You find yourself in a situation where you urgently need to distribute the Internet from Xiaomi phone to a laptop, tablet or other gadget? Perhaps you are on a business trip, in a country without a router, or just want to save on mobile traffic for a second device. Turning on the access point (modem mode) on Redmi smartphones, POCO or Mi flagships takes less than a minute, but many users have questions: why do not connect devices, how to change the name of the network or why the battery quickly dies.
In this article, we will not only show you how to turn on the Wi-Fi distribution on Xiaomi, but also cover all the nuances from choosing the optimal network name (SSID) to setting the speed limit for connected devices. And you will also learn how to avoid common errors, such as when the access point turns on but does not give the Internet or automatically turns off after 5 minutes. All instructions are relevant for MIUI 12/13/14 and newer versions, including models of 2026.
Preparing the smartphone before turning on the access point
Before you activate your modem, make sure your Xiaomi is ready to give away the internet. Here are key points that are often overlooked:
- 📶 Mobile Internet: Make sure that the phone has mobile data enabled (icon) 4G/5G Without an active network connection, the access point will be created, but will not distribute the Internet.
- 🔋 Battery charge: Wi-Fi distribution consumes a lot of power.If the charge is below 20%, the smartphone can automatically turn off the access point to save energy.
- 🔒 Operator restrictions: Some tariffs block the distribution of the Internet (especially unlimited ones). Check the terms of your tariff with the operator (MTS, Beeline, Tele2, MegaFon).
- 📱 Updates: On older versions MIUI (Below 12) there may be bugs with the access point. Update the system in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
If you plan to give out the Internet regularly, set up the power saving mode for the hotspot in advance. Xiaomi defaults to turn it off in 5-10 minutes without active connections. To avoid this, go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Energy Saving Mode and add the Access Point app to exceptions.
Step-by-step: how to enable access point on Xiaomi
The modem activation process is the same for all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 13 and older devices.
- Open Settings (the gear icon on the home screen or in the application menu).
- Go to Access Point and Modem (on some models – Network and Internet → Access Point).
- Slip on the Wi-Fi Access Point (or Portable Access Point).
- Activate the Wi-Fi Access Point slider (it will turn blue).
After turning on, a notification of the active access point will appear on the screen, and in the status bar – an icon 📶 It's two-arced. Now other devices can connect to your network (SSID) It is the same as the phone model (for example, Redmi_Note_11_1234), A password is a combination of 8 Numbers listed under the name of the network.
☑️ Checking before connecting devices
If the hotspot doesn't give you the Internet after it's turned on, check:
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone – sometimes helps to reset your network settings.
- 📵 Make sure there is no active phone on the phone. VPN Proxies (they can block the distribution).
- 📡 Try changing the Wi-Fi frequency range in the access point settings (from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz or vice versa).
How to Change Your Network Name (SSID) and Password
The standard network name and password are not easy to remember, and they also give you a model of your phone, to personalize the access point:
- Go to Settings → Access Point and Modem → Wi-Fi Access Point.
- Slip on the Setting up of the access point (or network name).
- In the Network Name (SSID) field, type the desired name (e.g., MyXiaomiHotspot). Avoid Cyrillic and special characters - some devices don't see such networks.
- In the Password field, set a new code (minimum 8 characters). We recommend using a combination of letters and numbers, for example, Xiaomi2026!
- Then, click on the Save (or Ready) button.
Once you change the settings, all previously connected devices will be disabled and must re-enter the new password. If you forget the password, you can view it in the same settings of the access point (the password field will be hidden by dots, but you can open it by clicking on the icon of the eye).
| Parameter | Recommended value | Why is it important? |
|---|---|---|
| Network name (SSID) | Latin letters and numbers (e.g., Latin letters and numbers, Xiaomi_AP_5G) | Cyrillic and special characters can cause connection problems on some devices |
| Password. | 8+ characters, a mixture of letters and numbers (e.g. MiHot5pot24!) | A complex password protects against unauthorized connection |
| Wi-Fi range | 5 GHz (if devices support) | Less interference, higher speed, but less range |
| Security | WPA2-PSK or WPA3-PSK | Older standards (e.g. WEP) are vulnerable to hacking |
If you change your password or network name frequently, save it in your notes or password manager, and you don't have to look at your phone's settings every time.
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To quickly turn on / off the access point, add its shortcut to the main screen: pinch the empty space on the screen → Widgets → Access Point.
