How to Share Internet from a Xiaomi Phone to a Computer: 3 Effective Methods

Modern smartphones Xiaomi (including rulers Redmi And POCO) can function as full-fledged Wi-Fi routers, sharing mobile internet with other devices. This feature is a lifesaver when you don't have a router handy but urgently need network access on your computer—for installing drivers, participating in an online conference, or downloading files. However, many users encounter issues: the access point won't turn on, the PC can't see the network, or the connection keeps dropping.

In this article we will look at All current methods for distributing Wi-Fi from Xiaomi to a computer — from classic modem mode to hidden MIUI features. We'll pay special attention to common mistakes (for example, operator restrictions or IP conflicts) and speed optimization. The instructions are suitable for most models based on MIUI 12–16, including Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12/13 And POCO F5/X5.

Before you begin, check two key points: 1) Your phone must have active mobile data (3G/4G/5G). 2) On your computer, the Wi-Fi adapter is turned on (if you are using a wireless connection).

If any of these are missing, further action is pointless.

1. Sharing Wi-Fi via an access point (modem mode)

The most universal and fastest way is to transform Xiaomi To a standard Wi-Fi router. This method works on all models and doesn't require additional cables. Connection speed depends on your phone's Wi-Fi standard:

• 📶 Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) — up to 150 Mbps (supported on older models like Redmi 5).
• 📶 Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) — up to 867 Mbps (Xiaomi 11T, POCO X3 Pro).
• 📶 Wi-Fi 6/6E (802.11ax) — up to 2.4 Gbps (flagships) Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Redmi K60).

To turn on the hotspot:

1. Open Settings → Hotspot & Tethering.
2. Tap on Wi-Fi hotspot (or Portable access point in older versions of MIUI).
3. Set up:
   • 🔑 Network name (SSID) - any convenient (for example, Xiaomi_Hotspot).
   • 🔒 Password — minimum 8 characters (recommended to use WPA2-PSK).
   • 📡 Range — 2.4 GHz (for compatibility) or 5 GHz (for speed).

Activate the slider Wi-Fi hotspot.

On your computer, connect to the created network as you would to a regular router. If Windows displays an error "No internet access", check:

• ✅ Mobile data is enabled on your phone.
• ✅ No tariff restrictions (some operators block data sharing).
• ✅ VPN or proxy are disabled on your PC.

Mobile data enabled on Xiaomi|

The access point is visible in the list of networks on the PC|

The password was entered without errors|

There is no active VPN on the phone

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⚠️ Attention: Some mobile operator tariffs (for example, "Internet for devices" from MTS or "Unlimited for smartphones" from Tele2) restrict or completely block Internet distributionIn this case, the access point will work, but traffic will not flow. Check the terms in your operator's personal account.

2. Connection via USB (USB modem mode)

If you don't have a Wi-Fi adapter on your computer or need a more stable connection, use USB modemThis method:

• ⚡ Saves battery life phone (charged from PC).
• 🔌 Gives a lower ping - ideal for online gaming.
• 🛡️ Safer - there is no risk of air traffic interception.

Setup instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your computer via original USB cable (cheap cables may not transmit data!).
2. On your phone, select the mode File Transfer (MTP) → then USB modem (in the notification drop-down menu).
3. On your PC, check the connection:
   • 🪟 Windows: open Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network ConnectionsA new connection should appear. Ethernet or USB RNDIS.
   • 🐧 Linux: run the command

     ip a

     — look for the interface usb0 or eth1.

If the USB modem driver is not installed automatically:

• 🖥️ For Windows, download Mi PC Suite from the official website Xiaomi.
• 🐧 For Linux, install the package usb-modeswitch:

sudo apt install usb-modeswitch

3. Sharing the Internet via Bluetooth

A less popular, but useful in some cases, method is to use Bluetooth PAN (Personal Area Network)It will be useful if:

• 🔋 You need to save battery power (Bluetooth consumes less energy than Wi-Fi).
• 🔒 A connection without a password is required (for example, for a public PC).
• 📡 The Wi-Fi adapter on the computer is broken, but there is Bluetooth.

How to set up:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on your phone and computer.
2. Pair the devices: On your phone, open Settings → Bluetooth, find your PC in the list and confirm the connection.
3. On your phone, go to Settings → Hotspot & Tethering → Bluetooth Tethering and activate the function.
4. On the computer:
   • 🪟 Windows: open Settings → Devices → Bluetooth, select the phone and press Connect via → Access Point.
   • 🍎 MacOS: V System Preferences → Bluetooth Click on the phone icon and select Connect to the network.

Limitations of the method:

• 🐢 Low speed — usually no more than 3–5 Mbps (enough for instant messengers, but not for 4K video).
• 🔄 Instability — the connection may be interrupted when the devices are more than 10 meters away.

⚠️ Attention: On some models Xiaomi (For example, Redmi 9A) function Bluetooth modem hidden. To activate it, turn on developer mode (Settings → About phone → MIUI version - tap 7 times) and find in the developer menu Bluetooth PAN.

4. Hidden MIUI settings to speed up distribution

By default MIUI Limits Wi-Fi speed to save battery life. However, if you need maximum performance, you can adjust the hidden settings.

Open engineering menu mode:

1. Enter in the app Telephone combination:

   ##4636##

2. Select Wi-Fi Information (or Wi-Fi information).
3. Scroll down to Wi-Fi AP Config and change:

   Parameter	Recommended value	Effect
   Channel	6 (2.4 GHz) or 36 (5 GHz)	Less interference from other networks
   Max Clients	10	Allows connection of multiple devices
   AP Band	2.4+5 GHz	Automatic selection of the best range
   Hide SSID	No	The network is visible to all devices

Important: Changing the channel to 5 GHz may cause older devices (such as laptops built before 2015) to lose network connectivity. In this case, switch back to channel 6 on 2.4 GHz.

