How to connect a laptop to the Internet via a Xiaomi phone: the complete guide

Modern Xiaomi smartphones are not just devices for calls, but also full-fledged modems that can provide a laptop with a stable Internet connection. remote work, travel, temporary problems with the main provider or no Wi-Fi in the cafe.Redmi phones luckily, POCO and Mi support three ways of connecting: USB-cable, Wi-Fi hotspot and Bluetooth, each of which has its own pros and limitations.

In this article, we will discuss all the methods of connecting a laptop to the Internet through Xiaomi, including the nuances for different versions of MIUI (from 12 to 14), the features of mobile operators’ tariffs and ways to eliminate typical errors. You will learn which method is the fastest, which is the most economical in battery consumption, and how to avoid connection problems on Windows 10/11 and macOS.

Before you start, make sure that your Xiaomi phone has activated mobile data (the 4G/5G icon in the status bar).If the indicator is missing, check your account balance or APN settings - without an active Internet connection, you will not be able to distribute traffic.

1. Connection through USB-cable (USB-modem)

The fastest and most stable way to distribute the Internet from Xiaomi to a laptop is to use it. USB-It's a modem, and it's good for long-term use, because it charges, and it's faster than Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and the only requirement is that you have an original or quality cable. USB Type-C (or Micro-USB) for older models).

To activate modem modem modem:

1. Connect your phone to your laptop with a cable.
2. On the Xiaomi screen, select File Transfer Mode (not Charge Only).
3. Open the notification panel and tap the option USB-Modem (or go to Settings) → Access Point and modem → USB-modem).

On a Windows laptop, the connection will be automatically established, a network connection icon will appear in the tray. On macOS, you may need to install a HoRNDIS driver (for Qualcomm chips) or use the standard RNDIS protocol.

The presence of the original cable

Activated mobile data transmission

Mode "File transfer" on the phone

Disabled VPN on the laptop-->

⚠️ Note: Some operators (e.g. Tele2 or Iota) block USB-Fare modem with unlimited internet. If the connection is not established, check the terms of your tariff or try alternative methods.

Speed. USB-Xiaomi modem depends on the protocol version:

• 🔌 USB 2.0 (up to 480 Mbps) – in older models (Redmi) 4X, Mi A1).
• ⚡ USB 3.0/3.1 (before 5–10 Gbit / s - at flagships (Xiaomi) 13, POCO F5).

Real speed will be limited by the mobile network (maximum ~150 Mbps for 4G and ~500 Mbps for 5G).

2. Internet distribution via Wi-Fi hotspot

If you don't have a cable, you can distribute the Internet over Wi-Fi, which is convenient for connecting multiple devices at once (laptop, tablet, other phone), but it drains Xiaomi's battery faster and can slow down when the network signal is weak.

Instructions for setting:

1. Open Settings → Access Point and modem → Wi-Fi Access Point.
2. Set a network name (SSID) and password (minimum 8 characters).
3. Select the WPA2-PSK (most balanced) security standard.
4. Activate the Wi-Fi Access Point slider.

On your laptop, connect to the network you have created as if you were using regular Wi-Fi. If the device doesn't see the access point, check:

• 📶 Frequency Range: In Xiaomi settings, choose 2.4 GHz (better passes through walls) or 5 GHz (higher speed but smaller radius).
• 🔋 Power saving mode: turn it off in Settings → Battery, otherwise the access point can shut down after 5-10 minutes without activity.

Bluetooth connection (alternative to save charge)

If USB-There's no cable, and Wi-Fi is a big battery drain, you can distribute the Internet over Bluetooth, which is slower than the others, but uses less energy, suitable for non-urgent tasks like checking emails, messengers or reading articles.

Procedure:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on your phone and laptop.
2. Connect devices: on Xiaomi go to Settings → Bluetooth, select a laptop from the list and confirm the code.
3. On your phone, activate Settings → Access Point and modem → Bluetooth modem.
4. On a laptop in the Bluetooth panel, select an internet connection via Xiaomi.

Limitations of the method:

• 🐢 Low speed: up to 50 Mbps (enough for text content, but not for video in the video) 4K).
• 🔄 Instability: Connection can be interrupted when devices are more than 10 meters apart.
• 🔌 Drivers: Windows sometimes requires Bluetooth installation PAN manually through Device Manager.

