Connecting a laptop to a Xiaomi phone via an access point: the full guide 2026

Connecting your laptop to the Internet via a Xiaomi smartphone is a universal solution for situations where there is no Wi-Fi router or wired connection at hand. The access point on the phone turns it into a mini router that distributes mobile traffic to other devices. However, many users face problems ranging from the inability to find a network to slow data transfer speeds.

In this article, we will not only examine the basic settings of the access point on Xiaomi (including the Redmi models, POCO and flagship series), but also nuances that the manufacturer often does not see the network with a Cyrillic name, how to circumvent the operator’s restrictions on traffic distribution, and why MIUI 14+ firmware has a hidden mode of energy saving that automatically turns off the access point after 10 minutes without activity.

The material is relevant for all modern versions of MIUI (12 to 16) and devices based on Android 10-14. If your Xiaomi released before 2019, check the compatibility section - there we will specify features for older models.

1. Preparation of Xiaomi phone for the distribution of the Internet

Before you turn on the hotspot, make sure your phone is ready for the task. Here are key points that are often overlooked:

• 📶 Check the network signal: if the phone has a weak reception rate (1-2 division), the Internet speed on the laptop will be 3-5 times lower.
• 🔋 Battery charge: Internet distribution consumes up to 20-30% of the charge per hour%, MIUI It can automatically disable the access point.
• 📱 Update the firmware: in older versions MIUI (before 12.5) there was an error that caused the access point to shut down when the screen was locked. → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 💳 Tariff plan: many operators (e.g. MTS, Beeline) block the distribution of traffic at cheap rates.

Pay special attention to the power saving settings, MIUI 14+ has a hidden setting that limits the access point in the background to turn it off:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Mode.
2. Choose High Performance (not Balanced!).
3. Enable background activity for the Settings app (this manages the access point).

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After the update MIUI Access point stopped working, reset network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Reset the network settings. This will delete the stored Wi-Fi and APN, But it will return the factory parameters of the distribution of the Internet.

2. Step-by-step setting up the access point on Xiaomi

Now, let's get straight to the settings. The instructions are suitable for all Xiaomi models, but there are nuances for dual-SIM devices, which we will consider separately.

Open Settings → Access Point and modem (on some firmwares, the path may differ: Settings → Connections → Access Point).

1. Name of the network (SSID): The default phone model is used (e.g. Redmi Note). 12 Better to change to Latin without spaces (e.g, Xiaomi_Hotspot), Some laptops will not see the network.
2. Protect: Choose WPA2-PSK (not WPA3!) as not all laptops support the new standard.
3. Password: minimum 8 characters, with numbers and letters, avoid simple combinations like 12345678, which are easy to crack.
4. Frequency Range: If your laptop supports 5GHz, choose it — the speed will be higher than 2.4GHz. But remember that 5GHz worse passes through walls.

After setting up, click Save and turn on the Access Point slider. Now the network should appear in the list of available connections on the laptop.

Make sure your phone is on mobile internet | Check that the access point is active (the icon in the status bar) | Turn off the VPN on your phone and laptop | Try connecting another device (for example, a tablet) for the test-->

3. Connecting a laptop to a Xiaomi access point

On the laptop side, the connection process depends on the operating system. Consider the options for Windows 10/11 and macOS.

For Windows:

1. Click on the Wi-Fi icon in the lower right corner of the taskbar.
2. In the list, find the name of your access point (for example, Xiaomi_Hotspot).
3. Enter the password and tick the box Connect automatically.
4. If the network does not appear, update the Wi-Fi adapter drivers through Device Manager.

For macOS:

1. Click on the Wi-Fi icon in the top panel.
2. Select your network and enter your password.
3. If the connection fails, go to System Settings → Network → Wi-Fi → Additionally, remove the network from the list, then connect again.

Once you've successfully connected, you'll see a notification on your phone that shows you the number of connected devices, and if the indicator shows you 0 connections, but the laptop is supposedly connected, check the firewall settings on your PC, or try rebooting both devices.

4. Common Problems and Their Solutions

Even with the right setup, there can be failures, and we've collected common errors and ways to fix them.

If nothing helps, try resetting your phone’s network settings:

Settings → System → Additional → Resetting → Resetting Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth

5. Optimization of connection speed and stability

To maximize data transfer speeds and avoid connection breaks, follow these tips:

• 📡 Position of the phone: place it closer to the laptop, avoid obstacles (walls, metal surfaces). For a better signal, place the phone on a flat surface with the screen down.
• 🔄 Range change: If speed is 2.4GHz low, try 5GHz (and vice versa). → Frequency range.
• 🔌 Power phone: connect the phone to charge. MIUI Limits the performance of the Wi-Fi module.
• 🚫 Background apps: Close all programs that use the Internet (e.g. YouTube, Torrents) and they can "snatch" traffic from your laptop.

For advanced users: if your Xiaomi supports Wi-Fi 6 (Xiaomi 12/13 series models, Redmi K50), turn on this mode in the access point settings. This will increase the speed to 1.2 Gbps, but the laptop should also support Wi-Fi 6 (check in specs).

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The speed of the access point is affected not only by the network signal, but also by the load of the operator's base station. During peak hours (18:00-23:00), the speed can drop by 30-50%.

6.Security: How to Protect Your Access Point

An open hotspot on a phone is an easy target for hackers, who can not only steal your traffic, but also intercept data from a laptop.

• 🔒 Complicated Password: Use a combination of 12+ symbols with capital letters, numbers and characters (for example, Xia0mi_H0t$p0t!).
• 👥 Device Limitation: in the Access Point Settings (Settings) → Access point → Connected devices can be blocked unknown devices.
• 🔄 Change your password every 1-2 months, especially if you connect in public places.
• 🛡️ VPN On a laptop: if you transmit sensitive data, use it VPN (For example, NordVPN or Surfshark).

Note that MIUI 15+ has a Hidden Network feature, so if you turn it on, your access point won't show up in the public Wi-Fi list, but you'll have to type the network name manually on your laptop to connect, which adds security, but complicates the process.

7. Alternative ways to connect a laptop to Xiaomi

If your Wi-Fi handout is not working or you need a more stable connection, consider these options:

• 🔌 USB-modem: connect your phone to your laptop with a cable, then select the access point settings USB-The modem will be faster, and the phone won't go down as fast.
• 📶 Bluetooth modem: slower than Wi-Fi (up to 3 Mbps), but saves charge. → Connections → Bluetooth modem.
• 🌐 Reverse Teter: if the laptop has Internet, and the phone needs access – you can distribute Wi-Fi from the PC to Xiaomi (via Mobile hotspot in Windows).

For USB-The modem may need to install Mi drivers PC If the laptop does not recognize the phone, try another cable or port. USB.

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When connecting through USB-Turn off the modem on the phone Debugging by USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (7 times click on the version, then Developer Settings → Debugging by USB). This will prevent conflicts with drivers.

8 Compatible with different Xiaomi models

Not all Xiaomi phones are equally good at delivering internet, here’s what you need to know about the different series:

For devices older than 2019 (e.g. Redmi 7, Mi 9) you may need to manually adjust APN. If the Internet through the access point does not work, check the parameters. APN with your operator and enter them manually in the settings → SIM-map → Access point (APN).

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On phones with Qualcomm Snapdragon (most Xiaomi), the access point is more stable than on devices with MediaTek (for example, Redmi 10C).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's hotspot

If your question isn’t covered in the FAQ, check Xiaomi’s official documentation for your model or contact the operator for support – sometimes the traffic issues are due to tariff or regional restrictions.