What should I do if the engineering menu doesn't open?

On some firmware versions MIUI (especially global) access to ##4636## blocked. The alternative is to use the app MTK Engineering Mode (for phones with MediaTek processors) or Qualcomm QPST (for Snapdragon). Download such utilities only from official sources (for example, Google Play) to avoid viruses.

5. Solving common errors

Even with proper setup, problems can still arise. Let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them:

🔴 Problem: The access point turns on, but the Internet does not work. Solution:

• 📵 Check your mobile internet balance and activity on your phone (sometimes your carrier blocks traffic when your balance is zero).
• 🔄 Restart your phone and computer.
• 🛠️ Turn it off on your phone Saving traffic (Settings → SIM cards and mobile networks → Data saving).

🔴 Problem: The computer does not see the Xiaomi network. Solution:

• 📡 Check that the phone is turned on Visibility mode (in the access point settings).
• 🔄 Change the network name (SSID) to Latin without spaces (for example, XiaomiAP instead of My Xiaomi).
• 🖥️ Update the Wi-Fi adapter driver on your computer (especially relevant for Windows 10/11).

🔴 Problem: The connection keeps dropping. Solution:

• 🔋 Connect your phone to a charger - when the battery level is low (<15%) MIUI automatically turns off the access point.
• 📶 Switch from 5 GHz on 2.4 GHz - the latter is more stable over long distances.
• 🛡️ Turn it off on your phone Adaptive Wi-Fi (Settings → Wi-Fi → Advanced).

6. Alternative methods: Wi-Fi Direct and Reverse Tethering

If standard methods don't work, consider two advanced options:

🔄 Wi-Fi Direct — a technology for direct data exchange between devices without a router. Xiaomi It is supported, but requires manual configuration:

1. Activate Wi-Fi Direct on your phone: Settings → Connections and Sharing → Wi-Fi Direct.
2. On your computer, enable the search for Wi-Fi Direct devices (in Windows via Control Panel → Devices and Printers).
3. Connect to your phone as a network device.

🔌 Reverse Tethering — reverse sharing, when the internet connection is taken from the computer and transmitted to the phone. This is useful if the PC has a wired connection but the phone does not. To do this:

• Install the program on your PC ClockworkMod Tether (for Android).
• Connect your phone via USB and activate the mode USB debugging.
• Start distribution through the program.

⚠️ Attention: Function Wi-Fi Direct on Xiaomi It may conflict with your regular access point. If Wi-Fi sharing stops working after using it, reset your network settings (see the previous section).

7. Optimize speed and security

To make distribution faster and more reliable, follow these tips:

🚀 Speed ​​increase:

• 📶 Use range 5 GHz, if your computer supports it (check in Device Manager → Network Adapters).
• 🔌 Connect your phone to a charger - when powered from the mains MIUI does not limit processor performance.
• 🛠️ Disable background apps on your phone (especially torrents or cloud syncs).

🔒 Security enhancements:

• 🔑 Use a complex password (e.g. X7#p9K2!mQ) instead of simple combinations like 12345678.
• 🔄 Change your access point password regularly (every 1–2 months).
• 🚫 Disable sharing when you don't need it—this will reduce the risk of connecting to unauthorized devices.

To check your actual upload speed, use the following services:

• 🌍 Speedtest.net (web version or application).
• 🌍 Fast.com (from Netflix, shows download speed).

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

🔹 Why does my computer connect to the hotspot, but websites won't open?

This is a typical DNS conflict issue. Try manually entering DNS on your computer:

1. Windows: Control Panel → Network and Internet → Change adapter settings → right-click on the connection → Properties → Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
2. Set DNS: 8.8.8.8 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare).

Also check if your antivirus (for example, Avast or Kaspersky) network connection.

🔹 Is it possible to share Wi-Fi from a Xiaomi phone if the phone itself is connected to a different network?

Yes, but with some reservations:

• If your phone is connected to Wi-Fi, it can distribute the same network (function Bridge mode). To do this, select in the access point settings Internet source → Wi-Fi.
• If the phone is connected to the mobile Internet, it only shares it (it is not possible to share Wi-Fi and mobile data at the same time).

Important: Some routers block re-distribution of their network (for example, public Wi-Fi in cafes).

🔹 How many devices can I connect to a Xiaomi hotspot?

The official limit is - 10 devices, but in practice:

• When connecting 5+ devices, the speed drops by 2–3 times.
• On older models (eg. Redmi 6) maximum quantity - 5.
• Increasing the limit requires root access and file editing. /system/build.prop (not recommended for beginners).

🔹 Why is the speed lower when sharing via a USB modem than via Wi-Fi?

This is due to protocol limitations. USB RNDIS, which is used for the modem. Average indicators:

• 📱 USB 2.0 — up to 40 Mbps (even if the phone supports USB 3.0).
• 📱 USB 3.0 — up to 200–300 Mbps (when using the original cable).

To improve speed:

1. Connect the cable to blue USB 3.0 port on the computer.
2. Disconnect other USB devices (flash drives, mice) that may cause interference.

🔹 How to share internet from a Xiaomi to a PC without a password?

It is possible, but extremely unsafe — outsiders will be able to connect to your network. If the risk is justified:

1. In the access point settings, select Without protection (or None (in the English version of MIUI).
2. Install Hide network (Hide SSID), in order to at least somehow reduce visibility.

⚠️ Warning: On an open network, all transmitted data (including passwords) can be intercepted. Never use this mode for online banking or working with confidential information.