Xiaomi

Xiaomi Mi Pocket WiFi USB Router/Adapter Setup Guide in English

The Mini USB Router made by Xiaomi is a tiny little USB dongle which can create a Wi-Fi hotspot. The dongle sucks internet data from the PC and disperses it in the form of Wi-Fi network. You can then connect any WiFi enabled device to this network and access internet. All it needs is a free USB port on an internet-connected desktop or laptop computer.

You can also use the Mini USB Router as a Wi-Fi Adapter to connect your PC/Laptop to Wi-Fi. So, if your desktop does not have a WLAN card, you can use the Mi Mini USB Router to connect it to Wi-Fi networks. You can also use it on a laptop if its WLAN card is not functioning.

The only hard thing about setting the device is that the provided software is in Chinese. However, there’s a small hack to change the language to English. That’s what we will use to set up the USB dongle for your use case – As a WiFi Hotspot or As a WiFi Adapter.

Setup as a WiFi Hotspot (Create WiFi)

Setting up the Mi Pocket WiFi for a quick hotspot is a fairly easy task. All you need to do is install the Mi WiFi software on your PC and then plug-in the USB device. You need to have internet access on the PC via either a LAN port, data card or another WiFi receiver.

  1. Download Mi WiFi software (miwifi_setup.exe) from the Xiaomi website – MiWiFi.com.
  2. Install the file by by following the on-screen instructions. Just launch the setup and click the big blue button to install the software & drivers.
    Mi WiFi Utility Setup
    Click to Install
  3. Plug in the Mi Pocket WiFi USB device. It will be detected by the system and a default WiFi network will be created. You can then make changes as per your wish.
    WiFi Main Window
    Main Window

You can now connect any WiFi enabled device to the network created by the Mi Pocket WiFi. You can also use other options such as block list and speed limiter.

Change Language of Software to English

There is no option to change the language, but a quick registry hack can change many options within the software to English.

Just download and run the file from THIS LINK. Alternatively, open Registry Editor (regedit.exe) and browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\XiaoMi\MiWiFi. Here, change the value for Language from chinese to english.

Restart the software after making the changes and it will start in English.

Sharing Files with Others

You can share files with other devices connected to the WiFi network created by Mi Pocket WiFi. Just follow these simple steps:

  1. Click on the Folder icon () on the main window of the software.
  2. Drag and drop files and folders which you wish to share. You can also click on Add a shared file and browse to the file/folder to share.
  3. Now simply open the address http://192.168.123.1:49152/content.html to access the shared files on any other device connected to the WiFi Network of Pocket WiFi.
    Mi WiFi Shared Files
    Access Shared Files

You can also download and install the Android app to access shared files or to upload files from the phone to PC. The app also has options to remotely shut down the PC.

Setup as a WiFi Receiver (Adapter)/WLAN Card

You can also use the Mi Pocket WiFi as a WiFi enabler for your desktop or laptop PC. You will then be able to connect to nearby WiFi networks and access the internet.

  1. Just if you’ve not done it already from the previous process, download and install the Mi WiFi software.
  2. Right click on the Mi WiFi icon from the system tray and choose the 2nd last option as shown in the image below. It will be in Chinese even if you’ve changed the language to English.
    Change to Receiver Mode
  3. Confirm the action by clicking on the Chinese button that appears in the pop-up window.
    Mi WiFi Confirm Mode Change
  4. Wait a few seconds and the device will now start acting as a WiFi receiver for your PC. Just use the Windows wireless networks menu to scan and connect to WiFi networks.

If you wish to change the mode back to WiFi Hotspot, you should repeat the same steps above. Don’t forget to leave a comment if you need any additional information about setting up the Mi Pocket WiFi 🙂

39 Comments

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  • can I find any update for Xiaomi Mi Pocket WiFi USB Router…..
    After update on windows 10, doesn’t work the wired internet on pc

  • failed to establish wifi connection
    it gives this error. I installed and uninstalled eyebrows but it doesn’t work. not connecting.

  • Hi, Thank you for sharing this post. I tried and its work great. Please can you provide the link or name of application for mobile to upload/download data ad use it as remote access. I tried to scan the qr code given in the desktop application but it download the Mi Home. I cannot find the solution. Thanks in advance.

  • hi. this post is great. It works on Windows 7 pc. But when I tried it on Windows 10, it won’t share the internet. is there any update for this?

  • Hi, I’d like to say thank you because I successfully change the menu to English, at least most of them, and learn to make it as wifi receiver.

    Aside from that, its weird that although the wifi is successfully connected to my phone, there are no internet on the wifi, while the internet on my PC still running smoothly. I’m using XP btw. Do you have any idea how to fix this?

  • How to change language of MiWifi Chinese to English?
    I’m using my PC here in office so that all installer will run in Administrator Mode. To bypass the admin rights I used Universal Extractor to extract the installer then Booom!!! the .exe file run in Chinese language.

    • Change Language of Software to English
      There is no option to change the language, but a quick registry hack can change many options within the software to English.

      Just download and run the file from THIS LINK. Alternatively, open Registry Editor (regedit.exe) and browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\XiaoMi\MiWiFi. Here, change the value for Language from chinese to english.

    • You can modify the registry values as mentioned in the article. That will change most of the options to English.

    • Yes, I’ve been testing it on Ubuntu, Fedora, OpenSuse, there is no issue. It is working fine. It is just that you can only use it as wifi adapter but not hotspot

  • Thank you so much…
    Even after following your steps for “Change Language of Software to English”. Its not changing the language.

  • Hi, I can’t set up the WiFi receiver. The second from the bottom option isn’t showing on my desktop . I’m running Windows 8. Thanks

    • No, that won’t work because there are no specific drivers of the Mi Router for the Philips DVD player.

  • Hi guys,

    I have found the problem. The registry key for the language is on a different location now.

    Open Windows registry and go to this location:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE –> SOFTWARE –> WOW6432Node –> Xiaomi –> MiWiFi

    In here you will find the language key and it will say chinese. Double click on language and replace chinese with english. Then click on OK and restart the Mi Wifi app.

    The app wouldn’t be in English entirely but the main functions will. Good luck.

    Richard

    • Thank you for the update, Richard. It seems you’re running a 64-bit version of Windows and the system I tried it on ran 32-bit. I’ll update the post for registry location for both versions of Windows 🙂

  • Hi,

    Thanks for the great guide on how to setup this device! Only problem I have is that i can’t change the language of the software. Could you check if the method that you described with the registry key still works? Maybe the software updated and this method of changing the language doesn’t work anymore..

    Thanks in advance.

    Richard

    • Hi Richard,
      Sorry for the trouble. Can you please try browsing the registry and changing the value manually? I’ll also give it a try when I go home 🙂

      • Hi Narender,

        Thanks for the fast reply! I also noticed that the Xiaomi rigistry is missing. Maybe it’s because I’m using windows 10. Not a big deal tho, everything works wel. Its just confusing sometimes 🙂

        Richard

        • Ah! I did try it on Windows 10 only when writing this guide. Maybe the updated software has brought changes.
          I still haven’t had time to try it again. I’ll get back to you if I find out something 🙂

          • i put the mi mini wifi usb router adapter but it does not do anything it connects with my pc but it still says insert mi pocket wifi

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