Modem mode on Xiaomi: how to distribute the Internet from phone to PC, laptop or tablet

Turning Xiaomi into a full-fledged modem is a challenge that millions of users face, whether it’s traveling out of town without fixed internet or the urgent need to connect a laptop to the network via mobile data, modem modem saves in critical situations, but not everyone knows that on Redmi, POCO and other brands, this process has nuances, from hidden settings to problems with carriers.

In this article, we will discuss all the ways to activate modem modem on Xiaomi, from standard USB-tetering to distribute Wi-Fi with channel setting and encryption. Particular attention will be paid to typical errors (for example, when the computer does not see the network) and how to fix them. And for owners of devices with MIUI 14/15, we will give current screenshots and paths in the menu – many instructions on the network are outdated after interface updates.

Regardless of the model — whether it’s Xiaomi’s flagship 14 Ultra or the budget Redmi Note 12 — the modem’s switching algorithm is the same. But there are pitfalls: some operators block tetering, and older versions of MIUI may not have individual options, and we tested all methods on current firmware and put together working solutions.

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1. What is modem modem and why it is needed

Modem mode (or tetering) allows you to use your smartphone as a source of Internet for other devices, essentially your Xiaomi becomes a mini-router that streams mobile traffic to laptops, tablets or even other phones, and this is true in several scenarios:

🔹 No Wi-Fi. When traveling, in the country or in a cafe without a network, a smartphone becomes the only way to get online.

🔹 Backup. If the home Internet suddenly goes down, tethering will save the workflow.

🔹 Bypassing blocking: Some public networks restrict access to certain sites, and mobile Internet is often free of such restrictions.

🔹 Speed testing: Before you buy a new fare, you can check the real speed 4G/5G by connecting the laptop directly to the phone.

Xiaomi supports three types of tethering:

• 📶 Wi-Fi hotspot — distribution of the Internet over a wireless network (up to 10 devices at a time).
• 🔌 USB- tetering is the most stable and energy efficient way to connect via cable.
• 🔵 Bluetooth tetering is a Bluetooth distribution (slower but saves battery power).

Important: some operators (such as Tele2 or Iota) may block tethering or charge an additional fee. Before using, check the terms of your tariff - more about this in the section on errors.

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2.How to enable Wi-Fi hotspot on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

This is the most popular way to distribute the Internet. To activate it on Xiaomi, follow the following steps:

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).

2. Go to Network and Internet → Access Point and modem (on MIUI 14/15 the path may be slightly different: Connections and Sharing → Modem Modem).

3. Slip on the Wi-Fi Access Point item and move the slider to the right for activation.

By default, the network will be called Xiaomi_XXXX (where XXXX is the last digits of your phone's IMEI), and the password will be generated automatically. To change these settings:

🔹 Click on Setting up the Wi-Fi hotspot.

🔹 In the Network Name field, type the desired name (e.g., MyXiaomiHotspot).

🔹 In the Password field, specify a new key (we recommend using at least 8 characters with numbers and letters).

🔹 In the Security section, select WPA2-PSK (the most reliable option).

🔹 Press Save.

On devices with MIUI 13 and older, the option Auto Shutdown has appeared – if the gadget is not connected to the access point within 5-10 minutes, the hotspot will turn off automatically. This saves battery power, but can interrupt the download of files on the laptop.

Once activated, connect another device to the network you created by entering a password. If the Internet does not appear, check:

• 📶 The signal level of the mobile network on Xiaomi (must be at least 2-3 divisions).
• 🔄 Reboot your phone and re-energize the hotspot.
• 📱 On the connected device, forget the network and reconnect.

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3 USB-tetering: How to distribute the Internet via cable

This method is preferred if you want maximum connection stability and minimum charge consumption of the phone. USB-tetering works even at a weak signal 4G, as data is transmitted directly over the wire.

For activation:

1. Connect Xiaomi to a computer or laptop using the original USB- cable (cheap cables may not support data transfer).

2. On the phone in the Settings menu → Network and Internet → Access Point and modem, turn on the option USB- modem.

3. On a PC, wait for the drivers to install (usually 10–30 seconds). If the drivers do not install automatically, download them from the Xiaomi website for your model.

After a successful connection, a network icon labeled Ethernet will appear in the Windows tray (although the connection is via USB), and the network will appear as USB Ethernet on the MacOS.

🔴 Typical problems and solutions:

• 🖥️ The computer can't see the network. Check if the data mode is on when you connect the cable (the phone will see a notification with a choice of action).
• ⚡ Phone doesn't charge. Some cables only support data transfer. Try another cable or turn on Charging via USB in your phone settings.
• 🔒 The operator blocks USB- tetering. Try Flight Mode, then activate the mobile data and the USB- modem again.

⚠️ Warning: Devices with MIUI 12 and below may need to unlock OEM Unlock in the developer settings when first connected via USB, without which Windows will not be able to install drivers for the modem.

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If USB-tetering is not working properly, try turning off battery saving for the system in Power and Performance settings.

