How to connect your TV to the Internet via Xiaomi phone: 3 working ways

Connecting your TV to the Internet via a Xiaomi smartphone is a universal solution when you don’t have a router or cable connection at hand. This method works for all modern Smart TVs (from Samsung, LG, Sony, Xiaomi Mi TV and other brands) and allows you to stream videos from YouTube, Netflix or Kinopoisk without additional equipment. But how to properly configure the Internet distribution to avoid communication interruptions and slow speeds?

In this article, we’ve got 3 proven ways to connect your TV to Wi-Fi via your Xiaomi phone (including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11, and others), and unique MIUI settings that speed up data transfer by 30-40%. We’ll look at step-by-step photo instructions, typical errors (such as when the TV doesn’t see the network), and alternatives for older TVs without built-in Wi-Fi. If your TV supports Miracast or DLNA, you can not only distribute the Internet, but also duplicate the phone screen on the big screen – we’ll talk about this too.

1. Xiaomi phone preparation: what settings to check before handing out Wi-Fi

Before you turn on the hotspot, make sure your Xiaomi is ready for a stable Internet distribution, which depends on whether the TV will “see” the network and whether the connection will be interrupted.

Here are the key parameters that you need to set up in advance:

• 📶 Mobile Internet: The phone must have active data transfer (3G/4G/5G). Check the balance and tariff - some carriers block the distribution of the Internet without additional option.
• 🔋 Battery charge: Wi-Fi handouts put the battery down a lot. If the charge is below 40%, plug the phone into charging during setup.
• 🔒 Security: Turn off VPN (if you use it) — it may conflict with the Internet distribution. Also check if the mode is enabled to save traffic in the settings of the SIM- card.
• 📱 Version MIUI: Old firmware (below MIUI 12) may not have the option of 5GHz Access Point. Update system in Settings → About Phone → System Update.

Pay special attention to the network name (SSID) and password. By default, Xiaomi generates complex combinations like the Xiaomi_1234_5GHz, which are inconvenient to enter from the TV remote; it is better to set a simple password (for example, 12345678) or turn off protection altogether - but only if you are on a secure home network.

2. Method 1: Distributing Wi-Fi through an access point (the most reliable method)

This is the standard method that works on all wireless TVs, and the instructions are relevant for MIUI 12/13/14 and Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO phones of all generations.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings on your phone and go to Access Point and Modem (or Connections → Access Point on newer versions of MIUI).
2. Slip on the Mobile Access Point (or Portable Access Point).
3. Turn on the Wi-Fi hotspot slider. If you get a tariff warning, confirm the action.
4. Click Access Point Setting and set: 📝 Network Name (SSID): for example, MiTV_Hotspot (no spaces and Cyrillic!). 🔐 Protection: select WPA2-PSK (the safest option). 🔑 Password: minimum 8 characters (you can use 12345678 to make it easier to enter your TV).

Save the settings and go back to the main screen of the access point, and here you'll see the active network and the connected devices.

Now, on to the TV:

1. Turn on the TV and open the settings menu (usually the Settings button or the Settings on the remote).
2. Go to the section Network → Wireless network (Wi-Fi).
3. In the list of available networks, look for the one you created on your phone (e.g., MiTV_Hotspot).
4. Select it, enter the password and confirm the connection.

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your TV with a cable. You may see a USB- notification on your TV screen.
2. On the phone, open Settings → Access Point and modem → USB- modem.
3. Turn on the USB- modem slider. In 5-10 seconds, the phone will start distributing Internet over the cable.
4. On your TV, go to Settings → Network → Wired Network (Ethernet) and select USB- Connection.

Advantages of this method:

• ✅ More stable Wi-Fi — no breaks and delays.
• ✅ Suitable for TVs without built-in Wi-Fi.
• ✅ Less battery consumption of the phone.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Cables restrict mobility (the phone must be near the TV).
• ❌ Not all TVs support USB-tethering (check in the model instructions).

4. Method 3: Screen Duplication (Miracast) with Internet Distribution

If you want to not only connect your TV to the Internet, but also display your phone screen (for example, to stream movies or games), use Miracast technology, which allows you to wirelessly stream an image from Xiaomi to TV, while simultaneously distributing the Internet.

