diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/mici/layouts/main.py b/selfdrive/ui/mici/layouts/main.py
index d325136689..f0580f240f 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/mici/layouts/main.py
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/mici/layouts/main.py
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ from openpilot.selfdrive.ui.mici.layouts.onboarding import OnboardingWindow
 from openpilot.system.ui.widgets import Widget
 from openpilot.system.ui.widgets.scroller import Scroller
 from openpilot.system.ui.lib.application import gui_app
+from openpilot.system.hardware import PC
+from openpilot.system.ui.lib.wifi_manager import WifiManager
 
 
 ONROAD_DELAY = 2.5  # seconds
@@ -23,6 +25,8 @@ class MiciMainLayout(Scroller):
     self._prev_standstill = False
     self._onroad_time_delay: float | None = None
     self._setup = False
+    # Start monitoring tethering at UI startup; settings may never be opened.
+    self._wifi_manager = None if PC else WifiManager(active=False)
 
     # Initialize widgets
     self._home_layout = MiciHomeLayout()
@@ -65,7 +69,9 @@ class MiciMainLayout(Scroller):
     if self._settings_layout is None:
       from openpilot.selfdrive.ui.mici.layouts.settings.settings import SettingsLayout
 
-      self._settings_layout = SettingsLayout()
+      if self._wifi_manager is None:
+        self._wifi_manager = WifiManager(active=False)
+      self._settings_layout = SettingsLayout(self._wifi_manager)
       self._settings_layout.set_rect(rl.Rectangle(0, 0, gui_app.width, gui_app.height))
     gui_app.push_widget(self._settings_layout)
 
diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/mici/layouts/settings/network/network_layout.py b/selfdrive/ui/mici/layouts/settings/network/network_layout.py
index 9f6fae4b5f..ee31406927 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/mici/layouts/settings/network/network_layout.py
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/mici/layouts/settings/network/network_layout.py
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@ from openpilot.system.ui.lib.wifi_manager import WifiManager, Network, MeteredTy
 
 
 class NetworkLayoutMici(NavScroller):
-  def __init__(self):
+  def __init__(self, wifi_manager: WifiManager):
     super().__init__()
 
-    self._wifi_manager = WifiManager()
+    self._wifi_manager = wifi_manager
     self._wifi_manager.set_active(False)
     self._wifi_ui = WifiUIMici(self._wifi_manager)
 
diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/mici/layouts/settings/settings.py b/selfdrive/ui/mici/layouts/settings/settings.py
index 58e409df95..e153dc88e0 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/mici/layouts/settings/settings.py
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/mici/layouts/settings/settings.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from openpilot.selfdrive.ui.mici.layouts.settings.driving_model import DrivingMo
 from openpilot.selfdrive.ui.mici.layouts.settings.galaxy import GalaxyBigButton
 from openpilot.selfdrive.ui.mici.layouts.settings.visuals import VisualsLayoutMici
 from openpilot.system.ui.lib.application import gui_app, FontWeight
+from openpilot.system.ui.lib.wifi_manager import WifiManager
 
 
 class SettingsBigButton(BigButton):
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ class ForceDriveStateBigButton(BigMultiToggle):
 
 
 class SettingsLayout(NavScroller):
-  def __init__(self):
+  def __init__(self, wifi_manager: WifiManager):
     super().__init__()
     self._params = Params()
 
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ class SettingsLayout(NavScroller):
     toggles_btn = SettingsBigButton("toggles", "", gui_app.texture("icons_mici/settings.png", 64, 64))
     toggles_btn.set_click_callback(lambda: gui_app.push_widget(toggles_panel))
 
-    network_panel = NetworkLayoutMici()
+    network_panel = NetworkLayoutMici(wifi_manager)
     network_btn = SettingsBigButton("network", "", gui_app.texture("icons_mici/settings/network/wifi_strength_full.png", 76, 56))
     network_btn.set_click_callback(lambda: gui_app.push_widget(network_panel))
 
diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/mici/tests/test_tethering_monitor_startup.py b/selfdrive/ui/mici/tests/test_tethering_monitor_startup.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7217fb1615
--- /dev/null
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/mici/tests/test_tethering_monitor_startup.py
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+import ast
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[4]
+
+
+def _method(path: str, class_name: str, method_name: str) -> ast.FunctionDef:
+  tree = ast.parse((ROOT / path).read_text())
+  cls = next(node for node in tree.body if isinstance(node, ast.ClassDef) and node.name == class_name)
+  return next(node for node in cls.body if isinstance(node, ast.FunctionDef) and node.name == method_name)
+
+
+def _calls(method: ast.FunctionDef, name: str) -> list[ast.Call]:
+  return [node for node in ast.walk(method) if isinstance(node, ast.Call) and isinstance(node.func, ast.Name) and node.func.id == name]
+
+
+def test_mici_starts_tethering_monitor_before_opening_settings():
+  main_init = _method("selfdrive/ui/mici/layouts/main.py", "MiciMainLayout", "__init__")
+  manager_creation = _calls(main_init, "WifiManager")
+  assert any(any(keyword.arg == "active" and isinstance(keyword.value, ast.Constant) and keyword.value.value is False
+                 for keyword in call.keywords) for call in manager_creation)
+
+  open_settings = _method("selfdrive/ui/mici/layouts/main.py", "MiciMainLayout", "_open_settings")
+  settings_creation = _calls(open_settings, "SettingsLayout")
+  assert any(len(call.args) == 1 and isinstance(call.args[0], ast.Attribute) and call.args[0].attr == "_wifi_manager"
+             for call in settings_creation)
+
+  settings_init = _method("selfdrive/ui/mici/layouts/settings/settings.py", "SettingsLayout", "__init__")
+  network_creation = _calls(settings_init, "NetworkLayoutMici")
+  assert any(len(call.args) == 1 and isinstance(call.args[0], ast.Name) and call.args[0].id == "wifi_manager"
+             for call in network_creation)
+
+  network_init = _method("selfdrive/ui/mici/layouts/settings/network/network_layout.py", "NetworkLayoutMici", "__init__")
+  assert any(isinstance(node, ast.Assign)
+             and any(isinstance(target, ast.Attribute) and target.attr == "_wifi_manager" for target in node.targets)
+             and isinstance(node.value, ast.Name) and node.value.id == "wifi_manager"
+             for node in ast.walk(network_init))
diff --git a/system/ui/lib/wifi_manager.py b/system/ui/lib/wifi_manager.py
index 2f5e184e88..9ceaf86565 100644
--- a/system/ui/lib/wifi_manager.py
+++ b/system/ui/lib/wifi_manager.py
@@ -174,9 +174,9 @@ class WifiState:
 
 
 class WifiManager:
-  def __init__(self):
+  def __init__(self, active: bool = True):
     self._networks: list[Network] = []  # an unsorted list of available Networks. a Network can be comprised of multiple APs
-    self._active = True  # used to not run when not in settings
+    self._active = active  # network scans only run while settings are open
     self._exit = False
     self._fake_networking = False
     self._nmcli_networking = False