Why Xiaomi devices do not connect to Wi-Fi with iPhone: a full analysis of the problem

Why Xiaomi Ignores the iPhone Access Point

You are trying to give away the Internet from your iPhone to Xiaomi Mi Box, Redmi Note or POCO F5, But the device persistently fails to see the network or produces a connection error? This problem is more common than it seems — and it's not just the hotspot settings that are to blame, but the interaction of Wi-Fi protocols between the ecosystems of Apple and Xiaomi.

In 80% of cases, the problem lies in three things: the incompatibility of Wi-Fi standards (for example, the iPhone uses the same system). 802.11ac, The old Redmi. 4A supports 802.11n), incorrect distribution parameters (encryption, channel, frequency band) or software bugs in firmware MIUI Less often, hardware limitations are to blame, such as Xiaomi devices on the MediaTek Helio chip. G85 Can conflict with the access points of the iPhone due to an error in the driver Wi-Fi module.

In this article, we will analyze all possible causes - from banal (you forgot to turn on the handout) to exotic (conflict). MAC-And we'll also give you a checklist that can connect in 5 minutes.

1. Checking basic settings: what you might have missed

Before digging deep into the settings, make sure you don't miss the obvious.Errors at this stage occur 30% of the time - especially if you're setting up the handset for the first time with an iPhone.

• 📱 Access Point is off: on iPhone go to Settings → Cellular service → Modem mode and make sure that the slider Allow others is active (green).
• 🔒 Password incorrect: iOS generates a complex password by default – check it in the same menu or reset it to a simpler one (e.g. 12345678 for the test).
• 🔄 Wi-Fi on Xiaomi is turned off: on Xiaomi device swipe down the notification panel and make sure that the Wi-Fi icon is illuminated.
• 📶 Weak signal: If the iPhone is on the other side of the room, try bringing the device closer (within a radius of 1-2 meters).

If it’s all on, but Xiaomi still can’t see the network, try rebooting both devices, and sometimes even doing that simple thing helps — especially if the iPhone hasn’t been turned off in a long time.

2. Wi-Fi standards incompatibility: why Xiaomi doesn't see the network

One of the most common reasons is the different Wi-Fi standards that support the iPhone and Xiaomi device.

• 🆕 iPhone 12/13/14/15 Default distributes the Internet by protocol 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) frequency-wise 5 GHz.
• 📱 Older Xiaomi smartphones (like Redmi) 4X or Mi A1) support 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) at 2.4 GHz.
• 📺 Mi TVs TV 4A Mi Box S may not see 5GHz networks due to chipset limitations.

The solution is simple: force the iPhone to install compatibility mode:

1. Open the Settings. → Cellular service → Modem mode.
2. Click on the Wi-Fi Password (without changing it!).
3. At the bottom of the screen will appear the option Maximum compatibility – turn it on.
4. Reset the handout.

If this option is not available (on older versions of iOS), try manually changing your network settings:

Settings → Cellular communication → Modem Mode → Setting up the access point


Set it up:




Standard: 802.11n (instead of 802.11ac)




- Channel: Auto (2.4 GHz)




Channel width: 20 MHz (instead of 40 or 80 MHz)

💡

If your Xiaomi device is released before 2018, it’s 90% likely not to support 5GHz. Force your iPhone to switch to 2.4GHz.

3. Problems with encryption and network security

iPhone is using encryption by default WPA3 Wi-Fi, but many Xiaomi devices (especially budget models) only support Wi-Fi. WPA2. This leads to the fact that the network is visible, but it is impossible to connect to it - there is an error "Authentication failed" or "Incorrect password" (although it is true).

To fix this:

1. On iPhone go to Settings → Cellular service → Modem mode.
2. Click on the Wi-Fi password.
3. In the Security section, select WPA2 instead WPA3.
4. Save the changes and restart the distribution.

If you don’t have encryption options, try resetting your network settings on your iPhone:

Settings → Main → iPhone transfer or reset → Reset → Network settings

⚠️ Warning: After the network reset, all stored Wi-Fi passwords on your iPhone will be deleted. Write them down in advance or prepare to re-enter them.

