How to speed up mobile Internet on Xiaomi: from basic settings to hidden MIUI features

Why is mobile internet on Xiaomi slowing down?

Have you noticed that mobile internet speeds on your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO suddenly dropped? Videos slow down, pages load for eternity, and messengers update with a delay? The problem is familiar to many owners of devices based on MIUI. The reasons can be many: from banal network settings to hardware limitations of the chipset or problems with firmware.

The first thing to understand is that mobile internet speed is not just dependent on your smartphone: the carrier, the loading of the tower, the weather, and even the position of the phone in your hand affect the signal quality. However, in 70% of cases, the problem can be solved independently without going to the service center. In this article, we will discuss the unique methods of Internet acceleration that work specifically for Xiaomi (including hidden MIUI settings and engineering menus).

So to start with, check if you have traffic savings or background restriction on, and these functions often activate automatically when you have a weak signal, but instead of helping, they make things worse, and then they get more complicated and interesting.

1. Optimization of mobile network settings

The fastest way to improve speed is to adjust the connection settings correctly, and many users do not even realize that their Xiaomi defaults on the not the most efficient modes.

Open the Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → [Yours. SIM] → Network type. It's important to choose the optimal mode:

• 📶 4G (LTE) — Better balance of speed and stability for most regions.
• 🚀 5G — If your Xiaomi supports (e.g. Mi 11, Redmi) K50), But check the operator's coverage.
• ⚠️ 3G/2G — only in case of emergency (for example, in a remote village).
• ⚡ Automobile (2G/3G/4G) — It can be slowed down due to constant switching between standards.

Also, look for the option to Enable VoLTE (Voice over LTE), which often improves not only the quality of calls, but also the speed of the Internet due to a more stable connection, if you do not have the option, update your firmware or contact the operator to activate the service.

⚠️ Note: On some models POCO (for example, POCO X3 Pro) when selecting a mode only 4G The Internet may be lost. In this case, leave the car, but turn it off. 2G In the Engineering Menu (more on this below).

2. Reset APN settings and manual configuration

APN (Access Point Name) is the address that connects your phone to the carrier's Internet. APN's incorrect settings are one of the main reasons for slow Internet, and even if you haven't changed anything, sometimes settings get lost after a MIUI update.

To reset the APN:

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 default settings.
3. Reboot the phone.

If the reset didn't work, try creating APNs manually.

• 📝 Click Add Access Point and enter your operator’s data (they can be found on the official website or by calling in support).
• 🔍 Make sure the field name, APN, Authentication type and type APN filled out correctly.
• 💾 Save the settings and select a new one. APN active.

⚠️ Note: If after manual adjustment APN The Internet is completely lost, check if you have entered unnecessary gaps in the fields.

3. Engineering menu: hidden settings for advanced

If standard methods don't work, it's time to dig deeper. Xiaomi has a hidden engineering menu where you can fine-tune your mobile network settings. Careful: the wrong changes can lead to loss of connectivity!

To open the engineering menu:

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

In this menu, pay attention to:

• 📡 Set preferred network type – here you can choose LTE only (if you have Xiaomi with Qualcomm Snapdragon) or NR/LTE/TD-SCDMA/GSM (MediaTek).
• 🔄 Enable/disable LTE Bands – Turn off unnecessary frequencies (for example, if you know your carrier is not using Band) 20).
• 📶 Signal strength – if the value is lower -100 dBm, the problem may be in the weak signal, not the settings.

On some models (like the Redmi Note 10 Pro), you can include the Enhanced 4G LTE Mode option (enhanced LTE) in the engineering menu, which increases speed but can drain the battery faster.

4. Update of firmware and modified cores

The slowdown in the internet may be due to outdated firmware or bugs in the current version of MIUI. Xiaomi regularly releases updates to fix the modem issues.

Settings → About the phone → System update.

If there are no official updates, but the problem is critical, you can try:

• 🔄 Install beta version MIUI (Available through the Mi Pilot Tester Program).
• 🛠️ Swipe a custom core (e.g., FrancoKernel or KirinKernel to improve modem performance).
• 📱 Change the firmware region (for example, from Global to EEA Or India, sometimes it gives you speed).

⚠️ Warning: Installing unofficial firmware or cores may result in blocking IMEI or loss of warranty. Before firmware, back up through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

If you are not willing to take risks, try resetting the network settings to factory:

Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.

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Before updating your firmware, disable VPN and antivirus – they can block the download of update files.

5. Hardware methods: antenna and cooling

Few people know, but the physical condition of the phone has a direct impact on Internet speed, and overheating or poor contact of the antenna can reduce the signal by 30-50%.

Overheating problem: If the phone gets hot while using the mobile Internet, the processor trottlites (reduces performance), which also affects network speed.

• ❄️ Remove the cover (especially if it is dense or metallic).
• 🧊 Use a cooling stand (relevant to gamers like Black Shark or Black Shark). POCO F3 GT).
• 🔋 Close background apps that heat up the processor (like games or Google Maps).

Antenna problems: On Xiaomi, antennas are located on the sides of the case. If you hold the phone in a certain way, the signal may be blocked.

• 📱 Turn the phone in your hand (the antenna is usually at the bottom or top).
• 🛠️ Check if the antenna is damaged (for example, after a fall).
• 📡 Use a signal repeater (if the problem is a weak coating).

Some models (such as the Mi 10T or Redmi Note 9 Pro) can improve the signal by gluing copper foil to the inside of the back cover in the antenna area, an informal method, but some users report an increase of 10-15%.

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If the Internet speed drops when charging, try using the original cable and power supply. Cheap accessories can cause interference.

6. Software Utilities and Traffic Optimization

Sometimes slow Internet isn't the fault of the network, it's the consequence of malfunctioning applications.

Restriction of background traffic:

• 📵 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Select apps that actively use the Internet in the background (for example, Facebook, TikTok).
• 🚫 Turn off the option Background data transfer.

Using VPN to circumvent restrictions:

Some operators artificially limit speeds for certain services (e.g. YouTube or Torrent). VPNs can help circumvent these restrictions.

• 🛡️ ProtonVPN (free, no logs).
• 🚀 Warp by Cloudflare (optimized for speed).
• 🌍 1.1.1.1 (lightweight solution for DNS).

Optimization of DNS:

Xiaomi uses the operator's DNS by default, which isn't always the fastest.

1. Install the DNS Changer app from Google Play.
2. Select Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google DNS (8.8.8.8).
3. Reboot the phone.

Also check if you have Data Saver mode enabled. → Connections and sharing → Traffic savings. It limits download speeds to save megabytes.

Extreme measures: factory reset and replacement SIM-map

If none of these things worked, it's time to look at radical methods, and let's start with the safest one, which is replacement. SIM-map.

Problems with SIM-card:

• 🆔 Old ones. SIM-Cards (especially Mini-SIM) may not support modern communication standards.
• 🔄 If you SIM Over 5 years old, contact the operator for a new one (preferably nano-SIM or eSIM).
• 📱 Check if it is inserted correctly SIM-card in the tray (contacts should be clean).

Reset to factory settings:

This will remove all the data from the phone, but often solves network problems caused by software failures.

1. Make a backup through Settings → About Phone → Backup.
2. Remember or write down logins/passwords from accounts.
3. Go to Settings → About Phone → Reset settings and select Reset all settings.

After the reset, do not restore the data from the backup immediately - first check the Internet speed on the "clean" phone. If the problem disappears, one of the previously installed applications was to blame.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi) A3 or Redmi 7A) After reset, the VoLTE service may need to be re-activated via the operator.

FAQ: Frequent questions about mobile internet speed on Xiaomi