Post actualizado el día octubre 17, 2026 by DeiviSanzPlay
So you’re out of data, the Wi-Fi is dead, and you need to share your connection right now. Activating the hotspot on your Xiaomi is the answer, but most people fumble through the menus like it’s their first day with a smartphone. It doesn’t have to be that way.
I’ve set up hotspots on everything from a Redmi Note 8 to a Xiaomi 14 Ultra running HyperOS, and the path changes just enough between MIUI 12, MIUI 14, and HyperOS to drive you crazy. Here’s the no-nonsense version that actually works in 2026.
Where Xiaomi Hides the Hotspot Toggle (It’s Not Where You Think)
The Xiaomi hotspot settings live under a name that trips up almost everyone: not «Hotspot,» not «Tethering» alone, but Portable hotspot or Wi-Fi hotspot depending on your build. On HyperOS it’s usually Settings > Connection & sharing > Portable hotspot.
On older MIUI it’s Settings > Connection & sharing > Portable hotspot & tethering. Same feature, slightly different label. If you can’t find it, pull down the notification shade and long-press the hotspot quick tile — that jumps you straight in.
One thing people miss: Xiaomi sometimes hides the toggle if your carrier blocks tethering. If the option is grayed out, it’s not your phone’s fault. Call your operator and ask if tethering is provisioned on your plan.
Setting Up the Xiaomi Mobile Hotspot the Right Way
Once you’re inside, tap Set up portable hotspot. This is where you stop being a passenger and start taking control of your Xiaomi mobile hotspot.
- SSID: Change the default name. «Redmi_4A2F» tells the whole café you’re an easy target.
- Password: Use WPA3 if your Xiaomi offers it. WPA2 is fine but WPA3 kills the old brute-force tricks.
- Band: Switch to 5 GHz if your devices support it. Less interference, more speed, but shorter range.
- AP band / Channel: Leave on Auto unless you’re in a crowded apartment block — then pick a channel manually.
Here’s a detail nobody mentions: on 5 GHz your battery drains noticeably faster. If you’re sharing data with a laptop for a two-hour Zoom call, plug the phone in. Don’t be a hero.
5 GHz vs 2.4 GHz: Pick Based on What You’re Doing
The 5 GHz hotspot Xiaomi mode is the one you want when you’re streaming or on a video call. It’s less congested and delivers real throughput — I’ve pulled 80 Mbps on a Xiaomi 13T Pro sharing a 5G signal.
But 5 GHz has a weakness: walls eat it alive. If you’re sharing with a device two rooms away, drop back to 2.4 GHz. Slower, but it actually reaches.
My rule of thumb: same room = 5 GHz, different room = 2.4 GHz, and if you don’t know, leave it on Auto and let the phone decide.
Battery, Data Caps, and the Traps Nobody Warns You About
Your Xiaomi will nag you when battery saver is on — and it’s right to. Running a portable Wi-Fi hotspot is one of the heaviest things you can do to a phone’s battery.
Two fixes that actually work:
- Turn off battery saver while tethering, but cap the session. Xiaomi lets you set an auto-off timer under the hotspot settings. Use it.
- Set a data limit inside the same menu. Otherwise one forgotten 4K YouTube stream on your laptop can burn through your monthly cap in an evening.
Another trap: hotspot 2.0 and carrier Wi-Fi offloading can conflict on some Xiaomi models, causing devices to connect but get no internet. If that happens, disable «Wi-Fi Assistant» in Settings > Wi-Fi > Assistant.
When the Hotspot Won’t Turn On: Real Fixes, Not Voodoo
If your Xiaomi hotspot not working situation is driving you mad, run through this checklist in order:
- Toggle Airplane mode on and off — resets the modem’s radio state.
- Check if your carrier plan includes tethering. Many «unlimited» plans throttle or block it.
- Reboot the phone. Boring, but it clears radio bugs nine times out of ten.
- Reset network settings (Settings > Connection & sharing > Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks, and Bluetooth).
- If you’re on a custom ROM, the tethering APN may be missing — you’ll need to add it manually.
I’ll be blunt: if none of that works, it’s almost always the carrier, not Xiaomi. Stop reinstalling MIUI and call your operator.
Security: Stop Sharing Your Data Like It’s a Public Park
A secure Xiaomi hotspot is not optional. The default WPA2 password Xiaomi generates is fine, but the SSID is a giveaway. Change both.
If you’re tethering in an airport, hotel lobby, or anywhere public, treat your hotspot like a network you don’t own. Because everyone around you is a potential guest you didn’t invite.
Hide the SSID if you want extra stealth, but be aware some devices refuse to connect to hidden networks. It’s a trade-off, not a magic bullet.
Also: turn off «Allow all devices to connect» if HyperOS gives you the option. Whitelist only the MAC addresses you trust. It’s the closest thing to a real guest list on a phone hotspot.
Sharing Internet from Xiaomi to Everything Else
Your phone isn’t just a phone once the Xiaomi internet sharing is on. It’s a router, a fallback ISP, and honestly the reason I stopped paying for a second SIM in my tablet.
Laptops, tablets, an old iPod Touch, a Nintendo Switch — they all connect the same way. Just remember the rule that nobody says out loud: the more devices you pile on, the slower each one gets. Xiaomi typically caps you around 8–10 clients, and past four the experience degrades fast.
If you’re sharing with a group, ask them to pause background syncs. One Windows laptop updating in the background can kill everyone else’s connection.
That’s the whole game. Activate the hotspot, lock it down, watch your battery and data, and stop treating it like a mystery menu. Your Xiaomi has been a portable router this whole time — you just weren’t using it.