💡

If the Bluetooth modem doesn't work, try turning off and re-enable Flight Mode on your phone, which will reset your network settings and often solve the problem.

4. Typical errors and their solutions

Even if you set up the connection correctly, it may not work, so let's look at the most common problems and how to fix them.

Mistake 1: The laptop doesn’t see Xiaomi’s Wi-Fi hotspot.

• 🔄 Restart your phone and router (if it’s nearby, it may interfere with interference).
• 📱 Check if Hide Network is enabled in the access point settings.
• 🛠️ Update the firmware MIUI Up to the latest version (old versions had Wi-Fi distribution bugs).

Mistake 2: USB-The modem is connected, but the internet is not working.

• 🌐 Make sure that your phone is enabled with mobile data transmission (sometimes it is turned off automatically).
• 🔧 Check the settings. APN: Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Access points (APN) Compare the parameters with your operator’s recommendations.
• 🖥️ On your laptop, disable the antivirus or firewall – they can block a new connection.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) after upgrading to MIUI 13 missing option USB-To return it, reset the network settings: Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Reset the network settings.

Error 3: The Bluetooth modem works, but the speed is extremely slow.

• 📱 Disable other Bluetooth devices (earphones, fitness bracelets) connected to your phone.
• 🔗 Reconnect your laptop to your phone in Internet connection mode, not audio.
• 📡 Move the devices closer together (maximum distance 10 meters without obstacles).

5. How to save traffic when giving out the Internet

Mobile internet is often limited, and overspending can lead to additional payments, and here’s how to reduce traffic consumption when connecting a laptop via Xiaomi:

On the phone:

• 📵 Turn off automatic updates in the Play Store → Settings → Auto-update.
• 🎵 Disable background music playback in Settings → Annexes → Music. → Battery → Background activity.
• 📊 Set a Traffic Limit: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Traffic limit.

On the laptop:

• 🌐 Use the Data Saving mode in the browser (for example, in Chrome or Edge).
• 📥 Turn off automatic attachment downloads in email clients (Outlook, Thunderbird).
• 🎮 Block background game updates through Steam Settings → Downloads. → Limiting capacity.

💡

The most economical way to distribute the Internet — USB-Modem: Not only is it faster, it also allows you to control traffic through system tools. Windows/macOS (For example, “Resource Monitor” or “Network Activity").

On Xiaomi models with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip (such as Xiaomi 13 Ultra), the option “Traffic Optimization” is available in the access point settings, which allows you to reduce data consumption by 15-20% by compressing transmitted packets.

6. Features for different versions of MIUI

The interface of the Internet distribution settings may vary depending on the version of the MIUI shell. Below are the key differences for popular versions:

MIUI 12:

• 📍 The path to modem settings: Settings → Access Point and modem.
• 🔄 Option. USB-The modem may be missing if the phone is connected in Charging Only mode.

MIUI 13/14:

• 🔒 Added protection against accidental access point activation (fingerprint confirmation required).
• 📊 There is a graph of traffic consumption in real time in the notification panel.
• 🔧 In Additional Access Point Settings, you can limit the speed for connected devices.

MIUI for POCO:

• 🎯 Optimized for gamers: when connecting through USB-modem automatically turns off background processes.
• 🔋 In High Performance mode, the Wi-Fi access point works without shutdowns for up to 2 hours (vs. 30 minutes in standard mode).

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi with MIUI 14 and Android 13 when you first connect via the USB-The modem may request permission to access data SIM-Without it, the Internet will not work.

7. Alternative methods (for advanced users)

If standard methods don't work, you can use alternative solutions, which require additional adjustments, but sometimes they're the only way out.

Method 1: Reverse Tethering (Reverse Tethering)

It allows you to distribute the Internet from laptop to phone, but with an Ethernet connection, you need:

• 🔌 Install ClockworkMod Tether app on Xiaomi (root rights required).
• 🖥️ On the laptop, enable Shared Internet access for Ethernet connection.

Method 2: ADB-commands for forced modem switching

If USB-The modem is not activated via the menu, try to turn it on through the menu. ADB:

adb shell


su




setprop sys.usb.config rndis,adb

After completing the command, reconnect the cable.

FAQ: Frequent questions