Many smart TV owners are familiar with the situation when their home internet suddenly goes out and they need to finish their favorite TV show or important movie on the big screen. Fortunately, modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones offer powerful features that allow them to instantly transform their mobile device into a fully-fledged router.
Using your smartphone as a hotspot is not just a temporary solution, but also a convenient way to ensure TV Network access while traveling, at hotels, or at a dacha where there's no fixed router. However, the setup process on MIUI or HyperOS has its own nuances that must be taken into account for stable operation.
In this article, we'll take a detailed look at all internet sharing methods, from classic Wi-Fi to more reliable options, and explain why the standard method may not be suitable for some TV models.
Preparing your smartphone and checking your tariff
Before you start setting up an access point on your Redmi, you need to make sure your device is ready to use as a modem. The first step should always be checking your mobile plan balance and terms, as not all carriers allow free internet sharing with other devices.
Many users experience connection speed drops or disconnections after just a few minutes of use. This is often due to restrictions imposed by the provider, which automatically detects TTL packets and blocks or charges traffic that does not go to the smartphone itself.
It's also important to check the signal strength in the location where the TV will be located. If the network indicator shows 1-2 bars, streaming a stable high-definition video will be virtually impossible, regardless of your phone's performance.
- 📱 Make sure you have sufficient funds on your phone account or have an unlimited data plan activated.
- 📶 Check the 4G/LTE signal strength in the room where the TV is installed.
- 🔋 Charge your smartphone to at least 50%, as Wi-Fi sharing drains the battery quickly.
⚠️ Please note: Some mobile operators may automatically reduce speeds or block internet tethering. If you notice any issues, please contact your operator's support team to clarify your plan's terms.
Standard Wi-Fi hotspot setup on Redmi
The most obvious and frequently used method is to enable the built-in hotspot feature. This process is standardized in Xiaomi smartphones, but it hides important settings that affect compatibility with TVs of different brands.
First, you need to go to the settings menu. Find the section Connection and sharing (or simply Wi-Fi hotspot (Depending on the MIUI version). This is where the switch that activates the modem mode is located.
However, simply turning on the switch isn't enough. It's crucial to configure security settings and signal frequency, as older TV models may simply not recognize a 5 GHz network.
In the access point settings menu, find the "AP Band" or "Frequency Range" option. If your TV was released several years ago, select 2.4 GHzThis will ensure maximum compatibility, although the speed will be slower than 5 GHz.
- 🔐 Create a strong password using letters and numbers to prevent neighbors from connecting to your network.
- 📡 Select the 2.4 GHz band for better compatibility with older devices.
- 👀 Set a friendly network name (SSID) to make it easy to find in the TV list.
After saving the settings, turn on the access point. Now your Redmi broadcasts a network that can be connected to.
☑️ Checking access point settings
Alternative methods: USB modem and Bluetooth
If your wireless connection is unstable or your TV refuses to connect to your phone for some reason, consider wired options. They often provide a more stable picture without choppiness or buffering.
The USB modem method requires a cable and, in most cases, a TV that supports OTG (On-The-Go) or a USB port for peripherals. You connect your smartphone to the TV with a cable and select the mode in the phone's settings. USB modem.
The advantage of this method is that the phone simultaneously charges from the TV (if the TV port provides power) or simply transmits the Internet without loss to the radio channel. This the only way to guarantee no delays when viewing heavy content in 4K.
Bluetooth modem is an option for emergency situations when you only need to transmit text information or run a lightweight app. Speeds are extremely low and this method is absolutely not suitable for watching videos, but it's useful to know about it.
| Connection method | Stability | Speed | Battery consumption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi hotspot | Average | High | Very tall |
| USB modem | High | Maximum | Low (charging) |
| Bluetooth | Low | Low | Average |
⚠️ Note: When connecting via a USB modem, the TV may not detect the network automatically. In this case, you must select the "Wired" or "Ethernet" connection type in the TV's network settings, even if you are physically using the smartphone's USB port.
Why might my USB modem not work?
