Wi-Fi network authorization on smartphones Xiaomi It may seem like a simple task, but in practice, users encounter dozens of nuances: from hidden networks to authentication errors. In this article, we'll look at all possible connection scenarios, including rare cases where the phone doesn't detect the network or constantly asks for a password. We'll pay special attention to the company's features. MIUI, which distinguish Xiaomi from other Android devices.
You will learn not only the basic steps, but also How to bypass router restrictions if it's blocking new devices, how to connect to a network without displaying its name (SSID), and what to do if your smartphone "forgets" saved networks after an update. These instructions are relevant for all modern models, from budget ones. Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
If you've already tried connecting but see an error like "Authentication..." or "Saved, but no internet access," the article has diagnostics section such problems. And for those who want to delve deeper, we'll cover the developer settings that affect Wi-Fi performance.
1. Basic method: connecting to an open or secure network
Let's start with the simplest thing - connecting to the network, which visible in the list of available and is either not password protected, or you know its key. This method works on 90% of devices. Xiaomi regardless of version MIUI.
Open Settings → Wi-Fi (or swipe down to bring up the quick settings panel and hold the Wi-Fi icon). Turn on the switch at the top of the screen if the network is disabled. After 2-3 seconds, a list of available access points will appear. Find your network name (SSID) and tap it.
- 🔓 For the open networkSimply click "Connect" in the window that appears. No further action is required.
- 🔐 For a secure networkEnter your password (make sure it's case-sensitive!) and click "Connect." You'll see the message "Obtaining IP address..." on the screen—this is normal.
- 📶 If the network is not displayed: Try refreshing the list by pulling the screen down, or check if SSID broadcast is enabled on your router.
Once successfully connected, a checkmark will appear next to the network name and a Wi-Fi icon will appear in the status bar. If you see an exclamation point or the message "No internet access" instead, proceed to troubleshooting section.
2. Connecting to a hidden network (without broadcasting SSID)
Some routers are configured so that do not broadcast the network name (the "Hide SSID" option in the router settings). In this case Xiaomi It won't show up in the general list, but you can still connect. To do this:
- Open
Settings → Wi-Fi. - Scroll to the bottom of the list and click "Add network" (or "Other" in older versions) MIUI).
- In the "Network Name" field (
SSID) enter exact name hidden network (check it in your router settings or with your network administrator). - Select the security type (usually
WPA2-PSKorWPA3-PSK). - Enter your password and save your settings.
If you don't know the security type, try the standard options:
| Network type | Recommended protocol | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Home router (new) | WPA3-PSK | The most secure, but not all devices support it. |
| Home router (old) | WPA2-PSK | A universal option for most networks |
| Public network (cafe, airport) | Open or WPA2-Enterprise | Browser authorization may be required. |
| Corporate network | WPA2-Enterprise or WPA3-Enterprise | Requires login/password from the IT department |
After saving, your smartphone will attempt to connect. If you receive the error "Unable to connect," check the following:
- 🔤 Correctness of the entered information
SSID(case sensitive!) - 🔑 Make sure your password is correct (spaces at the beginning/end can sometimes cause problems)
- 📡 Distance to the router (if the signal is too weak, the connection may be interrupted)
What to do if you don't know the SSID of a hidden network?
If you don't know the name of the hidden network but have access to the router, access its settings through a browser (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1). In the Wi-Fi or Wireless Network section, find the "Network Name" (SSID) field—this is the name you need. If you can't access the router, contact your network administrator.
3. Automatic connection to known networks
Smartphones Xiaomi on MIUI they can automatically connect to saved networks, but sometimes this feature doesn't work properly. Let's look at how to manage it and what to do if your phone forgets Wi-Fi.
By default, the device remembers all networks you've connected to and attempts to connect to them when they're detected again. To check or edit this list:
- Go to
Settings → Wi-Fi. - Tap the name of the connected network (or tap "Saved networks" if not connected).
- Enable or disable the "Auto-connect" option.
