Have you ever noticed a mysterious “Open Wi-Fi Settings” item on your Xiaomi Redmi menu and wondered why you need it? This option appears in the most unexpected places, from quick settings to the developer menu, but rarely comes with explanations. Meanwhile, it opens up access to advanced Wi-Fi options that can significantly improve connection quality or, conversely, create security holes if used recklessly.
In this article, we will discuss in detail what lies behind this feature on Redmi smartphones (including the Redmi Note 12, Redmi 10, Redmi 9 and others), how to activate it in different versions of MIUI, and what hidden opportunities it provides for network optimization.
What is Open Wi-Fi Settings and Where to Find It
Open Wi-Fi Settings is not a standalone option, but quick access to advanced wireless network options that are usually hidden in the depths of the MIUI menu.
- 🔧 Developer menu (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to tap → Additionally. → For developers)
- 📱 Quick settings panel (with long press on the Wi-Fi icon)
- 🔄 Network reset menu (Settings) → Wi-Fi → Additionally. → Resetting network settings)
- 🛠️ Service codes (e.g., after entering ##4636## in the dialer)
It's important to understand that this is not a universal button, but a contextual link that leads to different sections depending on where it is located, for example, in the developer menu it will open Wi-Fi technical parameters (like Wi-Fi verbose logging or Skip network cache), and in the notification panel it will open standard connection settings.
On some Redmi models (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro+), this item may be called differently - Wi-Fi Direct Settings or Advanced Wi-Fi, but the essence remains the same: the transition to hidden options.
Why You Need Open Wi-Fi Settings: 5 Hidden Features
If you think this is just a duplicate of standard Wi-Fi settings, you're wrong. It gives you access to features that can:
- Speed up network connectivity by disabling the Skip network cache, which is useful if the phone takes a long time to "think" before connecting to a familiar access point.
- Enable Wi-Fi logging (Wi-Fi verbose logging) – a feature for developers that records all network events in the log. Useful for diagnosing problems, but increases battery consumption and takes up space in memory.
- Set the priority of networks (for example, make the phone always connect to 5 GHz instead of 2.4 GHz, even if the signal is weaker).
- Activate Wi-Fi Direct mode for direct file sharing between devices without a router.
- Change the Wi-Fi country code, which can unlock additional channels (e.g., 12-14 in the 2.4 GHz band).
However, not all of these features are equally useful, for example, changing the country code can violate local regulations (not all channels are allowed in Russia), and turning on logging without needing will simply clog the phone’s memory.
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If you are not a developer and do not debug the network, it is better not to activate Wi-Fi verbose logging – it creates huge log files that are difficult to delete without resetting settings.
How to open Open Wi-Fi Settings on different Redmi models
The way you access it depends on the MIUI version and the smartphone model, and the following are step-by-step instructions for the most common cases:
| Model/Version MIUI | The Way to Open Wi-Fi Settings | What's gonna open. |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 10/11/12MIUI 13/14 | Settings → Wi-Fi → ⚙️ (gear) → Additionally. → Open Wi-Fi Settings | Advanced range settings, network priorities, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Redmi 9/9A/9CMIUI 12 | Long-Tap Wi-Fi icon in notification panel → Open Wi-Fi Settings | Standard Connection Settings + Hidden Options (if Developer Mode is enabled) |
| Redmi K50 / POCO F4MIUI 14 Global | Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (7 taps) → Additional → For developers → Open Wi-Fi Settings | Technical parameters (logging, cache, country) |
| Any model. | Enter code #4636### → Wi-Fi information | Detailed information about the current connection (MAC, IP, speed, signal strength) |
On some firmware (e.g, MIUI EU or custom) the item may be missing, in which case it can be returned via ADB-team:
adb shell settings put global development_settings_enabled 1
adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.DevelopmentSettingsAfter completing these commands, the developer menu with the desired option will appear in the settings.
Backup settings (Settings → System → Backup)
Record current network settings (screenshot of the Wi-Fi info screen)
Make sure the battery is more than 50% charged
Shut down. VPN (It can interfere with diagnosis)-->
Security: what Wi-Fi settings on Xiaomi is better not to touch
Extended Wi-Fi options are a powerful tool, but some of them can make your Redmi less secure or even vulnerable to attacks.
- 🚫 Disabling the certificate check (Do not validate certificates) – makes the device vulnerable to the use of the system. MITM-attacks (traffic interception).
- 🚫 Change of change MAC-address (randomize) MAC) — This can lead to blocking on some networks (such as hotels or corporate Wi-Fi).
- 🚫 Enable all Wi-Fi channels (Wi-Fi country code: US) — Not all channels are allowed in Russia and their use may violate the law.
- 🚫 Disabling network scanning (Wi-Fi scanning always available) – will worsen the operation of geolocation and fast connections.
⚠️ Note: If you have enabled Wi-Fi verbose logging, remember to turn it off after diagnosis. Log files contain sensitive information (including network passwords) and can be extracted by attackers through vulnerabilities.
It is also worth remembering that changing hidden parameters can lead to:
- 🔌 Loss of connection to some routers (for example, if you disable support for outdated standards) 802.11b).
- 📉 Increased battery consumption (if continuous network scanning is enabled).
- 🚔 Warranty issues (if changes have resulted in an unstable Wi-Fi module).
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Before changing hidden Wi-Fi settings, always check if your router supports new settings. For example, if you turn off 802.11n in the hope of speeding up your network, some devices may stop seeing the network.
How to Reset Wi-Fi Settings If Something Goes Wrong
If after experimenting with Open Wi-Fi Settings, your Redmi has stopped connecting to networks or is behaving unstablely, you can return everything to factory parameters in several ways:
- Soft reset (saves saved networks but resets extended settings): Settings → Wi-Fi → ⚙️ (gear) → Additionally. → Resetting network settings
- Hard reset (removes all saved networks and passwords): Settings → System → Resetting → Network Settings Reset
- Reset via developer menu (if soft reset didn’t help): Settings → For developers → Reset Wi-Fi/Mobile/Bluetooth settings
- Fastboot Recovery (Extreme Case If Wi-Fi Stops Working): fastboot erase modemst1 fastboot erase modemst2 ⚠️ Note: This command removes all network settings, including IMEI. Use only if other methods have not helped, and you know how to restore it. IMEI!
After discharge, it is recommended:
- 🔄 Reboot the phone.
- 📶 Connect to Wi-Fi and check speed (for example, via Speedtest).
- 🔧 Disable unnecessary features in the developer menu (if they were enabled).
What if Wi-Fi is not turned on after resetting?
Common Myths About “Open Wi-Fi Settings” on Xiaomi
There's a lot of rumors and misinformation going around this feature, and we're going to look at the most popular ones.
Myth 1: “Open Wi-Fi Settings speeds up the internet” Reality: The feature itself doesn’t speed anything up — it only opens up access to settings that can improve connectivity (like 5GHz priority) but if the problem is in the router or provider, no phone settings will help.
Myth 2: “This option is only available on flagships” Reality: The feature is available on all Redmis with MIUI 10 and newer, including budget models like Redmi 9A.
Myth 3: «If you turn on all Wi-Fi channels, the connection will become more stable" Reality: Using unauthorized channels (for example, using unauthorised channels, 12-14 into 2.4 GHz may lead to interference and even fines from Roskomnadzor. 1-13.
Myth 4: “Only developers need these settings” Reality: Some options (like Wi-Fi Direct or band priority) are useful to ordinary users, and the key is to understand what each setting is responsible for.