Smartphone owners Xiaomi, Redmi And Poco People often need to manage network connections, but they don't always understand the difference between deleting a saved network and disabling tethering. When a user searches for "delete a hotspot," they may have two completely different scenarios in mind: clearing the list of known Wi-Fi networks or completely disabling internet tethering from the phone. The shell interface MIUI or new HyperOS has its own peculiarities that can confuse even an experienced user.
In this article, we'll cover both options in detail so you can fine-tune your device. We'll cover the default methods via the settings menu, as well as delve into deeper system settings if these methods don't work. It's important to understand that properly managing network profiles directly impacts the security of your data and the speed of your smartphone.
It often happens that your phone automatically connects to an open or forgotten network that's no longer relevant. In these cases, you need to "forget" the network, which in Android terms means deleting its profile from the device's memory. Let's walk through this process step by step to avoid any setup errors.
The difference between deleting a network and disabling distribution
The first thing you need to do before doing anything is clearly define your goal. If you want to stop your phone from automatically connecting to the router at home or in a cafe, you need to delete the network profile from memory. This action breaks the connection to a specific SSID (network name) and deletes the saved password.
On the other hand, if by "removing a hotspot" you mean stopping your phone's internet connection from being shared with other devices, then you're talking about disabling the "Access Point" or "Tethering" feature. In this case, your smartphone stops broadcasting a Wi-Fi signal, preventing other devices from connecting.
⚠️ Note: Deleting a saved network does not affect the Internet tethering feature. These are two independent settings located in different menu sections.
Confusion often arises from similar menu names. The "Access Point" section actually contains settings for tethering, not a list of networks to connect to. Therefore, to delete an unneeded network, you need to go to the Wi-Fi section, not the access point settings.
Understanding this difference is crucial for properly diagnosing problems. If your internet isn't working, your phone may be stuck on an old hotspot that needs to be removed. If your battery drains too quickly, you may have accidentally enabled internet tethering, which you need to disable.
How to delete a saved Wi-Fi network on Xiaomi
The procedure for deleting a network profile in MIUI and HyperOS is almost identical. You need to access the list of available connections. To do this, open the app. Settings and select a section Wi-FiThis displays a list of all the networks your phone currently sees, as well as those it has connected to previously.
Find the desired network in the list. If it's currently in range, simply click its name or the arrow to the right of it. If the network isn't currently active (for example, your home router is turned off or you're far away from it), scroll to the bottom of the list.
At the bottom of the Wi-Fi screen is a section called "Saved Networks" or "Known Networks." Tap it to see a complete list of all connections you've ever used. Find the one you want to delete.
- 📱 Click on the network name to open the detailed menu.
- 🗑️ In the window that opens, find the “Delete” or “Forget” button.
- ✅ Confirm the action in the pop-up window.
- 🔄 Check that the network has disappeared from the list of known ones.
After completing these steps, your phone will no longer attempt to connect to this access point automatically. The password will also be deleted from the device's memory. If you want to connect again, you'll have to re-enter the information.
Disabling access point mode (Internet sharing)
If your goal was to stop your phone's Wi-Fi signal from broadcasting so other devices can't use your data, the steps are different. This feature is often accidentally enabled through the notification shade or voice assistant. To disable it, go back to Settings.
In the settings menu, find the "Connection and sharing" item (in older versions of MIUI, it may simply be called "Additional features" or be located under the "More" section). This is where the modem settings are hidden. You need this section. Wi-Fi hotspot.
Inside, you'll see a switch that enables or disables tethering. If it's blue or green, tethering is active. Simply tap it to disable it. You can also set your hotspot name and password here if you plan to use it in the future.
| Parameter | Description | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| SSID | Your access point name | Unique name (not personal) |
| Password | WPA2 security key | Minimum 8 characters |
| Range | Signal frequency | 2.4 GHz (best compatibility) |
| Traffic limit | Distribution limitation | It is recommended to install |
It's important to note that when hotspot is enabled, your smartphone consumes significantly more power. If you're not currently using hotspot, it's best to keep this feature disabled to extend battery life.
