Xiaomi Access Point: What it is and how to use it in 2026

Have you ever faced a situation where the Internet is urgently needed and only a Xiaomi smartphone is on hand? Or tried to distribute Wi-Fi from the Mi Router router, but did not understand how it works? Access point is a feature that turns your device into a mini-router that distributes Internet to other gadgets. But Xiaomi has its own nuances, from hidden settings in MIUI to the peculiarities of working with routers of the AX or Pro series.

In this article, we will examine not only the basic principles (“what is an access point”), but also practical scenarios: how to turn it on a Redmi or POCO smartphone, why a Xiaomi router can not see the access point from the phone, and how to circumvent the limitations of mobile operators, as well as a speed comparison table and a unique life hack for owners of devices with a Qualcomm chipset (only for MIUI 14+ firmware).

What is an access point and how is it different from a router?

Wi-Fi hotspot is a mode in which a device (a smartphone, tablet, or even a laptop) creates a local wireless network that other gadgets can connect to, and in the case of Xiaomi, this is implemented on two levels:

• 📱 Mobile hotspot — when a smartphone distributes the internet from its SIM- card (3G/4G/5G).
• 📡 Bridge mode – when a Xiaomi router (e.g., Mi Router 4A or AX6000) relays a signal from another source (e.g., a provider via cable or phone).

The main difference from the classic router is limited capabilities:

The access point on a smartphone usually supports a maximum of 8-10 connected devices (vs. 32+ for routers).

Speed is limited by mobile network bandwidth (even if you have 5G, real speeds will be lower due to the phone's hardware limitations).

There are no advanced features like a network-level VPN or guest Wi-Fi.

However, Xiaomi access points have pluses:

Instant deployment: you do not need to configure the router, just turn on the function in the settings.

Energy efficiency: Modern smartphones (such as Xiaomi 13 Pro or POCO F5) are optimized to operate in access point mode without a strong battery drain.

Ecosystem integration: If you have Mi Home smart devices, they can automatically connect to the access point when you lose communication with the main router.

How does the access point on Xiaomi smartphones (MIUI) work

In Xiaomi smartphones, the access point function is implemented at the MIUI firmware level. When activated, the phone performs three key tasks:

1. Create a virtual Wi-Fi adapter: Your smartphone starts broadcasting a network with a name (SSID), which can be changed in settings.
2. Traffic Routing: All requests from connected devices go through the phone and go online via the mobile network (or Ethernet if the cable is connected).
3. Connection Control: MIUI limits the number of devices and can block suspicious connection attempts (for example, if someone tries to find a password).

Interesting fact: new versions of MIUI 14+ have a feature called “Intelligent Switching” that automatically disables the access point if devices don’t connect to it for a long time, saving battery life, but can cause problems if you use the access point for IoT gadgets (such as Xiaomi Mi Home Security Camera), which connect periodically.

Another feature is the restrictions of mobile operators: some Russian and foreign operators (for example, MTS or Beeline) block the distribution of Internet over Wi-Fi at tariffs without the option "Modem", in which case the access point will turn on, but the Internet will not work, the solution is to change the tariff or use a VPN (but this may violate the operator's rules).

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If the access point on Xiaomi is permanently disabled, check the settings → Access Point → Additional → Disable if inactivity and turn it off.

Step-by-step: how to enable access point on Xiaomi

The process of activating the access point on Xiaomi smartphones is almost the same for all models - from the budget Redmi 10A to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

1. Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
2. Go to Access Point and Modem (in older versions of MIUI – Additional → Access Point).
3. Slip on the mobile hotspot.
4. Turn on the switch at the top of the screen.
5. (Optional) Click Access Point Setting to change: 🔄 Network Name (SSID) — for example, Xiaomi_Hotspot_123. 🔐 Password (recommended to use WPA2-PSK). 📶 Range: 2.4 GHz (better for range) or 5 GHz (faster but smaller radius).

Once turned on, a notification will appear on the screen with the number of connected devices and traffic consumption. Please note that if you use dual SIM (two SIM cards), the access point will only work through the SIM selected as the main one for data transfer.

Make sure that the mobile internet is turned on|Check the remaining traffic on the tariff|Turn it off. VPN (may block the distribution)|Battery charge > 30% (otherwise, the phone may disable the access point)

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If the access point is not turned on, the reasons may be as follows:

• 🚫 Operator blocks the distribution - check the fare.
• 🔋 Charge saving – Turn off Ultrasaving mode in battery settings.
• 🛠️ Firmware failure – restart your phone or reset your network settings (Settings → System → Reset → Network Reset).

Access Point on Xiaomi routers: modes of operation

Xiaomi routers (such as Mi Router 4C, AX3600 or BE7000) can also work as access points, but the logic is different here: Unlike smartphones, the router does not distribute mobile Internet, but relays a signal from another source, which is useful in several scenarios:

• 🏠 Expand coverage: If you have a large house and the main router doesn't reach some rooms.
• 📡 Connect to a 4G/5G- modem: for example, if you have a USB- Huawei modem or ZTE and a Xiaomi router can distribute its signal over Wi-Fi.
• 🔌 Wired Internet usage: When the provider’s cable is connected to the router, but you want to give away Wi-Fi with other settings (e.g., with a different network name).

