How to connect Wi-Fi on the new Xiaomi phone: all ways + problem solving

You just unpacked Xiaomi’s new smartphone — whether it’s Xiaomi’s flagship 14 Ultra, budget Redmi Note 13, or foldable MIX Fold 3 — and faced the first challenge: connecting to your home or office Wi-Fi network. It would seem that it could be easier? But even here, users often face the nuances of the phone not seeing the network, asking for unexpected settings or refusing to connect at all. In this article, we’ll break down all the current ways of connecting (including hidden MIUI functions), typical errors and their solutions — taking into account the latest firmware updates.

It is important to understand that the process of connecting to WiFi on Xiaomi can vary depending on the version of the shell (MIUI 14 vs MIUI 15), the phone model (for example, on POCO interface is simplified), and even the firmware region (global vs Chinese).

1. Standard connection via settings

The most obvious and common way is to use the settings menu, and even if you've never used a Xiaomi smartphone before, it's intuitive. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen or in the application menu).
2. Go to the Wi-Fi section (usually at the top of the list or in the Connection tab).
3. Activate the Wi-Fi switch at the top of the screen if it is turned off.
4. In the list of available networks, select the desired one. If the network is not in the list, click Update (round arrow in the upper right corner).
5. Enter the password from the network (registration is important!) and click Connect.

On devices with MIUI 15, the system can offer network optimization after connection, a Wi-Fi Assistant feature that analyzes the quality of the connection and automatically switches to more stable channels, and we recommend that you leave it on, especially if you have a dual-band router (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz).

Name of the network (SSID) well-written|Password entered without typos|The router is on and is giving a signal.|The flight mode is turned on on on the phone (if yes, turn off!)-->

An important caveat: if your router supports WPA3 and your phone can’t see it, try temporarily switching your router to WPA2 (in router settings). Some Xiaomi models on older versions of MIUI don’t support WPA3 out of the box.

2. Quick connection through QR-code

Few people know, but Xiaomi supports WiFi connectivity through QR-code is convenient if the password is long or contains special characters. MIUI 12 and newer. Here's how to do it:

1. On another device (such as a laptop or tablet) already connected to the desired network, open your browser and go to qifi.org.
2. Enter the network name (SSID) And the password. QR-code.
3. On Xiaomi phone, open Settings → Wi-Fi and click on the icon QR-the code in the upper right corner (or select Connect via QR).
4. Put the camera on QR-Code: The phone will automatically connect to the network.

This method is especially useful in hotels or cafes, where passwords are often changed and contain random characters. QR-Code for the current network: Go to Wi-Fi settings → Current network → Share (requires confirmation by print or PIN-code).

Through manual settings|Scanned. QR-code|Through WPS|I use the saved networks from my previous phone.-->

3. Connection via WPS (for routers with support)

If your router supports WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), you can connect to the network without entering a password. This is convenient, but less secure, so use the method only for home networks.

1. On the router, press the WPS button (usually signed and located on the back). You have 2 minutes to connect.
2. On the Xiaomi phone, open Settings → Wi-Fi.
3. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Additional → WPS.
4. Wait until the phone finds the router and connects automatically.

⚠️ Note: Some router models (e.g. TP-Link Archer) C6) require holding the button WPS 3-5 If the connection didn't happen, check the indicator. WPS on the router - it should flash.

This method does not work on all Xiaomi devices — for example, on the POCO F5, the WPS option may be hidden.

4.Move Wi-Fi settings from your old phone

If you’ve upgraded your smartphone and want to transfer all the stored WiFi networks from your old device, Xiaomi offers several ways:

• 🔄 Using Mi Account: When you first turn on a new phone, the system will offer to restore data from the cloud. Select a backup from the old device - the WiFi network will be transferred automatically.
• 📱 Through Mi Mover: Install the Mi Mover app on both phones, select Data Transfer → Wi-Fi and follow the instructions. It works even between different brands.
• 🔗 Through cable. OTG: Connect your old phone to your new phone via an adapter OTG, Select Data Transfer → Networks.

Note that passwords from networks are stored encrypted and linked to your Mi Account, and if you are not logged in, the transfer may not work.

5. Solving typical connection problems

Even after you enter your password correctly, your phone may not be connected to the network, and let's look at some of the most common errors and their solutions:

If none of these methods worked, try resetting the network settings on your phone: Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Resetting Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth settings. This will delete all the saved networks, but often resolves system conflicts.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi firmware (especially Chinese ones) may have China Mode enabled, which blocks connections to some overseas networks. → Additionally. → Change the region and, if necessary, to Russia or Global.

6. Additional settings for stable connection

After successful connection, we recommend optimizing network settings for better speed and stability:

• 📶 Network Priority: In Settings → Wi-Fi → Additionally, enable Auto Connection to the best network. The phone will automatically choose between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.
• 🔄 Automatic Reconnect: Activate Connect to the network automatically so that the phone restores the connection after sleep.
• 🛡️ Security: Disable Wi-Fi Sharing in Settings → Access Point and modem if you do not use this feature.
• ⚡ Energy saving: In Settings → Battery → Select mode set Performance if you notice speed drawdowns.

For advanced users: MIUI has a hidden developer menu where you can change Wi-Fi Mode (e.g., enable Always scan for faster network search). To open it, go to Settings → About Phone and 7 times click on the MIUI Version. Then to Settings → Additional → For developers, find the Network section.

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If your router supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) but your phone is connecting at low speed, check in your router settings to see if AX Mode is enabled. On the Xiaomi 13/14 series, this can double the download speed.

7. Features of connection on different models Xiaomi

While the overall WiFi connection algorithm is the same for all Xiaomi smartphones, some models have unique nuances:

• 📱 Xiaomi 13T/14 Series: Supports Wi-Fi support 7 (momentarily 2026 year, but for maximum speed requires a router with support 320 MHz channels (e.g., MHz channels, ASUS RT-BE96U).
• 💻 POCO F5/X5: The firmware defaults to Wi-Fi Direct. To enable, go to Settings. → Connections → Laboratory.
• 📱 Redmi Note 12/13: They can automatically turn off WiFi when the signal level is low. → Wi-Fi → Additionally. → Turn off at low signal.
• 🖥️ Xiaomi Pad 6: Supports 5GHz network connectivity only when Performance Mode is enabled in battery settings.

On HyperOS devices (the new shell that replaced MIUI in 2026), the waifa menu has changed visually, but the logic has remained the same. The only difference is the Wi-Fi Sense option, which analyzes the load of channels and offers optimal settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Wi-Fi connectivity on Xiaomi

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If your Xiaomi is persistently not connecting to WiFi, check the router first: reboot it, reset it to factory settings or update the firmware. 60% of the time, the problem is not the phone, but the provider’s hardware.