How to distribute the Internet from Xiaomi phone to laptop: all ways with settings

When you don't have a router at hand and you need access to the network urgently, Xiaomi's smartphone easily turns into a full-fledged modem. You can distribute Internet from phone to laptop in at least five ways - from a classic Wi-Fi hotspot to a wired USB connection. But not all of them are equally convenient: somewhere lose speed, somewhere the battery sits down, and some methods do not work at all on old models.

In this article, we will discuss the current instructions for MIUI 14/15 (including HyperOS) taking into account the features of Redmi, POCO and Xiaomi 13/14 flagship lines. We will analyze not only the basic settings, but also the solutions to problems: why the laptop does not see the access point, how to circumvent the operator’s restrictions and what to do if the Internet “slows down”.

1. Internet distribution via Wi-Fi (modem mode)

The most popular way is to turn a phone into a portable Wi-Fi point. It works on all Xiaomi models (from Redmi 4A to Xiaomi 14 Ultra) and does not require additional accessories. The data transfer speed depends on the supported Wi-Fi standard: on new smartphones (with Wi-Fi 6/6E), it can reach 1 Gbit / s, and on old ones (for example, Redmi Note 5 with Wi-Fi 4) it does not exceed 150 Mbit / s.

To activate modem modem:

1. Open the Settings. → Access Point and modem.
2. Select Wi-Fi Access Point (or Modem Modem on older versions of MIUI).
3. Set a network name (SSID) and password (minimum 8 characters).
4. Activate the Wi-Fi Access Point slider.

On your laptop, connect to the network you created as if you were using regular Wi-Fi. If the Internet does not appear, check:

• 🔄 Mobile data on the phone is enabled (the icon should be displayed in the status bar) 4G/5G).
• 📵 Are there any restrictions of the operator (some tariffs block the distribution of the Internet).
• 🔒 Password entered correctly (on Xiaomi it is case sensitive!).

2. the wired connection through USB (USB-tetring)

If you need to save battery power or communication stability is critical (for example, for online games or video conferencing), use the USB-Tetring. This is a method that transmits the Internet over a cable, which eliminates interference and reduces ping. USB-port: USB 2.0 (most budget models) - up to 480 Mbit / s, on USB 3.0 (flagships) – up to 5 Gbps.

Instructions for MIUI/HyperOS:

1. Connect your phone to your laptop with the original cable (cheap cables may not support data transfer).
2. In the phone settings go to Access Point and modem → USB-modem.
3. Activate the slider. The Internet will appear automatically on the laptop (drivers are installed in the background).

⚠️ Attention: On Windows 7/8 You may need to manually install the Mi driver. USB Download it from the official Xiaomi website or through Device Manager (update the driver for the device with an exclamation mark).

Advantages USB-tetring:

• 🔋 Does not consume the battery of the phone (it charges in parallel).
• 🛡️ More secure Wi-Fi – no risk of connecting third-party devices.
• 🎮 Minimum ping (important for streaming and gaming).

3. Internet distribution over Bluetooth

The method for emergency cases when there is no cable at hand and Wi-Fi is turned off or glitched. Bluetooth tetring consumes less power than Wi-Fi, but the speed is limited to 3 Mbps (on Bluetooth 5.0) or 1 Mbps (on older versions), which is enough for instant messengers or mail, but not for high-resolution video.

How to set up:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on your phone and laptop.
2. Connect devices (on the phone: Settings → Bluetooth, on the laptop – through the notification panel).
3. On your phone, open Access Point and modem → Bluetooth Access Point.
4. On a laptop in Network Settings → Mobile hotspot, select a Bluetooth connection.

Features of the method:

• 🔳 Speed is lower than that. Wi-Fi/USB, but more stable than the 2G/3G.
• 🔋 Saves battery life (compared to Wi-Fi).
• 🔒 Suitable for public data transmission (less risk of interception).

⚠️ Note: On laptops with Windows 10/11 Sometimes you need to manually select Xiaomi as the source of the Internet in the Settings → Network and Internet → Ethernet (despite Bluetooth connection).

4. Solving the Problem: Why Internet Distribution Doesn't Work

If the Internet does not appear on the laptop, check these points:

If the problem is not solved, try:

• 🔄 Restart your phone and laptop.
• 📱 Reset network settings on your phone (Settings) → System system → Reset → Resetting network settings).
• 🖥️ On a laptop, disable antivirus/firewall (they can block the connection).

5. Handoff Optimization: How to Increase Speed and Reduce Battery Consumption

To make the Internet work faster and longer:

For the Wi-Fi hotspot:

• 📶 Select the 5GHz band (if the laptop supports). It's less loaded and faster than 2.4GHz.
• 🔋 Turn off traffic savings in settings MIUI (Settings → Connections → Use of data).
• 📴 Set a limit on the number of connected devices (maximum 5-8 for stability).

For USB-tetring:

• 🔌 Use a support cable USB 3.0 (blue connector).
• 🖥️ On the laptop, turn off the energy saving for USB-Ports (Device Manager) → Controllers USB → Properties → Power management).

For all means:

• 📵 Turn on Flight Mode on your phone, then manually activate only mobile data, and that will turn off background processes.
• 🔄 Reboot the hotspot every 2-3 hours (especially on Redmi budget models).

💡

If you are giving away the Internet from Xiaomi on MacBook, in System Settings → Network, select the type of DHCP connection with manual settings and write DNS 1.1.1.1 – this will eliminate delays when opening sites.

6. Hidden MIUI functions for Internet distribution

In the firmware MIUI has non-obvious settings that simplify the distribution:

Automatic disabling of the access point

So that the smartphone does not discharge in vain when nothing is connected to it:

1. Go to Settings → Access Point and modem → Auto-Disconnect.
2. Set a timer (for example, 5 minutes without activity).

Changing the Wi-Fi channel

If the access point is unstable, change the channel manually:

1. In the access point settings, click Additional (or APN settings on older versions).
2. Select the 6 or 11 channel for 2.4 GHz (they are the least intersected with other networks).

Compatibility Mode for Old Devices

If your laptop doesn’t connect to Xiaomi’s hotspot (especially for devices before 2015), turn on:

Settings → Access Point and modem → Compatibility Mode (or “802.11 b/g support”)

💡

Xiaomi's HyperOS phones (2026) featured a dual hotspot feature, which allows you to distribute the Internet simultaneously over Wi-Fi and USB, which is useful if you need to connect a laptop and tablet.

FAQ: Frequent questions about giving away the Internet with Xiaomi