- To remove a network from memory, click "Forget" (delete).
If your smartphone does not connect automatically, even though the network is saved:
- 🔄 Restart your phone — sometimes resetting the network settings cache helps.
- 📱 Update MIUI — Older versions had bugs with auto-connection.
- 🔧 Reset network settings V
Settings → System → Reset settings → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile network, and Bluetooth settings.
Constantly, every day|Sometimes, once a week|Occasionally, once a month|Never loses|I don't know, I haven't paid attention-->
Some firmware versions (especially custom ones) have a bug where the phone saves the network but won't connect to it without a manual connection. This will help. reset MAC address:
Settings → About phone → All settings → Status → Wi-Fi MAC address (tap it repeatedly until the reset option appears)
4. Resolving connection errors
Even if you did everything right, Xiaomi may show one of the following errors:
- 🔴
Authentication...(hangs indefinitely or resets) - 🟡
Saved, but no internet access - ⚪
Failed to obtain IP address - ❌
The password is incorrect(even though you are sure that it is correct)
Let's look at each situation separately.
Authentication Error
This problem is usually related to incompatibility of security types between the phone and the router. Solutions:
- 🔄 Reboot your router (turn off the power for 30 seconds).
- 🔐 Check your router settings: if there is
WPA3, try switching toWPA2(or vice versa). - 📱 On your phone, turn off the "Auto-connect" option for this network and reconnect.
"Saved, but no internet access"
The problem here is not in connecting to the router, but in lack of network accessPossible reasons:
- 🌍 The router is not connected to the Internet (check the provider's cable).
- 🔒 Parental Controls or MAC address blocking are enabled on the router.
- 📡 The signal is too weak (move closer to the router).
Check if the internet works on other devices|Restart your router|Disable the VPN on your phone|Try connecting to a different network|Reset the network settings on your phone
-->
"Unable to obtain IP address"
This error means that the router cannot assign an IP address to your phone. Solutions:
- In your phone's Wi-Fi settings, tap the problematic network → "Change network" → check the "Advanced" box.
- In the "IP Settings" section, select "Static" instead of "DHCP".
- Enter the IP address manually (e.g.
192.168.1.100, if the router has an address192.168.1.1). - Please specify gateway (
192.168.1.1) and subnet mask (255.255.255.0). - Save and reconnect.
5. MIUI Features: Hidden Wi-Fi Settings
Xiaomi adds in MIUI There are several unique features that can either help or hinder your connection. Let's look at the most useful (and problematic) ones.
Smart Wi-Fi Switching
By default MIUI Automatically switches from Wi-Fi to mobile data if the signal is weak. This can create the illusion of a "dropped connection." To disable:
Settings → Wi-Fi → ⚙️ (gear in the upper right corner) → Smart Switching
Dual Wi-Fi Mode (Wi-Fi 6)
On flagship models (Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi K60) there is an option Dual Wi-Fi, which combines two frequencies (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) to increase speed. However, some routers don't support it. To disable it:
Settings → Wi-Fi → ⚙️ → Advanced → Dual Wi-Fi
Background restrictions for apps
If after connecting to Wi-Fi some applications (for example, YouTube or Telegram) don't work, check your traffic saving settings:
Settings → Apps → Manage apps → [select an app] → Data usage → Allow background data use
How to reset all network settings on Xiaomi?
If Wi-Fi issues persist across different networks, perform a full network reset:
1. Settings → System → Reset settings
2. Select Reset Wi-Fi, mobile network, and Bluetooth settings
3. Confirm the action and restart your phone.
⚠️ After this, all saved networks and passwords will be deleted!
