In today's world of life, access to the global network becomes critical for work, communication and entertainment. Often it happens that a regular modem or router fails, or the provider carries out scheduled technical work, leaving the user without communication. At such moments, a smartphone comes to the rescue, which can instantly turn into a full source of traffic distribution.
Xiaomi brand devices running the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS have advanced functionality for organizing an access point. Unlike many competitors, the Chinese manufacturer allows you to flexibly configure frequency ranges, manage connected customers and use various data transfer protocols, making the phone a universal tool in the arsenal of any user.
There are several ways to turn a gadget into a modem, and the choice of the specific method depends on your needs and the equipment available: You can use a wireless Wi-Fi connection for quick distribution to multiple devices, Bluetooth for battery saving or wired USB for maximum stability and speed. Understanding the nuances of each method will allow you to effectively manage traffic in any situation.
Setting up a Wi-Fi hotspot on Xiaomi
The most popular and convenient way to distribute the Internet is to create a wireless network. To activate this feature, you need to go to the settings menu of your device. Open the Settings section, then find the Wi-Fi Access Point or search for settings by typing in the "access point" request.
In the menu that opens, you'll need to specify the network name (SSID) and password. The default system will offer a random set of characters, but for ease of use on other devices, you'd better come up with a memorable name. Pay attention to the frequency range: modern Xiaomi models support operation in the 5 GHz band, which provides high speed, but has a smaller range compared to 2.4 GHz.
⚠️ Note: When using 5GHz band, some older laptops or tablets may not see your network.If devices don't find the hotspot, switch to 2.4GHz in advanced settings.
To improve security, it is recommended to set a complex password and choose the type of encryption WPA2-PSK. Also in this section, you can configure a hidden network that will not appear in the list of available connections on third-party devices, which requires manually entering the network name at each connection.
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Use it. QR-The Xiaomi hotspot menu often has a "share" button that generates QR-Scanning it with another phone's camera, the guest will connect to Wi-Fi without entering a password.
Use of the USB-stable-connection modem
Wired USB is the preferred option if you want maximum data transfer speed or minimum latency (ping), a method often used by gamers or professionals working with large amounts of information, as it eliminates packet losses typical of wireless networks.
To activate the regimen USB-modem, connect your smartphone to your computer using a high-quality cable. Then go to the phone menu along the Settings path → Wi-Fi access point (or just type in the settings search"USB"). Activate the switch. USB-modem.
The operating system of the computer, whether it is Windows, macOS or Linux, will automatically install the necessary drivers of the virtual network adapter. After successful installation in the tray (notification area), the wired connection icon will appear. Speed in this case is limited only by the capabilities of the phone communication module and throughput. USB-port.
☑️ Verification USB-connection
One of the key advantages of the wired method is the simultaneous charging of the device. When you actively distribute the Internet through Wi-Fi, the smartphone battery discharges very quickly, whereas USB-Connection allows you to compensate for power consumption from a computer port or an external power bank.
Distribution of Internet via Bluetooth
Bluetooth technology allows you to transfer Internet traffic with minimal power consumption, which is ideal for situations where you need to distribute the Internet to one device (for example, a laptop or tablet) for a long time, and the speed of the connection is not a critical parameter.
To set up, you first need to pair devices. Turn on Bluetooth on your Xiaomi smartphone and host device, find the phone in the list of available and confirm the pairing. After successful pairing, go to the access point settings on your phone and activate the Bluetooth modem switch.
On a computer or second device, you need to go to Bluetooth settings, find a paired phone and select the network connection option. In Windows, this is done through the device and printer control panel or through the Devices and Printers menu, where you need to select your phone, right-click and select Connect via → Access point.
| Parameter | Wi-Fi hotspot | USB modem | Bluetooth modem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed. | High (up to 100+ Mbps) | Maximum (depending on the network) | Low (up to 2-3 Mbps) |
| Energy consumption | High. | Low (charging in) | Very low. |
| Number of devices | 10. | 1 | 1 |
| Stability | Medium | Tall. | Medium |
APN setting up for telecom operators
Sometimes after shifts SIM-Cards or when using virtual operators (MVNO) automatic setting of access points APN It might not happen, but if you have the Internet on your phone, you'll have to hand it over to other devices.
Go to the Settings menu → SIM-Select the SIM card you want to distribute through and find the Access Point (APN). In the lower right corner, click the button to create a new access point (usually indicated by a plus.
The key fields are the name (any name) and APN (the address of the access point, for example, for the operator Tele2 it could be internet.tele2.ru, For Yota, it's Internet.yota. The other fields, such as username and password, are often left blank unless the operator has indicated otherwise.
⚠️ Note: After creating a new access point APN Make sure to click the menu (three dots or "More") and select "Save." Then activate the created dot by clicking on it so that a green tick appears next to it.
Secret codes for checking APN
Managing Connected Devices and Limits
Shell MIUI It provides a convenient toolkit to monitor who is using your Internet, and in the access point menu you can always see a list of connected devices with their names. MAC-addresses and volume of data transmitted, which allows for rapid identification of unauthorized access.
To protect against channel congestion and fast battery discharge, you should set a traffic limit. In the access point settings, find Traffic Limit or Data Limitation. You can set a limit (for example, 1 GB or 5 GB) after reaching which the Internet distribution will automatically turn off.
The Blacklist/Whitelist feature is also available, and by enabling whitelist mode, you can only allow specific, pre-approved devices to connect, and all other connection attempts will be blocked by the system, even if the attacker knows the Wi-Fi password.
Solving Connection Problems
Despite the ease of setting up, users may encounter situations where the internet on connected devices is not working, even though the connection status is active. Often this is due to the mobile internet on the smartphone itself being turned off or not operating stable. Make sure that the 4G/LTE/5G icon is displayed in the status bar.
Another common problem is conflict. IP-addresses or errors DHCP. If the device is connected but writes "Without Internet access", try to turn on and off flight mode (Air mode) on the phone. This action will restart the radio module and update the registration in the operator's network.
In some cases, antivirus or built-in MIUI firewall may block incoming connections. Check your security settings and make sure that the system service "Access Point" or "Hotspot" is not set restrictions on data transfer in the background.
⚠️ Note: Some operators determine the fact of distribution of the Internet (TTL-filter) and may block traffic or require additional payment. TTL requires root rights and may violate the terms of the contract with the operator.
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If the internet doesn’t work on a connected device, first check if there is access to the network on the Xiaomi smartphone itself, and try reconnecting the SIM card.
Optimization of battery consumption when working with a modem
Modem mode is one of the most energy-intensive processes for a smartphone. Active operation of the radio module, constant network search and data transfer lead to rapid heating of the case and battery discharge. To extend battery life, you should reduce the brightness of the screen or turn off the display after activating the access point.
It is recommended to turn off the search for new devices and the visibility of the phone for Bluetooth if you are not using this protocol, and it is also worth closing the background applications on the smartphone itself, which can consume traffic, putting additional strain on the processor and communication module.
If you use USB-modem, make sure the cable is connected to the port with sufficient current. ports on the front of the system unit or old ones USB-Hubs may not provide the right current, which will lead to a slow discharge of the phone even with the cable connected.