How to turn on and configure the access point to Xiaomi 8 Pro: distribute the Internet from the phone

Xiaomi 8 Pro is a powerful smartphone that can act not only as a means of communication, but also as a full-fledged router for distributing mobile Internet. However, many users face difficulties when first turning on the access point: where to look for settings, how to set the network name correctly, why devices do not connect? This article will help you to understand all the nuances from basic activation to solving typical errors.

Unlike Xiaomi’s budget models, the flagship 8 Pro series supports dual Wi-Fi frequencies (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), which allows you to choose the optimal mode for speed or range. But even here there are pitfalls: for example, some laptops do not see 5 GHz networks, and older tablets may not support modern encryption protocols.

It's important to understand that giving the Internet over a hotspot consumes a lot of battery power. The Xiaomi 8 Pro has hidden power saving settings that will help keep the phone running in router mode, and this is discussed in one of the following sections.

Preparing the smartphone before turning on the access point

Before you activate the hotspot, make sure your Xiaomi 8 Pro is ready to give away the internet.

• 📶 Mobile Internet: Check what you are doing SIM-The data packet is activated, without which the access point will be created, but it will not be able to distribute traffic.
• 🔋 Battery charge: at levels below 20%, the smartphone can automatically turn off the hotspot to save power. Charge the phone or plug into a power source.
• 🔒 Operator lock: some mobile operators (such as Tele2 or Yota) block Internet distribution by default.

Also, you should update the firmware to the latest version of MIUI. In older versions, there were bugs with the operation of the Wi-Fi module, especially when connecting several devices simultaneously. You can check the relevance of the software in the Settings menu → About the phone → System Update.

⚠️ Note: If you use two of these SIM-maps, the access point will only distribute the Internet from the one selected as the main one for data transmission. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Transfer of data.

Step-by-step: how to enable the access point on Xiaomi 8 Pro

The hotspot activation algorithm is the same for all Xiaomi smartphones based on MIUI 12/13/14, but the 8 Pro has additional options for advanced users.

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the desktop or in the application menu).
2. Go to the section Network and Internet → Access Point and modem.
3. Slip on the Wi-Fi Access Point.
4. Activate the Wi-Fi Access Point slider (it will turn blue).

After that, your Xiaomi 8 Pro will start to distribute the Internet, by default, the network name (SSID) will match the phone model, and the password will be generated automatically, and you can see it in the same menu under the Password field.

Network name (SSID) is displayed in the Wi-Fi list | Password copied or recorded | Mobile Internet is enabled on a smartphone | VPN is disabled on the connected device (can block the connection)

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If you want to change the standard settings, click on Setting up the access point in the same menu.

• 🔤 Change the name of the network (e.g. Mi8Pro_Hotspot)
• 🔐 Set your own password (minimum 8 characters)
• 📡 Select a frequency range (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz)
• ⚡ Enable energy saving mode (reduces speed, but saves charge)

⚠️ Note: If you choose the 5GHz band, older devices (released before 2015) may not see your network.

Setting up the security of the access point

By default, the Xiaomi 8 Pro uses WPA2-PSK encryption protocol, which provides a high level of protection.

• 🔑 Strong password: Avoid simple combinations like 12345678 Use a mixture of letters, numbers and symbols (for example, Mi8Pro@2026!).
• 🔄 Regular password change: If you frequently connect other people’s devices (for example, in a cafe or trip), change your password every 1-2 weeks.
• 👥 Device Limitation: In the access point settings, you can set a limit of connected gadgets (maximum 10 for Xiaomi 8 Pro).

For additional protection, enable Hide the Network in Hotspot settings, in which case your access point will not appear in the public Wi-Fi list, and only those who know the exact name (SSID) and password can connect to it. However, remember: hidden networks are not completely secure – they can be detected using special applications (for example, WiFi Analyzer).

If you need to connect a device that doesn’t support modern protocols (like an old printer or game console), switch to WPA-PSK temporarily, but remember to return settings back after use.

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To quickly share a password from the access point, click on QR-The code is in the hotspot settings menu, and another user can scan it with the camera and automatically connect to the network.

