Ethan Brooks
How To Enable or Disable Auto Reconnect to Wi-Fi on Xiaomi Devices
Managing WiFi connections on Xiaomi phones can be a bit of a headache sometimes. Especially if you want to keep your device from auto-connecting to certain networks, but barely find the options or they seem hidden. This guide’s got you covered with straightforward steps to tweak those auto reconnect settings. Trust me, once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to control when your phone hooks up to WiFi networks—whether you want it to auto-connect or prefer to be more selective. The goal here is to keep your connection stable and avoid those annoying auto-reconnects when you’re somewhere you don’t want your phone to just jump on a network automatically.
How to Fix WiFi Auto Reconnect Issues on Xiaomi Devices
Making sure the feature is turned on or off properly
It’s kinda weird, but sometimes the auto reconnect toggle just isn’t in the obvious spot, especially if Xiaomi keeps changing the UI with each update. Usually, it helps to double-check the WiFi settings for each network.
- First, go to Settings > Wi-Fi. Make sure WiFi is turned on, obviously.
- Tap on the network you want to manage. Sometimes you need to tap the network name or tap the gear icon next to it. If there’s no gear icon, tap and hold the network, then click Manage network.
Adjusting the “Connect Automatically” toggle
This is the key switch. If you want your device to stop signing onto a network automatically, disable this toggle. Conversely, if you want it to save time and connect as soon as you’re in range, turn it on. Depending on the MIUI version, this might be labeled differently or hidden in sub-menus.
- Look for Connect automatically. If you don’t see it, it might be in a sub-menu like Advanced.
- Switch it on or off based on your needs. On some setups, toggling this has been known to require a restart of WiFi or the device—kind of frustrating, but that’s Xiaomi for you.
Saving the Settings
Once you toggle the switch, don’t forget to hit Save or just back out if it autosaves. Sometimes the change isn’t applied unless you explicitly click a save button or restart WiFi. Honestly, on one Xiaomi it worked immediately, on another I had to restart WiFi or even reboot the phone.
Extra tips & common gotchas
If auto reconnect still acts funky after setting changes:
- Make sure your device isn’t in airplane mode or WiFi is actually enabled.
- Go to Settings > Wi-Fi > tap the three-dot menu in the corner > Manage networks.
- For some Xiaomi or MIUI versions, there’s also a Wi-Fi Preferences option under Additional settings. Here, toggling Turn on Wi-Fi automatically and related options might help.
- If you keep getting stuck, try forgetting the network entirely and reconnecting, then managing the reconnect option on the fresh connection. It’s a pain, but sometimes Xiaomi gets confused with saved networks.
Wrapping it up
Managing WiFi auto reconnect on Xiaomi is really about knowing where the toggle is hiding and making sure it’s set right for your situation. No magic fix, but understanding the settings and sometimes restarting WiFi or the phone helps a lot. Xiaomi makes it kind of confusing, but with a bit of patience, you’ll get it sorted. Just a soft reminder—these options can look different across MIUI versions, so don’t be surprised if some menus are in slightly different spots.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set auto reconnect differently for each WiFi network?
Yes, you can control the auto reconnect setting for each network separately. Just find the network in the WiFi list, tap it, and toggle Connect automatically.
What if the auto reconnect switch isn’t working?
This is kinda common. Sometimes toggling it doesn’t do anything until you restart WiFi or reboot the device. Also, resetting network settings (go to Settings > Additional Settings > Backup & Reset > Reset network settings) might clear up weird glitches.
Will disabling auto reconnect break my WiFi connection?
Not entirely. It just means your phone won’t automatically join the network when it’s in range. You’ll have to do it manually when needed, which is kinda the point if you’re trying to manage connections better.
Summary
- Check WiFi settings and tap the network
- Look for Connect automatically toggle
- Toggle it based on your needs and save
- If it doesn’t work, try restarting WiFi or rebooting
- Remember, Xiaomi UI varies, so menus may move around
Wrap-up
This whole process isn’t always straight-forward because of Xiaomi’s updates and UI quirks, but once you get into the habit of checking those settings, it’s better than getting caught with your device auto-connecting to networks you’d rather avoid. Sometimes just toggling the settings and restarting WiFi makes a difference. Hopefully this shaves off a few hours of frustration for someone.