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4. Bluetooth tetering: saving charge at low speed

This method is suitable if you need to distribute the Internet to a device without Wi-Fi (for example, an old laptop or fitness bracelet), but the speed will be limited by Bluetooth bandwidth (usually up to 2-3 Mbps).

Instructions:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both devices.

2. On Xiaomi, go to Settings → Connected Devices → Bluetooth and find the target device in the list.

3. After pairing, return to the Access Point and modem section and activate the Bluetooth modem.

4. On the second device in Bluetooth settings, select your Xiaomi and enable Internet Access (on Windows, this is done in Settings → Devices → Additional Bluetooth settings).

🔹 Advantages: Low battery consumption, performance even at low signal.

🔹 Disadvantages: low speed, possible connection breaks.

⚠️ Warning: On MIUI 14 and later, Bluetooth tetering may conflict with the Wi-Fi hotspot. If both modes are on at the same time, turn off one of them.

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5.APN setup for stable tethering

If the modem is not running smoothly or is not connected at all, the problem may lie in incorrect APN settings (Access Point Name), which is especially true for operators like MTS, Beeline or MegaFon, which sometimes reset the settings after updating the firmware.

To check and change the APN:

1. Open Settings → SIM- Maps and Mobile Networks → [Your SIM- Card] → Access Points (APN).

2. If there are multiple profiles, select active (usually ticked).

3. Check the following parameters (for popular operators):

If your carrier is not on the list, contact support or check the official website. After changing the settings, restart the phone and re-enable the modem.

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6. Solving common errors in the distribution of the Internet

Even when set up properly, the modem can malfunction, and let's look at the typical problems and how to fix them.

🔴 No Internet connection with an active hotspot:

• 📵 Check the balance and status of mobile internet (sometimes operators block access with zero balance).
• 🔄 Switch network type from 4G to 3G or back to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Preferred network type.
• 📡 Make sure that the phone does not have Traffic Saving Mode (can block tethering).

🔴 Devices connect to a hotspot, but the internet doesn't work:

• 🔧 Check the settings APN (Section 5).
• 🛡️ Turn off VPN or the proxy on your phone — they may conflict with tetering.
• 📱 Update the firmware MIUI to the latest version (older versions had Internet distribution bugs).

🔴 USB- Tetering does not work on Windows:

• 🖥️ Install Xiaomi drivers manually (download from the official website).
• 🔌 Try another one. USB-port (preferably) USB 3.0).
• 🔄 In Windows Device Manager, remove the Xiaomi device and reconnect.

⚠️ Warning: Some tariffs are artificially limited by operators, such as Yota, which can reduce the speed to 64 Kbps if the tariff does not provide Internet distribution, check the terms of the contract or contact support.

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If none of the methods worked, try resetting the network settings on your phone (Settings → System → Reset → Network Reset) this will delete all stored Wi-Fi and APN, but often resolves tetering problems.

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7. Hidden Modem Modem Features on Xiaomi

MIUI has a few little-known options that can improve the modem:

🔹 Traffic restriction: In the hotspot settings (Setting up Wi-Fi hotspot → Data restriction), you can set a limit on traffic consumption. Useful if you have a limited rate.

🔹 Device blacklist. MIUI 14+ has a feature that locks individual gadgets from connecting to your access point. Located in Access Point Settings → Device Management.

🔹 Change Wi-Fi channel. If the hotspot is slow, try changing the channel manually (Channel option in the access point settings). We recommend choosing channels 1, 6 or 11, which are least affected by interference.

🔹 Auto-Disable. In the additional hotspot settings, you can set the automatic shutdown after 5, 10 or 30 minutes without active connections.

🔹 Compatibility Mode. On some models (e.g., Redmi Note 11 Pro), there is an option in the USB- tetering settings called Compatibility Mode, and turn it on if the computer doesn't recognize the modem.

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To speed up the distribution of the Internet through a hotspot, turn off the background synchronization of applications on the phone. To do this, go to Settings → Apps → Permissions → Autostart and turn off autostart for unnecessary programs.

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8. Alternative ways of distributing the Internet

If standard methods do not work, you can use workarounds:

🔹 Tethering apps: Utilities like PdaNet+ or ClockworkMod Tether allow you to distribute the Internet even if you block a standard tethering, minus root access or PC installation.

🔹 Reverse tethering allows you to connect the phone to the computer’s Internet (for example, if the PC has wired Internet, but the phone does not). To do this, you need ReverseTethering NoRoot (without root) or gnirehtet (requires). ADB).

🔹 VPN- tetering: Some VPN- services (e.g., Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1) allow the Internet to be distributed over a secure connection, which is useful if the operator blocks normal tetering.

🔹 Using a second phone: If you have a second smartphone with active internet, you can give Wi-Fi from that to the first Xiaomi, and then from Xiaomi to the laptop, and this kind of double tethering sometimes bypasses the operator's restrictions.

⚠️ Warning: Tethering bypass applications may violate your operator's rules, and use them at your own risk - if detected, the operator may limit speed or block the SIM- card.

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FAQ: Frequent questions about modem modem on Xiaomi