Slow Wi-Fi on Xiaomi: Why Your Phone Is Slow and How to Fix It

Have you noticed that your Xiaomi suddenly started to "freeze" when surfing the internet, although the speed is stable on a laptop or another phone? Or a video on YouTube constantly buffering, and online games are lagging - and all this only through Wi-FiSlow internet on smartphones of this brand is a more common problem than you might think. And the carrier or router isn't always to blame.

In this article we will look at 10 real reasons, Why Xiaomi (including models Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11 and others) can slow down in a wireless network - from trivial errors in the settings to hidden firmware "tricks" MIUIAnd most importantly, we will give step-by-step instructionsHow to diagnose and fix the problem without resetting to factory settings.

Spoiler: in 60% of cases, it is not breakdowns that are to blame, but MIUI automatic speed limitation to save battery Or a conflict with the router settings. But first things first.

1. Wi-Fi Settings Issues in MIUI: What to Disable First

Firmware MIUI is known for its abundance of hidden features that can artificially limit internet speed. Most often, the culprits are:

• 🔋 Power saving mode - reduces the performance of the Wi-Fi module to save battery.
• 📡 Automatic connection to weak networks — the phone clings to neighboring points with a poor signal.
• 🔄 Smart Wi-Fi function - automatically switches between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, but often makes mistakes.

How to check:

1. Open Settings → Wi-Fi.
2. Tap on your network name and select Change network.
3. Make sure that disabled options:
   • Wi-Fi energy saving
   • Auto-connection
   • Smart Wi-Fi (or Wi-Fi Assistant)

If disabling these features improves your speed, the problem is solved. If not, let's move on.

2. Router conflict: why Xiaomi doesn't play nice with some routers

Phones Xiaomi (especially on MIUI 13/14) Sometimes don't work well with routers from TP-Link, ASUS And Keenetic because of:

• 🔒 Encryption incompatibilities (For example, WPA3 vs WPA2).
• 📶 Incorrect channel selection (autoselect often makes mistakes).
• 🚫 MAC address blocking (the router can “forget” the device).

How to fix:

1. Go to your router settings (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
2. In the section Wi-Fi (or Wireless network) execute:
   • Install encryption WPA2-PSK (Not WPA3!).
   • Select fixed channel (For example, 6 for 2.4 GHz or 36 for 5 GHz).
   • Turn it off Band Steering (if any).

Save the settings and reconnect the phone.

Why might WPA3 slow down Xiaomi?

Some models Xiaomi (especially on MIUI 12 and below) do not work correctly with WPA3 Due to errors in the protocol implementation, this leads to constant connection interruptions and speed drops to 1-2 Mbps.

⚠️ Attention: If you have a dual-band router, try separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks to different names (SSID). Many Xiaomi poorly switches between ranges automatically.

3. MIUI restrictions: hidden speed limits

MIUI has several built-in mechanisms, which can artificially limit Wi-Fi speed:

The most insidious function is Wi-Fi ThrottlingIt activates automatically when the phone is locked or the app is minimized. To disable it:

1. Activate Developer mode (7 taps per MIUI version).
2. Go to Settings → Advanced → For developers.
3. Find the option Limit background traffic And turn it off.

4. Hardware problems: when the phone itself is to blame

If all settings have been checked but the speed is still low, it is possible hardware malfunctions:

• 📱 Poor Wi-Fi antenna connection (often after falls).
• 🔌 CPU overheating (the communication module is slowing down).
• 🔋 Battery wear (when the battery level drops below 20%, the speed drops).

How to diagnose:

1. Check the temperature: If the phone gets hotter than 45°C, the speed will drop. Use the app AIDA64.
2. Antenna test: enter the code into the engineering menu ##4636##, select Wi-Fi information and look at the signal level (RSSI). If below -70 dBm - There is a problem with the antenna.
3. Check the battery: V AIDA64 take a look Battery status. If Health below 80% - speed will be limited.

⚠️ Attention: If in the engineering menu (##4636##) in the section Wi-Fi you see an error Connection poor or Link speed: 1 Mbps - this is a sign hardware failureIn this case, only a service center can help.

5. The Impact of Apps: Who's Stealing Your Traffic?

Some applications may consume traffic secretly, causing the apparent speed to drop. The most common culprits are:

• 📱 Social media (TikTok, Instagram — loading video in the background).
• 🎮 Game launchers (Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile — are updated without asking).
• 🔄 VPN and proxy (even disabled ones can slow down the connection).

How to find and disable power-hungry apps:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Traffic Management.
2. Sort by Wi-Fi and see which programs consume the most.
3. For suspicious applications:
   • Limit background traffic (Settings → Apps → [name] → Mobile data & Wi-Fi).
   • Turn off auto-update (Google Play → Settings → Auto-update apps).

6. DNS issues: why websites load slowly, but the speed seems fine

If the speed test (for example, in Speedtest) shows 50-100 Mbps, but websites take 10-20 seconds to open — that's my fault DNS. MIUI By default, it uses the provider's DNS, which often slows down.

How to change DNS to faster ones:

1. Open Settings → Wi-Fi.
2. Tap your network → Change network → Advanced settings.
3. In the field DNS enter:
   • For speed: 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) or 8.8.8.8 (Google).
   • To bypass blocking: 77.88.8.8 (Yandex).

Save and reconnect.

After changing your DNS, check the website loading speed in your browser. The difference may be 2-3 times!

7. Firmware update and factory reset: extreme measures

If nothing helps, there are two radical methods left:

1. MIUI Update:
   • Go to Settings → About phone → System update.
   • If a new version is available, update. New firmware often fixes Wi-Fi bugs.

Reset network settings:

• Open Settings → System → Reset settings.
• Select Reset Wi-Fi, mobile network, and Bluetooth settings.
• After the reset, reconnect to the network and check the speed.

⚠️ Attention: Before resetting network settings write down your Wi-Fi passwords — they'll be erased! You'll also have to reconnect all Bluetooth devices (headphones, fitness trackers, etc.).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about slow Wi-Fi on Xiaomi

Why is Wi-Fi speed on Xiaomi lower than on other devices?

This is related to MIUI optimizations To save battery. By default, the system limits the Wi-Fi module's power if the phone isn't charging. To remove the limitation, disable Wi-Fi energy saving in the network settings.

Can a virus slow down Wi-Fi on a Xiaomi?

Yes, some viruses (especially adware) create background traffic, causing the apparent speed to drop. Check your phone with an antivirus (Malwarebytes or Dr.Web) and remove suspicious applications in Settings → Applications.

Why does the speed drop when the phone battery is low?

This MIUI security mechanismWhen the battery level drops below 15-20%, the system automatically reduces Wi-Fi module performance to extend battery life. Solutions:

• Connect your phone to the charger.
• Turn it off Adaptive battery V Settings → Battery.

How to check if your router or phone is slow?

Connect another device (laptop, tablet) to the same network. If the speed is normal there, the problem is with your phone. If it's slow everywhere, the router or ISP is to blame. You can also run a speed test on your phone using Speedtest and compare with the results on the PC.

Does flashing a custom firmware (like LineageOS) help?

Yes, but this extreme measure. Custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience) have no restrictions MIUI on Wi-Fi, but:

• You will lose your warranty.
• Some functions (such as NFC or camera) may stop working.
• Technical skills required for installation.

Before flashing, try all the other methods in the article.