Connecting your computer to the Internet via a Xiaomi smartphone is a universal solution when there is no router or wired connection at hand, POCO and Mi) support the distribution of the Internet in three ways: via Wi-Fi, through USB-And you can use Bluetooth, and you can use it, and you can use it with your pros and cons of everything from data speed to battery consumption.
In this article, you will find not only step-by-step instructions for all methods, but also unique data on connection speeds on different Xiaomi models (tested on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO F5 and Mi 11 Lite), as well as solutions to 7 typical errors - from the lack of a network to problems with USB drivers. If you need to urgently configure the distribution or optimize it for games / streaming - here are the answers to all the questions.
1. Preparation of Xiaomi phone for the distribution of the Internet
Before setting up the Internet distribution, check two key parameters on your smartphone:
- 📶 Mobile Internet: Make sure that the phone is active data transfer (icon) 4G/5G or E/H+ in the status bar. If you use two SIM-maps, select the main one for the Internet in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Mobile data.
- 🔋 Battery charge: when distributed over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, the phone discharges 15-30% faster. The recommended minimum is 40% charge. USB-Modem connection to PC simultaneously charges the phone.
Also update your MIUI firmware to the latest version: older versions (below MIUI 12) may not have USB handout options or errors with Bluetooth. Check the version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
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Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 14+ have a feature called “Traffic Saving Mode” in the access point settings, turn it on if you distribute Internet from a limited rate, this will reduce data consumption by 20-30%.
2. Method 1: Distribution of the Internet over Wi-Fi (access point)
The most popular method is because of its simplicity and compatibility with all devices, and the speed of the connection depends on your Xiaomi Wi-Fi standard:
| Wi-Fi standard | Max, speed. | Xiaomi models with support |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) | up to 150 Mbps | Redmi 9A, POCO M3 |
| Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | up to 867 Mbps | Redmi Note 10 Pro, Mi 11 Lite |
| Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | up to 1.2 Gbps | Xiaomi 13 Pro, POCO F5 Pro |
To enable the access point:
- Open the Settings. → Access Point and modem.
- Select Wi-Fi Access Point (or Portable Access Point in older versions of MIUI).
- Set a network name (SSID) and password (minimum 8 characters).
- Click Save and activate the slider.
On your computer, connect to the network you have created as if you were using regular Wi-Fi. If your PC can't see the access point, check:
- 🔄 Restart your phone and computer.
- 📡 Make sure your PC has Wi-Fi adapter enabled (in the Control Panel) → Network connections).
- 🔒 Make sure that the password is entered without errors (registration is important!).
3. Method 2: Distribution through USB (USB-modem)
This method is suitable for desktop PCs without a Wi-Fi adapter or when you need to save phone power (connection to the phone). USB Xiaomi charges simultaneously. Speed is more stable than Wi-Fi, but depends on the version. USB:
- 🔌 USB 2.0: up to 480 Mbps (real) ~200-300 Mbps).
- 🔌 USB 3.0+: up to 5 Gbps (real) ~500-800 Mbps on Xiaomi 12T Pro and newer).
Instructions for setting:
☑️ Preparation USB-modem
- Connect your phone to your PC with the original cable (cheap cables may not transmit data).
- On the phone in the notification menu, select File Transfer mode (MTP) → USB-modem.
- If there is no option, go to Settings. → Access Point and modem → USB-modem and activate it.
Windows may require drivers to be installed. If the Internet is not available:
⚠️ Attention: On Windows 10/11 Sometimes you need to manually update the driver for a Remote device NDIS Download the driver from the official Xiaomi website or use the Mi program PC Suite.
4. Method 3: Bluetooth Distribution
Less popular method due to low speed (up to the speed limit) 3 Mbps), but useful if you need to save the phone and PC does not have Wi-Fi/USB. Suitable for sending text information or messengers.
Step-by-step:
- Turn on Bluetooth on your phone (Settings → Connections & Sharing → Bluetooth) and on your PC.
- Pair devices: On a PC, select your phone from the list of available devices and confirm the code on both screens.
- On your phone, go to Settings → Access Point and Modem → Bluetooth modem and activate the option.
- On PC in Settings → Devices → Bluetooth, click Connect via → Access Point.
If the connection is interrupted:
- 📱 Make sure your phone has power saving mode turned off for Bluetooth (Settings) → Battery → Energy saving regime → Annexes).
- 🖥️ On PC, update the Bluetooth adapter driver (via Device Manager).
Why is a Bluetooth modem slower than Wi-Fi?
5. Comparison of methods: which to choose?
The choice of method depends on your tasks, and below is a comparison table by key parameters:
| Parameter | Wi-Fi | USB | Bluetooth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (up to 1.2 Gbps) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (up to 800 Mbps) | ⭐ (up to 3 Mbps) |
| Battery consumption | High (15-30%/hour) | Low (charges) | Average (5-10%/hour) |
| Compatibility | All devices. | Requires a driver (Windows) | All devices. |
| Latency | Low (50-100 ms) | Very low (20–50 ms) | High (200-500 ms) |
| Better for you. | Streaming, games, downloads | Stable job, low ping. | Messengers, mail. |
For games (e.g, CS:GO or Valorant) optimal USB-Modem -- it gives you a minimum ping. 4K or downloading large files is suitable Wi-Fi (provided that Wi-Fi support) 5/6). Bluetooth should only be used in extreme cases.
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On Xiaomi models with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra) speed USB-The modem reaches 900-1000 Mbps, which is faster than most home routers!
Typical errors and their solutions
Even with the right setup, there can be problems. Here are the 7 most common mistakes on Xiaomi and how to fix them:
🔴 "Impossible to enable access point"
Reasons:
- 📵 No mobile internet (check balance or coverage area).
- 🔒 Operator restriction (some tariffs block distribution).
- 📱 Failure MIUI (helps reboot or reset network settings in Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting Wi-Fi, Mobile Network and Bluetooth).
🔴 "Connected but without internet access" (Wi-Fi/USB)
Decisions:
- 🔄 Switch the network type on the phone with 4G on 3G back and forth.
- 📋 Check the settings. APN: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Access points (APN). The parameters must correspond to your operator (for example, for MTS: name Internet.mts.ru).
- 🖥️ On PC, disable antivirus/firewall (they can block the connection).
🔴 "USB-The modem does not work on Windows"
Action:
- Install the Mi PC Suite driver from the official website.
- In Device Manager, find Remote NDIS → Update the driver → Search on this computer → specify the path to the folder with Mi PC Suite drivers.
- Try another one. USB-port (preferably) USB 3.0 blue).
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After the update MIUI missing option USB-modem, reset network settings or roll back to the previous firmware version via the Mi Flash Tool (instructions on the forum) 4PDA).
7. Optimization of Internet distribution
To improve connection speed and stability, use these tips:
- 📶 For Wi-Fi: change the access point channel manually. → Wi-Fi hotspot → Select Channel 6 or 11 (they are less loaded).
- 🔌 For USB: turn off the others USB-devices (flash drives, mice) – they can cause interference.
- 🔋 To save battery: activate Traffic Saving mode in the access point settings and reduce the screen brightness to 30%.
- 🛡️ For security: Change the access point password once a month and turn off the distribution when it is not needed (to protect against connecting unauthorized devices).
If you distribute the Internet for online gaming, close the background apps on your phone (especially messengers and social networks) - they consume traffic and increase ping.
- 🎮 Use it. USB-modem instead of Wi-Fi.
- 📵 Enable Plane Mode on your phone, leaving only mobile data (this will disable background updates).