Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often come across the acronym SSID when trying to set up an internet distribution or looking for their network in a list of available Wi-Fi connections. This term seems complicated only at first glance, but actually represents the simplest identifier without which wireless communication would not be possible. Understanding what an SSID is helps not only in basic setting up, but also in solving connection problems when the phone “can’t see” a router or other devices.
In the context of the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem, network ID management has its own characteristics that distinguish it from pure Android. Users can easily rename their access point, hide it from prying eyes or make it visible to everyone around them, and it is important to understand these settings to ensure that not only convenience, but also security of data when using networks.
This article will discuss in detail the technical essence of the concept, how to change the network name on Xiaomi devices and methods of diagnosing problems.We will consider why the standard name of the phone model may not be the best choice and how to properly configure the router for the perfect work with a smartphone. SSID — This is an identifier that allows your device to distinguish one wireless network from another in the coverage area.
Technical essence of the concept of SSID in wireless networks
SSID is derived from the English Service Set Identifier, which literally translates as "Set of Services Identifier." In simple terms, it's the name of your Wi-Fi wireless network, which appears on the list of available connections on any device: a laptop, tablet or Xiaomi smartphone. Without this unique name, devices would not be able to understand which base station or router they need to connect to in an environment with dozens of other networks around them.
Technically, this ID is a 32-byte case-sensitive sequence, which means that the HomeWiFi network and the Homewifi network for your Redmi phone will be two completely different access points. The data protocol uses this code to route packets of information to your device, ignoring requests from gadgets connected to neighboring routers with different names.
There are several types of identifiers that advanced users should know about, the main type being broadcast by routers all the time, allowing devices to see the network, but there are also hidden networks that do not send their SSID over the air, requiring the user to manually enter a name to connect, which creates an additional, though not absolute, layer of protection against random connections.
- 📡 Basic SSID — The visible network name that is broadcast by the router continuously and is scanned by any device within range.
- 🔒 Hidden SSID — network that is not displayed in the general list, and to connect to it you need to manually enter the exact name in the Wi-Fi settings.
- 🔄 Guest SSID — a separate identifier created on a router to provide access to guests without the possibility of logging into the owner’s local network.
It's important to understand that changing this setting on the router side will require reconnecting all your devices. If you rename the network in the router settings, your Xiaomi phone will stop automatically connecting to it, perceiving it as new, so before making changes to the network settings, it's better to make sure that you have access to the router interface.
Where to find and how to view SSIDs on Xiaomi Redmi
If you own a Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone and want to know what your hotspot or Wi-Fi network is called, there are a number of ways to do this. Most people are interested in the name of the network they are currently connected to, or the name of the hotspot they are creating. In MIUI, this information is always at hand, but the paths to it may vary depending on the version of the shell.
To see the name of the current network, you just unlock the screen and lower the notification curtain. In the communication module control unit, you press and hold your finger on the Wi-Fi icon. This action automatically throws you into the wireless network settings menu, where the current name will be displayed above the switch or next to the active network, which is your active SSID.
It's a little different if you're interested in the name of the hotspot you're giving away from your phone, and then you go to the deep settings of the system. → Connection and sharing → Wi-Fi hotspot. Here, at the top of the screen, you'll see the current network name, and you'll see the password for the connection.
- 📱 Through the curtain: Press the Wi-Fi icon in the control center to see the name of the active network.
- ⚙️ Through Settings: Go to Settings → Wi-Fi, the name of the current network will be highlighted by color or tick.
- 📡 Access Point: Wi-Fi Access Point menu displays the name that the phone sees when searching for your distribution.
⚠️ Note: If you are in the range of multiple networks with the same name (for example, «Beeline_WiFi» In different apartments, the phone can switch between them automatically. MAC-address or signal level to identify your access point.
Instructions to change the network name (SSID) to Redmi
The standard hotspot name on Xiaomi and Redmi phones is usually generated automatically based on the device model, for example, “Redmi Note”. 10 Pro_5G». Although it is convenient for identification in the office, in the home network or in a cafe, such a name gives off the model of your phone and its approximate cost, which can attract the attention of attackers. SSID Something Neutral: A Good Digital Hygiene Practice.
You don't need superuser rights or complex utilities to rename an access point. Everything is done with the system's regular tools. First, open the settings menu and find the Connection and Sharing section. Then select "Wi-Fi Access Point." In the window that opens, click on "Setting up the Wi-Fi hotspot." That's where the "SSID hotspot" field is located, which you can edit.
