Xiaomi smartphones have long ceased to be just devices for calls, becoming powerful tools for work and entertainment. Often there is a situation when a laptop or tablet urgently needs access to the network, and at hand there is no usual Wi-Fi router, it is at such moments that the built-in function of distributing mobile traffic becomes a real salvation for the user.
In the ecosystem MIUI HyperOS has several ways to share a connection: through classic Wi-Fi, USB-Each method has its own setup, speed advantages and power nuances, and understanding these differences will allow you to choose the best option for any situation, whether it is a trip on a business trip or a job in a cafe.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the modem activation options available on Redmi and Poco smartphones, learn not only to enable a standard access point, but also to configure hidden settings to improve connection stability, and explore the typical problems that prevent devices from seeing each other, and how to quickly fix them.
Basic setting of the Wi-Fi access point
The most popular and fastest way to share the Internet is to create a wireless network. To get started, you need to go to the settings menu of your device. Find the Settings section, then select Access Point and modem, and that's where all the key parameters that are responsible for broadcasting the signal are concentrated.
After you go to the menu, you need to activate the Wi-Fi Access Point switch. By default, the system will suggest using the standard network name, which usually contains your phone model. However, for security and convenience, it is better to change these settings so that neighbors do not try to connect to your traffic without permission.
Be sure to set a strong password using a combination of letters and numbers. The standard WPA2 PSK security protocol provides a sufficient level of protection for home use. If you plan to give out the Internet often, it makes sense to remember the password or save it in a safe place so that you do not search for it in the settings every time.
☑️ Pre-introducement checks
It's worth noting that when you activate the hotspot, the phone can warn you that using this feature increases your power consumption, which is a normal system reaction, because the radio module goes into high-speed mode. If you don't use the connection for a long time, you'd better turn off the function manually to save battery power.
Advanced settings and network security
Deep customization is the strong point of Xiaomi’s shells. The access point menu hides additional options that allow you to flexibly manage your connection. By clicking on your network name or the arrow icon next to the switch, you’ll be taken to the expanded configuration menu.
You can change the frequency range here. You can often default to automatic choice, or 2.4 GHz, which provides better compatibility with older devices. However, if you connect a modern laptop or flagship, it makes sense to switch to the 5 GHz band, which will allow you to get faster data rates and less interference in apartment buildings.
⚠️ Note: When switching to 5GHz, older devices (such as 5-year-old tablets or simple e-books) may stop seeing your network.
Also available in this section is the traffic restriction feature, you can set a limit in gigabytes, after which the distribution will automatically stop, this is a useful option if you have a tariffed Internet with a small data packet, set a limit slightly less than your real balance to avoid unexpected expenses.
And visibility needs to be tweaked, and by hiding the SSID, you're going to make the access point invisible to outsiders, and you're only going to be able to connect to it by manually entering the network name and password on the client device, which increases security, but adds to the inconvenience of connecting new gadgets frequently.
Why change the beacon interval?
Using a smartphone as a USB-modem
When the wireless connection is unstable or maximum speed is required, a wired connection comes to the rescue. USB-modem allows not only to transfer the Internet to the computer, but also to charge the phone at the same time, which solves the problem of fast battery discharge during active data transfer.
To activate this mode, connect your smartphone to your computer or laptop using a high-quality cable. Then, in the same menu, Access Point and modem activate the item. USB-If the item is inactive (gray), check the cable - some cheap cords are only for charging and do not transmit data.
The advantage of this method is the absence of latency typical of Wi-Fi, and a higher level of protection of the transmitted information, since the connection is physically closed between two devices. The computer recognizes the phone as a new network device and automatically installs the necessary drivers if you have Windows 10/11 or modern Linux installed.
If your PC already has an active connection via Ethernet or Wi-Fi, the system can ignore the phone, which means you will need to manually disable other adapters in your computer’s network settings or choose a priority connection.
💡
Use the original Xiaomi cable or certified analogues with support for fast charging – they guarantee stable data transfer without interference and voltage surges.