To configure the Xiaomi router in access point mode:

1. Connect to the router via cable or Wi-Fi.
2. Open the control panel at 192.168.31.1 (or via the Mi Wi-Fi app).
3. Go to Additional settings → Mode of work.
4. Select Access Point Mode (AP).
5. Specify the Internet source: 🔌 Cable connection (if the Internet is on Ethernet). 📶 Wireless connection (if the router needs to connect to another Wi-Fi network).

Set up Wi-Fi settings (name, password, channel).

Save the settings and restart the router.

Important: in access point mode, the Xiaomi router does not perform the DHCP- server function (does not distribute IP- addresses), which means that the main router (the one to which the Mi Router is connected) must be configured to distribute IP over DHCP. Otherwise, the devices will not get access to the Internet.

Speed and Limits: What You Need to Know

One of the main problems of access points is performance. Even if your Xiaomi smartphone supports Wi-Fi 6, the speed of Internet distribution will be limited by several factors:

Key conclusions from the table:

Smartphone as an access point is suitable for short-term use (for example, give the Internet to a laptop for an hour or two).

AP router is better for constant operation, but requires an Internet source (cable or other Wi-Fi network).

If you want top speed, use a router with Wi-Fi 6 support (such as the Xiaomi AX9000) and connect it over a cable.

Unique lifehack for Xiaomi owners with Qualcomm chipset (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and later): in the engineering menu (#4636##) you can enable the option “Force LTE Only”, which will increase the speed of the mobile access point by 15-20% due to the disabling of automatic switching to 3G.

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For stable operation of the access point on the Xiaomi smartphone, turn off auto-update applications and background activity – this will reduce the load on the processor and reduce delays.

Typical problems and their solutions

Even with the right settings, Xiaomi’s hotspot can be unstable, and here are the most common problems and ways to solve them:

⚠️ Attention: If devices receive a IP- address after connecting to an access point, but the Internet is not working, check the settings APN from the operator. For example, for MTS you need to use APN internet.mts.ru, and for Tele2 you need to use internet.tele2.ru.

• 🔌 "Can't turn on the hotspot": Check if the mobile Internet is turned on. Restart the phone. Update MIUI to the latest version (old firmware has bugs).
• 📵 Devices don't connect: Make sure the password is entered correctly (registration is important!). Try changing the range from 5 GHz to 2.4 GHz (some devices don't support 5 GHz). Turn off MAC- filtering in the access point settings.
• 🐢 "Low speed": If you use mobile Internet, check the signal level (in the Internet). MIUI Disable other background tasks (e.g. uploading files to the cloud). Try changing the Wi-Fi channel in your settings (e.g., from car to channel 6 for 2.4 GHz).

Another common problem is "the access point shuts itself down."

• 🔋 Energy savings: Turn off the Adaptive Battery in the Power settings.
• 📡 Overheating: If the phone gets hotter than 45 °C, MIUI automatically turns off the hotspot. The solution is to remove the case and not use the phone in direct sunlight.
• 📱 Operator restrictions: Some operators (e.g. Yota) limit the time of the access point to 1-2 hours, in which case only a change in tariff will help.

Security: How to Protect Your Access Point

Open access points are not only a risk to your traffic, but also to device security, and here's what you need to do to minimize the threat:

1. Use a complex password: - Minimum length - 12 characters. - Combination of letters, numbers and special characters (for example, Xiaomi@2026_Hotspot!). - Do not use personal data (date of birth, name).
2. Disable WPS: - In the hotspot settings on the Xiaomi router, find the WPS option and deactivate it. This protocol is vulnerable to brute force attacks.
3. Hide SSID (optional): - In the router settings, you can turn off the broadcast of the network name (Hide SSID), however, this does not greatly improve security, but makes it difficult to connect legitimate devices.
4. Limit the number of devices: - In MIUI, you can set a limit of connected gadgets (for example, a maximum of 5), this will reduce the risk of connecting third-party devices.
5. Use VPN on connected devices: If you're giving out internet in a public place, turn on a VPN on a laptop or phone that's connected to the hotspot. This will encrypt your traffic.

For Xiaomi routers in access point mode, it is also recommended:

• 🔄 Update the firmware via the Mi Wi-Fi App (outdated versions may contain vulnerabilities).
• 🛡️ Enable the firewall in the router settings (Security → Firewall).
• 📡 Disable remote management (Settings → Remote Management) if you are not using it.

⚠️ Attention: If you use a hotspot in a cafe, airport, or other public place, never call it so that it is clearly a personal network. (e.g. Ivanov iPhone) Better use a neutral name like FreeWiFi_XYZ This will reduce the interest of potential hackers.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions