Why Share the Internet with Xiaomi and When You Really Need It
Modern Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI or HyperOS can work not only as consumers of traffic, but also as its suppliers. You can need to distribute Internet from your phone in dozens of situations: from the lack of Wi-Fi in a cafe to the need to urgently connect your laptop to the network on a business trip. However, not all users know that Xiaomi has 5 different ways to distribute the Internet β and each of them is optimal for specific tasks.
For example, a Wi-Fi access point is suitable for connecting several devices at the same time. USB-The modem will provide the most stable connection for a laptop without the risk of sudden rupture. In this article, we will discuss all methods, from standard to hidden functions. MIUI, And we'll also find out why sometimes a smartphone refuses to give away the Internet and how to fix it without resetting the settings.
Before you go to the instructions, check two key points: 1) Your mobile operator tariff should have the option "Data Transfer" activated (sometimes it needs to be connected separately). 2) The mobile Internet should be enabled on the Xiaomi phone (the icon 4G/5G or E in the status bar).
Method 1: Wi-Fi Access Point is a universal method for most devices
This is the most popular way to distribute the Internet, which works on all Xiaomi models β from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 14. The advantage of the method is that you can connect up to 10 devices at a time to the created network (on some firmwares the limit is 8).
To enable the access point:
- Open Settings β Network and Internet β Access Point and modem.
- Slip on the Wi-Fi Access Point (or Mobile Access Point in HyperOS).
- Activate the slider in the top corner.
- When you first turn on, the system will suggest setting a network name (SSID) and password. Use a password no shorter than 8 characters with numbers and letters - this will protect your point from unauthorized connection.
If the handout is not started, check:
- π Reboot your phone β sometimes helps with Wi-Fi module failures.
- πΆ Network signal strength β if it is weak (1-2 The access point may not work consistently.
- π Battery Charge β At a level below 15%, some Xiaomi models automatically turn off the distribution.
Mobile Internet is on|Battery charge >20%|No active VPN-connection|Updated firmware MIUI-->
Some of the firmwares on MIUI 13-14 have a hidden function called "Power Saving Mode" to activate it:
- Turn on the access point.
- Put it on the name of the connected device.
- Select Energy Saving β this will reduce battery consumption by 20-30%, but slightly reduce the speed.
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If connected devices can not access the Internet, try to change the frequency range in the settings of the access point from Auto to 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. On Xiaomi with HyperOS, this option is hidden - it can be enabled through Developer Mode (7 taps by build number in About phone).
Method 2: USB-modem β stable connection for laptop or PC
This method is ideal if you need to connect one device to the Internet. USB-port (laptop, desktop PC, or even some TVs:
- β‘ Minimum battery consumption β the phone charges while running.
- π More stable connection than Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
- π‘οΈ Security β no risk of connecting third-party devices.
Instructions for MIUI and HyperOS:
- Connect your phone to your computer through the original USB-cable (cheap cables may not transmit data).
- In the phone, select the File Transfer Connection Mode (if a request appears).
- Go to Settings β Network and Internet β Access Point and modem.
- Activate the slider USB-modem.
If the computer does not recognize the connection:
- π₯οΈ Update the drivers for your Xiaomi on PC (download from the site) MIUI Download).
- π Try another one. USB-port USB 3.0).
- π± Put the debugging on. USB In Settings β The phone. β Version. MIUI (7 taps) β Additional settings β For developers.
Wi-Fi hotspot|USB-modem|Bluetooth|Never handed out.-->
β οΈ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 9A POCO M3) USB-The modem may not work when connecting to ports. USB 2.0 on older computers. In this case, use an adapter. USB 2.0 β USB 3.0.
Method 3: Bluetooth modem is a cost-effective but slow option
Bluetooth Internet is suitable for devices that do not support Wi-Fi (for example, some smartwatches or old printers), or when you need to save battery power.
How to set up:
- Turn on Bluetooth on both devices.