Not all TVs support Android smartphone drivers via USB. This method often only works if the TV has a full OS (Android TV, WebOS) and sees the phone as an external network adapter. Owners of older Smart TVs (older versions of Samsung Tizen, Sony Linux) may not have access to this method.
Connecting a TV to a smartphone's network
Once the access point is on Redmi Once activated, you need to pair it with your TV. The process may vary slightly depending on your TV's operating system (Android TV, Tizen, WebOS, Roku).
Take your remote control and go to the main menu. Find the settings section, usually labeled "Network," "Connections," or "Wireless." Here, select your connection type: "Wireless" or "Wi-Fi."
The TV will begin searching for available networks. You should see the name you entered on your smartphone in the list. Tap it with the remote. If the network is hidden, select "Add network" and enter the name manually.
The system will ask for a password. Enter the combination you set in the Redmi hotspot settings. Be careful when entering it: letter case is important, and the characters may be difficult to see on the TV screen.
- 📺 Find the “Network” section in the TV menu.
- 🔍 Select your network from the list of available connections.
- 🔑 Enter your password, observing the case of letters and numbers.
Once the data is entered successfully, the TV will attempt to establish a connection. The Wi-Fi indicator on the screen should light up, confirming internet access.
Solutions to common problems and errors
Even with proper setup, users may encounter situations where the TV sees the network but doesn't connect, or the connection is there but the internet isn't working. Most often, the issue lies with security protocols or DHCP memory overflow.
One of the common errors is the incompatibility of encryption standards. New Redmi phones use WPA3, while many TVs released 3-5 years ago only support WPA2. In this case, the TV will simply refuse authorization.
It's also worth keeping in mind that mobile internet has limitations on the number of simultaneous connections and traffic volume. If other devices are connected to the hotspot alongside the TV, the speed may drop to levels insufficient for streaming.
Sometimes a simple network service restart helps. Turn airplane mode off and on again on your phone to clear your carrier session, and reboot your TV by unplugging it for 10 seconds.
⚠️ Note: MIUI and HyperOS interfaces are updated regularly. The location of menu items may change. If you don't find the item you're looking for, search your phone's settings for "Pointer" or "AP."
Optimize traffic and save battery
Sharing Wi-Fi is a resource-intensive process that quickly drains the battery and can cause the smartphone to overheat. To minimize risks and extend battery life, follow certain operating guidelines.
First, try to keep your phone in a cool place, don't cover it with fabric, and remove any thick cases when sharing. Heating a lithium-polymer battery can negatively impact its longevity.
Secondly, disable background processes on your phone that aren't needed at the moment, such as photo syncing, app updates in the Play Store, and geolocation. This will free up bandwidth for the TV and reduce the load on the processor.
If you use this method frequently, it might be worth investing in a dedicated USB hub with power supply capability so your phone can run on mains power, bypassing the battery's charge/discharge cycles and preserving its health.
- ❄️ Remove the protective case from your smartphone during distribution for better cooling.
- 📵 Close background apps on your phone that consume data.
- 🔌 Use external power to avoid draining the battery completely.
Why does the TV say "No Internet connection" even though Wi-Fi is connected?
The problem is most likely with your mobile carrier or DNS settings. Try changing the DNS servers in the Redmi hotspot settings to Google's public DNS servers (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare. Also, check if your internet plan has run out.
Is it possible to share Wi-Fi if Wi-Fi is also enabled on the phone?
On most modern Xiaomi smartphones with Wi-Fi 6 and dual-band modules, this is possible (Wi-Fi Repeater mode), but requires manual configuration through the engineering menu or third-party apps. By default, when the Wi-Fi hotspot is enabled, the module switches to data transmission.
How do I know how many devices are connected to my hotspot?
Go to the "Wi-Fi Hotspot" menu on your Redmi and tap "Connected Devices." This displays a list of all devices using your internet connection and their MAC addresses. You can also block unknown users from there.
Does Wi-Fi sharing affect the speed of mobile internet on the phone itself?
Yes, it does. The bandwidth is shared between all connected devices. If the TV starts buffering 4K video, page loading speeds on the smartphone itself may significantly decrease, as the LTE/5G channel's bandwidth is limited.