How to connect the Internet to a laptop via Xiaomi Redmi phone

When fixed-line Internet is turned off or not available at your location, it can be taken by surprise. At such times, the only salvation is mobile Internet, which can be streamed from your smartphone. Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi devices often use their gadgets for this purpose, because the MIUI shell offers flexible access point settings.

Modern operating systems allow you to turn your phone into a full-fledged router in seconds, ideal for urgent downloading documents, watching mail or even streaming video on a large screen, but to keep the connection stable and not “landing” the battery in an hour, you need to choose the right method of distribution of traffic.

In this guide, we will take a look at all the ways you can connect your laptop to the network via Xiaomi, learn about the benefits of each method, the features of security settings and how to optimize battery consumption. Follow the instructions to stay online at all times.

Preparation of the smartphone and check the tariff

Before you start setting up an access point, you need to make sure that your data plan allows you to share the Internet. Many carriers allocate a separate package of gigabytes to distribute traffic to other devices or limit the speed after the limit is exhausted. You can check the current conditions in the operator's application or personal account on the site.

Also make sure that your smartphone is mobile data enabled. Without an active 4G/LTE connection, you can't distribute the Internet. Go to the notification curtain and activate the Mobile Internet icon if it's off.

• 📱 Check the balance of the personal account and the balance of traffic in the operator’s application.
• 📡 Make sure the status bar has a badge on fire. 4G, LTE or 5G.
• 🔋 Charge your smartphone to a minimum 40-50% before long-term operation of the router.

The device can get a lot of heat, which is a normal physical process, and if you're planning to do that, you'd better remove the protective case to improve heat removal.

⚠️ Note: Some carriers may block the distribution of traffic through TTL, If you see that the connection is not from a smartphone, but from a PC, you need more complex settings to circumvent such restrictions, which go beyond the standard instructions.

Method One: Creating a Wi-Fi Access Point

The most popular and convenient way to turn Xiaomi Redmi into a router is to use the built-in Wi-Fi hotspot function. This method requires no wires and allows you to connect several devices to the Internet at once, including laptops, tablets and friends' phones.

To activate the function, go to the settings menu. The path may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but it is usually located at: Settings → Wi-Fi Access Point. In some versions of the firmware, this item is placed in a separate Connect and Sharing menu.

In the window that opens, you need to configure network settings. By default, the system will suggest a network name (SSID), which often contains your phone model, and it is recommended to change it to a more recognizable one, so as not to get confused in the list of available networks.

Pathway for rapid activation:


Settings → Wi-Fi Access Point → Enable

Pay special attention to the password field. Standard combinations are often difficult to manually type, so it is better to set your clear code of numbers and letters. Do not use open networks without a password, as anyone nearby will be able to connect to your traffic.

Security and frequency settings

Xiaomi’s access point menu hides important settings that affect compatibility and connection speed. By default, modern smartphones can use the 5GHz band, which provides high speeds but has a shorter range and breaks walls worse.

If your old laptop has a weak Wi-Fi module, it may simply not see the network created by the phone, in which case you must force the switch of frequency range.

• 📶 2.4 GHz - maximum compatibility, better breaks through obstacles, but lower speed.
• 🚀 5.0 GHz – High data rate, less interference, but less range.
• 🔒 Encryption – Always Choose WPA2 PSK or WPA3 data protection.

Another important feature is Traffic Limit, where you can set a limit like 1 GB, where the access point will automatically shut down after reaching it, which is a useful feature if you have a limited Internet package and are afraid of accidentally spending too much.

⚠️ Note: When choosing encryption, avoid the outdated No or Open standard, which will make your data vulnerable to interception by attackers within range of the network.

Also in the advanced settings, you can find the option “Hide the device” if you turn it on, your network name will not appear in the general list. To connect your laptop, you will have to manually enter the network name (SSID) in the Wi-Fi settings on your computer.

Connection through USB-cable (USB-modem)

If you want maximum connection stability and minimal latency (ping), it is best to use a wired connection. USB-The modem also allows you to charge the smartphone at the same time, which is critical for long-term work, since the distribution of Wi-Fi quickly consumes the battery.

First, connect your laptop to your Xiaomi phone with high-quality USB-It is advisable to use an original cable or certified analogue that supports data transfer, not just charging.

After the physical connection, go to the phone's settings menu. → Connection and sharing → USB-Activate the switch. If the point is gray and not pressed, check the cable or try another one. USB-laptop-port.

The computer must automatically identify the new network connection, and in Windows Device Manager, this will appear as "Remote NDIS based Internet Sharing Device." Drivers for this mode are built into the operating system, so you do not need to install additional software.

Using Bluetooth to distribute the Internet

A Bluetooth modem is the least popular, but sometimes the only option available, and it's relevant in the rare cases where the Wi-Fi module on a laptop is faulty and the laptop is not. USB-The data transfer speed here will be significantly lower than the Wi-Fi or cable.

The first step is to pair your laptop and smartphone. Turn on Bluetooth on both devices and search. On your computer, select your Redmi from the list and confirm the pairing code on your phone and PC screen.

Once you pair successfully, you need to activate modem modem. Path: Settings → Connection and Sharing → Bluetooth modem. Turn on the switch. On your computer, go to Devices and Printers, find the phone, right-click, and select Connect via → Access Point.

• 🔗 Connecting devices via Bluetooth menu.
• 📡 Enabling “Bluetooth modem” in your phone settings.
• 💻 Starting connection through the Windows Device Panel.

This method is suitable only for texting, working with mail or downloading light pages. Watching videos or conducting video conferencing via a Bluetooth modem is almost impossible due to the low bandwidth of the channel.

Solution and optimization

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the laptop is connected to the network, but the Internet does not work. DNS or IP-Try using the computer to set the adapter properties to automatically receive. IP-addresses DNS.

Another common problem is the Wi-Fi module’s “sleep mode” on a laptop, which can turn off the adapter to save power. Go to Windows Device Manager, find your wireless adapter, open properties, and uncheck the Power Management tab to allow the device to turn off.

⚠️ Warning: If you're sharing the Internet over Wi-Fi, try not to get too far away from your phone. 10-15 Meter signal can become unstable, especially if there are concrete walls between devices.

To extend the time of the smartphone in the router mode, you can turn on the power saving mode, but make sure that it does not limit the work of background processes too much, it is also recommended to reduce the brightness of the phone screen to a minimum or turn off the display completely.

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If the laptop “sees” the network but doesn’t connect, try changing the encryption type from WPA3 to WPA2 on your phone in the hotspot settings. Older Wi-Fi drivers on laptops often don’t support new security standards.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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The fastest and most reliable way to connect is through USB-cable, as it provides stable communication and simultaneously charges the phone, avoiding rapid battery discharge.