Why Xiaomi smartphone does not connect to the access point of the iPhone: a full analysis of the problem

Why Xiaomi and iPhone are in conflict over Wi-Fi

You're trying to share the Internet from your iPhone to Xiaomi, but the device persists in not seeing the network or is giving out an authentication error? This problem is more common than it seems — and it's not just the crooked firmware that's to blame, because Apple and Xiaomi are using different approaches to implementing wireless networks, and sometimes conflict arises because of hardware constraints or outdated security protocols.

80 percent of the time, the problem is solved by setting up the hotspot settings on the iPhone or resetting the network settings on Xiaomi, but there are deeper reasons, from the incompatibility of Wi-Fi 6 standards to errors in the Bluetooth Low Energy module, which is responsible for fast synchronization of devices. In this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios, from basic to exotic, and give a checklist for diagnostics and step-by-step instructions.

We will pay special attention to the Xiaomi 12/13 series and iPhone 14/15, where the problem is more common due to aggressive optimization of power consumption. If your devices are older, check the section on outdated protocols: it may be because of the lack of support for WPA3 or 802.11r.

1. Security protocol incompatibility: WPA2 vs WPA3

The most common reason is the conflict of encryption protocol versions. iPhone (starting with iOS 14) defaults to WPA3 Personal for Internet distribution, while many Xiaomi models (especially budget) are still optimized for WPA2, which leads to the fact that the device either does not see the network at all, or gives an error "failed to connect to the network" after entering the password.

How to check:

• 🔍 On iPhone go to Settings → Modem mode → Wi-Fi password and see which protocol is listed at the bottom of the screen (if there is a line "Security").
• 📱 On Xiaomi, open Settings → Wi-Fi → Additionally. → Security protocol (the item may not be present on older models).
• ⚙️ If the iPhone is WPA3, Xiaomi doesn’t have it on the supported list, which is the root of the problem.

Decision:

1. On iPhone, temporarily switch to WPA2 (if available) or change your password to a simpler one (sometimes this works as a workaround).
2. On Xiaomi, upgrade to the latest version of the firmware – new MIUI builds have added WPA3 support for most models.
3. If nothing helps, use alternative handout methods: Bluetooth or Bluetooth. USB-cable (more on this in Section 5).

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If, after changing the protocol, WPA3 on WPA2 Internet speed has dropped, go back to WPA3 And try to connect through QR-code (on iPhone, click "Share Password" next to the network name).

2. Errors in the settings of the access point on the iPhone

Even if the protocols match, the iPhone can create an access point with settings that Xiaomi doesn't support.

• 📶 Non-standard Wi-Fi channel: iOS sometimes chooses channels 149-165 (5 GHz), which are banned in some countries and blocked on Xiaomi.
• 🔄 Frequent shifts MAC-Addresses: the “Private Wi-Fi Address” feature in iOS may conflict with the cache of networks on Xiaomi.
• ⚡ Restriction on devices: in the settings of the modem on the iPhone can be a limit on 1-2 connections.

How to fix it:

Turn off the "Private Wi-Fi Address" in the network settings|Set a fixed channel (for example, 36 or 48) in Settings → Modem mode → Wi-Fi settings|Check what in "Allow Others" costs "All my devices"|Reboot your iPhone after the changes-->

If Xiaomi still does not connect after these manipulations, try resetting the network settings on the iPhone:

1. Go to Settings → Main → Reset or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset Network Settings
2. After the reboot, turn on the modem mode again and try to connect.

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On iPhone 12 and later, after a network reset, you may need to re-activate the eSIM (if you use it).

3.Problems with Wi-Fi drivers on Xiaomi

If Xiaomi doesn’t only connect to the iPhone hotspot, but works well with other networks, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth module drivers may be to blame. This problem is especially relevant for devices running Qualcomm Snapdragon processors (for example, Xiaomi 11T Pro, POCO F4 GT), which uses a combined FastConnect 6900 chip.

Symptoms of driver failure:

• 🔄 Infinite Receipt IP-Address ("Receiving an address..." for more than 1 minute).
• ⚠️ Error “Save, protection” WPA/WPA2" password-correct.
• 📉 Speed drop to 0 Kb/s immediately after connection.

