How to turn on the router on the Xiaomi Redmi phone: step-by-step configuration

Smartphones are no longer just a means of communication, becoming universal tools for work and entertainment. One of the most popular features for owners of Xiaomi and Redmi devices is the ability to use the gadget as a portable modem, which allows you to instantly provide access to the global network laptops, tablets or other phones, while away from home or office access point.

Activation of modem modem on the shell of MIUI or HyperOS occurs in just a few touches, but users often face nuances that prevent instant start. Understanding the principles of the Wi-Fi router inside the smartphone helps not only to quickly turn on the function, but also to correctly configure it to ensure maximum speed and stability of the connection.

In this guide, we will take a closer look at the activation process, cover hidden security settings, and answer questions when trying to share the Internet from a Xiaomi phone, and learn how to avoid typical errors and make the connection reliable.

Preparation of the device and checking mobile traffic

Before you start setting up the access point, you need to make sure your device is physically ready to broadcast the signal. SIM-You can use the card in the slot, and make sure that it activates the mobile data packet. Without the Internet on the smartphone, the router function will be useless, because there will be nothing to broadcast.

Pay attention to the signal level of the cellular network, if the indicator shows one or two divisions, the speed of the transfer will be low, and the battery will be consumed rapidly, in such conditions, the mobile Internet is unstable, and connected devices can constantly lose communication.

⚠️ Warning: Make sure your plan doesn’t run out of traffic.Sharing the internet over Wi-Fi consumes traffic very quickly, especially if the connected device starts automatically downloading system updates or heavy files.

Also worth checking is the current battery charge. The access point mode significantly loads the phone's processor and radio module, resulting in increased power consumption. If the charge is below 20%, it is better to connect the device to the power source before activating the function.

In some cases, carriers may block the ability to distribute traffic on tariffs with unlimited Internet. If you have everything set up correctly, but the Internet on client devices does not work, you should check the terms of your tariff with the provider.

Basic activation of the access point through settings

The easiest and most reliable way to turn a smartphone into a router is to use the standard menu of system settings. MIUI interface is logically structured, which allows you to find the desired partition even for an inexperienced user. You do not need to download third-party applications, since the system functionality fully covers all the necessary needs.

To start, open the main menu and find the Settings icon. At the top of the screen, the search bar is usually displayed, where you can type in the "Access Point" query to immediately go to the desired section, avoiding long menu searches, which is especially convenient if you are changing the interface language or using a new version of the shell.

In the settings list that opens, look for Wi-Fi Access Point, which is often in Connections and Sharing or Other Settings, depending on the firmware version, and when you enter this section, you will see the switch that you need to activate.

• 📱 Click on the Wi-Fi Access Point switch to start the module.
• 🔒 Select “Setting up an access point” to change the network name and password.
• 👁️ Use your eye icon to see the hidden password if you forgot it when you entered it.

Once the switch is turned on, the smartphone will start broadcasting a signal, and the device will display a characteristic icon in the form of two rings or an antenna, indicating an active distribution, and now other gadgets can detect your network in the list of available connections.

Quick access through the notification curtain

For those who need to turn on the router on a Xiaomi phone several times a day, there is a more prompt method, which does not require deep immersion in the settings menu and allows you to control the connection with just one touch, which is ideal in situations where you need to urgently distribute the Internet to a colleague or friend.

Swipe from top to bottom to open the control center, depending on the theme, it can be one long curtain or two separate panels, and among the many icons, find an item that says "Access Point" or "Hotspot."

If you don't see the icon in the front row, click on the edit button (usually a pencil or three dots in the corner) and add the access point widget to the active zone, and then control will be as convenient and accessible as possible at any time.

Long-term clicking on the icon in the notification curtain often works as a “hot key”, instantly throwing the user in the menu of detailed settings of the router. This allows you to quickly change the password or see how many devices are connected at the moment without wandering through the menu.

⚠️ Note: When activated through the notification curtain, the password may not appear on the lock screen. For security, it is recommended to install complex character combinations that cannot be easily brute-forced.

