Safe Mode) and check the signal. If it improves, one of the installed applications is to blame.

If the problem has disappeared in Safe Mode, alternately remove the applications starting with the last ones installed.

• 🔒 Optimizers (DU Speed Booster, CCleaner).
• 📡 VPN and proxy applications.
• 🎮 Game cheaters (can block network traffic)
• 📱 Launchers (e.g., Nova Launcher sometimes conflicts with system services).

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Safe mode is the fastest way to check if a third-party app is to blame for a bad signal, and if the network is working normally in this mode, the software is the problem.

6. Update firmware and reset settings

Outdated firmware is one of the main reasons for bad signaling. Xiaomi regularly releases updates that fix modem, Wi-Fi and GPS bugs. Check the relevance of your version of MIUI:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If a new version is available, download it and install it.

If there are no updates but the signal is still bad, try resetting your network settings:

Settings → System → Resetting → Resetting Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth

If that doesn't work, the last option is a full factory reset.Warning: this will delete all data from the phone, so back up first!

Settings → System → Resetting settings → Erase all data

Once reset, the phone will reboot and return to the "out of the box" state. Check the signal before data recovery - if it improved, the problem was in the settings or conflicting data.

7. Hardware problems: when to carry in the service

If none of the software methods worked, the problem could be the hardware, and here are the signs that the phone needs to be shown to the wizard:

• 📵 Complete lack of signal (even in areas with good coverage).
• 🔌 The phone doesn't see the SIM card or says "No service."
• 📡 Antenna lines are damaged (apparent physical defects near the SIM card connector).
• 💧 The phone fell into the water or was hit.
• 🔥 Overheating in the upper part of the phone (there are antennas).

The most common hardware malfunctions:

1. Damage to the antenna module (often after falls)
2. Oxidation of SIM card contacts (due to moisture).
3. Modem malfunction (requires flashing or chip replacement).
4. Problems with soldered contacts (on the board).

If you suspect a hardware breakdown, do not try to disassemble the phone yourself - this can aggravate the problem. Contact the official Xiaomi service center or checked repair. The average cost of diagnosis is 500-1000 rubles, antenna repair is 1500-3000 rubles.

⚠️ Warning: On Xiaomi models with metal body (such as Mi 6 or Mi 8), antenna lines often depart after falls. If the signal is lost after impact, 90% of the probability that you will need to replace the antenna module.

8.Alternative ways of amplifying the signal

If all standard methods have been tried, but the signal is still weak, try these non-obvious solutions:

• 📶 Use an external antenna. This will require a signal repeater or a Mi-Fi router with an external antenna (e.g., Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Amplifier 2). Connect your phone to the router via Wi-Fi, which often gives you a more stable connection than a mobile network.
• 🔄 Change carrier. Sometimes the problem isn't with your phone, it's with your carrier's poor coverage. Check the coverage cards and try another provider's SIM card (for example, if you have MTS, test Tele2).
• 📱 Buy a phone with the best modem. If you live in a region with poor coverage, look for models that support 4×4MIMO (e.g., Xiaomi 13 Pro or POCO F5 Pro) — they are better at catching weak signals.
• 🔋 Turn off the second slot SIM. On some Xiaomi models (like the Redmi Note 11), using two SIM cards can degrade the signal. Try leaving only one.

For POCO and Redmi owners with custom firmware: sometimes the signal spoils after installing an unofficial MIUI or LineageOS.

1. Get back to the stock firmware.
2. Check if your model supports modem files for your region (for example, there are separate modem files for Europe and Asia for the Redmi Note 10 Pro).

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If you’re in a bad signal environment (like a basement or a city), consider buying a portable 4G- router with an external antenna, which is more reliable than relying on a built-in smartphone modem.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the signal on Xiaomi