Configure additional parameters of the access point
In addition to basic settings, MIUI offers several useful options for optimizing the access point:
1. Speed Limitation for Connected Devices
If you have multiple gadgets connected to your network and one of them eats up all traffic (for example, downloads updates), you can limit its speed:
- Go to Settings → Access Point and Modem → Wi-Fi Access Point → Adjust the Access Point.
- Select Speed Limitation (or Device Management).
- Slip on the device you want to set a limit for.
- Set the maximum download/return speed (e.g. 5 Mbps).
Auto-disconnection in case of inaction
To save battery power, set up an automatic shutdown of the access point if the devices are not connected to it:
- Go to Settings → Access Point and Modem → Wi-Fi Access Point → Auto-Switch Off.
- Choose the time interval: 5 minutes, 10 minutes or Never.
3. Wi-Fi range change (2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz)
The 5GHz range provides a higher speed but a shorter range and is not supported by older devices.
- Open Settings → Access Point and modem → Wi-Fi Access Point → Access Point settings.
- Select Wi-Fi Range (or Frequency).
- Set 2.4 GHz (for compatibility) or 5 GHz (for speed).
If your device doesn’t support 5GHz, this item will not be available. On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi 9A), the 5GHz band is disabled hardwarely.
What to do if the access point is not turned on?
Common Problems and Their Solutions
Even after setting up the hotspot correctly, the Xiaomi hotspot may not work as well, and here are some common mistakes and ways to fix them:
⚠️ Attention! If, after connecting to the access point, the device receives IP-address, but the internet is not working, check your settings APN (Operator's access points) Incorrect parameters APN — frequent cause of lack of Internet when actively distributing.
1. Access point is turned on, but devices are not connected
- 🔄 Reboot the phone and the device that is trying to connect.
- 📵 Make sure your phone doesn’t turn on airplane mode or energy saving mode.
- 🔒 Check if the password is correctly entered (registration is important!).
- 📡 Try changing your Wi-Fi range from 5GHz to 2.4GHz (or vice versa).
2. Access point is automatically disabled
It's because of:
- 🔋 Low battery (less than 15%) Connect your phone to charge.
- ⚙️ Power saving mode. Add access point to exceptions: Settings → Battery → Energy saving regime → Annexes.
- 🕒 Auto-disconnect the timer. Turn it off in the access point settings.
3. Slow Internet speed when handing out
If the speed is lower than expected:
- 📶 Check the mobile signal (you may be in a low coverage area).
- 📊 Limit speed for other devices (see section above).
- 🔄 Switch to 5GHz (if devices support).
- 📵 Disable background apps on your phone that may consume traffic.
If the problem persists, try resetting your network settings (Settings → System → Settings Reset → Reset your Wi-Fi, mobile network, and Bluetooth settings) and this will delete all stored Wi-Fi networks and APN settings, so write them down in advance.
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If the hotspot is unstable, check the mobile connection first: try to open a website on your phone. If there is no Internet there, the operator has the problem, not the distribution settings.
How to give away Wi-Fi with Xiaomi without password (open network)
Sometimes you need to create an open access point – for example, for a public event or connect devices that do not support password entry (some printers, smartwatches).
- Go to Settings → Access Point and Modem → Wi-Fi Access Point → Adjust the Access Point.
- Select Security (or Type of Protection).
- Set the value of "No" (or "No").
- Save the settings.
⚠️ Attention! An open access point allows any connected device to intercept your traffic, and do not use it to transmit sensitive data (banking, mail, messengers). The operator may also block your number for suspicious activity (for example, if many devices connect to the network).
If you need a temporary open network, return your security settings to WPA2-PSK or WPA3-PSK after use.
Alternative ways to distribute the Internet with Xiaomi
In addition to Wi-Fi, Xiaomi supports two other ways to distribute the Internet:
1. Bluetooth distribution
Suitable for devices that don’t support Wi-Fi (such as some fitness bracelets or old laptops), speeds are lower, but less battery is consumed.
- 🔵 Turn on Bluetooth on both devices.
- 📱 On Xiaomi, go to Settings → Access Point and modem → Bluetooth modem.
- 🖥️ On the second device, find the phone in the list of available Bluetooth devices and connect.
2. Distribution via USB (USB-modem)
It's the most stable and energy efficient way, but it requires cable, and it's suitable for laptops or PCs.
- 🔌 Connect Xiaomi to your computer via USB-cable.
- 📱 On your phone, select Settings. → Access Point and modem → USB-modem.
- 🖥️ A new network connection will appear on the computer (you may need to install drivers).
USB-A modem is the best choice if you need to give out the Internet for a long time (for example, to work on a laptop), it practically does not run out of the phone battery, because it is powered by the power of the Internet. USB-port.