Using fast access saves time, but remember to check the security settings in the main menu periodically, as you can not change the encryption protocol or frequency of the range through the widget.

Advanced setting: network name, password and security

Factory access point settings on Redmi often contain a standard phone model name, which is not always convenient for identification in the network list.Sequence name change (SSID) makes it easy to find your phone among a dozen other signals in a public place.

In the access point settings menu, you can specify any convenient name using Latin letters and numbers, and it is recommended to avoid special characters and Cyrillic, as some older devices may not display such names correctly or not see the network at all.

Pay special attention to the password. By default, the system offers a random set of characters, but you can set your own code. The minimum password length is usually 8 characters. Using the WPA2 PSK or WPA3 security protocol ensures that your data is protected from interception.

Also available in this section is a hidden network setting, which if you activate this option, your router name will not appear in the general list of available networks, and you will have to manually enter the network name and password on the client device to connect, which increases privacy.

Remember that a complex password is not only a protection against other people’s connections, but also a guarantee that no one will be able to change your phone’s settings through the local network.

Frequency range choice: 2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz

One of the most important settings that affect signal speed and range is the choice of frequency range. Modern Xiaomi smartphones support two bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Understanding the difference between them will help you optimize the connection for specific tasks.

The 2.4 GHz band is more versatile and compatible with the vast majority of devices, even those that were released many years ago, and has better penetration, allowing the signal to pass through walls and floors. However, the data rate here is lower, and the channel itself is often overloaded with neighboring routers and household appliances.

The 5GHz band provides significantly faster data rates and runs in less congested air, ideal for watching 4K video, playing online games or downloading large files, but the range of such a signal is smaller and it overcomes physical obstacles less.

In the access point settings menu, you can force one of the ranges to be selected or leave the automatic mode. For most use cases, 2.4 GHz is better for a multi-walled room, and 5 GHz is better for working in the immediate vicinity of the phone.

If you don’t know which range to choose, start with 2.4GHz. If you don’t like speed, switch to 5GHz, but remember that older laptops may just not see the high-frequency network.

Managing Connected Devices and Limits

When your phone turns into a router, it’s critical to control who’s connected to your network. Xiaomi’s hotspot menu has a “Connected Devices” section that displays a list of all the gadgets that use your internet in real time.

You can see here. MAC-If you notice a device that you don't know, you can block it instantly, and this action will break the connection for the gadget you choose and prevent you from reconnecting.

In addition, the system allows you to set a limit on the number of connected devices, by default this value can be quite high, but to save battery power and traffic, it is reasonable to limit the number of customers, for example, to 3-4 devices.

A timeout function is also useful, so if no one is connected to the access point for a given time (for example, 10 minutes), the phone will automatically turn off the Wi-Fi module to save power, which prevents you from forgetting to turn off the router and the battery is dead.

💡

Set a shutdown timeout for 5-10 minutes, which will save the battery if you forget to turn off the hotspot after use.

The solution: why the distribution is not working

Despite the ease of setting up, users sometimes face situations where the access point is turned on, but the Internet is not working or devices can not see the network. IP-Addresses or temporary failure of operating system network services.

Try rebooting your smartphone. This simple action clears the cache of the network modules and resets errors that have accumulated during the work, and 80 percent of the time, after a reboot, the problem resolves itself without additional intervention.

If the reboot didn’t work, check the date and time settings. Incorrectly set times can cause security certificate errors, which can make encryption protocols unable to properly connect to the operator’s servers or client devices.

In some cases, the problem is power saving mode on. Aggressive charge saving algorithms can restrict background processes, including data transmission through the access point. Try turning off energy saving mode or adding an access point to the exception list.

⚠️ Note: If the phone is on VPN, It can block access points from other devices. VPN-Service and check the appearance of the Internet.

Also, make sure that the device you want to connect to is not limited to connecting to networks with a certain type of security, sometimes helping to “forget” the network on the client device and enter the password again.

💡

Optimal configuration for compatibility with all devices: 2.4 GHz band, WPA2 encryption and a password of letters and numbers without special characters.