Distribution of Internet via Bluetooth
Although this method is considered obsolete due to its low speed, it can be useful in emergency situations when you need to transfer a small amount of text information or provide coordinates.
To take advantage of this, you first need to pair your smartphone with the receiving device. Go to the Bluetooth settings on both devices, find each other on the list of available devices and confirm the code. Without successful pairing, you can't distribute the Internet.
Once you have paired, go back to the Access Point and modem menu and turn on the Bluetooth modem switch. On the receiving device (like a laptop), you will need to go to the Bluetooth settings, find your phone, and select the network connection option in the device properties. The connection installation process can take up to 30 seconds.
This method is convenient because it requires almost no passwords after the first pairing and works even with very old laptops that do not have a Wi-Fi module. However, you should not count on watching videos or loading heavy pages in this case - the bandwidth of the channel is extremely limited.
Comparison of methods of distribution of traffic
To make it easier for you to choose the right option, we have prepared a comparative table of the main characteristics of each method, which will help you quickly navigate situations where specific parameters, such as speed or energy efficiency, are important.
| Parameter | Wi-Fi Access Point | USB-modem | Bluetooth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed. | High (up to 150 Mbps) | Maximum (depending on the cable) | Low (up to 2-3 Mbps) |
| Battery consumption | High-pitched | Charging from a PC | Minimum |
| Number of devices | 10. | 1 | 1 (usually) |
| Range. | Up to 15 meters. | Cable length (1-2 m) | Up to 10 meters. |
As you can see from the table, Wi-Fi remains the universal leader for most use cases, allowing you to connect multiple gadgets at once, providing decent speed, USB-Connection will be a more rational choice.
Solving Typical Connection Problems
Despite the fact that MIUI is fine, users may experience situations where the Internet is not being handed out or customers cannot connect. One of the common reasons is that background security activity is blocked, and if you haven't logged in to the access point settings for a long time, the system may "sleep" and stop broadcasting the signal.
The problem may also be in the operator's settings: some plans prohibit the distribution of traffic (tethering), the operator can block the connection, seeing that the requests are not from the mobile device, but from the computer (this is determined by TTL), in such cases, changing the TTL value in the hidden menu of engineering settings helps, but this requires caution.
If devices see the network, but cannot access it IP-Address, try rebooting both your phone and your plug-in. Often, switching network mode in your phone settings helps: go to Mobile Network -> Network type and choose forcibly 4G (LTE), excluding 3G/2G, which may work in an unstable manner.
⚠️ Note: If after turning on the access point, the Internet appears on the connected laptop, but the pages do not load, check the settings DNS. Try to manually prescribe. DNS-8.8.8.8 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) servers in the network settings of the computer.
Another cause of failures can be energy-saving modes. Aggressive battery optimization on Xiaomi can turn off the Wi-Fi module when locking the phone screen. To avoid this, add the Settings app or the access point system process to battery exclusion by selecting the No Limits option.
💡
V 90% In cases, the problem with distribution is solved by simply restarting communication modules or switching the network mode with the 3G on 4G/LTE in mobile internet settings.
Optimization of the background
For those who use a smartphone as a fixed router for a long time, it is important to set the system correctly. The constant operation of the radio module leads to heating of the case. Remove the protective case if it is dense, and put the phone on a hard surface for better heat sink. Overheating can lead to trottling and reduced data transfer speed.
It is also recommended to turn off the phone screen or set a minimum time before it goes out, not only saving charge, but also reducing the load on the processor. Make sure that the phone does not run heavy applications that will compete for a communication channel with a connected laptop.
There's a useful feature called "Access Point Timer," which allows you to automatically turn off the distribution if no one has been connected to it for a certain time, which saves you from a situation where you forgot to turn off the module and the phone is dead in your bag, and you can find this option in the access point settings menu, often hidden under an additional menu or gear icon.
Using third-party apps to create an access point on Xiaomi is usually not required or even recommended. System tools are optimized better and do not require unnecessary permissions. However, if you need advanced functionality, such as creating a Wi-Fi repeater (if the hardware of the phone allows), you can consider specialized utilities from the Play Market store.