When home internet is down or you’re on a trip, your smartphone is the only window into the digital world. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices can easily turn their gadget into a full-fledged router, providing a stable Internet for laptops, tablets and other devices, a solution often faster and more reliable than finding open Wi-Fi in a cafe or using public networks.
Using Xiaomi as a modem allows you not only to share traffic, but also to control connected devices, limit speed and save battery power. Modern versions of the shell MIUI and HyperOS offer advanced tools for managing network connections, making the setup process as simple as possible even for inexperienced users.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available ways to distribute the Internet, focus on wired USB connection, which provides maximum stability and minimal signal latency. You will learn about the intricacies of setting up APN profiles, the hidden features of the engineering menu and how to solve the typical errors that users face when organizing a mobile access point.
Choosing the method of distributing the Internet: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or USB
Before you start setting up, you need to decide on the way to transfer data, as each of them has its own unique advantages and disadvantages depending on your situation. Wi-Fi access point is the most popular option due to its versatility and the ability to connect multiple devices without the use of additional cables.
But wireless connections consume significantly more power and may be less stable in noisy ether. If you want top speed and minimum ping, for example, for online games or video conferencing, you can do it in a very low-speed, low-speed, low-level, low-speed, low-level, low-level, low-level ping environment. USB-The modem will become a leader without alternative, providing not only data transfer, but also simultaneous charging of the smartphone.
The third option, a Bluetooth modem, is the least used because of its low data rate, but it can be a lifeline in emergency cases when other interfaces are unavailable or faulty, a method that is suitable for transmitting small amounts of textual information or working with instant messengers at critically low battery power.
- 📶 Wi-Fi: High speed, support for multiple devices, but high power consumption.
- 🔌 USB: Maximum stability, no delays, charge the device, connect only one gadget.
- 🔵 Bluetooth: Minimum power consumption, low speed, complex initial pairing setup.
It should be noted that when the modem mode is activated, the system will automatically turn off other data transmission methods if they conflict with the chosen protocol. USB-Wireless modem can be temporarily deactivated to prevent data packet loss.
⚠️ Note: When using a smartphone as a Wi-Fi hotspot, the device can become significantly hotter. It is recommended to remove the protective case and not cover the phone to avoid overheating of the processor and communication module.
How to set up a Wi-Fi access point for Xiaomi
The standard procedure for activating a wireless modem in the MIUI and HyperOS shells is as simple as possible and takes just a few seconds. First, you need to go to the main settings menu and find the section responsible for wireless networks, which is usually called the Wi-Fi Access Point or located inside the Connection and Sharing menu.
After logging into the menu, you will need to specify a network name (SSID) and set a strong password to prevent unauthorized access to your traffic. The system will suggest choosing a security standard, where the best option is WPA2-PSK or WPA3, which provides encryption of the transmitted data.
In the same section, you can also have advanced settings that allow you to limit the number of connected devices or set a traffic limit, after which the Internet distribution will automatically stop, a useful feature for controlling costs if you do not use unlimited mobile data.
Special attention should be paid to the frequency range: modern Xiaomi smartphones support work in the 5 GHz band, which provides a higher speed, but has a shorter range compared to the traditional 2.4 GHz. You can switch between the ranges at the Setting up the access point, selecting the appropriate option in the AP Range menu.
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For maximum speed, connect devices to the 5GHz band, but remember that older gadgets may not see it.
Wired connection: setting up USB-modem
Using Xiaomi Smartphone as a Service USB-The modem requires the device to be physically connected to the computer via a quality cable. Once the cable is connected to the PC port and smartphone, the Android system usually requests the mode of operation. USB, Offering options like “Charge Only”, “File Transfer” or “Photo Transfer».
To activate the modem modem, you do not need to manually select these options in the pop-up window. USB-A modem that will only be available if the cable is physically connected successfully.If the menu item is inactive (gray), check the integrity of the cable or try another one. USB-port.
A Windows computer automatically recognizes a new network connection and installs the necessary drivers if they have not been installed before, and in the Device Manager this will appear as a new network adapter, and in the notification area, a wired connection icon will appear, even if the cable is physically stuck in the phone.
☑️ Verification USB-connection
An important advantage of this method is the ability to use the RNDIS or ECM protocol, which emulates the network card, providing a stable communication channel without packet loss, this is especially true for users working with remote desktops or servers, where every millisecond of response is important.
