How to completely disable network search on Android: all methods + consequences

Your smartphone is on Android always scans the airwaves for available mobile networks - even when you're connected to Wi-Fi or in airplane mode. This process not only drains the batterybut also can compromise privacyby transmitting your location data to telecom operators. In some scenarios (for example, when using dual-SIM or roaming), automatic network search becomes a real problem - the phone wastes traffic on background requests, and the battery runs out in a few hours.

In this article, we Let's look all working methods of disabling network search on devices running Android 10–15, including hidden settings of the engineering menu, commands ADB and specialized applications. Important: some methods require root access or an unlocked bootloader - we will separately indicate such cases. You will also learn what deactivation of this function can cause and how to avoid them. side effects may cause deactivation of this function and how to avoid them.

Why Android constantly searches for networks and why is this bad

By default Android scans available networks every 2–5 minutes, even if you do not use the mobile data. This is due to the operation of the following components:

• 📡 RIL (Radio Interface Layer) module —responsible for interaction with the SIM card and base stations. It sends network search requests regardless of your actions.
• 🔄 Google Play background services - collects data about nearby towers to improve geolocation (even if GPS is turned off).
• 📱 Manufacturer firmware - some brands (for example, Xiaomi or Samsung) add their own scanning algorithms to “optimize” communication.

Consequences of constant network search:

⚠️ Attention: Disabling network search can lead to delays in incoming calls (up to 10–15 seconds) and problems with SMS (especially in roaming). If you travel frequently or use two SIM cards, evaluate the risks before changing settings.

Method 1: Disabling through standard Android settings

On most devices, you can limit network search without root access, but the functionality depends on the version Android and the manufacturer's shell. Instructions for pure Android (for example, Pixel, Nokia, Motorola):

1. Open Settings → Network and Internet → Mobile network.
2. Select your SIM card (if any several).
3. Go to Advanced settings → Network selection.
4. Activate the option "Selecting a network manually" (or Manual network selection).
5. Confirm the selection of the current network (for example, Beeline, MTS) and press "Select automatically" (this is paradoxical, but it fixes the network).

On devices with shells (MIUI, One UI, ColorOS) the path may differ:

• 📱 Samsung: Settings → Connections → Mobile networks → Network mode → Network selection (manual).
• 📱 Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco: Settings → SIM cards and mobile networks → [select SIM] → Network selection → Manual.
• 📱 Realme/Oppo: Settings → Mobile network → Access point name → Manual selection.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (for example, Flyme or EMUI), manual network selection is reset after a reboot. network selection disable and re-enable airplane mode.

Disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Close all background applications

Check the signal strength of the current network

Do not reboot the phone for 5 minutes after the change-->

Method 2: Engineering menu (codes ## and USSD)

The hidden engineering menu allows you to disable network scanning at the module level RIL. This method works on most devices, but requires caution - incorrect settings can lead to loss of connection.

Instructions for Qualcommchips (used in 70% of Android devices):

1. Open the application "Phone" and enter the code:

   ##4636##

   Some firmware may require ##INFO## or *#0011#.

2. In the menu that opens, select Phone information (or Phone Information).
3. Scroll down to block "Set preferred network type".
4. Select LTE only (if your operator supports 4G) or WCDMA only (for 3G) This will limit scanning to the selected standard only.
5. Click "Turn off radio", wait 10 seconds and turn it back on ("Turn on radio").

For devices on Mediatek (for example, many models Redmi, Realme):

1. Enter the code:

   ##36446337##

   or ##36446338## for new firmware.

2. Go to Connectivity → Band Selection.
3. Mark only those bands that your operator uses (check them on the official website).
4. Save the settings and reboot the phone.

⚠️ Attention: Changes in the engineering menu are not saved after resetting the settings. Also, some operators (for example, Tele2 or Yota) can block manual control of ranges - in this case the menu will be unavailable.

Method 3: Disabling via ADB (without root)

If standard methods did not work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) is a debugging tool that allows you to change system settings without superuser rights. This method is suitable for Android 8.0 and newer.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Download ADB Tools for your OS (Windows, macOS or Linux).
2. Enable USB debugging on your phone: Settings → About phone → Number assembly (press 7 times to unlock developer mode).

   Then: Settings → System → For Developers → USB Debugging.

3. Connect the phone to the PC and open the terminal (or cmd in Windows).
4. Enter the commands one by one:

   adb shell
   settings put global auto_select_network 0
   settings put global preferred_network_mode 9

   The last command fixes the priority to LTE (value 9). For other standards, use:

   • 7 — LTE/TD-SCDMA/GSM
   • 8 — LTE/TD-SCDMA
   • 10 — LTE/WCDMA

adb reboot

To return automatic settings, do:

adb shell settings put global auto_select_network 1

⚠️ Attention: On some devices (for example, Samsung Exynos or Google Tensor) these commands may reset after firmware update. Also operators like MTS or Beeline sometimes forcefully switch settings via OMADMmessages.

1. Install drivers for your model (for example Samsung USB Driver or Xiaomi ADB Driver).

2. Use the original USB cable (not all cables support data transfer).

3. Switch the connection mode on the phone from "Charging" to "File Transfer".-->

Method 4: Applications for network management (with and without root)

If you don’t want to tinker with the settings manually, you can use specialized applications. We tested 5 popular tools - the results are in the table:

Recommendations for selection:

• 🔧 If you have no. root, try Network Signal Guru or 4G LTE Only Mode. They do not provide complete control, but reduce the activity of the module.
• 🛠️ For root-users the best choice is NSG Glass. It allows you to disable scanning completely through the settings RIL.
• ⚙️ On devices with Qualcomm (for example, OnePlus, Xiaomi on Snapdragon) use Qualcomm RIL Switch for fine-tuning ranges.

⚠️ Attention: Applications like NSG Glass can break the operation of the SIM cardif you configure the parameters incorrectly. Before use, make a backup copy of your data via TWRP or ADB Backup.

Method 5: Editing system files (root only)

If you are willing to take the risk, you can disable network search at the configuration file level. This method gives maximum effectbut requires root access backup.

Instructions for experienced users:

1. Install a file manager with root support (for example Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to the folder /system/etc/ and find the file ril_subscription.conf (or ril_config.xml on some firmware).
3. Open the file in a text editor and find the lines:

   auto_select_network=1
   network_selection_mode=automatic

   Replace them with:

   auto_select_network=0
   network_selection_mode=manual

4. Save changes and set permissions 644 (rw-r--r--).
5. Reboot the phone.

For devices c Qualcomm you can also edit the file /system/vendor/rfs/msm/mpss/readme.txtby adding the line:

setprop persist.radio.no_network_scanning 1

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect editing of system files can lead to "briku" devices (loss of connection or stuck on loading). Before changes:

• Make a full backup via TWRP or ADB.
• Check for backup EFS-section (it is responsible for IMEI and network settings).
• Use only proven text editors (for example, QuickEdit or Jota+).

Side effects and how to avoid them

Disabling network search can cause the following problems:

To minimize risks:

• 🔄 Check your connection periodically — times per week, turn on automatic mode for 5-10 minutes so that the phone updates the network data.
• 📶 Use alternative geolocation methods —if you have disabled scanning for privacy, configure GPS i Wi-Fi scanning v Settings → Geolocation.
• 🔋 Monitor the battery — if after disabling network search, energy consumption has not decreased, check other background processes through Settings → Battery → Battery usage.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with eSIM (for example, Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy S22+), manual network management can lead to losing the eSIM profile. Before experiments, check whether your operator supports eSIM recovery via QR code.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about disabling network search