Redmi Note 3 WiFi Not Working: How to Fix

The Redmi Note 3’s WiFi dropping, not connecting, or showing a weak signal is usually caused by a software glitch, a wrong setting, or a router compatibility issue — not a hardware failure. You can fix most cases yourself by restarting the phone, forgetting and re-adding the network, resetting the WiFi settings, or checking the router’s channel and security settings. Below are the exact steps to try in order, plus what to do if none of them work.

Why the Redmi Note 3 Has WiFi Issues

The Redmi Note 3 (both the Snapdragon and MediaTek versions) uses a WiFi module that is sensitive to router settings and Android system updates. Common triggers include:

• An outdated MIUI version with a known WiFi bug.
• Router broadcast on a channel the phone does not support well (usually 12–13 in some regions).
• WiFi power-saving mode enabled by default in MIUI.
• Corrupted network credentials stored on the phone.
• Static IP conflicts when the router assigns a different IP than the one saved.

Because the phone is from 2015–2016, it supports only 2.4 GHz WiFi (802.11 b/g/n) — it does not support 5 GHz. If you are trying to connect to a 5 GHz network, it will never appear in the list. That is the first thing to check.

Basic Fixes to Try First

Start with the quickest, least invasive steps. They resolve a large share of WiFi problems.

1. Toggle WiFi off and on. Swipe down from the top, tap the WiFi icon to turn it off, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on.
2. Restart the phone. Hold the power button, tap Restart. This clears temporary network glitches in the radio stack.
3. Restart the router. Unplug it for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to fully boot (about 2 minutes). Then try connecting again.
4. Forget the network. Go to Settings → WiFi, long-press the network name, tap Forget. Then tap the network again, re-enter the password, and connect.
5. Check the password. A wrong password shows “Authentication problem” or “Saved, secured” without connecting. Re-type it carefully, or view the password in the router admin page.

If none of these help, move to the deeper settings below.

Change Router Settings That Affect the Redmi Note 3

The Redmi Note 3’s WiFi chip has known compatibility issues with certain router configurations. Log into your router’s admin page (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) and try these changes one at a time, testing after each:

• Set the wireless mode to “802.11 b/g/n mixed” instead of “802.11n only” or “802.11ac only”. The Note 3 does not support ac, and some routers fail to negotiate with n-only mode.
• Change the channel to 1, 6, or 11. In some regions, channels 12–13 are allowed but the phone may not see them. Set the channel manually to 1, 6, or 11.
• Switch the security to WPA2-PSK (AES). Avoid WPA/WPA2 mixed mode or TKIP encryption, which can cause the phone to drop the connection every few minutes.
• Disable “WiFi Agile Multiband” or “Band Steering” if your router has it. These features can confuse older clients.
• Turn off “AP Isolation” or “Client Isolation” if enabled — it blocks device-to-device communication and can appear as a WiFi failure.

After each change, reboot the router and reconnect the phone. If the problem persists, move on to the phone-side settings.

Adjust MIUI WiFi Settings on the Phone

MIUI has a few hidden WiFi options that directly affect connectivity. Open Settings → WiFi, then tap the three-dot menu (or “Advanced settings”) and check the following:

• WiFi power saving mode. If you see an option called “WiFi power saving” or “Smart WiFi”, turn it off. It reduces signal strength to save battery, which can cause weak signal or disconnects.
• “Keep WiFi on during sleep” — set it to “Always”. If it is set to “Only when plugged in” or “Never”, the phone drops WiFi when the screen is off.
• Static IP. If the phone connects but has no internet, tap the network, select “Static” IP, and enter the router’s gateway (e.g., 192.168.1.1) and a free IP like 192.168.1.50. This fixes IP conflicts.
• Disable “WiFi+” or “Smart Network Switch” — this feature automatically switches to mobile data when WiFi is weak, which can make it look like WiFi is failing.

Also check that the date and time are correct. Wrong time can break HTTPS connections and some captive portal logins, making the WiFi appear to work but pages not load.

Reset Network Settings and Clear Cache

If the above steps fail, the phone’s network stack may be corrupted. Try these in order:

1. Clear the WiFi cache. Go to Settings → Apps → Manage apps → show system apps → find “WiFi” or “WLAN” → Storage → Clear data. This forgets all saved networks and resets the WiFi service. You will need to re-enter passwords.
2. Reset network settings. In MIUI, go to Settings → Additional settings → Backup & reset → Reset network settings. This resets WiFi, Bluetooth, and mobile data settings without erasing personal files.
3. Reboot into Safe Mode. Press and hold the power button, then long-press “Power off” until the “Reboot to safe mode” prompt appears. In safe mode, third-party apps are disabled. If WiFi works there, an app you installed is interfering — uninstall recently added apps, especially battery savers, VPNs, or “WiFi boosters”.

If you are comfortable, a factory reset (Settings → Additional settings → Backup & reset → Factory data reset) will clear all system issues, but back up your data first. This is the last software step before considering hardware.

When It Is a Hardware Problem

If the phone shows “WiFi” grayed out in Settings, or the toggle will not turn on, the WiFi chip or its antenna connection is likely damaged. This can happen after a drop, water exposure, or a faulty component. Signs of hardware failure:

• WiFi switch is stuck off and cannot be enabled.
• WiFi works only when you press hard on the back cover (loose antenna contact).
• The phone gets very hot near the camera area while trying to use WiFi.

In these cases, software fixes will not help. A repair shop can re-seat the antenna flex cable or replace the WiFi module. On the Redmi Note 3, the WiFi antenna is integrated into the back cover, so a damaged cover can also cause weak signal. Before paying for a repair, try a different back cover if you have one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Redmi Note 3 keep disconnecting from WiFi every few minutes?

This is usually caused by the router’s security being set to WPA/WPA2 mixed mode or TKIP encryption. Change the router to WPA2-PSK with AES, and also turn off “WiFi power saving” in the phone’s advanced WiFi settings. If it still drops, change the router channel to 1, 6, or 11.

Can the Redmi Note 3 connect to 5GHz WiFi?

No. The Redmi Note 3’s WiFi chip supports only 2.4 GHz (802.11 b/g/n). It will not detect 5 GHz networks at all. You need a dual-band router that broadcasts a separate 2.4 GHz SSID, or change the router to broadcast on 2.4 GHz.

Why does my Redmi Note 3 show “Saved, secured” but never connects?

This usually means the password is wrong or the router is not responding to the handshake. Forget the network, re-enter the password, and if it still fails, change the router’s security to WPA2-PSK (AES). Also check if the router has a MAC address filter — if your phone’s MAC is blocked, it will show this error.

Will a factory reset fix WiFi on Redmi Note 3?

It can, if the issue is a corrupted system file or a bad app. But a factory reset will not fix a hardware failure. Try all the software steps first, especially clearing the WiFi app’s data and resetting network settings. If the WiFi toggle is grayed out, a factory reset will not help.

How do I update the Redmi Note 3 to fix WiFi bugs?

Go to Settings → About phone → System update. MIUI updates often include WiFi fixes. If no update is available, you can manually download the latest official MIUI ROM from Xiaomi’s website and flash it via Recovery mode. Make sure to back up your data first.

Related

• Ember Blade Early Access: Buy & Install Guide
• How to Set Up Hotmail on iPhone X
• Keep OBS Running During Indian Power Cuts