My laptop isn't detecting Wi-Fi from my Redmi Note 8: all the causes and solutions.

You turned on modem mode on Redmi Note 8, but your laptop stubbornly refuses to detect the hotspot created by your phone? This problem is familiar to many users—especially when you urgently need internet access but can't connect. In 80% of cases, the culprit is a problem with your phone's settings, outdated Wi-Fi drivers on your laptop, or a network configuration conflict. In this article, we'll look into it. all possible reasons - from banal to model-specific Redmi Note 8 (including problems with MIUI 12/13 firmware), and we will give step-by-step instructions on how to fix each one.

It's important to understand: the problem could be rooted in your phone, your laptop, or even external factors (for example, the settings of the router your phone is connected to). We've structured this article so you can quickly check all bottlenecks, from the obvious to a more in-depth diagnosis. If you're in a hurry, use FAQ at the end of the article to quickly find a solution.

1. Checking basic settings on Redmi Note 8

Start with the simplest thing: make sure that modem mode on Redmi Note 8 Enabled correctly. Users often miss key points:

• 📶 Is the access point enabled? Go to Settings → Connections → Tethering & Hotspot → Wi-Fi Hotspot and check the slider. On MIUI It should be green.
• 🔒 Network visibility. In the same settings, find the "Access point visibility" item - if it is set to "Hidden", the laptop will not see it.
• 🔄 Automatic shutdown. IN Redmi Note 8 There may be a default sleep timer (for example, after 5 minutes without any connected devices). Disable it in the access point settings.

Also pay attention to network name (SSID). If it contains Cyrillic, emoji or special characters (for example, #, @), some laptops (especially those running Windows 7/8) may not display this network in the list. Try renaming the access point using only Latin characters and numbers.

2. Problems with Wi-Fi drivers on a laptop

If the laptop doesn't see any Wi-Fi networks (including home routers) are almost certainly affected by adapter drivers. To diagnose:

1. Click Win + X and select "Device Manager".
2. Expand the "Network adapters" branch and find the device with the words Wireless, Wi-Fi or 802.11.
3. If an exclamation mark appears next to the adapter, the driver is not working properly. Right-click and select "Update Driver."

For Redmi Note 8 It is critical that the laptop supports the standard Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) — This is what your phone uses to share the internet. If your laptop is older than 2015, it may require manual driver installation from the manufacturer's website (for example, for adapters Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 or Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377).

Make sure the adapter is enabled in Device Manager|

Update driver via Windows Update|

Download the driver from the laptop manufacturer's official website|

Restart your laptop after installing the driver

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3. Conflict of Wi-Fi channels and frequencies

Redmi Note 8 by default it distributes the Internet at a frequency 5 GHz (if supported by your model). However, many laptops, especially budget or older ones, only work with 2.4 GHzTo change the frequency:

1. Open the hotspot settings on your phone.
2. Find the "Frequency" or "Range" item (in MIUI 12/13 it may be hidden under "Additional settings").
3. Select 2.4 GHz and save the changes.

The problem may also be in congested channelIf there are many other Wi-Fi networks nearby (for example, in an apartment building), the automatically selected channel may conflict. Manually set the channel 6 or 11 For 2.4 GHz - they are less susceptible to interference.

2.4GHz Only (802.11n)|5GHz (802.11ac)|Both Bands|Don't Know-->

4. Blocking by antivirus or firewall

Sometimes security software On a laptop, it blocks connections to "unknown" networks, especially if the phone's access point has a non-standard name. Check:

• 🛡️ Windows Firewall. Temporarily disable it in Control Panel → Windows Defender Firewall and try connecting again.
• 🦠 Antivirus (Avast, Kaspersky, ESET). Go to network settings and add an access point from Redmi Note 8 in exceptions.
• 🌐 VPN clients. Programs like OpenVPN or NordVPN may interfere with your connection to local networks. Close them before connecting.

If the connection works after disabling protection, add the network to the exceptions. Kaspersky Internet Security, for example, it is done like this: Settings → Network → Manage networks → Add network to trusted.

ping 192.168.43.1

5. Firmware issues or hardware limitations

On Redmi Note 8 with custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience) Modem mode may be unstable. There are also known bugs in official versions. MIUI:

• 📱 MIUI 12.0.1.0This version had a bug that caused the hotspot to disconnect when connecting devices. The solution is to update to MIUI 12.0.3.0 or higher.
• 🔧 Reset network settings. Go to Settings → System → Reset settings → Reset network settingsThis will delete all saved Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections, but often solves the problem.
• 🔄 Reflashing the modem part. If nothing helps, try flashing modem_firmware through Fastboot (instructions are on the forums) 4PDA or XDA-Developers).

sudo apt install firmware-iwlwifi