How to give Wi-Fi from a Xiaomi phone: full instructions for all models

Handing out the Internet from a Xiaomi phone is one of the most popular features when there is no router at hand or you need to urgently connect a laptop, tablet or other gadget. The brand’s smartphones (including the Redmi line, POCO and flagship models) support this option out of the box, but not all users know how to set it up correctly to avoid connection problems or fast battery discharge.

In this article, we will explore not only the basic steps of activating an access point, but also nuances that are rarely mentioned in standard instructions, such as why some devices do not see the network being distributed, how to circumvent operator traffic restrictions, or why Internet speed through a distribution can drop by 2-3 times compared to a direct connection, and you will learn what MIUI settings affect the stability of the access point and how to optimize them.

The material is relevant for all modern Xiaomi models, including Redmi Note 12/13, POCO X5/F5, Xiaomi 13/14 and older devices on MIUI 12-14. If your smartphone runs on pure Android (for example, Xiaomi A3), the instruction will also fit – the differences are minimal.

1. Preparing the phone before handing out Wi-Fi

Before you turn on the hotspot, make sure your Xiaomi is ready for this task.Failure to follow simple rules can lead to overheating of the device, quick discharge or even locking the handset by the operator.

Here’s what you need to check in advance:

• 📶 Mobile Internet: Make sure that the phone has mobile data enabled (icon) 4G/5G Without an active connection, the distribution will not work.
• 🔋 Battery charge: If the charge level is below 20%, the smartphone can automatically disable the access point. recommended minimum is 40%.
• 📱 Updates: In older versions MIUI (Below 12) there may be Wi-Fi problems. Update the system in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 📡 Operator restrictions: Some tariffs block Internet distribution (especially unlimited ones.

Special attention should be paid to energy saving settings. By default, MIUI can limit background activity of access points to save charge. This leads to self-disabling of the distribution after 5-10 minutes without activity. To avoid the problem, disable optimization for the "Access Point" function in Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization.

⚠️ Note: If you are using Xiaomi with two SIM-By mapping, the Internet distribution will only work through the SIM selected for mobile data. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Mobile Internet.

2. Step-by-step instruction: how to turn on the access point

The algorithm for activating Wi-Fi on all Xiaomi smartphones is almost identical, but may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI. Below is a universal instruction taking into account the latest updates of 2026.

Follow these steps:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to Access Point and Modem (in some versions – Network and Internet → Access Point).
3. Select the Wi-Fi Access Point.
4. Activate the slider at the top of the screen, and if it's gray and inactive, check the mobile Internet (see section 1).
5. Set up network settings (name, password) at your discretion and click Save.

Once turned on, the access point will be active until you manually turn it off or until the battery runs out. To quickly manage the function, add a shortcut to the Quick Settings Panel:

• Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification curtain.
• Click on the pencil icon (or "Edit").
• Find the Access Point tile and drag it to the active area.

Now you can turn the hand on/off with a single touch without going into the settings, which is especially handy if you use the feature frequently.

3. Optimal access point settings on Xiaomi

By default, Xiaomi sets standard network settings that don’t always provide top speed or security. Let’s look at what settings to change for better performance.

Open Settings → Wi-Fi Access Point and pay attention to the following points:

One of the most important things is auto-disconnection, and by default, MIUI can shut down the access point in 5 to 10 minutes without any activity, to avoid this:

1. In the access point settings, click on the three dots in the upper right corner.
2. Select Additional (or Advanced Settings)
3. Find the Auto-Disconnection item and set the value Never.

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If you distribute the Internet to a laptop or PC, turn off Windows/macOS updates on the connected device, which will prevent the unexpected consumption of large amounts of traffic through your phone.

4.Why are devices not connected to the access point?

One of the most common problems is that other gadgets (laptops, tablets, TVs) can't see the network they're handing out or can't connect to it, and it could be on Xiaomi's side or on the client's side, and we'll go through the basic scenarios and solutions.

Scenario 1: The network does not appear in the list of available

• 🔄 Reset the Access Point: Disable and turn on the Xiaomi handout again.
• 📵 Check Network Visibility: In the access point settings, make sure that Visible Network (or Broadcast) is enabled. SSID).
• 📶 Change frequency range: If you use 5GHz, try switching to 2.4GHz (and vice versa).
• 🔋 Battery problems: If the charge is below 15%, some Xiaomi models automatically hide the access point.

Scenario 2: The device is connected, but the Internet is not working

• 🌐 Check the mobile internet: Make sure that Xiaomi has access to the network (open the browser and download any page).
• 🔒 Operator restrictions: Some rates require additional activation of the "Distribute Internet" option.
• 📱 Reset network settings: On the client device (laptop, tablet) execute the command (for Windows): netsh winsock reset
• 🔄 Change the type of security: If used WPA3, try WPA2.

⚠️ Note: If you connect to the access point device on iOS (iPhone/iPad) And it's constantly asking for a password, try the name of the network (SSID) Apple devices sometimes conflict with these names.

5 How to Save Battery Charges When Distributing Wi-Fi

Internet sharing is one of the most energy-consuming features of a smartphone, and according to tests, Xiaomi can lose up to 10-15% of its charge per hour with an active hotspot. To reduce its consumption, follow these tips:

Optimization of MIUI settings:

• 🌙 Activate the dark theme: On AMOLED-This reduces the power consumption by 5-10%.

Additional measures:

• 📴 Turn off Bluetooth and NFC: These modules also consume energy.
• 📱 Reduce the brightness of the screen to 30-40%.
• 🔕 Turn off notifications for the access point (in audio settings).

If you plan to distribute the Internet regularly, consider buying an external battery with a capacity of 10,000 mAh. This will extend the time of the phone in access point mode to 8-10 hours.

6. Alternative ways to distribute the Internet with Xiaomi

In addition to Wi-Fi, Xiaomi smartphones support two other ways to distribute the Internet: via Bluetooth and USB, which are less popular, but can be useful in specific situations.

Distribution via Bluetooth:

• ✅ Pros: Less battery consumption than Wi-Fi.
• ❌ Cons: Low speed (up to 3 Mbps), suitable only for instant messengers and mail.

To activate:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both devices.
2. On Xiaomi, go to Settings → Access Point and Modem → Bluetooth modem.
3. Connect the client device via Bluetooth and activate the distribution.

Distribution via USB (USB-terminal):

• ✅ Pros: Stable connection, high speed, phone charges while working.
• ❌ Cons: Requires cable, works only with computers (Windows/macOS/Linux).

To activate:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC via USB-cable.
2. On the phone, select Data Transfer Mode (or USB-modem).
3. A new device will appear on your computer in network connections – use it to access the Internet.

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USB-terminal is the best choice for long-term distribution of Internet to a laptop, since the phone is simultaneously charged and does not overheat.

Please note that in the case of USB-handouts on some Xiaomi models may require additional drivers to be installed on your PC. If Windows does not recognize the device, download Mi PC Suite from the official Xiaomi website.

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even when set up correctly, Xiaomi users sometimes encounter errors when handing out Wi-Fi. Below is a list of the most common problems and ways to fix them.

If none of the solutions worked, try resetting your network settings to Xiaomi:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
2. Select Network Settings Reset (or Wi-Fi, Mobile Network, and Bluetooth Reset).
3. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

⚠️ Attention: Resetting the network settings will remove all saved Wi-Fi passwords and associated Bluetooth devices.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions