How to Share Wi-Fi from a Xiaomi Phone: 3 Methods + Troubleshooting

Smartphones Xiaomi — are some of the most popular devices for distributing mobile Internet. They support the function modem mode, which allows you to turn your phone into a fully-fledged Wi-Fi hotspot, USB modem, or Bluetooth modem. This feature is useful when traveling, at the cottage, or when the main router suddenly stops working. However, not all users know how to properly set up sharing to avoid connection issues or unnecessary data usage.

In this article, we will examine in detail all the methods of distributing the Internet with Xiaomi (including models Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11 and others), we'll explain why your hotspot sometimes doesn't work and give you tips for optimizing speed. You'll also learn how to bypass carrier restrictions on tethering and save battery life.

1. Preparing your phone before sharing Wi-Fi

Before turning on the access point, make sure that your Xiaomi I'm ready for this. Here are the key points to check:

• 📶 Mobile Internet: Make sure that mobile data is turned on on your phone (icon 4G/5G or E/H+ in the status bar). Without an active connection, sharing will not work.
• 🔋 Battery charge: Wi-Fi sharing uses a lot of energy. If your battery is low 20%, connect your phone to a charger or use USB modem (we will talk about it below).
• 📱 MIUI version: On older firmware versions (below MIUI 12) Some settings may be missing. Update your system to Settings → About phone → System update.
• 📡 Telecom operatorSome plans block dial-up mode or charge additional fees. Check with your provider for details.

If you plan to share the Internet regularly, we recommend disabling automatic app updates and background synchronization (for example, Google Photos or Mi Cloud). This will reduce the load on the network and increase the speed for connected devices.

⚠️ Attention: On some operator tariffs (for example, Tele2 or Iota) Internet tethering may be charged separately. Check the terms in your personal account or call the number. *111# (For MTS/Beeline).

2. Method 1: Sharing Wi-Fi via an access point (tethering)

This is the most popular and convenient way. Your Xiaomi Creates a separate Wi-Fi network to which you can connect a laptop, tablet, or another phone. The instructions apply to all models. MIUI 12/13/14 And Android 10-14.

Steps to enable:

1. Open Settings (gear icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the section Connections and Sharing → Access Point (on some models the path may differ: Network and Internet → Access Point and Modem).
3. Tap on Wi-Fi hotspot.
4. Turn on the switch at the top of the screen.
5. When you turn it on for the first time, the system will prompt you to set up the network: enter network name (SSID) And password (minimum 8 characters). Use Latin letters and numbers for security.

Once activated, a notification will appear on the screen indicating the number of connected devices. The maximum number of clients depends on the phone model: for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro supports up to 10 devices, A POCO F4 — to 8.

Mobile data is enabled on the phone

The access point is activated in the settings.

The Wi-Fi password is saved (for example, in notes)

The connected device is within a radius of 5-10 meters

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If the connected device (for example, a laptop) does not see the network, try:

• 🔄 Restart the access point (turn it off and on again).
• 📵 Make sure that the device you are connecting to is in the disabled mode On the plane.
• 🔒 Check if you entered the wrong password (sometimes the keyboard automatically corrects characters).

3. Method 2: Sharing the Internet via USB (USB modem)

This method is suitable if you only need to connect one laptop or PC to the internet. Advantages:

• ⚡ Faster Wi-Fi: USB data transfer speed is higher than over the air.
• 🔋 Saves battery: The phone is simultaneously charged via USB.
• 🛡️ Safer: There is no risk that someone else will connect to your network.

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your computer via USB cable (preferably original).
2. On your phone, in the notification menu, select the mode Data Transfer (or USB modem, if such an option appears).
3. Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → USB Tethering.
4. Turn on the switch USB modem.

The computer should automatically connect to the internet. If the internet doesn't appear:

• 🖥️ Check if the drivers are installed for Xiaomi (usually they are installed automatically through Windows Update).
• 🔌 Try a different USB port (preferably USB 3.0 - it is blue).
• 📱 Restart your phone and PC.

⚠️ Attention: On some laptops (especially with Windows 11) may need to be manually enabled Allow other devices to connect to your Internet connection in the properties of the network adapter.

4. Method 3: Sharing via Bluetooth (to save battery)

This method uses the least amount of battery, but is only suitable for transferring small amounts of data (for example, messaging apps or email). The speed will be slower than Wi-Fi or USB.

