How to turn on modem modem on the Xiaomi phone: detailed instructions with pictures

Modern Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi line) can work as full-fledged modems, distributing mobile Internet to other devices, this feature saves on trips, when there is no home Wi-Fi or when you need to urgently connect a laptop to the network, but not all users know how to properly activate modem modem modem modem and avoid typical errors.

In this article, we will discuss all ways to distribute the Internet to Xiaomi โ€“ via Wi-Fi, USB and Bluetooth, and also explain how to fix connection problems.

What is a modem modem and why it is needed

Modem modem (or tethering) allows you to use your smartphone as an Internet access point for other gadgets.

  • ๐ŸŒ No stationary Wi-Fi (in cafes, trains, suburbs).
  • ๐Ÿ’ป It is urgent to connect a laptop or tablet to the network.
  • ๐ŸŽฎ Requires a stable connection for online PC gaming.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ You need to distribute the Internet to a second phone (for example, to update the software).

There are three types of distribution available on Xiaomi:

  1. Wi-Fi hotspot is the most versatile solution (up to 10 devices at a time).
  2. USB-modem โ€“ suitable for PC, provides stable connection and charging of the phone.
  3. Bluetooth modem saves battery power, but is limited in speed (up to 3 Mbit / s).

Important: Mobile operators can block Internet distribution or charge extra. Check the plan before using modem modem.

๐Ÿ“Š What way to distribute the Internet you use more often?
Wi-Fi
USB
Bluetooth
Not using.

Preparing the phone before switching on modem

Before activating the distribution, perform several checks to avoid problems:

Check the balance of the mobile account

Disable VPN (can block traffic)

Make sure that the mobile internet works

Update your phone to the latest version

-->

If you have Xiaomi with two SIM-By map, select the one that has the mobile Internet activated:

  1. Go to Settings. โ†’ SIM-maps and mobile networks.
  2. Choose. SIM-data-card.
  3. Make sure the mobile data switch is on.

Some models (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro) may require additional APN setup. If the internet doesn't work even without handing it out, check the APN settings with your carrier.

โš ๏ธ Attention: On phones with MIUI 13+ When the hotspot is first turned on, the system can request confirmation via SMS. Itโ€™s a security measure โ€“ donโ€™t ignore it, otherwise the handout wonโ€™t work.

How to turn on Wi-Fi hotspot on Xiaomi

This is the most popular way to distribute the Internet, and the instructions are suitable for all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi 9A, POCO F3 and Mi 11:

  1. Open the Settings. โ†’ Access Point and modem.
  2. Select the Wi-Fi Access Point.
  3. Activate the Wi-Fi Access Point slider.
  4. When you first turn on, the system will suggest setting the network name (SSID) and password. Use a strong password (at least 8 characters with numbers and letters).

By default, Xiaomi assigns the access point a name of the view Xiaomi_XXXX (where XXXX โ€” last-minute MAC-You can change it in the settings:

  • ๐Ÿ“ The name of the access point is any convenient name (for example, My name is not a name_Xiaomi_Hotspot).
  • ๐Ÿ”’ Password โ€“ minimum 8 characters (we recommend using a password generator).
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Security - Choose WPA2-PSK (most secure).
  • ๐Ÿ“ก Frequency range: 2.4 GHz (better for compatibility) or 5 GHz (faster but shorter range).

After saving the settings, connect another device to the network you have created, and Xiaomi will display a notification about the number of connected gadgets.

๐Ÿ’ก

If the speed is low, try changing the frequency range from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz (or vice versa) in the hotspot settings.

Setting up USB-Xiaomi modem

USB-It's a handout that connects to a PC or a laptop, and it provides a stable connection, and it charges the phone at the same time:

  1. Connect your phone to your computer through the original USB-cable (faulty cables may not transmit data).
  2. On your phone, select File Transfer (MTP) or Charge Only (depending on the model).
  3. Go to Settings. โ†’ Access Point and modem โ†’ USB-modem.
  4. Activate the slider USB-modem.

On a Windows PC, drivers are installed automatically. If the connection is not working:

  • ๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ Check Device Manager for unknown devices (May require manual installation of Xiaomi drivers).
  • ๐Ÿ”Œ Try another one. USB-port (preferably) USB 3.0).
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Restart your phone and computer.

MacOS or Linux may require additional network setup, such as Ubuntu, where you need to manually configure the nmcli connection:

nmcli con add type ethernet ifname eth0 con-name "Xiaomi USB"

โš ๏ธ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro) USB-The modem turns off when the screen locks. To avoid this, add the Settings app to the battery optimization exceptions.

Bluetooth modem: charge savings but low speed

This is a way to distribute the Internet to devices without Wi-Fi (for example, old laptops or smart watches), speed is limited to ~3 Mbps, but battery consumption is minimal.

Instructions for setting:

  1. Turn on Bluetooth on both devices.
  2. Connect them (on your phone: Settings โ†’ Bluetooth, select your target device).
  3. On your phone, go to Settings โ†’ Access Point and modem โ†’ Bluetooth modem.
  4. Activate the slider and confirm the connection on the second device.

On a Windows PC after pairing:

  1. Open Settings โ†’ Devices โ†’ Bluetooth and other devices.
  2. Select your Xiaomi, click Connect through โ†’ Access point.

For macOS:

  1. Open System settings โ†’ Bluetooth.
  2. Find your phone, click Connect to the network.
Why is a Bluetooth modem slower than Wi-Fi?
Speed is limited by the Bluetooth standard: even in version 5.0, the maximum bandwidth is ~3 Mbit / s (versus 10+ Mbit / s for Wi-Fi 4).

Table of comparison of ways to distribute the Internet on Xiaomi

ParameterWi-Fi hotspotUSB-modemBluetooth modem
Max, speed.Up to 100 Mbps (depending on the tariff)Up to 50 Mbps (limited to USB 2.0)Up to 3 Mbps
Number of devices10.1 (PC)1-3 (depends on device)
Battery consumptionHigh (especially at 5GHz)Low (phone charging)Minimum
CompatibilityAny Wi-Fi devicesUSB-ported PCDevices with Bluetooth 3.0+
Delay (ping)10-50 ms.5-20 ms.50-200 ms.

USB-The modem provides the most stable connection for online gaming, but requires cable.The Wi-Fi hotspot is versatile but drains the battery faster.

Solving problems with modem modem on Xiaomi

If the distribution of the Internet does not work, check these points:

  • ๐Ÿ“ถ No mobile internet: Make sure you SIM-There's enough money in the card and the traffic pack is activated. APN.
  • ๐Ÿ”Œ USB-Modem is not defined: Try another cable or port. On PC, update Qualcomm or MediaTek drivers (depending on your Xiaomi processor).
  • ๐Ÿ”’ Devices do not connect to Wi-Fi: Check password, change security type to Wi-Fi WPA2-PSK, turn off VPN.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Distribution turns off itself: In the battery settings add Settings and Access Point to optimization exceptions.

On models with MIUI 12+, traffic restriction can be triggered to turn it off:

  1. Go to Settings. โ†’ SIM-maps and mobile networks โ†’ Transfer of data.
  2. Turn off Traffic Restriction.
  3. Reset the traffic counter (if it has reached the limit).

If the problem persists, reset the network settings:

  1. Settings โ†’ System and device โ†’ Resetting settings โ†’ Resetting network settings.
  2. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

๐Ÿ’ก

On phones with a MediaTek processor (e.g. Redmi) 9T) USB-The modem may not work without the original cable. Use a kit cable or a certified accessory.

FAQ: Frequent questions about modem modem on Xiaomi

Can I share the Internet with Xiaomi without a password?
Technically, yes, but it's not secure. To disable password: Go to Settings โ†’ Access Point and modem โ†’ Wi-Fi hotspot. Select No protection in security settings. โš ๏ธ Risk: Your network will be able to connect outsiders, which will lead to: ๐Ÿ“‰ Loss of speed (traffic will eat away at other devices). ๐Ÿ”“ Data interception capabilities (if you use unsecured protocols).
Why is the operator blocking the distribution of the Internet?
Some operators (e.g. Tele2 or Iota) restrict tethering to prevent tethering from occurring: ๐Ÿ“ก Using mobile internet on PC (which increases network load). ๐Ÿ”„ Bypassing tariff restrictions (e.g. โ€œsmartphone-only internetโ€). Solutions: ๐Ÿ“‹ Check the tariff conditions on the operator's website. ๐Ÿ’ณ Connect the option "Distribute the Internet" (may be paid). ๐Ÿ”ง Use it. VPN (But it may violate the operator's rules).
How to increase the speed of Wi-Fi distribution on Xiaomi?
If the speed is lower than expected: Switch the range from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz (in the hotspot settings). Reduce the number of connected devices (each sharing bandwidth); Turn off background applications that consume traffic (such as updates or cloud services); Check network coverage: in the weak signal zone, the speed drops. On models with Qualcomm Snapdragon (such as POCO F3), you can turn on Wi-Fi 6 mode (if supported).
Can I share the Internet with Xiaomi on another Xiaomi?
Yeah, but there's nuance: ๐Ÿ“ฑ On the second Xiaomi phone, when connecting to the hotspot, a notification โ€œUse mobile Internet?โ€ may appear โ€“ select Wi-Fi Only. ๐Ÿ”„ If both phones are on MIUI 12+, Turn on the option "Allow connection to access points Xiaomi" in the Wi-Fi settings: ๐Ÿ“ฒ Updates on the second phone without SIM-map. ๐ŸŽฎ Multiplayer over a local network (for example, in Minecraft or Brawl Stars).
How much traffic does the distribution of the Internet consume?
Expenditure depends on activity: ๐Ÿ“ฅ Web browsing: ~50-100 MB/hour. ๐ŸŽฅ Streaming video (720p): ~1-1.5 GB/hour. ๐ŸŽฎ Online games: ~40-100 MB/hour (without downloading updates). ๐Ÿ“ค Download files: Depends on size (e.g. Genshin Impact game update โ€“ up to the current size) 20 To control traffic: Enable the meter in Settings โ†’ SIM-maps and mobile networks โ†’ Set a limit (e.g., set a limit, 10 GB per month and keep track of notifications.