How to distribute the Internet from the phone Xiaomi: all ways + hidden settings

Sharing the Internet with Xiaomi is a seemingly simple task, but many users face unexpected problems: the access point is not turned on, the devices are not connected, the operator blocks the function. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to distribute Internet from Xiaomi phones (including the Redmi, POCO and Black Shark models), and also tell you how to circumvent the limitations of mobile operators and eliminate typical errors.

Xiaomi’s smartphone features a proprietary MIUI shell that sometimes hides the standard Android settings. For example, in some versions of the firmware, the modem option is hidden in a non-obvious menu, and in others, it requires additional activation through the Developer Settings, and we will show you where to look for these settings in different versions of MIUI 12/13/14 and how to set them correctly.

Important: if you use a tariff with limited traffic, the distribution of the Internet can lead to rapid consumption of gigabytes. USB-The modem or the access point charge extra, and there's a separate section on how to check it and what to do.

1. Internet distribution via Wi-Fi (access point)

The most popular and convenient way is to turn Xiaomi into a Wi-Fi router, which is suitable for connecting laptops, tablets, other smartphones and even smart TVs, and the data transfer speed in this mode is maximum, but there is a nuance: on some tariffs, operators artificially limit the speed of distribution to 64-128 Kbps (this is 10-20 times slower than normal 4G).

To enable the access point:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Access point and modem (in) MIUI 14 Ways may be different: Settings → Connections → Access point).
• 🔄 Press the Portable Access Point and move the slider to the right.
• 🔒 When the system is first turned on, it will ask you to specify the network name (SSID) Use a password no shorter than 8 characters with numbers and letters.
• 📶 Connect other devices to the network by selecting its name in the Wi-Fi list.

If the Portable Access Point option is not on the menu, it is blocked by the operator. Try alternative methods (USB or Bluetooth) or contact the provider to request to unlock the function.

Make sure that the mobile internet is stable|Check the remaining traffic on the tariff|Turn it off. VPN (He can block the distribution)|Charging the phone battery at least 30%-->

2. Distribution via Bluetooth (charge savings)

This is a good way to share the Internet with a single device (like a laptop or tablet) and save battery power, but it's faster than Wi-Fi, but it's less energy efficient, and it's especially important for POCO F3 or Redmi Note 10 owners, where the battery goes down quickly when the hotspot is active.

Instructions:

• 📲 On Xiaomi phone go to Settings → Bluetooth and turn it on.
• 💻 On a second device (like a laptop) turn on Bluetooth and find your Xiaomi in the list of available devices.
• 🔗 Confirm the pairing on both devices.
• 🌐 Back to Settings → Access Point and modem on your phone and activate Bluetooth modem.

After that, a new Bluetooth Network connection will appear on the laptop in the network connections. Please note: some Xiaomi models (for example, the Mi 11 Lite) require additional confirmation of Internet distribution through a pop-up window.

💡

If the Bluetooth modem doesn’t work, try connecting to your phone as a headphone first (selecting the Audio profile) and then activating the Internet distribution.

Distribution via USB (maximum stability)

USB is the most reliable way to distribute the Internet, especially if you need to work with a laptop for a long time.

• ⚡ No battery consumption (phone charged during distribution).
• 📶 Stable connection without breaks.
• 🔒 Many operators do not block this method (unlike Wi-Fi).

How to set up:

1. Connect your phone to your computer through the original USB-cable (cheap cables may not transmit data).
2. On the phone in the Settings menu → Access point and modem turn on USB-modem.
3. On the computer, wait for the driver to install (usually they are installed automatically).
4. Check Connection: A new Remote NDIS network should appear in Windows network settings.

If USB-The modem is not working:

• 🔌 Try another one. USB-port (preferably) USB 3.0).
• 📥 Install Mi Phone Manager drivers from Xiaomi’s official website.
• 🔄 Reboot both devices.

4. Hidden MIUI settings for Internet distribution

In some versions of MIUI (especially older models like the Redmi 4X or Mi A1), standard Internet distribution settings can be hidden or disabled.

Method 1: "Developer Options"

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the default USB configuration option and select RNDIS (USB Ethernet).

Method 2: Resetting network settings

If the access point is turned on but the devices are not connected, try:

1. Go to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.
2. Confirm the reset (this will remove saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords).
3. Reboot the phone and reset the access point.

Method 3: Change the firmware region

On some models (e.g. the POCO X3 Pro), the Internet distribution function is blocked due to regional restrictions.

• 🌍 Install the Global Version MIUI via Fastboot (instructions are available on the forum) 4PDA).
• 📦 Or use the Mi Tool app to change region without firmware.

5. Typical errors and their solutions

Even if you set up the Internet properly, the distribution may not work, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

If neither method worked, check if the phone is running or saving energy, and if you upgrade to the latest version of MIUI, you've had bugs with Internet distribution in older versions.

💡

If after all the manipulations the distribution of the Internet does not work, try inserting SIM-If the problem persists, it is the operator's fault, if it disappears, a malfunction in the Xiaomi phone.

6. How to save traffic when giving out the Internet

Phone Internet can quickly run out of unlimited rates if you have multiple devices, and here's how to reduce traffic consumption:

• 📵 Limit background traffic: in the access point settings (Settings) → Access Point and modem → Settings: Enable the option to Limit Data and set a limit (e.g. 5GB per day).
• 🎮 Block "gluttonous" applications: in Settings → Annexes → Using data disable background traffic for games, torrent clients and cloud services.
• 📡 Use Traffic Compression: Enable Traffic Saving Mode in the Browser (e.g. Google Chrome or Opera).
• ⏱ Set a timer: in the settings of the access point, you can set an automatic shutdown after 30-60 minutes.

It’s also worth disabling auto-update apps in Google Play and Mi App Store, as they can download updates in the background, consuming gigabytes of traffic.

💡

If you're giving out Internet to a laptop, set up Windows to use the connection as "limited." Go to Settings → Network and Internet → Wi-Fi → Additional settings and turn on the option to Set as a limit connection.

7. Alternative ways of distributing the Internet

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

Method 1: via NetShare (requires root)

NetShare allows you to distribute the Internet even if the operator blocks a standard access point, minus you need to get root rights, which cancels the warranty.

1. Download NetShare from Google Play.

Method 2: Reverse Tethering (USB)

If USB-The modem doesn't work, but the phone is defined as a media device, so you can use reverse tethering:

• Install the program gnirehtet (free, GitHub) on your PC.
• Connect your phone to USB and start the program.
• On the phone, allow debugging via USB (Settings → For developers → Debugging via USB).

Method 3: Using the second phone

If you have a second smartphone (even not Xiaomi), you can distribute the Internet from it to Xiaomi over Wi-Fi, and then from Xiaomi to other devices, which bypasses the locking of the operator, since the first phone acts as an intermediary.

💡

The use of alternative methods may violate your tariff rules, and before using them, check with the operator whether the distribution of the Internet is allowed by your tariff.

FAQ: Frequent questions about giving away the Internet with Xiaomi