Hidden settings and engineering menu
For advanced users who want to gain full control over network settings, hidden partitions are available, reachable through the engineering menu, and are logged in via a set of special code in the Phone app, but on global versions of Xiaomi firmware, this entry can be blocked by the operator or region.
One useful code to check the status of the network is ##4636##, which opens the test menu. Here, in the Phone Information section, you can force the network type to switch between LTE Only, WCDMA Only or NR Only (5G), which sometimes helps to "catch" the network in unstable reception areas before turning on the modem.
adb shell settings put global tether_dun_required 0The above command, executed via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), allows you to bypass the restrictions of some mobile operators that block or charge separately the distribution of the Internet, this action requires the rights of the developer and the connected debugger over USB.
Is it dangerous to use an engineering menu?
And you can also find information about the real signal level in dBm in the hidden settings, which is more informative than the standard sticks in the status bar. With the exact values, you can place your smartphone in the best location for maximum speed.
Solving Connection and Driver Problems
A common problem when using Xiaomi as a modem on Windows computers is the lack of automatic driver installation or conflict of network settings. If the computer sees the phone but the Internet does not work, first check the Device Manager for unknown devices with a yellow exclamation mark.
In some cases, you need to manually update the network adapter driver by selecting from the RNDIS or Remote NDIS based Internet Sharing Device. This is a standard Windows driver that works correctly with most Android smartphones, including the Redmi Note and Poco F series models.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The computer can't see. USB-modem | Faulty cable or “Charging Only” mode | Replace the cable, select MTP/PTP mode |
| There is a connection, but there is no internet. | Incorrect APN settings or operator lock | Check APN, use ADB command |
| Low transmission speed | Weak 4G signal or overheating | Change location, cool the device |
| The device often shuts down. | Energy conservation USB-port | Disable energy savings in Device Manager |
If the problem lies in the power saving settings of Windows, the system can turn off USB-It's a port to save energy, which causes the connection to break. USB-the root concentrator and uncheck the box from the item "Allow disconnection of this device to save energy».
⚠️ Note: When installing drivers from unverified sources, there is a risk of malware infection to your computer. Use only the official Windows Update drivers or the manufacturer's website.
Set up APN profiles for different operators
Correct operation of the mobile Internet and, accordingly, the modem directly depends on the correctness of filling in the fields of the access point (APN). In Xiaomi smartphones, these settings are usually pulled up automatically when installed. SIM-maps, but in manual mode or when changing the region, errors may occur.
To access the settings, go on the Settings path → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Access points (APN). You can create a new access point or edit an existing one, APN (access point address, as well as login and password, if required by your operator.
For example, for the operator MTS in the field APN you need to register Internet.mts.ru, and for MegaFon - Internet. Error even in one character will lead to the fact that the phone will show the presence of the network, but will not be able to transfer data. After making changes, be sure to save the profile and select it active.
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A properly configured APN is the foundation of a stable mobile Internet, and if the Internet doesn't work, 90 percent of the time, it's here.
In some cases, carriers use specific types of APNs, such as for multimedia messaging (MMS) or for tariffed traffic. Make sure you edit the profile that is marked as the primary data transfer, rather than the service profile for WAP.
Optimization of power consumption during modem operation
Modem mode puts a high load on the processor and radio module of the smartphone, which leads to accelerated battery discharge. Xiaomi owners can use built-in optimization tools to extend the battery life of the device in this mode.
First of all, it is recommended to reduce the brightness of the screen or completely turn off the display, as it is one of the main consumers of energy, and it is also worth turning off background synchronization of heavy applications, geolocation and Bluetooth if they are not used for distribution.
MIUI has a Battery feature where you can adjust the behavior of applications in the background. For system processes that are responsible for the network, it is better to set a “No restrictions” limit so that the system does not “kill” the distribution process for the sake of saving charge, but for user applications it is worth turning on hard savings.
- 🔋 Turn it off. 5G: If the cover 4G Switching to "Only" mode LTE» It will save a significant amount of energy.
- 📉 Limit background processes: Close all heavy applications before switching on the modem.
- ❄️ Refrigeration: Remove the case and put the phone on a cool surface or use a cooler.
⚠️ Attention: Constant operation of the smartphone in modem modem at high temperature can lead to battery bloating and shorten the life of the device.