☑️ Checking before change SSID
When entering a new name, follow certain rules. The system allows you to use Latin letters, numbers and some special characters. It is not recommended to use Cyrillic (Russian letters), as old devices or gadgets from other manufacturers (for example, iOS or older versions of Android) may not display such names correctly or not see the network at all. After entering a new name, click "Save" or the tick in the upper right corner.
Path to setup:
Settings -> Connection and Sharing -> Wi-Fi Access Point -> Configure Wi-Fi Access Point -> SSID Access PointOnce you change your name, all the devices that were previously connected to your access point will lose their connection, and they will have to re-search the network using a new name and enter a password, which is normal security behavior, preventing unauthorized access after the configuration change.
Configuring a hidden network and security settings
The SSID hide feature is available not only on routers, but also in the hotspot settings on Xiaomi smartphones. When you activate this mode, your phone stops screaming at the world about its presence. The network disappears from the general list of available connections on other devices. To connect to it, the user will have to manually enter the exact network name in the corresponding Wi-Fi menu.
This feature is often mistakenly considered a panacea for hackers. In fact, hiding SSIDs is a protection against honest people. Specialized software easily detects hidden networks through service packets that the device is still forced to transmit. However, if your goal is to remove excess visual porridge from the list of networks in a public place or office, this option is quite useful.
How safe is it to hide an SSID?
You can turn this feature on Redmi in the same access point settings menu. Find the Hide Network (or Hide Device) switch and activate it. After that, your phone will only be visible to those who know the exact network name. This can also help save battery life, as the Wi-Fi module will less likely send broadcast packets.
- 🔍 Decreased visibility: network does not cornen eyes in the list of connections from neighbors or colleagues.
- 🔋 Energy savings: Reducing the number of service packs can slightly extend battery life.
- ⚠️ Discomfort: Guests will have to dictate the name of the network, as it will be impossible to automatically find it in the list.
If you notice problems with peripheral connectivity, try to regain network visibility.
Problems with displaying and connecting to the SSID
Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi sometimes face a situation when the phone stops seeing the home network or the access point does not appear on other devices. Often the reason lies in a conflict of frequency bands. Modern routers work in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. If the router is enabled with the function of “Smart Connect”, the phone can be confused which SSID to connect to, especially if the Wi-Fi driver in the MIUI shell is not working correctly.
Another common problem is overflowing the list of saved networks. Android has a limit on how many SSIDs you remember. If you change jobs or travel frequently, your phone's memory can become clogged with old profiles, which means that the device stops adding new networks or doesn't see them when scanning, and the solution lies in cleaning the list of saved connections in the Wi-Fi settings.
| Problem | Probable cause | Decision |
|:--- |:--- |:--- ||
| Network is available but not connected | Incorrect password or encryption type | Forget network and re-enter password |
| Phone does not see SSID router | Work on channel 12-14 (rarely in Russia) | Change channel in router to 1-11 |
| Access Point not visible to others | SSID or 5GHz Hiding Enabled | Disable Hiding or Change Range to 2.4GHz |
| Communications interruption when blocked | MIUI Energy saving | Disable energy saving for Wi-Fi |
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If Xiaomi’s phone doesn’t see 5GHz, check the router region. Some Chinese router models use channels that are banned in Europe and Russia, so the smartphone simply ignores them.
Also worth mentioning is the problem with name encoding. If you set the SSSID on a router using rare characters or emojis, the Xiaomi phone may display it as a set of cracosyabrs or not at all. Use only standard Latin letters and numbers for maximum compatibility with all devices in the house.
Diagnostics and resets of network settings
When standard search and renaming methods fail and the connection problems are systemic, more radical measures must be taken: Network resets bring all Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile internet settings back to factory values. This doesn't delete your personal files, photos or apps, but erases all stored Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth pairs.
To perform a reset on Redmi, go to Settings → Connection and sharing → Resetting Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth, the system will warn of the consequences, once confirmed, the phone will reboot the network modules, which often solves problems when the phone gets stuck when it receives it. IP-addresses or incorrectly processes broadcast packets from the router.
⚠️ Note: Before resetting your network settings, make sure you remember your home Wi-Fi password, as it will have to be re-entered after the procedure.
Even if the reset didn’t work, the problem could be in the hardware of the antenna or in the software failure of the firmware itself, in which case it’s worth checking for system updates in the About Phone menu. Xiaomi engineers regularly release patches that fix the wireless module’s malfunction.
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Resetting network settings is a safe and effective procedure that solves 90% of software problems with connecting to Wi-Fi and the operation of the access point on Xiaomi smartphones.