Modern Smart TVs are impossible to imagine without stable access to the global network, but it often happens that the router is far or temporarily out of order. In such situations, Xiaomi smartphones with their advanced shell MIUI or HyperOS, allowing you to use the device as a powerful modem. Using the mobile Internet for the TV is not just a temporary solution, but a full-fledged way to ensure the operation of the multimedia center.
Unlike many other manufacturers, Xiaomi has implemented unique network connectivity management algorithms that can make it easier and harder to pair with a TV. A critical nuance is that standard Wi-Fi distribution and wireless broadcast technology (Mi Share/Cast) use different network protocols that sometimes conflict.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods, from the classic access point to the specialized features of the Mi Home ecosystem.You will learn how to properly configure security settings, which frequencies to choose for maximum speed and what to do if the TV stopped seeing the smartphone network after updating the firmware.
Technical features of the distribution of the Internet with Xiaomi on TV
Before you start setting up, you need to understand the physical nature of the connection. When you turn a phone into a router, it creates a local area network that the TV connects to like a normal home Wi-Fi. However, the Wi-Fi module in a smartphone has limitations on the number of simultaneous connections and bandwidth, which distinguishes it from a full-fledged router.
Xiaomi smartphones support two bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. For high-resolution (4K HDR) video content, it is preferable to use the 5 GHz band, as it provides higher speeds and is less susceptible to interference from neighboring networks and household appliances. However, older TV models may simply not see this frequency.
It is important to consider power consumption. Hotspot mode significantly loads the processor and radio module of the phone, causing rapid heating of the case and battery discharge. If you plan to watch a movie lasting more than two hours, it is recommended to keep the device connected to the charger or use a special mode "USB only" if the TV supports the network adapter through a USB port.
⚠️ Note: With prolonged modem operation, the smartphone can automatically turn off the Internet distribution to save energy".
Also worth mentioning are security protocols: Modern TVs require WPA2-PSK or WPA3 encryption. In the hotspot settings on Xiaomi, WPA2 is often the default, which ensures the best compatibility with older technology, whereas WPA3 may not be recognized by budget TV models.
Method 1: Classic Wi-Fi hotspot (Hotspot)
The most versatile way, which works on 99% of TVs with Smart TVs, is to create a regular hotspot, which requires no additional apps and works at the level of the Android operating system, which is the basis of MIUI.
First, you need to activate the function in the settings. Find Settings → Wi-Fi Access Point and modem → Wi-Fi Access Point. Here you need to specify the network name (SSID) and password. The network name is better done in Latin, since some TVs incorrectly display Cyrillic characters in the list of available networks.
☑️ Checking before connection
Once the hotspot is activated, take the remote from the TV and go to the network connection menu. Find the network you created in the list, enter the password and wait for the message about the successful connection. If the status is "Connected" but the Internet is not working, check if there is active mobile traffic on the phone.
- 📱 Make sure your phone is enabled with mobile data transfer, not just Wi-Fi.
- 🔒 Check the type of encryption: use it for maximum compatibility WPA2 Personal.
- 📶 If the TV doesn’t see the network, try manually changing the Wi-Fi channel in the hotspot settings to 1, 6, or 11.
- ⚡ To speed up the search, turn off the “Quick Start” function on the TV and turn it on completely.
Special attention should be paid to hidden networks. In the settings of the access point Xiaomi has the option "Hide the device." If it is activated, you will have to enter the network name manually on the TV through the function "Add network manually", which often leads to input errors.
Method 2: Screen and Wi-Fi Direct (Mi Cast)
Wi-Fi Direct technology allows you to create a direct connection between devices without the need for a router. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, this feature is often implemented through Mi Cast service or the built-in Translation function. Unlike an access point, here the Internet can be transmitted indirectly, but through data tunneling.
Mi TVs and Redmi TVs often pre-installed Mi Remote app or Mi Drop feature, which use this protocol. To connect, make sure both devices are in search mode. On a smartphone, swipe-curtain down the notifications and select Translation or Cast.