Decisions:

1. Update your firmware through Settings → About Phone → Update MIUI. Look for versions marked “Stable” – beta builds can make the problem worse.
2. Reset your Wi-Fi settings: Settings → Memory → Settings (cogs) → Reset your network settings
3. Turn off battery optimization for system applications: Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization → All apps → Find “Wi-Fi” and “Bluetooth”, select “No Limits”

Critical information: On some models (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro) after upgrading MIUI to version 13.0.6+, a bug with the bcmdhd driver appears, which blocks connection to networks with a channel width of 80 MHz.

4. conflict with the function "Fast connection" (Wi-Fi Direct)

Wi-Fi Direct technology, which Xiaomi actively uses for file transfers (Mi Share, Quick Share), can interfere with standard access points connection, this is due to the fact that the Wi-Fi module cannot physically work simultaneously in Direct and Station mode.

How to diagnose:

• 📲 Try connecting to your iPhone immediately after Xiaomi reboot (when Wi-Fi Direct is not activated yet).
• 🔧 Turn off Mi Share in the notification curtain and try connecting again.
• 🔍 Check the connection log through Settings → The phone. → Error report → Wi-Fi logs (access to engineering menu required).

Decisions:

1. Turn off Wi-Fi Direct in Settings → Connections and Sharing → Wi-Fi Direct → Disable
2. Reset Mi Share Settings: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Mi Share → Storage → Clear Data
3. If the problem persists, disable the Auto Connection to Known Networks function: Settings → Wi-Fi → Additional → Autoconnect to Open Networks (disable)

Yes, to everyone except iPhone|No, none |Links, but often breaks |I haven't tried other networks-->

5. Alternative ways of connecting: Bluetooth and USB

If Wi-Fi doesn’t work hard, there are two reliable workarounds:

1. Internet distribution via Bluetooth (PAN):

• ⚡ Speed is limited. ~1-2 Mbps, but stability is higher.
• 🔗 Suitable for sending messages or loading lightweight pages.

1. On iPhone: Settings → Bluetooth (enable) → Modem Mode → Allow others to connect.
2. On Xiaomi: Settings → Bluetooth → Find iPhone → Connect as a modem

2. USB cable (Lightning/USB-C required):

• ⚡ Speed up to 10–50 Mbps (depending on cable).
• ⚠️ On the iPhone you need to allow access to data when connecting.

1. Connect Xiaomi to your iPhone with a cable.
2. On your iPhone, select “Trust this computer” (if you request it).
3. Turn on modem modem and select USB-linkage.

Comparison of methods:

Hardware malfunctions: when the "iron" is to blame

If none of the software methods worked, the problem may be a physical malfunction of one of the devices, most commonly affecting:

• 📡 Wi-Fi antenna on Xiaomi (especially after falls or moisture hits).
• ⚡ iPhone power module (when the Internet is distributed, the phone warms up strongly and turns off the modem).
• 🔌 Connector. Lightning/USB-C (oxidation of contacts USB-distribution).

How to diagnose:

• 🔍 Check if the iPhone warms when the modem is turned on.If the temperature is above 45°C -- the defense is activated.
• 📶 Try connecting another phone to the iPhone hotspot. If it doesn't work, the iPhone is a problem.
• 🛠️ Connect Xiaomi to another 5 GHz network. If the speed is below 10 Mbps, there may be problems with the antenna.

Decisions:

⚠️ Note: If Xiaomi stopped connecting to Wi-Fi after a fall or contact with water, do not attempt to disassemble it yourself - this may lead to a short circuit. RF-path.

• For iPhone: Clean the Lightning connector with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. Reset the settings via iTunes/Finder (if the phone is warming for no reason).
• For Xiaomi: Check Wi-Fi in Safe Mode (press the power button → “Reboot in Safe Mode”). If the network is working in Safe Mode, the third-party application is to blame (remove the last ones installed).

7. Regional restrictions and legal nuances

Few people know, but some countries have restrictions on the use of certain Wi-Fi channels that may conflict with the settings of the iPhone.

• 🇷🇺 In Russia, channels 12-14 (2.4 GHz) and 149-165 (5 GHz) are banned).
• 🇺🇸 Channel 14 is allowed in the United States, but 12-13 is banned.
• 🇪🇺 EU limits transmission capacity on 36–48 channels (5 GHz).