How to turn on and increase the speed of the Internet on Xiaomi Redmi 8

Owners of the popular budget smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 8 often face a situation where the reported data rate does not correspond to real figures, this can be caused by a variety of factors, from congestion of network equipment of the provider to incorrect settings of software in the shell of MIUI. Understanding how to correctly configure network parameters, can significantly improve the system response and stability of connection in games or when streaming video.

There are several proven methods that will help you get the most out of your existing hardware, and we'll look at both the standard tools of the system and more advanced methods that require careful input, and network optimization is a process that doesn't require root rights, but it gives you a tangible increase in performance.

Before you start any manipulation, make sure that the device has the latest version of the firmware installed. Often manufacturers release patches that correct the errors of the communication module, and if the problem persists, then we move to manually adjust the connection parameters.

Diagnostics of the current network status and reboot of modules

Before making changes to system files or settings, you need to eliminate trivial malfunctions in the radio module. In the Android operating system, as in any other complex environment, temporary data caching errors can occur. Simple reboot of the device often solves the problem of β€œhanged” connection.

However, a more effective method is to completely reset your network settings, which will not delete your personal files, photos or contacts, but will return all the parameters of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile networks to factory values. SIM-maps.

To do this, go to the Settings menu, then select About Phone and click Reset. In the list that opens, find Reset Wi-Fi, mobile and Bluetooth settings. Confirm with a password or a graphical key.

β˜‘οΈ Checklist of primary diagnostics

Done: 0 / 4

Once you restart, re-enter your Wi-Fi passwords and check your speed through specialized applications, such as Speedtest by Ookla. If your performance remains low, you need to move to deeper access points.

Manually configure APN access points for 4G/LTE

One of the most effective ways to increase mobile Internet speed is to adjust the access point settings (APN). Providers often have multiple gateways, and automatic configuration may not choose the fastest one.

To get into the settings menu, open Settings, go to SIM-maps and mobile networks. Choose yours. SIM-map, then click Access Point Names (APN). In the upper right corner, click the menu button and select New Access Point or Create APN.

Don’t change fields you’re not sure about, but make sure to fill in or change the following settings to create a new, optimized profile:

  • πŸ“‘ Name: Enter any convenient name, such as FastInternet.
  • 🌐 Access point (APN): leave the standard for your operator (for example, Internet.mts.ru) or try a universal value.
  • βš™οΈ Protocol APN: choose IPv4/IPv6.
  • πŸ”’ Type of authentication: install PAP or CHAP.
Secret codes for signal verification
You can see the actual signal power in Xiaomi's engineering menu. Type ##4636## on your phone, select Phone Information. It displays dBm. It shows -50 to -80 dBm is considered excellent, -80 to -100 dBm is good, and anything below -110 dBm indicates a very weak signal, where the speed will be low regardless of the settings.

⚠️ Warning: When you create a new hotspot, don't delete old profiles. Just activate the new one you created by putting a marker next to it. If the Internet stops working, you can always go back to factory settings.

After saving the settings (click three dots in the corner and select Save), be sure to turn on and off flight mode (Air mode) for 10-15 seconds. This will force the phone to re-register to the network with new parameters.

Optimizing DNS to speed up response

Page loading speed often depends not only on channel bandwidth, but also on response speed. DNS-Standard servers of providers can be slow or overloaded. DNS Big tech companies like Google or Cloudflare often speed up the opening of sites on Xiaomi Redmi 8.

Modern versions of the MIUI shell based on Android 9 and higher have a built-in β€œPrivate DNS” feature that encrypts queries and allows bypass to be used on the operator’s standard servers. To access this feature, go to Settings β†’ Connection and Sharing β†’ Private DNS.

Select the DNS Host Name option and enter one of the following addresses:

  • πŸš€ dns.google – Google’s stable servers.
  • ⚑ 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com β€” often the fastest.
  • πŸ›‘οΈ security.cloudflare-dns.com – protection against malicious websites.

Once you enter the address, click Save. Changes take effect instantly. You can check the result by opening a heavy site that used to load for a long time. It is also worth noting that changing the DNS can help in situations where some resources are not opened due to a locking provider.

ParameterStandard valueRecommended valueImpact on speed
ProtocolIPv4IPv4/IPv6High.
DNSAuto (Provider)1.1.1.1 / 8.8.8.8Average (response)
Type of network3G/4GOnly LTE.Critical
Channel aggregationUnknown.On (Carrier)High.

Hidden Engineer Settings and Network Priority

Xiaomi smartphones have a hidden engineering menu that allows you to control the radio module at a deeper level. For the Redmi 8, this can be useful if the phone is constantly trying to switch to a weak 3G signal instead of a stable 4G, or vice versa, loses the network in the zone of uncertain reception.