☑️ Access point security check
Managing hidden and system networks
Sometimes users encounter a situation where strange names or duplicates appear in the list of saved networks that cannot be removed using the standard method. This may be due to system services. Android or MDM (Mobile Device Management) profiles if the phone is corporate.
In some cases, resetting your network settings can help. This won't delete your personal photos or contacts, but it will clear all network settings, including Bluetooth pairings and VPN profiles. To do this, go to Settings → Connection and sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile Networks, and Bluetooth.
⚠️ Note: After resetting your network settings, you will need to re-enter passwords for all Wi-Fi networks and re-pair Bluetooth devices (headphones, watches).
If this is a hidden network (Hidden SSID) that you previously added manually, it will also be listed in the "Saved Networks" list. Deleting it is the same: find it in the list at the bottom and click "Forget." However, if the network was added via a configuration file or corporate profile, the delete button may not be present.
In such situations, you may need to remove the device administrator profile. Go to Settings → Passwords and security → Privacy → Device administratorsIf there are any unknown applications with network management permissions, disable them.
What to do if the network is not deleted?
If the standard deletion doesn't work, try switching your phone to safe mode. To do this, press and hold the power button, then long-press the "Power Off" option on the screen until the Safe Mode prompt appears. In this mode, third-party apps won't work, and profile deletion is often successful.
Problems with automatic connection to other networks
One of the most common reasons users want to "remove" a hotspot is the smartphone's intrusive automatic connection to open networks in shopping malls or subways. Xiaomi has a built-in "Wi-Fi Assistant" feature that can aggressively search for connections.
To prevent this, simply deleting the network each time isn't enough. You need to disable the automatic connection feature. In the Wi-Fi menu, tap the three dots in the upper right corner (or the Wi-Fi settings gear) and find "Wi-Fi Assistant."
Here, you should disable the "Automatically connect to open networks" option. It's also recommended to disable the "Improve Wi-Fi signal" feature if it's causing instability, as it can switch your phone between mobile data and Wi-Fi without your knowledge.
- 🚫 Disable auto-connection to open networks.
- 🔒 Avoid entering personal information on public Wi-Fi.
- 📡 Use mobile internet for important transactions.
- 🧹 Clean your list of known networks regularly.
It's also worth checking whether Wi-Fi Assist is enabled. This keeps Wi-Fi active in the background to scan your surroundings, even when you're not connected to any networks. This can create the illusion that your phone is constantly "busy" with access points.
Resetting network settings as a radical solution
If none of the above methods help remove the problematic access point, or if the phone is behaving erratically (constantly losing connection, not detecting networks), the only option left is to completely reset the network settings. This action returns all network modules to their factory settings.
This is done through the menu Settings → About the phone → Reset and restore (Or search for "Reset" in Settings). Select "Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks, and Bluetooth." The system will warn you of the consequences.
After rebooting, your phone will be "clean" in terms of connections. This is a great way to resolve software conflicts with the Wi-Fi module drivers, which often occur after updating the MIUI firmware.
⚠️ Note: The menu interface may vary slightly depending on the MIUI version (12, 13, 14) or HyperOS. The layout of the menu items is subject to change by the developers.
Please remember that after this procedure, you will have to re-login to all public networks that require browser login (Captive Portal) and re-enter passwords for home cameras and smart devices if they were controlled via Wi-Fi.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to delete a Xiaomi system hotspot (e.g. Mi Share)?
It is impossible to completely remove system services without root access, but they can be disabled. Go to Settings → Connection and sharing and turn it off Mi Share And Exchange with the environmentThis will hide your phone from being found by other Xiaomi devices.
Why does a network appear in the list again after being deleted?
You likely have the automatic connection to known networks feature enabled, or an optimizer app is restoring settings. Check Wi-Fi Assistant and app permissions in the Security section.
Does deleting a network affect saved passwords in my Google Account?
On modern versions of Android, passwords can sync with the Google cloud. If you delete a network on your phone, it may also be deleted on other devices linked to the same account if syncing is enabled.
How to remove a hotspot if your phone is locked?
For security reasons, deleting a specific network without unlocking the screen is impossible. However, you can perform a full factory reset (hard reset) via Recovery Mode, but this will erase all data from the phone.