How to distribute the Internet from Xiaomi on PC: USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Xiaomi's modern smartphones have long since ceased to be just call devices and have become powerful tools for work, allowing instantaneous access to the global network for other gadgets. In situations where your home provider is failing, or you are on a business trip and Wi-Fi at the hotel is working badly, mobile Internet is the salvation. Connecting your computer to the network through your phone is not just a backup option, but often the only solution for remote work.

Owners of shell-based devices MIUI HyperOS has several effective ways to transmit traffic: USB-cable, by creating a wireless Wi-Fi hotspot or using the less popular but energy-efficient Bluetooth protocol. Each method has its own unique characteristics of speed, stability and power consumption, so the choice of the specific method depends on your current needs and the availability of equipment at hand.

In this guide, we will take a detailed look at all the options available for connecting your PC to the Internet via Xiaomi smartphone, paying special attention to the nuances of driver configuration, connection security and battery consumption optimization. You will learn how to quickly switch between modes and eliminate typical errors that can occur during the process of synchronizing devices.

Preparation of the smartphone and checking network settings

Before you start to actively broadcast traffic, you need to make sure that the smartphone itself works correctly with the network of the operator. → SIM-Maps and mobile networks and check if the mobile Internet slider is activated. Often users forget that to distribute the Internet, you may need to separately activate the service from the operator or have a specific tariff plan that allows modem modem.

An important step is to check the type of network. For comfortable work on the computer, especially when watching videos or downloading files, it is recommended to force a standard to be set. 4G/LTE or 5G in the settings of the preferred network type. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → SIM 1 (or 2) → Preferred network type select the option “Preferred” LTE» to ensure maximum data transfer speed.

Also, pay attention to traffic limits. If you have a limited gigabyte tariff, you should set a traffic limit in your phone settings before you start the distribution to your computer to avoid unforeseen costs. MIUI allows you to flexibly adjust these settings, alerting the user to reach a threshold.

Make sure that USB debugging is enabled on the device if you plan to use a cable connection, although in most modern versions of Android this is not strictly mandatory for a basic RNDIS connection, but may be required for specific drivers.

Creating a Wi-Fi access point for wireless connection

The most popular and convenient way is to create a wireless hotspot, which requires no wires and allows you to connect multiple devices to the Internet at once, including laptops, tablets and even other smartphones. To activate, go to Settings → Wi-Fi hotspot and click on the switch at the top of the screen.

A critical aspect here is the security setting: Click on your network name (SSID) and set a strong password using WPA2 PSK or WPA3 PSK encryption if your devices support this standard.A passwordless open network will allow anyone bystander to connect to your traffic, which is unsafe and can lead to a quick data leak.

Xiaomi devices also have a frequency range setting feature. In the access point menu, you can choose between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The 5 GHz range provides higher speeds, but has a shorter range and worse penetration through walls, while 2.4 GHz is more versatile, but is subject to interference from neighboring networks.

⚠️ Attention: Active use of the smartphone in Wi-Fi mode of the router leads to intense heating of the case and rapid discharge of the battery.

To extend the battery life at night or in the absence of active connections, you can set a shutdown timer. In the advanced access point settings, find the "Switchdown timer" and set a downtime period, after which the Internet distribution will automatically cease.

Connection through USB-Cable: Maximum speed and stability

If you want maximum connection stability and minimal latency (low ping), such as for online games or video conferencing, wired connectivity is the best choice. This method also allows you to charge your smartphone at the same time, which solves the problem of quick discharge. Connect your phone to your computer with high-quality USB-cable, preferably original or certified.

After the physical connection of the devices, you need to activate the appropriate mode in the settings. → Connection and sharing → USB-The computer must recognize the new network device and automatically install the necessary drivers.

Unlike Wi-Fi, a wired connection is completely protected from outside interference and is free from radio interference. However, it is worth considering that when connecting to a PC via USB, a smartphone can be defined as a priority network adapter, which sometimes requires manually configuring the priority of networks in the computer operating system.

In some cases, especially older versions of Windows (7, 8), you may need to manually install ADB drivers or specific Xiaomi drivers if the system does not see the device as a modem, usually by installing the Mi PC Suite app or selecting File Transfer mode in the notification curtain before turning on the modem.

Using Bluetooth modem to save energy

Although this method is considered obsolete due to the low data rate, it can be useful in emergency situations where you need to transfer a small amount of text information or check email, and the phone battery is critically low.

