How to share the Internet from Xiaomi phone to another phone: all ways + speed comparison

Are you in a situation where you urgently need to share the Internet from another Xiaomi phone, but do not know how to do it quickly and without losing speed? SIM-In this article, we will examine all the available ways to distribute the Internet between Xiaomi smartphones, from the classic Wi-Fi hotspot to little-known methods through the use of the Internet. USB-OTG Bluetooth 5.0.

It's important to understand that not all methods are equally effective. For example, Wi-Fi Direct may seem convenient, but in practice it often works slower than a standard hotspot. And USB handouts, while saving battery life, require additional cable. We tested each method on Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO X5 Pro and Xiaomi 13T models, as we'll show in the table below.

If you have previously tried to configure the Internet distribution, but encountered errors such as “Can not turn on the access point” or “Error” IP-configuration, there's a section in the article that addresses these problems, and we'll also reveal the hidden function. MIUI, which allows you to limit the speed of distribution to save traffic – this is true if you connect a device with automatic updates.

1. Internet distribution via Wi-Fi hotspot (fastest way)

The standard Wi-Fi hotspot remains the most popular method due to its high data transfer speed (up to 150 Mbps on Xiaomi with Wi-Fi 6) and ease of setup, but it has two key drawbacks: fast battery life (up to 15-20% per hour when used actively) and a limit on the number of connected devices (usually no more than 8).

To enable a hotspot on Xiaomi, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Access Point and modem (on some firmware Settings) → Connections → Access point).
• 🔄 Switch the slider "Portable access point" to the position of the VSL.
• ⚙️ Click on “Setting up the access point” to change the network name (SSID), Password and frequency range (recommended 5 GHz for speed or 2.4 GHz for longer range).
• 🔒 Set a strong password (minimum 8 characters with numbers and letters) to avoid unauthorized connection.

If the access point is not turned on, check:

• 🚫 Is there any active? VPN-compounds (some of them) VPN block).
• 📶 Signal Level of Mobile Network (with a weak signal) MIUI It can automatically turn off the hotspot).
• 🔋 Battery level (below 15% of the system may limit the functionality).

⚠️ Note: At some mobile operators’ rates (e.g. Tele2 or Iota), the distribution of Internet via a hotspot may be blocked or charged at a higher rate.

2. Internet distribution via Bluetooth (battery savings)

If the speed is not critical (for example, you only need to check your email or messengers), a Bluetooth modem will be a good alternative to Wi-Fi.

• 🔋 Minimum battery consumption (about) 3-5% hourly).
• 🛡️ More secure connection (less risk of data interception).
• 📱 It works even with a weak mobile signal.

Disadvantages: speed is limited to the Bluetooth version (maximum 2-3 Mbps on Bluetooth 4.2 and up to 10 Mbps on Bluetooth 5.0).

1. On the main phone (which gives out the Internet), go to Settings → Connections → Modem → Bluetooth modem.
2. On the second phone, turn on Bluetooth and pair with the first device.
3. After connecting on the second phone will appear a notification “Use the Internet connection?” – confirm.

If the connection is interrupted, try:

• 🔄 Reboot both phones.
• 📱 Remove the device from the list of conjugates and connect again.
• 🛠️ Update firmware MIUI (In some versions there are bugs with Bluetooth modem).

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If the speed over Bluetooth is too low, try turning off the background sync of apps (like Google Photos or Dropbox) on the second phone – they can consume the lion’s share of traffic.

3. Internet distribution via USB (maximum stability)

Connection through USB-cable is the most stable way to distribute the Internet, but it requires a physical connection of devices, speeds comparable to Wi-Fi (up to 100 Mbps), and battery consumption is minimal (the main phone will even charge a little:

• 🔌 You need a data-enabled cable (not all charging cables are suitable).
• 📱 On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 9A) You need to set up the debugging USB.
• 🖥️ The second phone should support the USB ethernet function. MIUI It works out of the box").