How to set up:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on the phone and the device that needs the Internet.
2. Pair the devices (find your phone in the list of available Bluetooth devices on your PC/laptop and confirm the connection).
3. On your phone, go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Tethering and portable hotspot.
4. Turn on Bluetooth modem.

A new connection should appear in the Network Control Panel on your computer. If the internet still isn't working:

• 🔄 Reconnect your devices.
• 📱 Make sure mobile data is enabled on your phone.
• 🖥️ On your PC, make sure the Bluetooth connection properties are checked. Allow Internet access.

A Bluetooth modem consumes 2-3 times less energy than Wi-Fi, but the speed is limited to ~1-2 Mbps. This method is optimal for text processing, but not suitable for video or file downloads.

5. Speed ​​optimization and traffic saving

If your internet connection is slow via a hotspot, try these tips:

To save traffic:

• 📊 Turn off auto-update apps V Google Play.
• 🎵 Limit background music playback (e.g. in Spotify or Yandex Music).
• 📹 Disable automatic video downloads in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram).

6. Solving common problems

Sometimes the access point is on Xiaomi The system is unstable. Here are the typical errors and their solutions:

"The hotspot turns on, but devices won't connect."

• 🔐 Check your password (sometimes it resets after an update) MIUI).
• 📵 Make sure that the VPN or proxy is disabled on the connecting device.
• 🔄 Restart both devices.

"There's internet, but the pages aren't loading."

• 🌐 Check if your antivirus is blocking the connection (for example, Kaspersky or Avast).
• 📡 Try changing APN in the SIM card settings (check with your operator for details).
• 📱 Turn on the mode "4G only" in the network settings.

"The phone is getting very hot."

• 🔥 Close all background applications.
• 🧊 Remove the case (it may block the heat dissipation).
• 🔋 Connect the charger - when the battery is low, the processor operates at increased power.

What should I do if the operator blocks the distribution?

Some operators (eg. Tele2 or Iota) restrict modem mode on certain plans. There are two ways to get around this:

1. Change APN: IN Settings → SIM cards and mobile networks → Access point names (APNs) Create a new profile with internet settings (check with your operator). For example, for MTS This internet.mts.ru.

2. Use a VPN: Install an app like 1.1.1.1 or ProtonVPN and turn it on before distributing. This can "trick" the operator's system.

⚠️ These methods may violate our user agreement. Use at your own risk.

7. Comparison of distribution methods: which one to choose?

Each method has its pros and cons. Here's a brief comparison:

If you need internet for laptop — choose USB modem. For tablet and phone — Wi-FiIf saving battery power is important - Bluetooth.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about Wi-Fi hotspots with Xiaomi

Is it possible to share Wi-Fi if your phone doesn't have a SIM card?

No, to share mobile internet, you need an active SIM card with a connected data plan. However, you can share Wi-Fi from another source: for example, if the phone is connected to the router via cable (via USB debugging) or receives Internet via Wi-Fi (function Bridge mode available on some firmware versions).

Why does the access point turn off by itself?

This can happen for several reasons:

• 🔋 Battery saving: In the battery settings (Settings → Battery → Power mode) disable optimization for the application Access Point.
• 📵 No networkIf the mobile internet signal is lost, the phone automatically turns off the distribution.
• 🕒 Time-out: On some models, the access point turns off after 5-10 minutes of inactivity. This can be changed in Settings → Access Point → Timeout (if there is such a clause).

How to change the access point password?

Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Wi-Fi HotspotTap on Setting up an access point and enter a new password. It must contain at least 8 charactersAfter changing the settings, save them and restart the access point.

Is it possible to share Wi-Fi from a Xiaomi to an iPhone or Mac?

Yes, but there are some nuances:

• 🍎 On iPhone/iPad Sometimes it doesn't connect to access points with Cyrillic names. Use Latin characters for SSID.
• 💻 On Mac may need to be specified manually DNS (For example, 8.8.8.8 or 1.1.1.1) in the network settings.

If the connection is not established, try disconnecting it Xiaomi function Smart Transmission in the Wi-Fi settings.

How much traffic does Wi-Fi sharing use?

Traffic consumption depends on the actions on connected devices:

• 📱 Messengers/mail: ~50-100 MB per hour.
• 🎵 Music (Spotify/Yandex Music): ~70-150 MB per hour.
• 📺 Video (YouTube in 720p): ~500-700 MB per hour.
• 🎮 Online games: ~100-300 MB per hour (excluding downloading updates).

To control your consumption, use the built-in traffic counter in Settings → SIM cards and mobile networks → Data usage.