Tethering in Xiaomi smartphones: a complete guide to giving out the Internet

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you only have a Xiaomi smartphone at hand and a laptop or tablet urgently needs the Internet? In such cases, tethering comes to the rescue, which is the transfer of mobile traffic from your phone to other devices. This technology saves you on trips, business trips or when your home Wi-Fi suddenly turned off. But how to set up tethering on Xiaomi, what modes exist and why sometimes the connection is unstable?

In this article, we will analyze all the nuances of using tethering on Xiaomi, Redmi and smartphones. POCO — From basic settings to solving common problems, you'll learn how to distribute the Internet over a Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth or a wi-fi hotspot. USB-We'll also compare the power consumption of different tethering modes and give you tips on how to save battery life.

What is tethering and why it is needed in Xiaomi smartphones

Tethering is a technology that allows you to use your smartphone as a modem to distribute mobile Internet to other devices, essentially making your Xiaomi a hotspot through which a laptop, tablet, or even another phone can access the network, a feature that is particularly useful:

• 🌍 Traveling where there is no access to fixed Wi-Fi (train, airport, hotel).
• 💻 For emergency work on a laptop when the home Internet is turned off.
• 🎮 For online games on a tablet or console (such as Nintendo Switch).
• 📱 To connect a second phone with or without a broken screen to the internet SIM-map.

On Xiaomi smartphones, tethering function is implemented at the operating system level MIUI It is supported by almost all models – from the budget Redmi. 10A Xiaomi 14 Ultra flagships, with three ways to distribute the Internet:

1. Wi-Fi hotspot is the most popular and convenient method (up to 10 connected devices).
2. Bluetooth-tethering – saves battery power, but is limited in speed (up to a maximum of two years). 3-5 device).
3. USB tethering is a stable connection via cable, suitable for laptops (usually 1 device).

Important: at some mobile operators, tethering can be blocked or charged separately, for example, Beeline and MegaFon sometimes limit the speed when distributing Internet, even if the phone has unlimited traffic.

How to turn on Wi-Fi hotspot on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

Distribution of the Internet through Wi-Fi is the most universal way, since several devices can be connected to the hotspot at once (usually up to the limit of the Internet). 10). Here's how to do it on Xiaomi smartphones with a shell MIUI 12/13/14:

1. Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the section Network and Internet → Access Point and modem (on some models, the path may differ: Connections and Sharing) → Modem mode).
3. Slip on the Wi-Fi Access Point.
4. Activate the Wi-Fi Access Point slider (it will turn blue).
5. When you first turn on, the system will suggest setting up the network name (SSID) By default, the name usually matches the phone model (e.g., the phone name, Redmi_Note_12_5G).

Once activated next to the clock, a hotspot icon (two arcs diverging from the dot) will appear in the status bar. Now other devices can connect to your network by entering a set password.

Change the standard network name (SSID) uniquely|Set a complex password (minimum 8 characters with numbers and letters)|Turn off the hotspot when you don’t need it.|Check the connected devices in the menu "Wi-Fi Access Point"-->

Tip: If you use a hotspot a lot, add a shortcut for quick access.

1. Turn the notification bar (swipe down from the top edge of the screen).
2. Click on the pencil icon (panel editing).
3. Find the Access Point tile and drag it to the active area.

Now you can turn on / off the hotspot with one tap, without going into the settings.

Bluetooth-tethering: how to distribute the Internet without Wi-Fi

If you only need to connect one device (like a laptop or tablet) and save battery power, Bluetooth tethering will be a good alternative to Wi-Fi. 3-5 Mbit/s versus 10-50 Mbps for Wi-Fi, but power consumption will be reduced by 20-30%.

Instructions for setting:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on both devices (the Xiaomi smartphone and the one that will connect).
2. On your smartphone, go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Modem Modem.
3. Activate the Bluetooth modem option.
4. On the second device, find your Xiaomi in the list of available Bluetooth devices and pair.
5. After connecting on the second device, select the option “Connect to the Internet” (on Windows, this can be the option “Personal Network”).

Bluetooth tethering is convenient for long-term Internet distribution, as it heats the phone less and puts the battery down more slowly.

• ⚡ Speed will be lower than Wi-Fi (enough for instant messengers and mail, but not for streaming video in the Internet). 4K).
• 🔗 You can connect no more at the same time. 3-5 Devices (depending on the phone model).
• 📱 Some laptops may require installing drivers to work properly.

