How to distribute the Internet from Xiaomi phone to TV: all working ways (2026)

Connecting your TV to the Internet via your Xiaomi smartphone is a challenge that users face when they don’t have a router or cable connection at hand, and it’s relevant for vacations, travel, hotel stays, or even when setting up a new Smart TV when Wi-Fi isn’t set up. In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can distribute Internet from Redmi, POCO or Mi phones to TVs of any brand, from Samsung and LG to Xiaomi TV and Sony Bravia.

It is important to understand that methods differ not only in connection type (Wi-Fi, USB, Bluetooth), but also in data transfer speed, signal stability and compatibility with TV models. For example, Xiaomi Mi TV 4S/5X TVs support connection to the access point without additional settings, and for older Samsung models, a USB- adapter may be required. We tested each method on real devices and indicated nuances that are not written in standard instructions.

If you need to launch YouTube, Netflix or update your TV firmware, choose the method from the table below. If you want to get a handle on the details (such as why the TV can’t see the network or how to speed up the connection), read the full article.

1. Internet distribution via Wi-Fi hotspot (the most universal way)

Mobile Hotspot is the simplest and most common method that works on 99% of Wi-Fi TVs, suitable for all Xiaomi models (including Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11) and does not require additional equipment.

• 📶 Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) – up to 867 Mbps (suitable for Full HD and 4K streams)
• 📶 Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) – up to 2.4 Gbps (optimum for 8K resolution TVs)
• ⚠️ Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) – up to 150 Mbps (can brake when viewing 4K)

To enable the access point to Xiaomi:

1. Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Access Point.
2. Activate the mobile access point slider.
3. Press Access Point Setting and set: 🔐 Network Name (SSID) in Latin, no spaces (e.g., Xiaomi_Hotspot) 🔒 Password at least 8 characters, with numbers and letters 📡 Range — select 5 GHz for maximum speed (if the TV supports)

Networks → Wi-Fi

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If the TV doesn't see the access point:

• 🔄 Restart your phone and TV.
• 📱 Check if the power saving mode on Xiaomi is blocking the distribution of the Internet (disable in Settings → Battery).
• 📺 Update your TV firmware — older versions of the software may not support modern Wi-Fi standards.

⚠️ Warning: On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi 9A), the access point automatically shuts down after 5 minutes without active connections. To avoid this, turn on the option Always enabled in the hotspot settings.

2 Connection via USB (USB-modem) – for TVs without Wi-Fi

If your TV is not equipped with a Wi-Fi module (for example, the old models of the Samsung Series 5 or LG 32LN540B), you can use a USB- modem.

• 📱 Xiaomi smartphone with USB-ethernet support (most models after 2018).
• 🔌 OTG- Cable (or USB-C → USB-A adapter for new phones).
• 🖥️ Television with USB- port (preferably version 2.0 or 3.0).

Instructions for setting:

1. Connect your phone to the TV through OTG-cable.
2. On your phone, go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → USB-modem.
3. Activate the USB- modem (can be called USB-tetering).
4. On the TV, select the USB signal source or Network (USB).

The USB- modem is usually slower than Wi-Fi (up to 100 Mbps), but more stable. The main drawback is that the phone will discharge faster, since it simultaneously acts as a modem and charges the TV (if the USB port supports power).

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3. Bluetooth Internet Distribution (slowly but economically)

Bluetooth tetering is the most energy efficient method, but also the slowest (speeds up to 3 Mbps).

• 📺 View YouTube at resolution 480p.
• 🔄 Updates to weather or widgets on the TV.
• 📱 Battery savings (30 percent lower than Wi-Fi).

How to set up:

1. On the phone: Settings → Devices → Bluetooth → turn on visibility.
2. On TV: Settings → Network → Bluetooth tetering (or Connect the device).
3. Connect the devices by confirming the code on both screens.
4. On your phone, go back to Settings → Connections & Sharing → Bluetooth tetering and activate the option.

⚠️ Warning: On Samsung TVs older than 2019, Bluetooth tethering may not work due to firmware limitations. In this case, use Wi-Fi Direct (described below).

If the connection is interrupted:

• 🔳 Reduce the distance between devices (maximum 5 meters).
• 🔋 Turn off Bluetooth power saving mode on your phone (Settings → Battery → Power saving mode → Bluetooth).
• 🔄 Reboot the Bluetooth module on your TV (turn off/on in settings).

4.Wi-Fi Direct: An alternative to an access point for older TVs

Wi-Fi Direct is a technology that allows devices to connect to each other without a router. Unlike a standard access point, here the TV initializes the connection itself, which is useful for models with outdated software (for example, the Samsung Series 6 of 2015).

How to set up:

1. On TV: Settings → Network → Wi-Fi Direct → turn on device search.
2. On Xiaomi phone: Settings → Connections and Sharing → Wi-Fi Direct.
3. Select the TV from the list and confirm the pairing.
4. After connecting, activate Shared Internet access in the Wi-Fi Direct settings.

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ Quick connection (no need to enter a password).
• 🛡️ More secure compound (used WPA2-PSK).
• 🔄 Automatic reconnection at break.

Disadvantages:

• 📉 Speed is limited to ~50 Mbps (enough for Full HD but not for 4K).
• 🔧 Not all Xiaomi models support Wi-Fi Direct (e.g., Redmi 7A can’t).

5. Problem Solving: TV does not connect to the Internet from your phone

If none of these methods worked, check the following points:

If the problem is not resolved:

• 🔧 Reset network settings on your TV: Settings → Support → Reset → Reset network settings.
• 📱 Update the firmware on Xiaomi phone (relevant for models older than 2020).
• 🔄 Try another way of distributing (e.g., use USB instead of Wi-Fi).

💡

If the operator blocks the distribution of the Internet, try to change the APN in the settings of the mobile network. For example, for MTS, use APN Internet.mts.ru instead of the standard one.

6. Connection Optimization: How to Speed Up the Internet on TV

Even if the connection is installed, the speed may not be enough to make it comfortable to view.

• 📶 Change Wi-Fi range: 🔹 2.4 GHz — better through walls, but slower. 🔹 5 GHz — faster, but worse works at a distance.
• 🔋 Disable background apps on your phone that consume traffic (e.g., automatic app updates).
• 📡 Use an external antenna (if the phone supports, for example, POCO F4 GT).
• 🔄 Activate Game Turbo mode on Xiaomi (Settings → Special Features → Game Turbo) to prioritize traffic for the handset.

To check the actual speed:

1. On the TV, open your browser and go to speedtest.net.
2. Compare results with speed on your phone (measure via Speedtest by Ookla).
3. If the speed on the TV is lower by 50% or more, the problem is in the distribution settings.

💡

For stable 4K- streaming (25 Mbps), select 5 GHz and turn off all background tasks on your phone. If the speed is below 10 Mbps, use the USB- modem or connect the TV to the router directly.

7. Alternative methods: if nothing helps

If the standard methods don’t work, try:

• 🔗 USB- Wi-Fi adapter: Connect an external Wi-Fi module (e.g., TP-Link TL-WN725N) to your TV via the USB- port. Costs from 500 ₽.
• 📡 Repeater (Wi-Fi repeater): Set up a phone signal repeater via a device like the Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Repeater 2.
• 🖥️ HDMI- Ethernet adapter: For TVs with a RJ-45 port, use the USB-C → Ethernet adapter (e.g., Baseus USB-C to RJ45).

If you need to distribute the Internet from Xiaomi to the TV regularly (for example, in the country), consider buying a portable 4G- router (for example, Xiaomi Mi Router 4G).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)