How to distribute mobile Internet from Xiaomi phone: 3 ways + solving errors

Xiaomi smartphones today are not just call and messenger devices, but also full-fledged mobile routers. The ability to distribute Internet from your phone will come in handy when you travel, in the country, or when your home Wi-Fi suddenly goes off. However, many users face problems: the access point does not turn on, devices do not connect, or the speed is unacceptably low. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to distribute Internet on Mi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, including hidden settings and solutions to typical errors.

It's important to understand that the process can vary depending on the version of MIUI (the shell of Xiaomi) and the model of the phone. For example, on the Redmi Note 12 with MIUI 14, the path to settings will be slightly different than on the Mi 11 Ultra with MIUI 12.5. We took these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions that will suit most of the brand's devices, and you will learn how to save battery power during long Internet distribution and why some operators block this feature.

1. Preparation of the telephone for the distribution of the Internet

Before you turn on the hotspot, make sure your Xiaomi smartphone is ready for the task.Here are key points users often miss:

• 📶 Check the mobile network: Make sure there is a stable signal on the phone 4G/5G. If the indicator shows H+ or 3G, The speed of the distribution will be extremely low. Switch to a faster network in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Preferred type of network.
• 🔋 Battery charge: Internet distribution consumes energy. If the charge is below 30%, connect the phone to the charger - some models automatically turn off the access point when the battery level is low.
• 📱 Update: In older versions MIUI There may be bugs with the Wi-Fi module. Check the updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🔒 Operator rights: Some mobile operators (e.g. Tele2 or Yota) block the distribution of Internet on tariffs without this option.

On Xiaomi smartphones with Qualcomm processors (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro), the access point works more stable than on devices with MediaTek chips (for example, POCO M4 Pro), the latter can warm up and automatically slow down with prolonged handoff.

⚠️ Note: If you use two of these SIM-maps, the access point will only distribute the Internet from the one chosen for the data transfer by default. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Mobile Internet.

2. Method 1: Distribution of the Internet via Wi-Fi (modem mode)

It's the most popular and versatile method, and it allows you to connect multiple devices to the Internet at once, like a laptop, a tablet, or another smartphone, and the speed of data transfer is the highest of all the ways.

Instructions for MIUI 12/13/14:

1. Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
2. Go to Connection and Sharing (on some models, the Internet and the Network).
3. Select Modem Modem (or Access Point).
4. Activate the Wi-Fi Access Point switch.
5. Click Access Point Settings to Ask: 🔐 Name of the network (SSID) — Think of a unique name (for example, Mi_Hotspot_YourName). 🔑 Password minimum 8 symbols, preferably with numbers and letters. 📡 Range - select. 5 GHz for a higher speed (but shorter range) or 2.4 GHz for better compatibility with older devices.

Once you save the settings, other devices can connect to the network you've created, and the access point name and password can be found on the settings screen or in the top notification curtain.

⚠️ Warning: If the Internet is not working after you connect your device, check if it is running a traffic saving mode. On Android, this can block background data transmission. Turn it off in the network settings of the connected gadget.

3. Method 2: Distribution of the Internet via Bluetooth

This method is less popular, but has its advantages:

• 🔋 Saves battery power compared to Wi-Fi.
• 🛡️ More secure connection – password is not transmitted by air.
• 📱 It works even if the Wi-Fi module is broken.

Disadvantages: low speed (usually up to 3 Mbps) and the ability to connect only one device, suitable for transferring small amounts of data, for example, for instant messengers or mail.

How to set up:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both devices.
2. On Xiaomi, go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Modem Modem.
3. Activate the Bluetooth modem.
4. On a second device (like a laptop) in Bluetooth settings, select your Xiaomi and connect as a network.

On Windows, you may need to manually specify that the connection is being used to access the Internet.

1. Open Settings → Network and Internet → Ethernet (yes, even for Bluetooth).
2. Find a Bluetooth connection and click Properties.
3. Enable the option to Allow other devices on the network to connect via the Internet connection of this computer.

Method 3: Distributing the Internet through USB (USB-modem)

This is the most stable way, because it is independent of interference and distance, suitable for connecting laptops or PCs when the Wi-Fi adapter is broken or missing, speed comparable to Wi-Fi, and the battery of the phone is almost not consumed (since it is recharging via USB).

Instructions:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your computer via USB-cable (preferably original).
2. On the phone in the notification curtain, select File Transfer Mode (MTP), And then switch to USB-modem (may be called modem) USB-web-based).
3. On PC, wait for the driver installation (usually happens automatically).
4. If the internet doesn’t work, check the network connections on your computer – a new connection called Remote NDIS or the like should appear.

On macOS, additional configuration may be required:

sudo networksetup -setdhcp "USB 10/100/1000 LAN"

This command will enable automatic receipt IP-address DHCP for USB-connection.

