How to Create and Set Up an Access Point on a Xiaomi Phone

Modern smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO have long become universal tools for Internet access, allowing you to distribute mobile traffic to other devices. In situations where there is no fixed router or urgent connection of the laptop to the network, the function of the Wi-Fi hotspot becomes indispensable. The process of activating this option in the shell of MIUI or HyperOS is as simplified as possible by developers, but hides a number of useful settings for speed optimization.

In this article, we will take a look at all the steps in creating a personal network, from basic turn-on to fine-tuning security, how to change the standard device name, set a strong password, and choose the optimal frequency range for stable operation.

Using a smartphone as a modem can have a significant impact on the autonomy of a device, so it is important to know not only how to turn on the feature, but also how to minimize charge consumption. We will look at the hidden parameters that allow you to balance between data speed and power consumption. The correct configuration will ensure that connected gadgets work comfortably without overheating your phone.

Basic modem activation

The fastest way to start a distribution of the Internet is to use the notification curtain, which means swiping down from the top of the screen to open the control panel. Among the many icons, find a button called Wi-Fi Access Point or Hotspot and tap it. If the icon is illuminated in blue, then the network is active and ready to connect.

However, if you're using this method for the first time, the system may not be able to set security settings, so you'll need to go to a full settings menu. Open the Settings app on the home screen and find the Connection and Sharing section. In some firmware versions, this item may simply be called Additional Features.

⚠️ Warning: When you turn on the access point through the curtain, standard settings are often activated that may not be secure in public places. Always check the default password before allowing unauthorized devices to connect.

Inside the settings menu, select Wi-Fi Access Point. You will see a page with the main network settings. Here you will see the switch that you need to activate. Immediately after you turn on, the phone will broadcast the signal, and other devices will be able to detect your smartphone in the list of available networks.

Set up a network name and security password

By default, Xiaomi assigns a network name that matches your device’s model, which is not always convenient for identification among a variety of neighboring signals. To change this, click on the network name in the access point menu. The editing field will open, where you can enter any name you understand, for example, My_Xiaomi_5G or Office_Internet.

A strong password is also important. Standard WPA2 PSK protection is the best choice for most use cases. Click on the password field and enter a combination of letters and numbers at least 8 characters long. Avoid simple sequences like 12345678, as they are easy to pick up by attackers.

• 🔒 Use a mixture of upper and lowercase letters to complicate the selection of the key.
• 📱 Write down a complex password in a safe place so you don’t forget it when you connect a new device.
• 👁️ Use the "show password" (eye) function when entering to make sure there are no typos.

Once you have entered all the data, make sure to click Save or the box in the corner of the screen. If you don't, the changes will be lost when you leave the menu. Now your network is protected from unauthorized access, and only those who know the secret combination can connect to it.

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Use it. QR-code for quick connection. Xiaomi access point menu often has a "Share" button that generates QR-If you scan it with another phone's camera, you can connect without manually entering your password.

Frequency range choice: 2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz

One of the key features of modern Xiaomi smartphones is the support of two frequency bands for distribution of the Internet, switching between them is carried out in the menu of the setting of the access point, choosing the right range directly affects the speed of data transfer and the range of the signal.

The 5GHz range provides significantly higher speeds and less congested apartment buildings, where many neighborhood routers operate at 2.4GHz. However, it has a significant drawback: it penetrates walls worse and has a shorter range. If you are in the same room with a dispensing device, this is the ideal choice.

In turn, the 2.4 GHz band is more versatile and compatible with older devices that may simply “not see” the 5 GHz network. It better breaks through obstacles, but the speed here will be lower, and interference from other electronics (microwave, bluetooth headsets) is much greater.

To switch, go to Access Point Settings and find AP Range. Select the value you want from the list. If you're not sure that all your devices support 5GHz, leave the 2.4GHz value for maximum compatibility.

Advanced settings and traffic limits

The MIUI shell provides users with advanced tools to control the network they're building. You can find the Connection Maximum menu in the AP settings. It's a useful feature to limit the number of devices that can connect to your phone at the same time. It's usually 10 by default, but to save battery life, you'd better reduce it to 3-5.

Auto-disconnection is also available if no one is connected to the access point for a certain time (e.g. 10 minutes), a critical parameter to prevent battery drain in case you forget to turn off modem mode.

⚠️ Note: Do not set the time limit for disconnection too short (less than 1 minute), otherwise the network will be permanently disrupted in times of temporary inactivity, for example when pages load.

Some firmware versions have the option of configuring IPv6. If your mobile carrier supports this protocol, enabling it can improve connectivity with modern services. However, if you are giving the Internet to old laptops or specific hardware, it is better to leave the standard IPv4 to avoid compatibility issues.

Connecting various devices to the Xiaomi network

Once the access point is activated, the connection process on client devices is standard. On a Windows laptop, you need to click on the Wi-Fi icon in the tray, find your network by a given name and enter a password. The system will remember the credentials, and next time the connection will be automatically connected.

To connect another smartphone or tablet, the algorithm is similar: go to the Wi-Fi settings, select your network from the list of available ones. NFC scan QR-And the key is to make sure that the host device also has a wireless module on the receiving device.

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the phone sees the network, but does not connect to it or writes “Get a message”. IP-In this case, try changing the settings on the receiving device in the network properties. IP s DHCP to static and manually prescribe the address, for example 192.168.43.100, gateway 192.168.43.1.

• 💻 On Windows, make sure that the adapter properties do not tick "Allow disabling this device to save energy".
• 🍏 On iOS devices, a certificate confirmation may be required when connecting if the enterprise type of security is used (rarely for home points).
• 🔄 If the connection fails, try on the phone-distributor to turn off and turn on the air mode again.

Energy consumption and overheating during long-term operation

Using a smartphone as a router is a resource-intensive task, and the Wi-Fi module is in constant data transmission mode, causing the housing to heat up and the battery to run quickly, especially when using the 5 GHz band and connecting multiple heavy devices, such as a laptop and tablet, simultaneously.

To minimize the risks of overheating, it is recommended to remove a tight protective case during long-term operation of the access point, it is also worth reducing the brightness of the screen or turning it off altogether, since the display is an additional source of heat. If the phone starts to warm up strongly, the HyperOS system can automatically turn off the access point to protect components.

There's a myth that Wi-Fi is more damaging to the battery than normal use, and in fact, thermal stress is the thing that's causing the damage, so as long as the temperature is within normal limits, the battery's chemistry doesn't degrade faster than normal, and keep an eye on the temperature of the case, and let the device cool down if necessary.

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Long-term operation of the access point requires temperature control. Remove the case and avoid direct sunlight to prevent the processor from trottling and the Wi-Fi module from turning off.

Frequent problems and methods of their elimination

Even if you set up the right way, users can experience unstable connection performance, and one of the common problems is that devices are connected, but the Internet is not working (the "No Internet access" icon). Most often, this indicates problems with the coverage of the mobile network of the operator or the lack of balance in the mobile network. SIM-map.

Another situation: the access point spontaneously shuts down. Check the energy saving settings. In the Battery section, find the application responsible for the access point (often called com.android.settings or simply Access Point), and set up the Unlimited mode. Aggressive energy saving in MIUI often kills background distribution processes.

If nothing works, try resetting your network settings. Go to Settings → Connection & Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. Note that this action will remove saved passwords from all known Wi-Fi networks on your phone, so be prepared to re-enter them.