If your TV is not a Xiaomi brand, it can support the Miracast standard, in which case you need to run the "Wireless Display" app, "Screen Mirroring" or the like on your TV. Xiaomi's smartphone will find the device and offer a connection.
What is the difference between Hotspot and Wi-Fi Direct?
Importantly, Miracast only brings Internet to your TV when it's browsing from your phone, and some TV models, when connected via Wi-Fi Direct, can only see the phone's media files, but not have access to the web browser.
| Parameter | Access Point (Hotspot) | Wi-Fi Direct / Cast |
|---|---|---|
| Type of connection | A complete network | Direct connection |
| Access to TV applications | Full access | Partial / Depends on TV |
| Battery consumption | High-pitched | Medium. |
| Transmission speed | Up to 150 Mbps | Up to 80 Mbps |
For users who want to use the TV as a monitor for games or presentations, Wi-Fi Direct is preferred because of the lower latency. However, the classic hotspot is better for viewing online videos through embedded TV apps.
Configure network settings in MIUI and HyperOS
The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS have an aggressive traffic management system that can block the distribution of Internet to the TV if the system considers this action suspicious or too expensive.
Go to Security → Traffic → Wi-Fi Access Point. Make sure that the Access Point system application has a “No Limits” restriction, which will prevent communication from going out when the smartphone screen goes out.
It is also worth checking your mobile operator's APN settings, and sometimes the provider blocks the distribution of traffic to other devices (Tethering), and you can try to prescribe additional parameters in the APN bar, although this is rarely required at modern tariffs.
- 🛠 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI and press 10 times to enable advanced settings.
- 🌐 In the developer menu, find the item "Configuration" USB" Try to switch modes if you use the cable.
- 🚫 Turn off Adaptive Connection in Wi-Fi settings, as it may try to switch the phone to another network by cutting off communication with the TV.
⚠️ Note: In some regions and firmware versions, carriers may software limit the speed of the distribution. If the speed on the TV is low, check the terms of your plan.
If you use a dual-band router at home and switch between it and the access point often, the phone can stick at one frequency. In Xiaomi hotspot settings, force a range other than the home router to avoid channel conflicts.
Use of the USB-stable-connection modem
If the wireless connection is unstable or requires too much power, you can use a wired connection. TV Supports the connection of external network adapters through USB-Smartphone Xiaomi can act as such an adapter.
To do this, you will need a USB cable (usually USB-A to USB-C or Micro-USB, depending on the TV and phone ports). Connect the phone to the TV, then on the smartphone in the Access Point and Modem menu, activate the USB modem switch.
The TV should determine a new wired network connection. In the TV network settings, select "Wired Network" (Ethernet/USB), the advantage of this method is that the phone charges simultaneously from the TV (if the TV port is powerful) or from external charging, and ping on the network is minimal.
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Use a quality USB 3.0 cable with a screen to minimize interference. Cheap charging cables may not transmit data, providing only power.
It is worth noting that not all TVs are able to "lift" the network through the Internet. USB-This function depends on the drivers in the TV operating system, unless the network listing appears "Ethernet over". USB", This means your TV model doesn’t support this protocol.
Diagnostics and fixing connection problems
Even if you set it up properly, it can crash. The most common problem is "Connected, no Internet access." Which means that there's a physical connection, but routing the data packets is broken. Try resetting the network settings on your phone: Settings → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth.
If the TV sees the network but doesn't connect, there may be a connection limit (usually 1 or 10 devices) on the phone. Check the list of connected devices in the access point menu and remove unknown gadgets.
Problems with DNS You can also use the Xiaomi access point settings to prescribe static DNS-servers, such as those from Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1), often solve the problem when TV apps load long or give a network error.
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If nothing works, do a complete reset of network settings on your TV, not just your phone, and often you have old conflicting profiles in your TV memory.
If the phone has internet, the hotspot works, but the TV does not receive it. IP-Address, try to manually set static IP The address must be in the same subnet as the phone (for example, if the phone is 192.168.43.1, then the TV set is 192.168.43.50).