Solving problems with connecting devices

Even after setting up correctly, the hotspot on the Xiaomi 8 Pro can be unstable. Consider the typical errors and ways to fix them:

1.The devices don't see the network

• 🔍 Check if flight mode is on (it turns off all wireless modules).
• 📡 Restart your smartphone – sometimes the Wi-Fi module “hangs".
• 🔄 Change the frequency range from 5 GHz to 2.4 GHz (or vice versa).

2. connection is available, but the Internet is not working

• 🌐 Make sure your smartphone has mobile internet (try to open the website in your browser).
• 📱 Check if the traffic saving mode is included in the settings SIM-map.
• 🔧 Reset the settings. APN: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Access points (APN) → Reset to default values.

3. Permanent breaks of connection

• 🔋 Connect your smartphone to charging – with a low battery level, Xiaomi can suspend the distribution of the Internet.
• 📶 Change the energy saving mode to "Performance" in Settings → Battery.
• 🔄 Switch to a different frequency range (if you use 5GHz, try 2.4GHz).

If the problem persists, try resetting your network settings:

Settings → System → Resetting → Resetting Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth

This operation will remove all saved passwords from Wi-Fi, but often helps with system failures.

Saving battery power when running the access point

The Xiaomi 8 Pro has a 3,000mAh battery, but it runs 2-3 times faster in hotspot mode. Here's how to extend the battery life:

• 🔋 Connect charging: if you give away the Internet for a long time, use a power adapter (preferably original 18 watts).
• ⚡ Limit the number of devices: each connected device increases the load on the processor and Wi-Fi module.
• 📉 Reduce screen brightness: Even if the phone is lying idle, the display in the background consumes up to 20% of the charge.
• 🔄 Disable background apps: Close all programs except those you need (especially games and social media).

In the hotspot settings (Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi hotspot → Access point settings) there is an option to turn off when no connections are available. Turn on it if you want the hotspot to automatically turn off after 5-10 minutes without active connections, which will save up to 30% of charge when used periodically.

You can also activate the power saving mode for the processor:

Settings → Battery → Performance Mode → Balanced

This will slightly reduce the speed of distribution, but will significantly increase the time of work.

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Use the 5GHz band only when needed – it’s faster but uses 15-20% more energy than 2.4GHz.

Distribution of Internet via USB and Bluetooth

In addition to Wi-Fi, Xiaomi 8 Pro supports two more ways to distribute the Internet: USB-cable and Bluetooth, which are less popular, but they can be useful in specific situations.

USB-modem

Suitable for connecting to a laptop or PC when the Wi-Fi adapter is broken or a more stable connection is needed.

1. Connect your smartphone to your computer through USB-cable (preferably original).
2. In the phone settings go to the Network and the Internet → Access Point and modem.
3. Activate the option. USB-modem.

The computer will have a new network connection with Internet access, the advantage is lower battery consumption (the phone is charged from USB), disadvantage: it requires a physical connection.

Bluetooth modem

This method is suitable for devices that do not support Wi-Fi (such as some fitness bracelets or old navigators).

1. Pair the Xiaomi 8 Pro with the target device via Bluetooth.
2. In the phone settings, activate the Bluetooth modem in the Access Point and modem menu.

Limitations: connection speeds are less than 3 Mbps and ranges up to 10 meters, suitable only for small amounts of data (for example, for instant messengers).

Hidden Access Point Features on Xiaomi 8 Pro

There are some non-obvious features in MIUI firmware that can be useful when using a hotspot:

• 🔗 Reference to MAC-Addresses: In the access point settings, you can specify which devices are eligible to connect (by their MAC-This will protect you from unauthorized access.
• ⏱ Automatic Shutdown: Set the timer to turn off the hotspot after a predetermined time (e.g. after 1 hour).
• 📊 Traffic statistics: in the menu Use of data → The access point can be seen how much traffic each connected device consumed.

Another thing that's useful is to change the Wi-Fi channel, and if you have many other networks in your environment, they can interfere.

1. Install the WiFi Analyzer app from Google Play.
2. See which channels are the least loaded.
3. In the access point settings (Access Point Settings → Additional), select a free channel.

For power users, you can unlock hidden settings using an engineering menu.

Please enter the phone app ##4636##


Go to the section "Information about Wi-Fi"




Here you can manually set the network parameters, including signal power.

⚠️ Attention: inexperienced users are not advised to change the settings in the engineering menu. Incorrect settings can lead to loss of communication or overheating of the Wi-Fi module.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions