How to Boost Your Internet on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Acceleration

Modern smartphones Xiaomi and Redmi are famous for their excellent price-performance ratio, but even flagship models with powerful Snapdragon or MediaTek processors can demonstrate unstable network performance. Users often face a situation where, at full signal level, pages in the browser load slowly, and video content is constantly buffered. This causes a natural desire to figure out how to increase the Internet on Xiaomi to squeeze the maximum of possibilities from the device.

The problem may lie not only in the operator’s tariffs, but also in the program limitations of the shell. MIUI or HyperOS, which aggressively control background processes to save battery life, misconfigured access point settings or outdated DNS-Addresses can also significantly reduce the actual bandwidth of the channel. In this article, we will discuss in detail the technical aspects of the configuration that will help you optimize the network connection.

Before you get to the tricky part, you should rule out the trivial reasons: check your account balance, make sure you don't run out of traffic, and try to reboot your device. If simple methods don't work, then it's time for a deep setup, which I'll talk about later.

Diagnostics of the current state of the network

The first step is to understand exactly what kind of difficulty you are facing, and users often confuse low data rates with high ping (latency), and to make accurate diagnosis, you need to use specialized tools that show the real picture of what is happening on the air.

Use built-in engineering menus or third-party speed-measuring apps like Speedtest or Fast.com. Pay attention to Download and Upload. If the numbers are significantly lower than your carrier’s stated numbers, the problem is precisely with your smartphone or hardware settings.

It is also important to analyze the frequencies at which your device is running: modern 4G/LTE networks use different bands, and not all of them provide the same speed, and switching between cell towers can be incorrect if the priority settings are set to automatic mode, which does not always choose the best option.

There is an easy way to get basic connection information. Go to Settings β†’ About Phone β†’ All settings and quickly click on Kernel Version several times or use the code ##4636## in the call. In the Test menu that opens, select Phone Information. This shows the network type, signal level in dBm and connection status.

⚠️ Note: In the engineering menu, do not change the values in which you are not 100% sure.Resetting some parameters of the radio module can lead to a temporary loss of communication or the need to flash the device.

For a deeper analysis, you can use applications like Network Cell Info Lite, which lets you see which base station your Xiaomi is connected to, and what level of noise in your location, to help you understand whether the problem is local (bad signal in the house) or systemic.

πŸ“Š What is your main problem with the Internet?
Low loading speed
Permanent communication breakdowns
High ping in games
Slow loading of pages

Optimization of Access Point Settings (APN)

One of the most effective but often ignored settings is APN configuration.Telecommunication operators provide standard profiles that work "as is," but their manual modification can bring tangible speed gains, especially in areas of uncertain reception.

To get to the desired menu, go on the Settings path. β†’ SIM-maps and mobile networks β†’ Choose yours. SIM β†’ Access points (APN). Here you'll see a list of available profiles. Don't delete existing records, you'd better create a new one by clicking on the plus or add button.

In the fields Name and Access Point (APN), enter your carrier's data. However, the key is the field APN Type. The default is often default,supl. Try changing or adding dun or hipri to this value, which can change the priority of traffic on the operator's network.

Also, in the new AP settings, look for "APN Protocol." Set IPv4/IPv6. Some operators are better at routing traffic through the new protocol, which reduces delays when connecting to servers.

β˜‘οΈ Checking settings APN

Done: 0 / 4

Once you save your settings, be sure to turn on and off flight mode or restart your smartphone to make the changes effective. Compare the speed before and after you make the changes. If the result gets worse, just return your previous APN profile.

Shift. DNS-servers to speed up response

Standard. DNS-Servers that are automatically issued by the carrier are often overloaded or geographically remote, which increases response time when opening sites. Replacing them with faster public servers is a great way to increase the Internet on Xiaomi without installing additional software.

Android 9 and higher, and current versions of MIUI, have a built-in "Private DNS" feature, which can be found in Settings β†’ Connection and Sharing β†’ Private DNS. The default is "Auto." Select "Host Name of DNS Provider" and type in the fast server address.

The most stable and fast options today are:

  • πŸš€ Google DNS: dns.google – provides high stability and good speed around the world.
  • ⚑ Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1 (or dns.cloudflare.com) – positioned as the fastest DNS in a privacy-focused world.
  • πŸ›‘οΈ AdGuard DNS: dns.adguard.com – not only speeds up response, but also blocks system-level advertising in some apps and browsers.

Once you enter the address, click Save. The effect of this setting is often immediately apparent: pages begin to "drawn" faster, although the file download rate (Mbps) itself may remain the same. IP-site-address.

It is worth noting that some mobile operators can block or distort the work of third-party DNS. If after turning on a private DNS, the Internet is completely lost, return the setting to the value of "Auto" or "Off".

Does DNS affect speed in games?
Yes, it does indirectly. DNS doesn't reduce ping directly during gameplay, because the connection to the game server is already established, but DNS helps you find the server faster when you log in or reconnect, which reduces waiting time in the lobby.