Another nuance: some Xiaomi devices (such as Mi Band 7 or Mi Smart Speaker) may conflict with the new model. MAC-randomization, which includes iOS to protect privacy, to disable it:

Settings → Wi-Fi → [click on the blue icon "i" next to your network] → Disable Private Wi-Fi address

4. Conflicts IP-addresses and DHCP: Why the connection is cut off

If Xiaomi connects to the iPhone network, but the Internet does not work (Wi-Fi icon is available, but the pages do not load), the problem may be in conflict. IP-address DHCP-This often happens when you're a server:

• 🔢 iPhones are giving away IP-range-address 172.20.10.x, The router at home uses the same range.
• ⚡ DHCP-The server on the iPhone “hang” and does not assign an address to the Xiaomi device.
• 🔄 On the Xiaomi device manually prescribed static IP, junctionary.

Decisions:

To appoint manually IP on a Xiaomi device (if any) DHCP doesn't work):

Settings → Wi-Fi → [long tap on your network] → Change the network → Show additional settings


Set it up:




- IP settings: Static




IP- Address: 192.168.43.XX (where XX is a number from 10 to 99)




- Gateway: 192.168.43.1




- Network mask: 255.255.255.0




- DNS 1: 8.8.8.8




- DNS 2: 1.1.1.1

💡

If, after manual adjustment, IP The internet is up, but the speed is low, try to change it. DNS Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google (8.8.8.8).

5. Software bugs: when firmware is to blame

Sometimes the problem lies in firmware errors – both on the iOS side and on the side. MIUI. For example:

• 🍎 iOS 16.4-16.6 was a bug that iPhone could not distribute Internet devices on Android 12+ (including Xiaomi.Fixed in iOS 16.7.
• 🤖 V MIUI 13-14 on some devices (POCO X4 Pro, Redmi Note 11) lost Wi-Fi settings after the update.
• 📱 On the Mi Box S with firmware MDZ-22-AB There was a problem connecting to access points with encryption WPA3.

What to do:

1. Update iOS: Settings → Mainstream → If the update is available, install it.
2. Update. MIUI: Settings → The phone. → System Update for Mi Box: Settings → About the device → Firmware update

If the updates don’t help, try to roll back to the previous firmware version (relevant for Mi Box or Xiaomi smartphones).

⚠️ Note: On devices with a locked bootloader (most Xiaomi smartphones for Russia), a firmware rollback can lead to a lock on your Mi Account. Before the procedure, make sure you remember the username and password from Mi Account.

Hardware restrictions: when the "iron" is to blame

If all software methods have been tried, but Xiaomi still doesn’t connect, the problem may be hardware limitations.

• 📡 Wi-Fi module damaged: If Xiaomi device does not connect to any network (including home router), the module may have failed.
• 🔋 Weak antenna signal: some budget models (Redmi) 9A, POCO C31) have weak antennas that do not catch the handout from the iPhone at a distance of more than 3 meters.
• 🔌 Power problems: If the iPhone is under 20% discharged, it can automatically turn off the distribution to save energy.

How to diagnose a hardware problem:

If the diagnosis showed a hardware malfunction:

• For Xiaomi smartphones: contact the service center (if the warranty is valid) or try to solder a Wi-Fi module (cost) ~1500–3000 ₽).
• For the Mi Box or Mi TV: Check if the antenna is moving away (sometimes it helps to reconnect the plug inside the case).

1. Connection to other networks verified

2. reset network settings on Xiaomi

3. Updated firmware on both devices

4. The distribution from another iPhone is checked

5. Programmatic conflicts are excluded (VPN, firewall)-->

7. Alternative ways to connect if Wi-Fi is not working

If you can not solve the problem with Wi-Fi, you can use alternative methods of connection:

• 🔌 USB-cable (smartphone only): Connect iPhone to Xiaomi via USB-C/Lightning On your iPhone, turn on modem modem. → Permission. USB-On Xiaomi in the settings. USB select the Transfer of Data or USB-modem.

Bluetooth connection (slowly but working):

1. On iPhone: Settings → Bluetooth → turn on the appearance.
2. On Xiaomi: Settings → Bluetooth → Find an iPhone and connect.
3. On iPhone, turn on modem modem → Allow Bluetooth connection.

Mobile hotspot via another device:

Give away the internet from an Android smartphone or tablet, and then connect to this Xiaomi network.

Data transfer speed through USB will be higher than Wi-Fi (up to 50-70 Mbit / s), and through Bluetooth - much lower (2-5 Mbit / s), but this is enough for instant messengers or mail.

⚠️ Note: When connecting through USB The iPhone can give a warning, "Trust this computer?", and then press "Trust" or the connection will not be established.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Xiaomi to Wi-Fi from iPhone