The sudden disappearance of the network icon on the screen of Xiaomi smartphone is one of the most unpleasant situations that a user can encounter. The device turns into a media player, losing the ability to make calls or access the Internet. Most often, the problem lies in the software failure of the operator's settings or temporary dissynchronization of the radio module with base stations.
However, in some cases, the absence of a network command may indicate more serious hardware malfunctions or problems with the network itself. SIM-It's important to not panic and to check the software settings consistently before you bring the gadget to the service center. In most cases, you can restore the mobile Internet by yourself through the menu of engineering tests or reset parameters.
This article details the algorithms for restoring communication on MIUI-enabled devices. We'll look at manual access point settings, IMEI status checks, and forced modem switching techniques. Follow the instructions carefully to get your phone back on track.
Diagnostics SIM-maps and physical connections
The first step should always be to check the physical condition. SIM-Often the contacts are oxidized or the card simply shifts when the device falls. Remove the tray with a paper clip and carefully examine the chip for scratches or contaminants. Wipe the contacts with soft lilaless cloth and make sure that the golden part is free of visible damage.
If you have the opportunity, insert yours. SIM-This will help you understand where the problem lies, whether it's in the carrier itself or in a Xiaomi smartphone, and if you have a network on another device, it's your phone settings, otherwise you'll need a replacement. SIM-cardboard.
⚠️ Warning: Never try to clean your contacts. SIM-This is guaranteed to cause permanent damage to the chip and loss of access to the number.
It's also worth checking if the tray is properly installed. In two-symbol versions, it can only be inserted in one position. If the tray is skewed, the contacts may not reach the board. Make sure when you install, you hear a slight click or feel a tight fit.
- 📱 Check your orientation. SIM-cards in the tray according to the scheme on the tray itself.
- 🧹 Gently wipe the contacts of the chip with an alcohol napkin or a stripe.
- 🔄 Try installing the card in another slot (SIM 1 SIM 2).
- 📞 Make sure that the account has funds and the number is not blocked by the operator.
When you return the card to your phone, be sure to restart the device. Android should re-interview the communication module and register with the network. If the icon appears but the Internet is not working, move to configuring access points.
Manually configuring APN access points
A common reason why Xiaomi doesn’t have a network or mobile internet is because of a failure in the profile of the APN hotspot. Operators periodically update their settings and old data may stop working. Automatic settings often fail when changing region or after flashing.
To correct the situation, you need to create a new access point manually. → SIM-Maps and mobile networks. Select the SIM card you want and find the "Access Points" item (APN)». In the upper right corner, click the New Access Point button or the Plus icon.
It's important to enter the correct data that your carrier provides, and if you make a mistake in even one character, you will not execute the network command, and you usually just type in the name and access point, and you can leave the remaining fields unchanged.
APN parameters for major Russian operators
After filling in all the fields, be sure to save the settings through the menu (three dots in the corner) and activate the created point by ticking next to it. Without active allocation, the new configuration will not apply to the system.
| Operator. | Name (Name) | Access Point (APN) | Type APN |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTS | mts | internet.mts.ru | default,supl |
| Beeline | beeline | internet.beeline.ru | default,supl |
| Megafon | megafon | internet | default,supl |
| Tele2 | tele2 | internet.tele2.ru | default,supl |
☑️ Checking settings APN
IMEI status check and radio module
The most critical diagnostic feature is IMEI status. If you see a snippet, a zero, or a "Null" message in your settings or when you type *#06#, it means that the phone's software has lost communication with the communication module, in which case there is no one to execute the network commands.
To check, type ##4636## in the ringer. The hidden engineering menu will open. Select Phone Information. This shows network status and IMEI. If the fields are empty, the problem goes deeper than just operator settings.
Often, IMEI resets are caused by a failed firmware update or interference with system files (rooting), and in some cases, resetting to factory settings helps, but if the problem is in the NVRAM partition, you will need to flash backup.
If IMEI is determined but the network is poorly captured or permanently lost, try changing the network type in the same engineering menu (#4636###) and find the drop-down list “Configure preferred network type” and select LTE only or WCDMA only, which will force the phone to search for a signal of a certain standard, avoiding possible switching errors.
⚠️ Warning: Changing the settings in the engineering menu can lead to temporary loss of communication. Do not change the values unless you are sure of their purpose, especially the option "Radio Power».
Resetting network settings and radio module
When simple methods don't work, you need a deeper reset of network settings, which will delete all stored Wi-Fi passwords, Bluetooth settings, and return mobile settings to factory values, often helping if there's a lot of software debris in the system.
Go to Settings → Connection & Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile Network and Bluetooth. Confirm Action. The phone will reboot and you will have to re-enter passwords from wireless networks, but often this returns a stable 4G signal.
There is also a more radical method, a full reset via Recovery. Be sure to back up the data before doing so, as all photos and contacts will be deleted. Press the volume and power buttons, select Wipe Data and confirm the reset.
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Before resetting your network settings, write down important Wi-Fi passwords in your notebook so you don’t waste time restoring them from your neighbors or router.
When you go back to factory settings, the system will suggest you reconfigure your phone. Don't rush to restore the app backup right away. First, check the network's "clean" state, and if there's a network, it means that some installed application caused the conflict.
The impact of updates and custom firmware
Xiaomi users often experiment with firmware, installing global versions on Chinese devices or custom assemblies (LineageOS, Pixel Experience). After such manipulations, the network often disappears or only 2G works.
If the problem occurred immediately after the flashing, the antenna calibration section was likely lost, which would not help if standard air updates (OTAs) were installed, and requires specialized software, such as QFIL or SP Flash Tool, to restore the factory image of the modem.
The Chinese versions of smartphones may not support some LTE frequencies (Band 7, Band 20), which are widely used in Europe and the CIS, in which case the phone will see the network, but will not be able to register with it or will work unstable.
- 📉 Check the bands support of your model for your region of residence.
- 🔄 Make sure the modem version matches the Android version.
- 🛑 Avoid installing firmware for other models, even if they are similar.
- 🔍 Use Kimovil to check your device’s frequency.
In some cases, returning to stock firmware through the Mi Flash Tool helps. Choose Clean all mode, but not Clean all and lock if you are afraid of getting a brick when changing the region, which will return all system partitions to their original state.
Hardware malfunctions of the antenna module
If software methods are powerless, consider a physical breakdown: Falls, impacts, or moisture could damage the antenna plume or the radio module on the board, in which case no network commands will lead to success.
A common problem with the Redmi and Poco budget models is that antenna contacts are moving away from the board due to the deformation of the housing, and the power controller responsible for supplying voltage to the communication module could also fail, and this can only be diagnosed at the service center.
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If resetting and flashing did not help, and IMEI is not determined - with a 90% probability the problem lies in the hardware of the smartphone.
Note the behavior of the phone: if it warms heavily in the lower part even in standby mode, this may indicate a short circuit in the antenna circuit, in which case it is better to stop operation to avoid ignition of the battery.
⚠️ Warning: Self-opening of the smartphone and soldering of the antenna module without experience will lead to the final breakdown of the device.
As a temporary solution for an antenna breakdown, you can use Wi-Fi Calling if your carrier and phone support this technology, which allows you to make calls over the Internet, bypassing the faulty GSM radio module.