Instructions for setting:

1. Connect your phones with a cable (use a USB-C or Micro-USB port, depending on the model).
2. On the main phone go to Settings → Access Point and modem → USB-modem.
3. On the second phone, select the “Swifting over USB” mode in the notification bar (sometimes you need to select “Ethernet”).
4. Wait for the USB icon to appear in the status bar – the Internet should work automatically.

⚠️ Warning: If the internet doesn't show up after you've connected, check if the firewall or antivirus on the second phone is blocking it. Also make sure the cable is working - try another one.

Distribution via Wi-Fi Direct (alternative to hotspot)

Wi-Fi Direct allows you to connect devices directly without creating a full access point. This method is less commonly used for Internet distribution, but can be useful if a standard hotspot does not work. Speed is comparable to Bluetooth 5.0 (5-10 Mbps), but stability is higher.

How to set up:

1. On your main phone, turn on Wi-Fi Direct in Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi → Additional → Wi-Fi Direct.
2. On the second phone, search for available Wi-Fi Direct devices and select the first phone.
3. Confirm the pairing on both devices.
4. On the main phone, turn on the "Allow Internet access" option (may be called "Shared Network Access").

Limitations of the method:

• 📶 It only works within radius. 5-10 meters.
• 🔄 It can conflict with normal Wi-Fi (it is better to turn it off on the second phone).
• 🛠️ Not all Xiaomi models support the distribution of Internet via Wi-Fi Direct (for example, on the Internet). POCO M3 function is missing).

5. Hidden MIUI settings to save traffic

If you're a regular Internet user and you want to control your traffic, MIUI has hidden features that few people know about, like:

• 📉 Limit the maximum speed of the distribution (useful if you have a limited rate).
• ⏱️ Set a timer for automatic hotspot shutdown.
• 🚫 Block certain devices from the connection.

To access these settings:

1. Turn on Developer Mode (go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times).
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the "Network" option and select "Limiting the speed of the access point".
4. Set a limit (e.g. 5 Mbps) and save the settings.

In Developer Mode, you can also enable “Always Show Transfer Speed” in the status bar to help track how much traffic the connected device consumes.

6. Solving common errors

If you see mistakes when trying to distribute the Internet, here are the most common reasons and ways to fix them:

Error: "I failed to turn on the access point"

• 📵 Check if mobile data is included.
• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📋 Reset network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting settings.

Mistake: “Mistake IP-configuration" when connected

• 🔧 Change the range. IP in the settings of the access point (for example, with 192.168.43.x on 192.168.1.x).
• 📱 On the second phone, forget the network and connect again.
• 🛠️ Update the firmware MIUI (In older versions there are bugs with DHCP).

USB-The modem is not working.

• 🔌 Try another cable (preferably original from Xiaomi).
• 📱 Turn on Debugging. USB In Settings → For developers.
• 🖥️ On the second phone, select File Transfer mode instead of Charging only".

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If none of these methods work, check to see if your mobile operator is blocking the Internet, and some rates (especially unlimited ones) limit the hotspot function.

7. How to save traffic when giving out the Internet

Internet distribution can quickly run out of traffic, especially if the connected device downloads updates or streams videos.

On the main phone (which distributes):

• 📊 Set a traffic limit in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Traffic.
• ⏱️ Turn on Auto-Switch Off Access Point after 10–30 minutes of inactivity.
• 🚫 Block the connection of unfamiliar devices (in the hotspot settings there is a list of connected gadgets).

On the second phone (which connects):

• 📵 Turn off auto-update apps on Google Play.
• 🎵 Limit music streaming (in Spotify or Yandex Music, select Low Quality").
• 📺 Prohibit background data transfer for social networks (Settings) → Annexes → Permits → Background data).

If you are giving away the Internet from Xiaomi on the iPhone, note that Apple defaults to APN-operator settings that may conflict with MIUI. In this case, the iPhone you need to manually prescribe APN (check the settings with your operator).

FAQ: Frequent questions about giving the Internet to Xiaomi