- On Xiaomi phone, go to Settings β Devices and Connections β Bluetooth.
- Find the target device in the list and perform pairing.
- Return to Settings β Network and Internet β Access Point and modem.
- Activate the Bluetooth modem slider.
Features of the method:
- π’ Speed is limited to Bluetooth: up to 2 Mbps for Bluetooth 4.0 and up to 50 Mbps for Bluetooth 5.0+.
- π Battery consumption in 2-3 less than when you are giving out on Wi-Fi.
- π± Limitation: Only one device can be connected at a time.
| Bluetooth version | Max, speed. | Battery consumption (per hour) | Xiaomi models with support |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0/4.2 | up to 2 Mbps | ~3% | Redmi 4A, Mi A1 |
| 5.0 | up to 50 Mbps | ~5% | Redmi Note 8, Mi 9 |
| 5.2+ | up to 100 Mbps | ~7% | Xiaomi 12, Poco F4 |
β οΈ Attention: On devices with MIUI 12.5+ When you distribute Internet over Bluetooth, Wi-Fi can automatically turn off. To avoid this, activate the option Do not turn off Wi-Fi when you use a Bluetooth modem in the developer settings.
Method 4: Modem modem via USB-OTG (for advanced users)
This method is suitable for connecting devices without Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but with support USB-OTG (For example, some TVs, game consoles or Raspberry Pi. USB-OTG (or adapter) and manual network setting.
Instructions:
- Connect the target device to the phone via USB-OTG.
- On the phone, activate it. USB-modem (as in Method 2).
- On the connected device, manually configure the network: IP-address: 192.168.42.XX (where XX β any number from 2 to 254. Gateway: 192.168.42.129. DNS: 8.8.8.8 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare).
On Xiaomi models with Qualcomm chipset (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro or Poco) X3) steady-work USB-OTG-The modem may need to disable the option "USB-configuration" β "Charging" in the developer settings.
How to check USB-OTG support on your Xiaomi?
Method 5: Hidden Wi-Fi Repeater (only for MIUI 13+)
Few people know, but MIUI 13 and later have a hidden option called Wi-Fi Repeater, which allows you to amplify your existing Wi-Fi network and distribute it to other devices without wasting mobile traffic, which is useful, for example, in a hotel with low Wi-Fi or in a large apartment.
How to turn on:
- Connect to the Wi-Fi network you want to βrepeat.β
- Go to Settings β Network and Internet β Access Point and modem.
- Slip on the three dots in the top corner β Additional features.
- Select the Wi-Fi Repeater and activate the slider.
- Set up a name and password for the new network (the default will be the same name as the original network, but with the EXT suffix).
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Wi-Fi Repeater does not waste mobile traffic, but can reduce the speed of the original connection by 10-30% due to dual data transfer.
Frequent problems and their solutions: why Xiaomi does not give away the Internet
Even with the right settings, the Internet distribution may not work.-5 causes and ways of eliminating them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Access point is turned on, but devices are not connected | Incorrect password or failure in the Wi-Fi module | Reset the access point settings in Settings β Network and Internet β Access Point β Reset the settings |
| The connection is there, but the internet is not working. | Blocking by the operator or IP conflict | Check the tariff balance or change the APN in the mobile network settings |
| USB-The modem is not defined on PC | Lack of drivers or faulty cable | Install the MiPhoneManager driver from the official Xiaomi website |
| The distribution is automatically turned off | Power saving mode activated | Add an access point to battery optimization exceptions |
If none of these methods helped, reset your network settings:
- Go to Settings β About the phone β Reset settings.
- Select Network Settings Reset (does not reset personal data!).
- After restarting, repeat the handout setting.
β οΈ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) K50 Xiaomi 13T) After upgrading to HyperOS, the option may disappear USB-In that case, go back to the modem. MIUI via Fastboot or use alternative methods (e.g, ADB reversed for PC).