Conditions of work:

• 📱 Xiaomi phone with Miracast support (all models with MIUI 11 and newer).
• 📺 TV with Miracast or Wi-Fi Direct (check in network settings).
• 🔄 Both devices must be connected to the same network (or the phone is giving away Wi-Fi and the TV is connected to it).

How to set up:

1. Turn on the phone Wi-Fi hotspot (as in Method 1) and connect the TV to it.
2. On your phone, open Settings → Connections → Wireless display (or Screen → Wireless monitor in new versions of MIUI).
3. Tap Device Search – the phone will start looking for available screens.
4. In the list, select the name of your TV (such as Samsung UE55 or Mi TV 4A).
5. Confirm the connection on both devices. In 5-15 seconds, the phone screen will be displayed on TV.

Now you can:

• 🎬 Watch YouTube or Movie Search videos on the big screen.
• 🎮 Play mobile games with control over the phone.
• 📸 Show photos and presentations.

💡

When you use Miracast, the phone is handing out the Internet and broadcasting the screen simultaneously, which increases the load on the processor, so you can lag. For smooth operation, close all the background applications on the phone.

If the image is interrupted or slowed:

• 🔄 Switch the phone's hotspot to the 5GHz band (if the TV supports it).
• 📵 Reduce the broadcast resolution in Miracast settings (select 720p instead of 1080p).
• 🔋 Connect your phone to charge – when charged low, MIUI automatically reduces performance.

Table 5: Comparison of ways to connect your TV to Wi-Fi via Xiaomi

For most users, the first method (Wi-Fi access point) is optimal - it combines high speed and ease of setting. USB-tethering is suitable if the TV does not support wireless networks, and Miracast is suitable for those who want to duplicate the screen.

6.Typical errors and how to fix them

Even if you set it up properly, you can have problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions.

❌ TV doesn't see the network from Xiaomi phone

Reasons and methods of correction:

• 📵 Wi-Fi range: The phone gives away a 5GHz network, and the TV only supports 2.4GHz. Solution: in the hotspot settings, select 2.4GHz or Auto.
• 🔄 Channel conflict: If there are many networks nearby, try changing the channel manually (e.g., 1 or 11).
• 🔋 Energy savings: MIUI has Charge Saving mode enabled, which limits Wi-Fi distribution. Turn it off in Settings → Battery.

❌ Connection is available, but the internet is not working

What to do:

• 🌐 Operator problems: check if the mobile internet is working on your phone (open the website in your browser).
• 📱 Fee restrictions: Some operators (e.g. Tele2 or Iota) block the distribution of the Internet. Call support and activate the option.
• 🔒 Firewall: In your phone settings, turn off the Firewall MIUI (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Firewall).

❌ Low speed or breaks of connection

How to speed up the Internet:

• 📶 Signal: Close the phone to the TV (maximum 3-5 meters) Walls and furniture weaken the signal.
• 🔄 Dispense mode: In the access point settings, select Max.compatibility instead of Max.speed.
• 📵 Background apps: Close all programs on your phone except the hotspot (especially instant messengers and downloaders).

💡

If the speed is critically low (less than 2 Mbps), try connecting the phone to another SIM- card. For example, MTS or Beeline often give a more stable Internet for distribution than MegaFon.

⚠️ Warning: If you use Xiaomi with two SIM- cards, the Wi-Fi handout will only work through the SIM that is selected as Primary for data transfer. Check this in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Data transfer.

7. Alternatives: If nothing works

If none of these solutions worked, consider these solutions:

• 📡 USB-Wi-Fi adapter: For older TVs without built-in Wi-Fi, you can buy an external adapter (for example, TP-Link TL-WN725N for 500-800 rubles), it connects to the USB- TV port and adds support for wireless networks.
• 🔌 Powerline adapters: If you have a router in another room, use Powerline adapters (wiring Internet). For example, TP-Link AV600.
• 📱 Streaming apps: If you only need the internet for video, install LocalCast or BubbleUPnP on your phone and TV, which let you stream content without having to connect directly to Wi-Fi.

For owners of Xiaomi Mi TVs, there is another way – direct connection via Mi Home:

1. Install the Mi Home app on your phone.
2. Add the TV to the list of devices (it should be on the same network as the phone).
3. In the settings of the TV in Mi Home, select Shared Internet access.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)