Xiaomi smartphone is bad catching the Internet: causes and solutions

Internet problems on Xiaomi smartphones are one of the most common complaints of users: the device suddenly “loses” the network in the subway, then the device suddenly “loses” the network in the subway, then the device is the most common. 4G-The signal goes missing in a room where other phones are stable, and the Wi-Fi is permanently shut down?

In this article, we’ll look at all possible scenarios, from trivial settings to hardware malfunctions, how to diagnose a problem, which parameters to check first, and what to do if Redmi or POCO stubbornly ignores mobile Internet or connects to Wi-Fi at a time, and focus on models with MediaTek chips (such as the Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5), where weak signal is often associated with the modem firmware.

Don't rush to bring your phone to the service, because 80 percent of the time, you can solve the problem yourself in 10 to 15 minutes, and let's start with the simplest.

1. Check the basic network settings

Before digging deeper, make sure that the problem is not with the basic settings, often users accidentally turn off mobile internet or choose the wrong network mode.

Open the Settings. → SIM-Maps and mobile networks and check:

• 📶 Mobile Internet is enabled for the right reasons SIM-cards (if two of them).
• 🌐 The network mode is set to 4G/5G (If only it is recommended. 3G or 2G, Smartphones will not be able to use modern frequencies.
• 🔄 Automatic network selection activated if a specific network is selected manually (e.g, MTS), If you are in the coverage area of another operator, the phone will not switch.

For Wi-Fi, check:

• 📡 B Settings → Wi-Fi enabled Smart Slider (on some models) If it's turned off, the phone won't automatically connect to the stored networks.
• 🔒 The password is correctly entered (sometimes after updating). MIUI passwords are reset).
• 🛡️ Is there an old access point with the same name in the list of “known” networks (SSID), but other settings.

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If Xiaomi smartphone does not catch 5G, Although the operator supports this technology, check if the service is activated in the operator's personal account. 5G-internet.

2. Reboot and reset network settings

The fastest way to resuscitate the Internet is to reboot the phone, which clears the modem cache and resets temporary connection errors. If the reboot didn't work, reset the network settings:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile Network and Bluetooth settings.
3. Confirm the action (you will need to enter a pattern lock or PIN-code).

After discharge:

• 📱 Phone will “forget” all saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords to them.
• 📶 Settings APN (Mobile Internet access points will return to factory.
• 🔄 You may need to re-select the network mode (4G/5G).

If the mobile Internet does not work after the reset, check the settings. APN. Sometimes operators update settings, and the smartphone doesn't automatically pull them up. APN on your operator’s website (Internet settings section) and enter them manually in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Access points (APN).

3. Updating the firmware and modem part

The weak network signal is often associated with outdated firmware, especially on models with MediaTek chips (for example, Redmi Note 11, POCO M4 Pro).

How to update firmware:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If a new version of MIUI or a modem file package (usually 10 to 50 MB) is available, download and install it.

If the update doesn’t help, try installing firmware manually through Recovery:

Download the official firmware from the Xiaomi website (choose the version for your model!)

Check the battery charge (at least 50%)

Copy the firmware file (.zip format) into the root folder of the phone

Reboot to Recovery (clamp Power + Volume up)

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For models with Qualcomm Snapdragon (e.g. Xiaomi 12T, POCO F4), sometimes resetting the modem part through the engineering menu helps:

1. Please type in the phone keyboard ##4636##.
2. Select Phone Information.
3. Scroll down and click Reset the Modem Part Statistics.

4.Problems with SIM-card-and-slot

If the mobile Internet is unstable, it may be the fault SIM-The card or the slot:

• 🪪 Physical condition SIM-cards: cracks, chips or contamination on the contacts may disrupt communication.
• 🔧 Adjacent density: Remove the tray and make sure that SIM-The card is inserted correctly (chip down). Sometimes the tray is not fully fixed - slightly press on it after installation.
• 📱 Slot performance: try inserting SIM-card to another slot (if there are two) or test it on another phone.

On Xiaomi models with a hybrid slot (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro) the problem may lie in incompatibility with the nano-SIM format. If you cropped the card yourself, try replacing it with a new one in the operator’s cabin.

⚠️ If after extraction SIM-The phone has stopped seeing the network at all, check if the contacts in the slot have bent, which is a common problem after a careless installation, in which case repairs will be required at the service center.

5. Energy saving and background activity settings

MIUI aggressively optimizes background processes, which can cause Internet connection to break in standby mode, to avoid:

1. Open Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Consumption Management.
2. Select No restrictions for applications that must constantly keep in touch (messaging, mail, navigators).
3. Turn off the Adaptive Battery and Background Limitation in the Additional Settings section.

For Wi-Fi, check:

• 🔋 B Settings → Wi-Fi → Additional settings turn off the option to turn off Wi-Fi in sleep mode.
• 📶 If you use modem point mode, make sure that in Settings → Access point and modem on USB-modem or portable access point (depending on the distribution method).

On some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13) it helps to disable the Wi-Fi/mobile network smart switching feature in Wi-Fi settings. This option sometimes leads to endless reconnections.

Hardware malfunctions and service repairs

If none of these methods worked, the problem could be in the hardware:

To diagnose hardware problems:

1. Check the phone on another operator (take it). SIM-friend-card).
2. Test the network in the engineering menu (code ##4636## → Phone Information) If the network status bar says Unplugged or Emergency Calls Only, this confirms a hardware malfunction.
3. Contact Xiaomi Service Center (addresses on mi.com), and the antenna or modem part is usually free of charge.

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If your smartphone stopped catching the network after the MIUI update, try to roll back to the previous version of the firmware first. Only if this does not help - bring to the service.

7.Alternative ways to improve the signal

If there are no hardware problems, but the signal is still weak, try these methods:

• 📶 Signal amplifier: Buy a repeater for a mobile network (e.g. Huawei) 4G Signal Booster will amplify the signal in the apartment or office.
• 🔄 Manual network selection: in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Network selection: Turn off automatic mode and manually select the operator, sometimes it helps if the phone gets stuck on a weak cell.
• 🌍 Change in firmware region: some firmware (e.g. Global vs. EEA) You can change the region via Fastboot (instructions are available on the forum). 4PDA).
• 📡 Set up Wi-Fi on your router: Set up a channel 1, 6 or 11 (they are least congested). 802.11r (Fast Transition – it can cause communication breaks on Xiaomi. WMM (Wi-Fi Multimedia to prioritize traffic.

For POCO or Redmi owners with an unlocked bootloader, there is a radical way to run a custom modem firmware (e.g., XDA Developers' Modem Firmware), which is risky, but can significantly improve signal reception.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the Internet problems on Xiaomi