How to speed up the Internet on Xiaomi Redmi 8: the full guide

Owners of budget and mid-budget smartphones often face a situation where the connection speed drops to critical values, making it impossible to comfortably surf or watch videos. Xiaomi Redmi 8, despite its popularity and reliability, is not immune to software failures in the communication module that can occur after operating system updates or accumulation of system debris. Low data transfer speeds often annoy users accustomed to instant loading pages.

Before you bring your device to a service center, you should try software optimization methods that solve the problem 90 percent of the time without cost. Network settings in the MIUI shell allow you to flexibly manage connection priorities and data protocols. The right configuration of these parameters can work wonders even on the latest hardware.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all effective ways to improve network speed on your device. You will learn about the hidden functions of the engineering menu, the correct access point parameters and the nuances of working with the Internet. DNS-servers, shifting DNS on 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8 Often speeds up the opening of websites 30-40% without changing the operator's tariff.

Diagnostics of the current state of the network

The first step to solving the problem is to objectively assess the current situation, because the subjective feeling of a slow Internet is not always true. 4G/LTE It's not like Wi-Fi, because the methods of optimizing them are very different, and users often confuse high latency (ping) with low download speed, although the reasons for these phenomena can be quite different.

For accurate diagnosis, it is recommended to use specialized applications such as Speedtest by Ookla or built-in speed tests from operators. Run the check several times at different times of the day to prevent temporary congestion of your provider's cell towers. If the rates are significantly lower than the declared tariff, the problem lies either in the settings of the smartphone or as a cover.

Note the indicators at the top of the screen: an H+ or 3G icon indicates that the device cannot catch a stable 4G signal, which automatically limits speed, in which case temporary switching of network mode through the developer menu or manual selection of the preferred network type helps.

• 📉 Check the current speed through the Speedtest app and write down the results for comparison.
• 📶 Make sure the indicator shows 4G or LTE, Not the old standards.
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone to reset temporary network caches and re-register on the network.

Setting up an APN access point for mobile data

One of the most common reasons for low mobile internet speeds is incorrect access point settings, or APN (Access Point Name). Communication operators often update their gateways, but the smartphone may retain old settings that do not allow you to use the full potential of the network.

To enter the settings menu, go on the Settings path → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Choose yours. SIM-map → Access points (APN). Here you will see a list of existing profiles; if there are many or they look strange, it is better to create a new one. Click the "New Access Point" button and enter data relevant to your operator, which can usually be found on the official website of the provider.

It is important to specify the APN type and protocols correctly. In the "APN type" field, default,supl should be indicated, and in the "APN protocol" and "APN roaming protocol" fields, you must select IPv4/IPv6. These parameters ensure compatibility with modern networks and allow the device to choose the optimal route of traffic.

Once you save your settings, be sure to restart your device so that the changes take effect. If the speed has not changed, try to enter 8.8.8.8 in the Server field (if you have one), which sometimes helps to bypass the local restrictions of the provider.

Shift. DNS-servers to speed up response

The speed of loading web pages depends on the time it takes to convert a domain name into a domain name. IP-address, and standard DNS-Operator servers are often slow, and replacing them with public and fast servers from Google or Cloudflare can significantly reduce response time (ping) and speed up the opening of sites on Redmi 8.

Modern versions of the MIUI shell, including those on Redmi 8, have a built-in Private DNS feature that runs on top of any connection, and can be found by Settings → Connection and Sharing → Private DNS. The default is Auto, but to speed up, select DNS Host Name.

In the box that appears, type in the address dns.google or 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com. Once saved, the system will start using a secure and fast connection to resolve domain names, which will not only speed up surfing, but also increase security by hiding your search history from the provider.

⚠️ Attention: Enter the address DNS It's completely free of errors and symbols, otherwise the Internet may stop working completely. DNS missing applications or sites, return the setting to the position "Auto" or "Off".

It's worth noting that changing the DNS won't increase the maximum download speed of large files if it's restricted by a tariff, but will make navigating the web much more responsive.Ping in online games can also decrease, which is important for gamers.

