How to find out what frequency WiFi in the smartphone Xiaomi

Modern users of Xiaomi smartphones often face a situation where the Internet speed does not correspond to the provider’s tariffs or the signal is constantly lost in distant rooms. The main reason for such problems is often the suboptimal choice of wireless network range. Owners of Mi, Redmi and POCO devices rarely think about the fact that the router can broadcast a signal at different frequencies, and the system automatically chooses the not the fastest option.

Understanding the difference between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz is critical to the stability of online gaming, 4K video viewing and video calls. The standard MIUI or HyperOS shell doesn’t always explicitly indicate what frequency your gadget is currently connected to, but there are proven ways to get this technical information without having to have a laptop with a network analyzer on hand.

In this article, we will take a look at the software and hardware methods for determining the current frequency of the connection, learn how to use hidden engineer menus, third-party utilities and analyze router parameters directly from the phone screen, this knowledge will help you force the switch to a freer channel and significantly improve the quality of communication in the area of poor reception.

Differences between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands

Before we get to diagnostics, we need to be clear about what we're dealing with. 2.4 GHz is the most common and old standard. Its main advantage is the high penetration of a signal that easily passes through walls and floors. However, it's because of its popularity that this range is often overloaded with neighborhood routers, microwaves and Bluetooth devices, which leads to a drop in speed.

The 5GHz band provides significantly faster data rates and is virtually free from interference in apartment buildings. 5GHz WiFi is ideal for streaming and gaming. But it has a significant drawback: the signal is worse at bending obstacles and fading faster at a distance. If you are far from the router, the phone can automatically switch to 2.4GHz, even if the speed drops.

Xiaomi smartphones equipped with WiFi 5 (ac) and WiFi 6 (ax) modules can work in both bands simultaneously, if the router supports Smart Connect technology. In this case, the device decides which channel to use, and this choice is not always the right one from the user's point of view, which is why the ability to manually check and change the frequency becomes a necessary skill.

⚠️ Attention: Automatic frequency switching can cause short-term connection breaks. If you play an online shooter or video conferencing, it is better to fix the connection on one stable channel.

Using the Engineering Menu for Diagnostics

One of the most reliable ways to get detailed technical information about the state of the network is to access the engineering menu. On Xiaomi devices, this section is hidden from the average user, but is accessible through a special code in the “ringer_raw_ radio module, bypassing the simplified system interface.

To log in, you need to open the Phone app and dial the combination ##6484##. Once you enter the last digit, the CIT menu will open. Here is a huge list of tests for all components of a smartphone. You need to find a item associated with WLAN or WiFi. In different versions of MIUI, it can be called differently, for example, WLAN Test or WiFi Status.

The channel number can be used to determine the frequency, and channels 1 to 14 are 2.4 GHz, while channels 36 to 165 (and above) are 5 GHz, the most accurate method that does not require third-party software.

Connection analysis through Android settings

The standard Android settings, starting with version 10 and up, hide some of the technical information, but the basic data is still available. In Xiaomi smartphones, the path to them may vary slightly depending on the version of the shell. Usually, just go to Settings → Wi-Fi and click on the arrow next to the name of the connected network.

In the network properties window that opens, look for the Frequency or Frequency field. If it says about 2400-2480 MHz, you are in the 2.4 GHz range. The 5100-5900 MHz values indicate operation in the 5 GHz range. On some Redmi Note or Xiaomi Mi models, the frequency can be specified immediately in Hz, for example, 5.2 GHz.

If this information is not in the standard menu, you can use the hidden test menu through the settings. → On the phone and press quickly 7-10 once MIUI», Then in the advanced settings, sometimes you see Wi-Fi usage statistics, where you can see a more detailed graph and the current link speed, which indirectly indicates the frequency.

Third-party applications for WiFi network analysis

When built-in tools are scarce, specialized tools come to the rescue, WiFi network scanner applications that can show not only the current connection, but the entire surrounding RF environment, and this is the best way to understand how busy the air is.

One of the best tools is Ubiquiti's WiFi Analyzer or WiFi Man. Once you run an app, you immediately show a list of available networks, with channel and frequency. The current network is usually colored or marked "Connected." Visual graphics help you see "neighbors" at the same frequency.

Another powerful application is Network Analyzer Lite, which provides comprehensive information about TCP/IP connections and WiFi parameters. In the Details section, you can see not only the frequency, but also the width of the channel (20, 40, 80 MHz), which also affects speed. For Xiaomi owners, these applications work stable, but require permission to access geolocation.

• 📡 WiFi Analyzer: A classic tool with channel load graphs, ideal for choosing free space on the air.
• 🛡️ WiFi Man: Professional tool from Ubiquiti, shows ping, frequency and allows you to conduct speed tests inside the application.
• 📊 Fing: A powerful network scanner that not only shows the frequency, but also detects all devices connected to your router.

⚠️ For the correct operation of WiFi scanners on Android 10 and above, be sure to turn on geolocation (GPS). Without this permission, Android blocks applications from accessing the system. MAC-addresses and frequency characteristics of networks.

Determination of frequency by channel number

If apps only show channel number, not frequency in MHz, you can use a simple matching table. It's a versatile method that works for any hardware, whether it's the old Xiaomi Mi 4 or the newest flagship. Understanding channel numbering helps you navigate technical data quickly.

Using this table, you can instantly determine the potential of your connection. If you see a 6, 11 or 1, channel, you are uniquely at 2.4 GHz. Any three-digit number of channels indicates that you are operating in the 5 GHz band. This knowledge is useful when setting up a router when you need to manually break up networks so that they do not interfere with each other.

How to force to switch a smartphone to 5 GHz

Knowing the current frequency, you often want to switch to a faster one. If your router broadcasts the same network with the same name (SSID) for both bands, a Xiaomi smartphone can "cling" to the old 2.4 GHz band even when it's near the router. This is the behavior of energy saving algorithms.

The most effective way to get a phone to choose 5GHz is to temporarily disable the 2.4GHz band in the router settings. Go to the router's web interface (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1), find the wireless settings and turn off the 2.4GHz network. After that, connect the phone to WiFi, and then turn on the 2.4GHz back. The phone will likely remain on a fast frequency.

Another method is to forget the network on your phone. Click on the network name in the WiFi list, select Delete or Forget this network. Then come close to the router and connect again. At close range, the 5GHz band is usually prioritized because of its higher signal quality.

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If you have a dual-band router, try dividing the network names (SSID). Name one «Home_2.4», other «Home_5G». This will allow you to manually select the desired frequency on your smartphone depending on where you are.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Optimal performance on the network is achieved by using the 5 GHz band at a distance of up to 10 meters from the router without obstacles. For longer distances, it is better to use a Mesh system running at 5 GHz than relying on a long-range but slow 2.4 GHz.