💡

If Bluetooth tethering doesn't work, try turning off and re-enable modem mode on your phone, and then reconnect the device. Sometimes rebooting both gadgets helps.

USB-tethering: stable connection via cable

Internet distribution USB — The most reliable way, because the connection is independent of interference and distance, and this method is ideal for laptops, especially if you want to download large files or play online games. 50-100 Mbps), and the battery charge of the phone is practically not consumed (since it is simultaneously charged from the phone. USB).

To enable USB-tethering on Xiaomi:

1. Connect your phone to your laptop/PC using the original USB-cable (preferably with data transmission support).
2. On the phone in the notification menu, select the connection mode File transfer (MTP) Or just charging (if the first option didn't work).
3. Go to Settings → Network and Internet → Access Point and modem.
4. Activate the option. USB-modem.

After that, the laptop should automatically appear a new network connection.

• 🖥️ Check if the drivers are installed for your Xiaomi (Windows usually installs them automatically).
• 🔌 Try another one. USB-port (preferably) USB 3.0 for maximum speed).
• 📱 Reboot your phone and reconnect.

Important: On some Xiaomi models (for example, POCO X3 Pro) USB tethering may not work when connecting to ports USB-C In this case, an adapter or other cable will help.

Operator Limitations: Why Tethering May Not Work

Even if you set up tethering correctly on Xiaomi, the Internet may not be handed out due to the limitations of the mobile operator. Many tariffs with unlimited Internet actually have limits on the traffic used for tethering.

If your operator blocks tethering, you can try the following methods:

• 🌐 Use it. VPN-applications (e.g. 1.1.1.1 or ProtonVPN) Some operators define tethering by TTL-packages, and VPN change them.
• 📱 Enable Flight Mode for 10 seconds, then activate mobile data and hotspot again.
• 🔄 Reset network settings in Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting Wi-Fi, Mobile Network and Bluetooth.

⚠️ Attention: Use VPN To circumvent restrictions, tethering may violate your operator's rules. SIM-check the card or speed limit before using the tariff.

Tethering problems on Xiaomi and their solutions

Even with the right setup, tethering on Xiaomi can be unstable, and here are the most common problems and ways to solve them:

1.The devices do not connect to the hotspot

If other gadgets can’t see your access point or can’t connect:

• 🔄 Restart your phone and try turning on the hotspot again.
• 📵 Make sure that your phone has Mobile Data enabled (sometimes it turns off automatically when you activate the hotspot).
• 🔐 Check your Wi-Fi password – you may have entered it with an error.
• 📶 Try changing the Wi-Fi range in the hotspot settings (for example, from 5 GHz to 2.4 GHz).

2.The Internet is slow or cut off

If the distribution speed is low or the connection is unstable:

• 📡 Check the signal strength of the mobile network (if it is weak, try moving closer to the window).
• 🚫 Disable background apps that may consume traffic (such as updates or cloud services).
• 🔄 Change the network type in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Network type (e.g. with 4G on 3G, signal 4G unstable).
• 📱 Make sure your phone doesn’t activate power saving mode (it may limit modem performance).

3.The phone discharges quickly when the Internet is distributed

Tethering puts a lot of stress on the processor and the communication module, which causes the battery to run out faster.

• 🔋 Connect your phone to charge (especially with USB tethering).
• 🌙 Activate a dark theme and reduce the brightness of the screen.
• ❄️ Turn off unnecessary background processes in Settings → Battery → Energy saving regime.
• 📴 Use Bluetooth tethering instead of Wi-Fi if speed is not critical.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note) 10 Pro) if you give long Wi-Fi, your phone may overheat. If the case gets hot, turn off the hotspot on the phone. 10-15 minutes to avoid trottling (automatic performance reduction).

Comparison of tethering modes: which to choose?

Each way to distribute the Internet on Xiaomi has its pros and cons. In the table below, we compared the main parameters to make it easier for you to choose the best option:

Which regime to choose?

• 🎮 For games, video streaming or file downloads – USB-tethering or Wi-Fi hotspot.
• 📱 For instant messengers and mail on the same device – Bluetooth-tethering.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 To connect several gadgets (laptop) + tablet - Wi-Fi hotspot.

💡

USB tethering is the best choice for laptops, as it provides a stable connection and charges the phone at the same time. Wi-Fi is suitable for mobile devices, and Bluetooth is for battery saving.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions about Tethering on Xiaomi