To get started, you need to pair your computer and smartphone. Turn on Bluetooth on both devices, find the phone in the list of available devices on your PC, and pair by confirming the code. After successfully pairing on the phone in the Settings menu → Connection and Sharing → Bluetooth modem, you need to activate the appropriate switch.

On your computer, in the Devices and Printers window, or in Bluetooth settings, find your phone, right-click and select Connect via → Access Point. The connection process can take 10 to 30 seconds, after which the network connection icon will appear in the tray.

Bluetooth connection speeds rarely exceed 2-3 Mbps, which is enough for instant messengers, but not enough for streaming video. This method is good because it practically does not heat the phone and works even on very old computers without the support of modern Wi-Fi standards.

Set up the name and security parameters of the network

By default, Xiaomi assigns the hotspot a model name for the phone, such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro. For ease of identification in public places or offices, it is better to change the network name to a more understandable one. From the access point menu, click on Setting up the Wi-Fi hotspot and enter the desired name in the SSID field.

The minimum password length in Android is 8 characters, and it is recommended to use a combination of letters from different registers, numbers and special characters to exclude the possibility of matching the password with neighbors using specialized software.

You can also set the settings to limit the number of devices you can connect, so if you only give out the Internet for your laptop, set the limit to one device, which will prevent unauthorized devices from connecting even if they learn the password.

Solving common connection problems and errors

Often, users are faced with a situation where the computer sees the network, but writes "Without Internet access." First of all, check whether the Internet works on the phone itself with Wi-Fi turned off. If the pages do not load on the smartphone, the problem lies in the operator's settings or lack of balance.

If the problem is only with USB connectivity, try replacing the cable. Cheap cables often only support charging and don't have data lines. Use the cable that came with the kit or a certified, labeled analogue.

If you have driver problems on Windows, open Device Manager, find the device with an exclamation point (often under Network Adapters or Other Devices), right-click and select Update Driver → Auto Search. Sometimes, removing the device completely and reconnecting the cable helps.

⚠️ Note: When connecting to unknown computers USB-The modem always checks requests for access to phone data. Charge only mode is safer than File Transfer if you are unsure of PC security.

Another common cause of disruption is energy saving: MIUI can aggressively restrict background processes. Make sure Google Play services and network distribution systems are not severely restricted in the Battery → Application Energy Saving menu.

Optimizing battery consumption and extending the life of the device

Modem mode, especially Wi-Fi, puts a high load on the radio module and the smartphone processor, which leads to heating. To minimize heat exposure, remove the protective case if it is dense and poorly removes heat, and place the phone on a hard, cool surface, avoiding direct sunlight.

If you use USB-If you're connected, the phone will charge, but you can still get heat, you can use an external fan or you can just not put heavy objects on the phone, and if you're overheated, you can bloat the battery and reduce its overall capacity in the future.

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Use Dark Theme and reduce the brightness of the screen when you're giving the internet, which will reduce overall power consumption and reduce the heat of the device's body a little.

For long-term use of the phone as a stationary modem, there are special applications and scripts (requiring Root rights), which allow you to limit the maximum battery level to 60-70%, preventing its degradation from being constantly on charge.

Also, disable unused functions like GPS, NFC, Bluetooth device search, if they are not needed right now, which will free up the CPU resources to process network traffic and reduce the overall temperature of the device.

Specifics of work in different versions of MIUI and HyperOS

The interface and settings may vary slightly depending on the firmware version. In new versions of HyperOS, the access point menu has been visually updated, and energy saving algorithms have become more stringent. If you can't find the right switch, search by settings by typing "Access Point" or "Modem."

Global firmware versions may call some features differently than Chinese ones, such as Modem Modem Mode may be hidden under the name Tethering. If standard methods don't work, try resetting the network settings in the Settings menu → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth.

⚠️ Warning: Resetting your network settings will delete all saved Wi-Fi passwords and associated Bluetooth devices.Be prepared to re-enter passwords.

Users of custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience) may face the lack of some proprietary Xiaomi drivers, which sometimes leads to unstable work. USB-In such cases, it is recommended to use a standard Wi-Fi hotspot or look for specific patches for your version of Android.

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For stable and fast work, it is always preferable to use USB-connection, as it eliminates radio interference and provides simultaneous charging of the device.