Network management and priorities

Automatic network selection is a convenient feature, but in Russian realities it often works incorrectly. The smartphone can cling to a distant tower with a strong 3G signal, negating a closer but loaded 4G tower, or vice versa, constantly jumping between standards, causing connection breaks.

To force the 4G-only (LTE) switch, you can use the testing menu. Enter the code ##4636##, select Phone Information, and find Set up your preferred network type. Select LTE Only.

This method causes the modem to ignore 2G and 3G networks. In confident reception zones, this stabilizes the connection and eliminates drops in switching speeds. However, keep in mind that incoming voice calls may not work in LTE Only mode if the carrier does not support VoLTE technology or if you are outside of 4G coverage.

A softer customization option is available through the standard menu: Settings β†’ SIM-maps and mobile networks β†’ Preferred network type. Here you should choose Preferred LTE. This will give the system a command to hold on to the fast Internet, but will allow you to slide into the Internet. 3G to make a call if necessary.

Network modeSpeed.StabilityCalling work
2G/3G/4G (Auto)MediumLow (frequent switching)Stable.
4G is preferredTall.MediumStable.
4G only (LTE Only)MaximumHigh (in the coverage area)They can't work without VoLTE.

Using LTE Only also has a positive effect on autonomy, as the phone stops constantly scanning the airwaves in search of networks of other standards.

Resetting and reconfiguring network parameters

Over time, software errors accumulate in the Android operating system, the cache of network services can be damaged, and configuration conflicts after firmware updates lead to a drop in speed, in which case a complete reset of network settings helps.

This procedure won't delete your personal files, contacts, or apps. It will only return to factory values the parameters of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile data. You'll have to re-enter passwords from wireless networks, but this often solves the problem of the Internet's "braking" system.

You can reset along the way: Settings β†’ Connection and Sharing β†’ Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot of communication modules. Once the phone is turned on, the system will re-register in the operator's network with the latest settings.

Another important aspect is limiting the background activity of applications. MIUI is known for its aggressive energy saving, which can "smother" the background processes necessary for normal operation of messengers or navigation. Go to Settings β†’ Applications β†’ All applications, select the desired application (for example, a browser or a game) and select the No Limits mode in the Battery section.

⚠️ Note: Before resetting your network settings, make sure you remember passwords from important Wi-Fi networks as they will be deleted from your phone’s memory.

Also check if the Traffic Savings feature is enabled. It's in Settings. β†’ SIM-maps and mobile networks β†’ Traffic savings: If it's active, the system can block background syncs and updates, creating the illusion of slow internet.

πŸ’‘

Use the Game Acceleration feature in Xiaomi’s security. Not only does it clear memory, it can also block background downloads of system updates while playing, saving the entire channel for game traffic.

Analysis of applications and hidden limiters

Often the cause of low network performance are the applications themselves, which the user is not even using at the moment. Background updates in Google Play, synchronizing photos to the cloud or uploading files with torrents can completely clog the channel.

Xiaomi’s built-in traffic monitor allows you to track in detail who is consuming the Internet. Go to the Security app (green icon with lightning) β†’ Statistics β†’ Traffic statistics. Here you will see a full list of applications, sorted by the amount of data transferred.

If you pick out an app that is suspiciously high in traffic, limit its rights. In the same statistics menu, you can block a particular application from accessing mobile Internet or Wi-Fi, which is especially useful for programs that only need the network when they are actively using it.

Also, check for system updates. Sometimes Xiaomi releases patches that fix modem errors. Way to check: Settings β†’ Phone β†’ MIUI version. But be careful: on older models, newer firmware versions sometimes slow down the device.

Don’t forget about DNS cache and browsers. Cleaning the browser cache (Chrome, Yandex, etc.) can free up space and remove conflicting temporary files that prevent pages from loading quickly. This is done through Settings β†’ Applications β†’ Application Management β†’ [Your browser] β†’ Clear.

πŸ’‘

Regular cleaning of the cache of network services and monitoring of the background activity of applications is the key to stable operation of the Internet on Xiaomi smartphones with a MIUI shell.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why is Xiaomi running Wi-Fi slowly, even though mobile internet is flying?
The problem may be congestion in the 2.4GHz band. Try to switch the router to 5GHz or change the Wi-Fi channel in the router settings. Also check if the phone has a "Private DNS" that may conflict with the local network.
Does the Internet speed affect the set theme?
The themes themselves do not affect network speed, but β€œheavy” live wallpapers or themes with lots of widgets constantly updating data can load the processor and indirectly affect the overall responsiveness of the system, creating a sense of lag.
How to return all network settings back if it gets worse after the changes?
The easiest way to reset your network settings (described in section 5) or in the engineering menu (#4636##) is to select Set preferred network type and return the value of NR/LTE/GSM/WCDMA (or similar to Auto).
Does flight mode help speed up the internet?
Yes, a brief 5-10 second flight mode switch on and then shut down causes the phone to re-register, often connecting to a less busy base station, which temporarily increases speed.
Do I need to install accelerators from the Play Market?
In most cases, MIUI and standard Android features (DNS change, network reset) are more efficient and safer, and third-party accelerators often only create the illusion of working or display ads while consuming resources.