To log in to the menu, dial ##4636## in the "ringer" code. If the code does not work, it is possible that your firmware version blocks access, and then you will need to install a special activator application from the Play Market store.

Find the option to Set up your preferred network type. Here you will see the drop-down list. For maximum speed, select LTE Only. However, be careful: in this mode, the phone may stop receiving and making regular voice calls if your carrier does not support VoLTE technology.

πŸ“Š What type of connection do you use more often?
Wi-Fi at home
Mobile 4G/5G
Public Wi-Fi
Distribution from another device

A safer option is to select LTE/TD-SCDMA/WCDMA, which allows the phone to use 4G for data but switch to 3G/2G for calls when needed, and you can reset the radio module with the Ping Test button or simply restart the device after changing the settings.

Speed up Wi-Fi connection on Xiaomi Redmi 8

Speed issues often affect not only mobile traffic but also wireless Wi-Fi networks. The Redmi 8 smartphone supports dual-band networks, but by default can connect to a busier 2.4 GHz band instead of a fast 5 GHz.

Check your router's settings. Make sure the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands are separated (they have different names for SSIDs). In the Wi-Fi settings on your phone, connect to the network with the end of "5G" or the same, which will give a significant increase in speed if you are near the router.

MIUI also has Wi-Fi Assistant, which is in Wi-Fi settings, which automatically switches the phone to mobile internet if the Wi-Fi signal becomes too weak to work comfortably, and prevents messengers from getting stuck and loading pages.

  • πŸ“Ά Range: Always choose 5GHz near the router.
  • πŸ”„ Channel: In router settings, set a static channel (1, 6, or 11 for 2.4 GHz) to avoid interference from neighbors.
  • 🧹 Clean up: Remove forgotten networks from Wi-Fi menus periodically so your phone doesn’t try to connect to them automatically.

⚠️ Attention: The 5GHz range has less penetrating capacity. If you move into another room behind two concrete walls, the 5GHz signal may be lost, whereas 2.4GHz will continue to work, albeit slower.

System cleanup and background processes

Sometimes, low Internet speeds are not caused by network settings, but by the fact that the phone itself is overloaded with background tasks. MIUI shell is known for its aggressive work with background processes, but some applications can eat up all the traffic and resources of the processor.

Go to Settings β†’ Applications β†’ Application Management. Sort the traffic usage list. You may find that some rarely used app is constantly downloading updates or syncing data in the background.

For these applications, limit background activity. Click on the application, select Charge Savings and set No Limits mode only for important messengers, and for the rest, Background mode is limited. It is also useful to use the built-in Security β†’ Cleanup application to remove the system cache.

πŸ’‘

Expert advice: Turn off auto-update apps in Play Market and Mi GetApps only via Wi-Fi if your mobile internet is slow. Set a limit on downloading files larger than 10MB.

Remember that the accumulated cache of browsers and social networks can also slow down. Regularly cleaning the cache (not data!) helps keep the system in good shape. For Chrome, this is done through Settings β†’ Privacy β†’ Clear history.

Influence of covers and physical state of antenna

The Xiaomi Redmi 8 has a plastic body, but the location of the antenna inserts plays a key role.If you use a thick protective case, especially with metal elements or a magnetic cover, this can shield the signal.

Try to take off the case and check the speed of the Internet, if the readings have increased, then the problem was in the accessory. SIM-Card: if it is very old (issued more) 5-7 It may not have been up to date with modern standards. 4G/LTE at full speed or operating unsteadily.

Replacement SIM-The card is a free procedure that often solves problems with constant network reconnections. Make sure the card is cropped correctly and sits tightly in the tray without hanging out.

πŸ’‘

Physical condition SIM-maps and the absence of dense covers are the basic conditions for a stable signal that users often ignore.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why did the Internet disappear after resetting the network?
After the reset, all APN access points are removed. You either have to wait for the operator to automatically receive the settings (the SMS will come), or manually prescribe them, as described in the section about APN. Without the correct access point, mobile Internet will not work.
Is it safe to change your DNS to Google or Cloudflare?
Yeah, it's totally safe. DNS-These companies have some of the most trusted servers in the world, they're virus-free, and they often run faster than the servers of local providers, and the only caveat is that some specific regionally-referenced resources can be opened with a delay, but 99 percent of users can't see it.
How to enable 5G on Xiaomi Redmi 8?
Unfortunately, the Redmi 8 does not technically support fifth-generation (5G) networks. The hardware of the smartphone is limited to the 4G LTE standard. No settings or firmware will allow it to catch 5G, since the device does not have the corresponding modem.
Does a phone’s overcrowded memory affect internet speed?
Indirectly, yes. If the phone's memory is almost full, the system lacks space for temporary files and web caching, which can lead to slow browsers and content loading freezes, even if the connection speed is high.