Resetting network settings to factory

If manual changes didn’t help, there may have been software errors or profile conflicts that interfere with the normal operation of the communication module, in which case the solution would be a complete reset of network settings that would return all Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile Internet settings to their original state, and that action would not affect your personal files, contacts or installed applications.

Resets can be done via Settings → Connection & Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. The system will alert you that any saved passwords from Wi-Fi and other Bluetooth devices will be deleted, so make sure you remember passwords from important networks. Once confirmed, the phone will restart or simply apply the settings.

After this procedure, the phone will behave like a new connection: it will re-scan the airwaves, select the best cell tower and establish a fresh connection, often solving problems when the phone is stuck on a distant tower or using a suboptimal Wi-Fi channel.

Optimizing Wi-Fi Connection

Speed issues often arise when connecting to wireless networks, especially in apartment buildings where the air is clogged with signals from dozens of routers. Xiaomi Redmi 8 supports the 802.11n standard in the 2.4 GHz band, which is highly susceptible to interference. For maximum speed, try to connect to 5 GHz networks if your router supports this standard, although this model may not have a 5 GHz module in some regional versions, so it is important to check the specification of your particular device.

If the 5GHz band is not available, try changing the Wi-Fi channel on the router. Use the Wi-Fi analysis apps on your phone to find the least loaded channel (usually 1, 6 or 11), and set it in the router settings, which will reduce the number of collisions and data packets that are lost during transmission.

It’s also worth turning off the Wi-Fi Assistant feature in your phone’s settings if it doesn’t work properly, which is designed to automatically switch to mobile internet when there’s a weak Wi-Fi signal, but sometimes it puts extra strain on the processor and radio module, causing micro-breaks.

• 📡 Place your router closer to your phone’s use location or use repeaters to amplify the signal.
• 🔌 Turn off power saving for Wi-Fi module in advanced battery settings.
• 🚫 Remove old, unused networks from the list of saved ones so that your phone doesn’t try to connect to them.

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To check the quality of the Wi-Fi signal at different points in the apartment, use the engineering menu. Dial the code # # # #64663#, select Wi-Fi and look at the RSSI level. A value above -70 dBm is considered good, below -80 dBm - the signal is weak and the speed will be low.

Use of engineering menus and hidden settings

For advanced users who want to make the most of their Redmi 8, there is an access to an engineering menu where you can force your phone to work only on 4G networks. This prevents 3G rolling over when the signal is unstable, although it can lead to complete loss of communication in areas of poor LTE coverage.

You can log in to the test menu by typing in dialer code ##4636##. Select Phone Information, then find the drop-down menu Set up your preferred network type. Select LTE Only option for forced 4G. Be careful: in this mode, incoming calls may not pass unless VoLTE technology is configured.

Back it up as you can by selecting LTE/TD-SCDMA/GSM or similar with the tag "Auto." This method is especially useful in places where there is a 4G signal, but the phone stubbornly holds onto EDGE or 3G due to the peculiarities of the MIUI switching algorithms.

⚠️ Attention: Use of the regime"LTE Only" may cause you to be unable to accept regular voice calls if your carrier does not support VoLTE or it is not enabled in your settings. SIM-Use this feature only for speed testing or in areas with unstable switching.

Impact of System Updates and Background Processes

Remember, Internet speed can drop due to background activity of the system or applications. MIUI updates, synchronization of Google Photos, downloading large files in messengers - all this consumes traffic and creates a queue of packets. On the budget Snapdragon 439 processor, which is installed in Redmi 8, processing encrypted traffic of many applications can simultaneously create a bottleneck.

Check Settings → Battery and Performance to see which apps consume the most power and therefore actively use the network. Turn off autosynchronization for heavy applications or limit background activity for unnecessary services. Also make sure that the system does not run viral miners or ad modules that can quietly pump traffic.

Regularly cleaning browser cache and system debris also helps maintain overall responsiveness of the interface and network modules. Use Xiaomi’s built-in Security app to optimize. If the problem has occurred after a firmware update, it may be worth waiting for a patch from developers or considering rolling back on a previous stable version.

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A comprehensive setup approach: The combination of the right APN, fast DNS and background cleanup processes gives the best result on the Xiaomi Redmi 8.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)