6. Connecting to corporate and public networks (WPA-Enterprise)
The network in a university, office or hotel often uses advanced authentication (WPA-Enterprise or 802.1X). To connect to such networks on Xiaomi need to:
- Open
Settings → Wi-Fiand tap on the network name. - In the "Security Type" field, select
WPA-EnterpriseorWPA2-Enterprise. - Fill in additional fields (they depend on your network settings):
| Field | What to indicate | Example |
|---|---|---|
| EAP method | Check with the administrator (usually PEAP or TTLS) | PEAP |
| Phase 2 | Usually MSCHAPV2 | MSCHAPV2 |
| Username | Your login (for example, student ID number) | ivanov_i |
| Password | Account password | •••••••• |
| Domain | Leave blank if you don't know | — |
If the connection fails, check:
- 📝 The entered data is correct (login/password are often case-sensitive).
- 🔗 Availability of a certificate (sometimes it is necessary to install a network root certificate).
- 📅 Account expiration date (universities often block access after a semester).
7. Diagnosing problems using developer mode
If standard methods do not help, you can use hidden tools, available in Developer Mode. This will help identify the cause of system-level issues.
First, enable developer mode:
Settings → About phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times in a row)
Then open Settings → Advanced → For developers and find the following options:
- 📊
Wi-Fi statistics— shows the signal level and connection speed. - 🔍
Enable Wi-Fi logging— records connection logs (useful for crash analysis). - 🔄
Aggressive Wi-Fi switching- Disable it if the network is constantly disconnected. - 📡
Wi-Fi Region— If you are in another country, select the appropriate region.
For in-depth diagnostics, use the app WiFi Analyzer (available in Google Play). It will show:
- 📶 Signal strength from your router.
- 🔍 Channel congestion (if a channel is overloaded, change it in the router settings).
- 🛡️ Encryption type and supported standards (802.11n/ac/ax).
8. Frequently asked questions and answers
❓ Why can't Xiaomi see my Wi-Fi network, even though other devices do?
This may be due to:
- 📡 Router settings: check if broadcasting is enabled
SSIDfor the 2.4 GHz range (some Xiaomi do not support 5 GHz on older firmware). - 🔧 Regional restrictions: in the developer settings (
Wi-Fi Region) select your country. - 🔄 Channel conflict: If the router uses channel 12-14, and it is prohibited in your region, the smartphone will not show the network.
Solution: Go to your router settings and change the channel to 1-11 (for 2.4 GHz) or enable broadcasting SSID.
❓ How do I connect to Wi-Fi without a password (guest access)?
If the router supports WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), you can connect without entering a password:
- Press the button on the router
WPS(usually on the back panel). - Open it on your phone
Settings → Wi-Fi → ⚙️ → WPS. - Click "Connect via WPS" within 2 minutes of activating it on your router.
If WPS is disabled or not working, ask your network administrator to generate a temporary password (guest access).
❓ Is it possible to connect to Wi-Fi from another Xiaomi phone without entering a password?
Yes, if both phones are working MIUI 12 or newer. Use the function Mi Share:
- On the connected phone, open
Settings → Wi-Fiand tap on the network name. - Select "Share password" → "Mi Share".
- On the second phone, turn on
Mi Sharein the notification curtain. - Bring the devices close to each other and the password will be transferred automatically.
⚠️ This feature only works between devices Xiaomi with an account Mi Account.
❓ Why won't my phone connect to Wi-Fi after updating MIUI?
Updates sometimes reset settings or introduce bugs. Try:
- 🔄 Restart your phone.
- 🗑️ Delete the saved network (
Settings → Wi-Fi → [tap on the network] → Forget) and reconnect. - 🔧 Reset network settings (
Settings → System → Reset settings). - 📥 If the problem persists, roll back to the previous version MIUI through
Settings → About phone → System update → Three dots → Select update package.
❓ How do I find the password for a saved Wi-Fi network on a Xiaomi?
Without root access, you can't view saved passwords, but there are workarounds:
- 🔍 If you have access to the router, look at the password in its settings (usually
192.168.0.1or192.168.1.1). - 📱 On the phone with MIUI You can share the password via
Mi Share(see question above). - 💻 On a computer connected to this network, the password can be found through
Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → Wireless Network → Properties → Security.
⚠️ Using third-party password extraction apps requires root and may compromise security.