How to distribute Wi-Fi from a Xiaomi phone: full instruction + error solving

Sharing the Internet from Xiaomi via an access point is one of the most popular features when you don’t have a router at hand and you need to access the network on a laptop, tablet or other phone. The brand’s smartphones (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi lines) support this option out of the box, but many users face nuances from the lack of an icon in the menu to sudden connection breaks. In this article, we will analyze all the activation methods (including hidden MIUI settings), optimize battery speed and charge, and solve typical errors – from “failure to access point” to IPv6 problems.

Important: the instructions are relevant for MIUI 12-14 (including global and Chinese versions of firmware). If you have Xiaomi on Android One (for example, Mi A3), the process may be different - we will talk about this separately. Also note that mobile operators sometimes block the distribution of the Internet: how to check and circumvent this, read the section on errors.

1. Preparing the phone before handing out Wi-Fi

Before you turn on the hotspot, follow 4 mandatory steps to prevent 80% of the typical problems:

• 📶 Check the signal level. 1–2 network distribution, the speed of distribution will be in 3–5 - It's better than that: 3–4 split-up 4G/5G.
• 🔋 Battery charge, below 20% MIUI automatically disables the access point in 5-10 minutes. Connect the charge or activate the power saving mode (but this will reduce the speed).
• 📱 Update the firmware. MIUI (Below 12.5) there are bugs with the distribution of the Internet through USB and Bluetooth. Check the updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🔒 Turn it off. VPN. Virtual networks often conflict with the access point, especially if you use the WireGuard or OpenVPN protocol.

Advice for owners POCO F5, Redmi Note 12 New models: if you are connected to 5G, The access point will run faster, but it will land the battery harder. To balance speed and power consumption, go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Network type and select 4G/3G/2G (motor-car).

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If you're sharing the Internet with a Windows laptop, turn off the "Allow this device to turn off the network adapter to save power" feature, which will prevent connection breakdowns.

2. Ways to distribute Wi-Fi with Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

Xiaomi smartphones support 3 types of Internet distribution: Wi-Fi, USB and Bluetooth. Let's consider each option with nuances for different versions of MIUI.

Distribution over Wi-Fi (modem mode)

This is the most versatile method, but it drains the battery the most.

1. Open Settings → Access Point and modem (in MIUI 14, the path can be Settings → Connections → Access Point).
2. Slip on the Wi-Fi Access Point (or Portable Access Point in global firmware).
3. Turn on the slider in the top corner. If it's not there, click Set up the access point.
4. Ask: 🔑 Name of the network (SSID): Latin, without spaces (e.g, Xiaomi_Hotspot). 🔒 Password: minimum 8 symbols, with numbers and letters (for example, MiHotspot2026!). 📡 Range: Choose 2.4 GHz for compatibility with all devices or 5 GHz for higher speed (but shorter range).

Save the settings and activate the access point.

Name of the network (SSID) displayed on the Wi-Fi list|Password entered without errors|On the connected device, it's off. VPN|Flight mode is turned off on both devices-->

Important. MIUI 13+: If after turning on the access point it immediately turns off, go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Three points (⋮) → Show system, find the Access Point and allow it to Autostart and Work in the background.

Distribution via USB (USB-modem)

This method saves battery power, but requires cable and is not supported by all devices.

1. Connect your phone to your computer via USB-C (or Micro-USB for older models).
2. In the phone, select File Transfer (MTP) mode (a notification will appear after you connect).
3. Go to Settings. → Access Point and modem → USB-modem and turn on slider.
4. Check your network connections on your computer: a new device called Remote NDIS or Xiaomi USB Net should appear.

If Windows does not recognize the device, download the Mi PC Suite driver from the official Xiaomi website. MacOS may require additional configuration to System Settings → Network.

2.3. Bluetooth distribution

The most cost-effective, but also the slowest method (speeds up to 3 Mbps) is suitable for transferring small files or connecting to a smartwatch.

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both devices.
2. On Xiaomi phone, go to Settings → Access Point and modem → Bluetooth modem.
3. Connect the second device via Bluetooth (enter a confirmation code if required).
4. Activate the Bluetooth modem slider.

For advanced users: if you are giving out the Internet to a Linux device and are facing problems DHCP, manually set static IP-range 192.168.43.x (where x is a number from 2 to 254, for example:

sudo ifconfig wlan0 192.168.43.100 netmask 255.255.255.0


sudo route add default gw 192.168.43.1

4. Solving Errors in Wi-Fi Distribution

Let’s look at the 5 most common problems and how to fix them. If your error is not on the list, check the FAQ section at the end of the article.

