How to connect your Xiaomi phone's TV to the internet via WiFi

Situations where your wired internet connection drops, your router breaks down, or you're in a rented apartment without access to a landline network require a quick solution. Smartphone owners Xiaomi (Redmi, POCO) often use them as a backup source of traffic thanks to powerful modems and support for modern communication standards. Internet Sharing Using a hotspot is a standard Android feature, but when connecting to a large TV screen, there are some nuances that need to be taken into account.

Unlike a laptop or tablet, modern Smart TV Wi-Fi modules have their own peculiarities, especially in access point mode. The phone creates a local network, but the TV may not see it or constantly lose connection due to the system's aggressive power saving. MIUI or HyperOSIn this article, we'll cover the technical details of setting up a stable stream of video content.

Before you begin setting up, it's important to understand that your TV's download speed will directly depend on the quality of your cellular signal and your carrier's data plan. Mobile Internet It has traffic limits, so using it to watch 4K movies or download heavy games can quickly exhaust your limit. However, for news channels, YouTube in HD, or IPTV, this method is an excellent temporary solution.

Technical requirements and frequency compatibility

The first step to a successful connection is understanding the frequency bands your TV supports. Most modern smartphones Xiaomi can distribute Internet in two ranges: 2.4 GHz And 5 GHzThe 2.4 GHz band has a longer range, but is often congested with neighboring routers and household appliances, which can cause interference.

The 5 GHz band offers significantly higher data transfer rates and is less susceptible to interference, but it has a shorter range and is less effective at penetrating walls. Older TV models or budget Smart TVs may simply not have a module for receiving a 5 GHz signal. In this case, if you enable this option on your phone, the TV will simply not detect the network.

⚠️ Attention: If your TV no longer detects the access point after updating your phone's firmware, check your region settings. In some countries, the use of certain WiFi channels is restricted by law, and your phone automatically hides them.

For stable operation, it's recommended to experiment with both bands. If you're in an apartment building where the airwaves are clogged with signals, switching to 5 GHz can dramatically improve picture quality. However, if the TV is in another room or two walls away from your phone, it's best to stick with the standard 2.4 GHz band.

Setting up a hotspot on Xiaomi (MIUI and HyperOS)

The process of activating the modem mode on devices Xiaomi has its own interface features. The system offers flexible settings that allow you to optimize the access point for specific tasks. Go to Settings and find the section responsible for wireless networks.

The sequence of actions is as follows:

• 📱 Open Settings and go to the section Wi-Fi hotspot (often found under the "Connect and Sharing" group).
• 🔐 Click on Setting up an access pointto change the network name (SSID) and password. Use a strong password, as WiFi broadcasts are easy to eavesdrop on.
• 📡 Find the item Access point frequency range and select the desired value (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz) depending on the capabilities of your TV.
• ✅ Turn on the switch Wi-Fi hotspot at the top of the screen.

Particular attention should be paid to security settings. In the access point menu Xiaomi Often the default protocol is WPA3-Personal, which is the most modern and secure. However, many TVs released several years ago may not support this encryption standard and will simply refuse to connect.

If you are having problems connecting, try manually changing the security protocol to WPA2-PersonalThis will slightly reduce the theoretical channel security, but will ensure maximum compatibility with older equipment. You can also set a traffic limit or a sleep timer in this menu to prevent accidentally draining your phone's battery.

How to connect a Smart TV to the Xiaomi network

Once the hotspot on your smartphone is activated, you need to go to the TV settings. Interfaces from different manufacturers (Samsung, LG, Sony, Philips) are different, but the network search logic is the same. You need to open the network settings menu and start searching for available wireless connections.

Algorithm of actions on the TV side:

• 📺 Go to the menu Settings (gear) and select a section Net or Connections.
• 🔍 Select connection type Wireless network or Wi-Fi and press Launch or Search for networks.
• 📶 In the list that appears, find the network name you set on your phone Xiaomi.
• 🔑 Enter the password using the remote's virtual keyboard. Be careful with capitalization.

After entering the password, the TV will begin the process of obtaining an IP address. A connection indicator may appear on the screen. If the status changes to "Connected," check your internet connection by launching any online service, such as YouTube or a browser. Response speed The TV menu will also indicate the connection quality.

Sometimes the TV detects the network, but displays "Connection Error" or "Incorrect Password," even though you're sure you've entered it correctly. In this case, try using your phone. Xiaomi Temporarily disable the display of hidden password characters to ensure there are no typos. Restarting the TV's network module (turning WiFi off and on in the TV settings) also helps.

Energy saving and connection stability issues

One of the most common reasons for connection failure is the shell's aggressive power saving policy. MIUI or HyperOSThe system may assume the access point is not actively being used and disable the WiFi module to save battery power, even if the TV is formally connected. This leads to constant stream interruptions.

To prevent this, you need to make changes to your battery settings:

1. Go to Settings → Battery → Application discharge speed (or "Battery consumption").
2. Find the process in the list Access point or MIUI Hotspot.
3. Set the operating mode No restrictionsThis will prevent the system from throttling the background internet sharing process.

⚠️ Attention: When actively browsing the internet, your phone may become significantly hot. Prolonged overheating leads to throttling (reduced processor and modem performance), which reduces data transfer speeds. It's recommended to remove the phone's case or place it on a cool surface.

It's also worth checking your display settings. If your phone's screen goes dark, the WiFi module may be in sleep mode. In the hotspot settings Xiaomi There's often a "Keep hotspot on" option when no devices are connected, but it's better to simply increase the time before the screen turns off or use the "Keep screen on while charging" feature in the developer options menu if the phone is connected to a charger.

Hidden developer settings

In the Developer Options menu (activated by tapping the build number seven times), you'll find an option called "Always allow Wi-Fi scanning." Enabling this can help if the TV is losing network connectivity in the background, but it will also increase battery drain.

Comparison of connection methods and their characteristics

There are several ways to connect your phone to your TV, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Understanding these differences will help you choose the best option for your situation. Below is a comparison table of the main options.

As can be seen from the table, WiFi hotspot It's a universal solution suitable for the vast majority of TVs. A USB modem is convenient because it simultaneously charges your phone from the TV's port, but it doesn't work with all TV models, especially older ones or those with limited versions of Android.

Bluetooth is practically useless for watching video in this context due to its low bandwidth. It's only useful for text data transfer or control, but not for streaming content. Therefore, the focus should be on the quality of the WiFi connection.

Speed ​​optimization and common bug fixes

If the connection is established, but the video is constantly buffering or the image quality is poor, the problem may lie in your mobile network settings. Make sure that in your mobile network settings (Settings → SIM cards and mobile networks) the mode is on 5G/LTE, not just 3G/2G.

A common mistake is using an old encryption standard or a WiFi channel that is occupied by neighbors. On phones Xiaomi In the access point's advanced settings, you can manually select a channel (e.g., 1, 6, or 11 for 2.4 GHz). Using WiFi analyzer apps (available in the Play Market) will help you find the least crowded channel.

Also worth mentioning is the function Wi-Fi+ There's also a "Game Boost" feature that may be present in your firmware. It attempts to switch networks for better speeds, but sometimes creates conflicts in hotspot mode. If you're experiencing issues, try disabling all "boost" and "network optimization" features in your phone's settings.

⚠️ Attention: Mobile carriers' tariff plans are constantly changing. Some plans may block or limit the speed of internet sharing with other devices (TTL filters). If the speed on your TV is significantly lower than on your phone, check with your carrier about your plan's terms.

Additional options and alternatives

Beyond just distributing internet, the ecosystem Xiaomi offers a function MIUI+ or Xiaomi Share, which allow you to mirror your phone's screen to your TV without using the internet, as long as both devices are on the same network (or if the phone creates a network and the TV connects to it, but the traffic isn't sent over the mobile network, but rather locally). However, accessing online content on the TV itself (like Netflix and Kinopoisk apps installed on the TV) still requires full internet access via an access point.

An alternative would be to connect via USB cable if your TV is based on Android TVIn this case, you need to select "USB modem" instead of "Charging only" in your phone's settings. The TV will recognize the phone as a wired Ethernet connection. This ensures a more stable ping, which is critical for online gaming on consoles or set-top boxes.

In conclusion, using a smartphone Xiaomi As a router, it's a powerful and flexible tool. Properly setting the frequency range, disabling power saving, and understanding the limitations of your mobile network will allow you to comfortably enjoy Smart TV in any environment.

The Secret to Stable IPTV

If you're watching IPTV through an access point, try increasing the buffer size in your player app (such as TiviMate or VLC). Mobile networks have higher latency (ping), and a larger buffer will smooth out micro-breaks in packets.

Why can't my TV detect the Xiaomi hotspot?

Most often, the issue is related to incompatible encryption standards (WPA3 vs. WPA2) or frequency bands. Try switching your access point to 2.4 GHz and changing the security protocol to WPA2-Personal in your phone's settings.

My phone gets very hot when sharing internet, is this normal?

Yes, the WiFi module consumes a lot of power and heats up when operating in access point mode (especially at 5 GHz). This is normal behavior. We recommend removing the case and not covering the phone with fabric while using it.

Is it possible to connect a TV to Xiaomi WiFi via a USB cable?

Yes, if your TV supports Android TV and Ethernet over USB. Enable "USB tethering" in your phone's connection settings. The TV will detect this as a wired connection.

How to save data when connecting your TV to mobile internet?

In YouTube and other TV app settings, manually limit video quality (for example, to 720p). Also, disable automatic app updates in the Google Play Store on your TV, allowing only Wi-Fi updates.

Does the connection get lost if the phone screen goes dark?

This may be due to power saving. Set the hotspot mode to "No restrictions" in battery settings and increase the screen timeout.