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If USB-When the computer does not see the Internet, try to disable debugging mode USB It's in the developer settings. Sometimes these functions conflict.

5. Solving common problems

Even with the right setup, Xiaomi users often encounter errors, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

🔴 Access point is turned on, but devices are not connected

• 🔄 Reboot the phone – it resets the network settings of the Wi-Fi module.
• 📵 Turn off battery savings for the Settings app (in Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Settings → Battery).
• 🔧 Reset network settings: Settings → Connection and sharing → Resetting Wi-Fi, Mobile Network and Bluetooth.

🟡 The connection is there, but the internet is not working.

• 🌐 Check it out. APN: Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Access points (APN) And make sure that you have the right parameters for your operator, APN It should be internet.mts.ru.
• 🔒 Turn it off. VPN on a connected device – it can block traffic.
• 📴 Check the balance – some operators block the internet when the balance is negative, even if the handout is turned on.

🟠 The access point is permanently off.

• ⚡ Connect charging – on some Xiaomi models (for example, POCO X3) The access point is turned off when the level is below 20%.
• 🔥 Check overheating: if the phone is hot, the system can pause the distribution. 10-15 minute.
• 📱 Update. MIUI — In the old versions there was an error with automatic modem disabling.

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If none of these methods worked, try using a third-party app to distribute the Internet, such as PdaNet+ or ClockworkMod Tether, which bypass carrier restrictions and system bugs, but require superuser rights (root).

6. Optimizing Internet Distribution: How to Increase Speed and Stability

If the Internet through the hotspot is slow or unstable, try these tips:

• 📶 Change Wi-Fi range: In the hotspot settings, try switching from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz or vice versa. The first passes through walls better, the second faster, but at a smaller distance.
• 🔄 Change Wi-Fi channel: In manual access point settings, select a channel with a lower load (for example, 6 or 11 for 2.4 GHz.
• 🔋 Disable background apps: Close all programs that consume the Internet (torrents, cloud syncs, updates). On Xiaomi, this can be done through Settings. → Annexes → Launched.
• 📴 Use the speed limit: In the access point settings (Access point settings) → Speed limit) set a limit, for example, 10 Mbps per device, this will prevent the "capture" of the bandwidth by one gadget.

For models that support Wi-Fi 6 (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi K60), enable this mode in the access point settings. It provides a more stable connection in jamming conditions, but requires compatible devices on the receiving side.

⚠️ Note: If you are giving out the internet through USB On Windows, disable automatic network settings in connection properties. This will eliminate data latency.

7. Hidden functions and chips MIUI for distribution of the Internet

There are several hidden features in the MIUI shell that make it easier to use the access point:

• 🔄 Quick turn on through the curtain: Add the Access Point tile to the Quick Settings Panel. To do this, lower the notification curtain, press Edit (pencil icon) and drag the desired item to the active area.
• ⏱️ Automatic Shutdown: In the access point settings, you can set an automatic shutdown timer in 5, 10, 30 minutes, or 1 hour.
• 📱 Passwordless Distribution (not secure!): In the AP settings, you can turn off protection, but this will make your network vulnerable to connecting third-party devices.
• 🔗 Connection to the access point via QR-code: Click on the icon QR In the access point settings, you can generate the code, and other devices can connect by scanning it.

On models with MIUI 14, the Smart AP feature has been introduced. It automatically turns on the Internet distribution when a known device (like your laptop) connects to the phone and turns it off when the device turns off. Activates in Settings → Connection and Sharing → Modem Mode → Smart Access Point.

8. Alternative ways of distributing the Internet

If standard methods don’t work, consider these options:

🔹 Internet distribution applications

Some programs bypass operator limitations and system bugs:

• PdaNet+ – works without root, but requires installing drivers on a PC.

🔹 Router mode (only for some models)

Some Xiaomi smartphones (such as the Mi 10 Ultra or Black Shark 4) support router mode, where the phone connects to a single Wi-Fi network and distributes it as its own. This is useful if you have limited mobile traffic but have access to another Wi-Fi. The feature is hidden in the engineering menu and requires activation through code:

##4636##

After entering, go to Wi-Fi information → Router mode.

🔹 Use of an external Wi-Fi adapter

If the built-in Wi-Fi module on your Xiaomi is broken, but USB-Port is working, you can connect an external Wi-Fi adapter through OTG-That's what cable is for:

1. Buy an adapter with RNDIS support (e.g. TP-Link TL-WN725N).
2. Connect it to the phone via OTG.
3. Turn on the access point – the phone will distribute the Internet through an external adapter.

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When using third-party Internet distribution applications, disable the standard MIUI hotspot to avoid conflicts.

FAQ: Frequent questions about giving away the Internet with Xiaomi