⚠️ Note: If the access point is not working after all the manipulations, check if the operator has blocked this function. For example, Tele2 and Iota sometimes restrict the distribution of Internet at tariffs without the option "Modem". Check this with support by *111# (for MTS), *105# (for Beeline) or *555# (for MegaFon).

5. Hidden functions of the access point in MIUI

MIUI hides a few useful options that can be activated through the codes of the engineering menu or third-party applications.

• 🔧 Change the Wi-Fi channel. By default MIUI selects the channel automatically, but in apartment buildings this leads to interference. To manually specify the channel (for example, 6 or 11), type in the dialer: ##4636## Then go to Wi-Fi Information → Wi-Fi settings and select a channel.
• 📊 View traffic statistics. Find out how much data is being transmitted through the access point: Settings → Access Point and modem → Traffic statistics. You can set a limit here.
• 🔒 Hidden network. To prevent your access point from appearing on a public list, turn on Hide in your Wi-Fi settings. SSID (Not available on all models).
• 🔄 Automatic shutdown. Set a timer to turn off the access point through Settings → Access Point and modem → Shutdown timer (useful for saving charge).

For models Xiaomi 13/14 and Redmi Note 12 available function "Device Priority": in the settings of the access point, you can set which gadgets will connect first (for example, a laptop instead of a smart watch).

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If you give out the Internet often, add the Access Point widget to the home screen. To do this, click and hold the free space on the screen → Widgets → find the Access Point and drag it to a convenient place.

6. Battery savings when distributing Wi-Fi

Sharing the Internet through an access point increases battery consumption by 30 to 50 percent to extend the time you're running:

• 🔋 Use it. USB-Connecting to a cable uses 2-3 times less power than Wi-Fi.
• 🌙 Activate the dark theme. AMOLED-screens (for example, in Xiaomi) 12T or Redmi K50) This reduces consumption by 5-10%.
• 📴 Turn off unnecessary background processes. → Annexes → App management suspend programs that actively use the Internet (e.g. Facebook, TikTok).
• 🔄 Reduce the brightness of the screen to 30-40%, which has almost no effect on visibility, but saves up to 15% of charge.
• 🛡️ Turn on the "Only" mode 4G". B Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Network type, turn off 5G and 3G — This will reduce the load on the modem.

For owners. POCO F4, Xiaomi 11T and other models with Snapdragon 8xx: in the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times) activate the option to Disable HW-This will reduce the load on the processor and extend the time of work by 20-25 minutes.

⚠️ Note: If you are giving out the Internet on the street at temperatures below 0°C, the battery will run down faster due to the chemical features of lithium-ion batteries.To avoid a sudden shutdown, keep the phone in your inner pocket or use a power bank.

7. Alternative ways of distributing the Internet

If the standard access point doesn’t work or you need additional features, try these 3 methods:

• 📱 NetShare. It allows you to distribute Internet without root rights, bypassing carrier restrictions. Download to Google Play and follow the instructions in the app. Minus: speed is limited to 5 Mbps in the free version.

For Xiaomi models with a 3.5 mm connector (for example, Redmi 9A), you can use an audio cable with an Ethernet adapter for wired connection to the router. However, the speed will be limited to 100 Mbps, and the adapter itself costs from 1500 rubles.

8 Security for Wi-Fi distribution from the phone

An open access point is a risk of data leakage or unauthorized connection.

• 🔐 Use a complex password. Example of a strong password: MiX!a0m!2026Hotspot. Avoid simple combinations like 12345678.
• 🔄 Change your password once a month to prevent forgotten devices from connecting.
• 📡 Turn off the access point when it's not needed. Even if no one is connected to it, it remains vulnerable to attack.
• 🛡️ Set up a firewall.The NetGuard app blocks unwanted connections to your network.
• 📱 Check the connected devices. In the access point settings (Settings) → Access Point and modem → Connected devices, you can see a list of gadgets. MAC-Addresses - a reason to change password.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use an access point to transfer sensitive data (such as logging in to an Internet bank) on unfamiliar devices. MITM-Man-in-the-Middle: For this purpose, it is better to use the mobile Internet directly.

FAQ: Frequent questions about giving away Wi-Fi with Xiaomi