Access Point on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to Setup and Use

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you need Internet on a laptop or tablet and only a Xiaomi smartphone is on hand? The hotspot (or mobile hotspot) is a lifeline in such cases. It allows you to turn your phone into a mini-router that distributes mobile traffic to other devices via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or even USB. But how does it work on Redmi, POCO or Mi? And why does speed sometimes leave much to be desired?

In this article, we'll look at not only the basic settings of the hotspot on Xiaomi, but also the nuances that the manufacturer does not mention. For example, why on some models of the POCO X3 or Redmi Note 12, the Internet distribution suddenly turns off after 10 minutes. Or how to circumvent the restrictions of the operator if he blocks the hotspot. You will also learn what hidden parameters can be changed through the engineering menu to increase the stability of the connection. Read more!

What is an access point in a Xiaomi phone and why you need it

Mobile hotspot or Wi-Fi tethering is a feature that allows your Xiaomi smartphone to distribute mobile Internet (3G/4G/5G) to other devices, essentially becoming a miniature router that creates a local network to which you can connect:

• 💻 Laptops and computers (Windows, macOS, Linux)
• 📱 Other smartphones or tablets (Android, iOS)
• 🎮 Game consoles (PlayStation, Nintendo Switch)
• 📺 Smart TVs (Mi) TV, Samsung Smart TV etc.)

On Xiaomi smartphones, this feature is implemented through the MIUI brand shell, which offers advanced settings compared to the “stocks” of Android.

• 🔄 Change the frequency range (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz) to reduce interference
• 🔒 Set a limit on the number of connected devices (up to 10)
• ⏱ Set up automatic shutdown when inactive
• 📡 Selecting an energy saving mode for distribution

But why not just use a regular router? Here are 5 situations where a hotspot on Xiaomi is indispensable:

1. You are on a trip and the hotel has poor Wi-Fi (or it is paid).
2. There is no wired internet in the country house or in the country house.
3. Your main router is broken and you need to work urgently.
4. You play online games on the Nintendo Switch on the go.
5. You need to quickly connect a device that does not support SIM-cards (such as Mi Band or smart speaker).

How to enable access point on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

The algorithm for enabling hotspots on all Xiaomi smartphones (whether Redmi 13C, POCO F5 or Mi 14) is almost the same. The only difference is the location of some menu items depending on the version of MIUI.

1. Open “Settings” (the gear icon on the home screen or in the application menu).
2. Go to Network and Internet (or Connections and Sharing on older versions of MIUI).
3. Select Access Point and modem (or modem modem).
4. Slip on the Wi-Fi Access Point (could be called the Portable Access Point).
5. Activate the slider at the top of the screen. Ready! Now other devices can connect to your network.

But that's only half the story, and in order for the access point to work in a stable and secure way, you have to configure a few key parameters.

We will discuss each of these points in more detail.

Hidden Access Point Settings: How to Increase Speed and Stability

Many Xiaomi users are faced with the fact that the distributed Internet is slow or periodically interrupted. The reasons can be different from operator restrictions to incorrect settings of the phone. Here are 5 little-known tricks that will help improve the quality of the connection:

Change in frequency range (2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz)

By default, Xiaomi distributes Wi-Fi at 2.4GHz, which is more resistant to interference but has less speed and more congestion (especially in apartment buildings).If your phone supports 5GHz (check the model specs), switch to this range:

1. In the access point settings, tap on the access point settings (or Additional).
2. Select Frequency Range (or Wi-Fi Gang).
3. Install 5GHz (if available).

Important: The 5GHz band has a smaller range, so if the connected device is in another room, the signal may disappear.

2. Optimization of Wi-Fi channel

If you have a lot of Wi-Fi networks in your area, they can cause interference.

1. Install the Wi-Fi Analyzer app from Google Play.
2. Check which channels are free in your range (2.4 or 5 GHz).
3. Return to the access point settings on Xiaomi and select the free channel manually (wi-fi channel).

3. Disable charge saving for the access point

MIUI aggressively optimizes power consumption, which can cause a connection to break, to avoid this:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Saving Charge.
2. Select No Limits for the Settings app (or Access Point if it is displayed separately).

4.Use of USB-tetering

If Wi-Fi is unstable, try giving out the Internet over the Internet. USB-This is especially true for laptops:

1. Connect your phone to your computer via USB.
2. In the settings of the access point, activate USB-modem.
3. A new connection will appear on the PC in Network Connections.

Pros: less power, more stable connection. Cons: the phone must be constantly connected to the computer.

5. Network resetting

If nothing helps, reset your network settings:

1. Go to Settings → System and device → Resetting.
2. Select Network Reset (don’t reset all settings!).
3. After restarting, reset the access point.

💡

If the speed is still low after the reset, check if your operator restricts traffic for hotspots. For example, MegaFon and Beeline sometimes block the distribution at unlimited rates.

Operator Limitations: Why the Access Point May Not Work

One of the most common problems is when the hotspot on Xiaomi turns on, but the Internet is not given away, and 80 percent of the time it's not the phone that's the fault, it's the mobile operator, and many providers put restrictions on the distribution of traffic, especially on unlimited rates.

Important detail: on Xiaomi smartphones with Qualcomm processors (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro+), sometimes changing the network protocol from IPv4 to IPv4/IPv6 in the settings of the access point helps, due to the peculiarities of the interaction of the chipset with some operators.

If your operator blocks the distribution, try the following methods of bypassing (at your own risk!):

• 🔄 Shift. APN: In the mobile network settings (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Access point (APN)) create a new one APN with parameters for distribution (for example, for MegaFon use) APN Internet instead of lte.internet).
• 🛡 VPN-Services: Some VPN (For example, 1.1.1.1 or ProtonVPN, they mask hotspot traffic, but it can slow down the speed.
• 📱 Bypass applications: PDANet+ ClockworkMod Tether allows you to distribute the Internet bypassing the operator’s restrictions, but require root rights.

Access Point Security: How to Protect Your Network from Hacking

Many Xiaomi users leave a hotspot with or without a default password (e.g. 12345678) that makes your network vulnerable to:

• 🕵️‍♂️ Connecting strangers (neighbors, intruders) that leads to loss of traffic.
• 💻 Data interception (if you transmit logins/passwords over an unsecured connection).
• 📉 Network Slowdown Due to Large Number of Connected Devices.

Here are 4 steps to protect your access point on Xiaomi:

1. Set a complex password: Minimum length: 12 Use letters (cap and lowercase), numbers and symbols (!@#$%). Example of a strong password: Xiaomi_Redmi2026!@
2. Change the name of the network (SSID): Don’t use standard names like this. Xiaomi_1234 or POCO_Hotspot. Do not include personal information (such as your name or phone number) in the title).
3. Limit the number of devices: In the access point settings, set a maximum of 3-5 devices (the fewer, the safer).

Turn off the access point when you don’t need it.

• Even if you are not connected, the access point on consumes battery power and can be detected by network scanners.

Third-party distribution annexes

If standard methods don’t work, try:

• 📲 PDANet+ — allows you to distribute the Internet even if the operator blocks the hotspot (requires the installation of drivers on the PC).