How to turn on Wi-Fi 5 GHz on Xiaomi smartphones: instructions for all models

Did you buy a new router with dual-band Wi-Fi support, but your Xiaomi stubbornly clings to only 2.4GHz? Or noticed that the Internet speed on a smartphone is half as fast as on a laptop? The problem lies in the connection settings - by default many Redmi models, POCO and Mi automatically select a less loaded but slower 2.4GHz band, ignoring the benefits of 5GHz.

In this article, we will discuss three ways to force a 5GHz connection: through standard settings. MIUI, You'll also learn why a smartphone can't see a 5GHz network even if the router is broadcasting it, and how to fix it without resetting.

Important: Not all Xiaomi smartphones support the 5GHz band.Such as the Redmi budget models 9A or POCO C31 Not physically equipped with the appropriate module. Before setting up, check the characteristics of your model on the official website or in documents.

Check 5GHz support with your Xiaomi smartphone

Before you try to include 5GHz, make sure your Xiaomi is capable of running in this range at all.

• 🔍 Official specifications: Find your smartphone model on Xiaomi’s website (Specifications section» → «Network & Connectivity. Look for lines like Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) or dual-band Wi-Fi.
• 📱 About Phone Menu: Go to Settings → The phone. → All characteristics: Support should be mentioned in the "Network" section. 5 GHz or 802.11a/n/ac.
• 🛠️ Diagnostic apps: Install WiFi Analyzer (available on Google Play) that will show all available networks, including hidden ones, and their ranges. If there is no 5GHz network on the list, your smartphone does not support it.

Critical detail: smartphones with a chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 4xx series (e.g. Redmi) 9C or POCO M3) They often lack 5GHz support, even if the specifications indicate otherwise, due to stripped-down versions of Wi-Fi modules in budget models.

⚠️ Note: If your smartphone is released for the Chinese market (suffix version) CN In the model name, it may not support the European 5GHz standards (100-140 channels), in which case you will need firmware with a modified region.

Method 1: Forced connection through settings MIUI

The easiest method is to make the smartphone ignore the 2.4 GHz network and connect only to 5 GHz.

1. Open the Settings. → Wi-Fi.
2. Click on your network name (not the switch!) and hold on for 2-3 seconds until the menu appears.
3. Choose Change Network (or Network Management in New Versions) MIUI).
4. Scroll down to Additional and activate the Wi-Fi Range (or Frequency Range) option.
5. Select 5 GHz (if you don’t have an option, your smartphone doesn’t support this range).

If there is no Wi-Fi range, try an alternative route:

• 🔄 Go to Settings. → Connections and sharing → Wi-Fi → Additionally.
• 📶 Activate the Intelligent Wi-Fi acceleration option (if any) – it prioritizes 5GHz with a good signal.
• 🔒 Set up static. IP 5 GHz network (manually write) IP, gateway DNS network-setting).

Check that the router is broadcasting the network 5 GHz (network name may vary, for example, _mywifi_ and _mywifi_5G)

Turn off the “Smart Connect” or “Band Steering” function in the router settings

Make sure that the smartphone is within a radius of 5-7 meters from the router (5 GHz worse passes through the walls)

Restart your router and smartphone before setting up-->

Why a smartphone can’t see a 5GHz network, even if it’s there

• 📡 Routers use channels above 100 (some countries prohibit them).
• 🔋 Saving charge turns off 5GHz scanning (check battery settings for Wi-Fi app).
• 🛡️ The router has a filter on. MAC-address SSID 5 GHz.

Method 2: Engineering menu (for advanced users)

If standard settings don’t work, you can manually activate 5GHz through an engineering menu, a method that works on most Xiaomi smartphones with Qualcomm or Mediatek chipsets, but requires caution.

Instructions for Qualcomm (Snapdragon):

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##.
2. In the menu that opens, select Wi-Fi information (or Wi-Fi).
3. Scroll to the Wi-Fi frequency band and select 5 GHz.
4. Press Save or Apply (if no buttons, the changes will apply automatically).

For Mediatek (Helio, Dimensity):

1. Enter the dialer: ##36446337##.
2. Go to Connectivity → Wi-Fi.
3. Find the Band Selection option and install it. 5G only.
4. Save the settings and restart the smartphone.

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect changes to the engineering menu can lead to loss of Wi-Fi network or overheating of the module. Do not change the settings if you are not sure of their purpose. For example, the option Tx Power adjusts the transmission power, increasing it reduces battery life.

After settings have been applied:

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone.
• 📶 Forget your current Wi-Fi network and connect again.
• 🛠️ Check the speed test if it has risen to 300+ Mbps, the setup worked.

Method 3: Alternative methods for older models

If your Xiaomi is released before 2019 (like the Redmi Note 5 or Mi) A2), The standard methods may not work. Here's what you can try:

• 🔧 5GHz Firmware: Some custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) add range support even if it’s not in stock MIUI. Risk: Loss of warranty and possible bugs.
• 📡 Change the router region: Change the router settings (wireless or Wi-Fi) Country/Region It'll be on United States or Europe, and it'll unlock additional channels. 5 GHz.
• 🔄 Reset Network Settings: Go to Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth. After the reboot, the smartphone can "see" 5 GHz.

For models with MIUI 10 and below:

1. Install the WiFi Master Key app (or similar) from Google Play.
2. In the app settings, find the Preferred Band option and select 5 GHz.
3. Connect to the network through this application (not through the standard menu). MIUI).

✅ Yeah, I'm getting in there.

✅ Yeah, but you have to manually adjust.

❌ No, only 2.4 GHz.

🤷 I don't know how to check.-->

If none of these methods worked, the problem could be a hardware fault in the Wi-Fi module, for example, after a smartphone fell or moisture hit, the 5GHz antenna contacts could have moved away, in which case only repairs at the service center would help.

Solving Connection Problems to 5 GHz

Even if the smartphone sees a 5GHz network, the connection may break or not work smoothly.

How to check what range the smartphone is connected to:

• 📊 Install WiFi Analyzer or Network Analyzer.
• 🔍 Open the Connection or Wi-Fi Info tab.
• 📶 Look at Frequency: 2.4 GHz — you're connected to a slow network. 5 GHz — everything is set up correctly.

💡

If the speed at 5 GHz is still low, try turning on the router settings MU-MIMO And Beamforming. These technologies optimize the signal for multiple devices at once.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (Especially in China, the range selection option may not be available due to regional restrictions, and only reflashing to the global or European version will help.

Optimizing the router for stable operation of 5 GHz

Often the problem is not the smartphone, but the router settings that are wrong, and here are the key parameters that are worth checking:

• 📡 Separation of networks: Make sure that the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz different names (SSID). For example: MyWiFi_2G and MyWiFi_5G. This will allow you to manually select a network on a smartphone.
• 🔒 Type of security: Use WPA2-AES or WPA3. Old standards (WEP, TKIP) Can block 5 GHz connection.
• 📶 Transfer power: In the router settings, find the Transmit Power option and set 100% for 5 GHz (the default can be 50–75%).
• 🔄 Channel and width: Select the channel manually (auto selection is often mistaken). Optimal: 36, 40, 44, 149, 153, 157, 161. Set the channel width 40 MHz or 80 MHz (but note that 80 MHz width can interfere with neighboring networks).

Example of optimal settings for the Xiaomi Mi Router router 4A Gigabit Edition:

Wi-Fi mode: 802.11a/n/ac (only for 5GHz)


Channel 36 (or 149 if channel 36 is occupied)




Channel width: 80 MHz




Transmission power: High power




Beamforming: Included




MU-MIMO: Included

If the router is not broadcasting 5 GHz:

• 🔌 Check if your router supports this range (on the box or in specs, look for Dual-band or 5 GHz).
• 🔄 Update the router’s firmware to the latest version (the instructions are usually on the manufacturer’s website).
• 🛠️ Reset the router to factory settings (reset button on the back) and configure again.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When setting up 5GHz, users often make mistakes that lead to loss of communication or unstable work.

• ❌ Use of one SSID for both bands: Many routers by default combine 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz under one name (Smart Connect or Band Steering feature). Xiaomi smartphone in this case often chooses 2.4 GHz because of better range. Solution: disable this feature and divide the networks.
• ❌ Channel 165: Channel 165 (and higher) in the 5GHz band is officially only allowed in the United States. In Europe and Russia, its use may lead to loss of communication or conflict with neighboring networks.
• ❌ Shutdown DHCP 5GHz: Some users are shutting down for security reasons DHCP 5 GHz network and prescribe IP It can lead to conflict. IP, If the same address is assigned to another device, solution: use reservations. IP down MAC-address.
• ❌ Ignoring updates MIUI: Old versions. MIUI (below 12) there could be bugs with a connection to 5 GHz. MIUI 11 on the Redmi Note 8 Pro, range settings were sometimes reset after the reboot.Solution: upgrade to the latest stable firmware.

💡

If after all the manipulations the smartphone still does not connect to 5 GHz, check whether it blocks antivirus or not. VPN. Some applications (such as Avast or Kaspersky) may limit network activity.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions