Xiaomi Hotspot Connected But No Internet on Giffgaff

Xiaomi Hotspot Connected but No Internet on Giffgaff – UK Fix

If your Xiaomi, Redmi, or POCO device shows devices connected to your Personal Hotspot but those devices have no internet access, this guide explains why and how to fix it specifically for Giffgaff UK.

Quick Answer:
If devices connect to your Xiaomi hotspot but can't access the internet, first confirm mobile data works on your phone with Wi-Fi turned off. Then check your remaining Giffgaff data allowance, disable Battery Saver and any VPN, and restart your phone. Only review APN settings if mobile data also isn't working or you've recently changed them.

Why This Happens

  • Mobile data not working on the phone – If data doesn't work on the Xiaomi itself, hotspot devices won't get internet.
  • Goodybag expired or data exhausted – Giffgaff cuts off data when your allowance runs out or your credit reaches zero.
  • Battery Saver interference – Can prevent proper data routing through the hotspot.
  • VPN active – Some VPNs block or interfere with tethering.
  • HyperOS update effect – Occasionally, a HyperOS update may temporarily affect hotspot or tethering until another update is released.
  • APN misconfiguration – Only relevant if you've manually changed APN settings, or if mobile data also fails to work.

Check Network Status – Giffgaff UK

Giffgaff uses the O2 network in the UK. Check:

  • Giffgaff network status page – Visit giffgaff.com/network-status for live outage information.
  • Your data balance – Open the Giffgaff app or text BALANCE to 43430 to check remaining data.
  • Service coverage – Giffgaff coverage matches O2's network. Check coverage at giffgaff.com/coverage.
  • Top-up status – If you use Pay As You Go, ensure you have credit. If you use a Goodybag, confirm it's active and hasn't expired.

Check Mobile Data on Your Xiaomi

Before troubleshooting hotspot, confirm mobile data works on your phone itself.

  1. Turn WiFi off – Swipe down, tap WiFi icon to disable.
  2. Enable Mobile Data – Settings → SIM cards & mobile networks → [Giffgaff] SIM → Mobile data → ON.
  3. Open a website – Use Chrome or any browser. If pages load, mobile data works. If not, fix mobile data first

Check Data Allowance – Goodybag or Credit

Giffgaff stops data access when:

  • Your Goodybag data allowance is fully used.
  • Your Pay As You Go credit balance is zero.
  • Your Goodybag has expired and hasn't been renewed.

Check your balance: Open the Giffgaff app or text BALANCE to 43430. If you have no data, top up or buy a new Goodybag.

Check Battery Saver and VPN

  1. Turn off Battery Saver – Settings → Battery → Battery saver → OFF. Battery Saver can block hotspot data routing.
  2. Disable any active VPN – Settings → Connection & sharing → VPN → disconnect. Some VPNs prevent tethering from working.
  3. Test hotspot again after disabling both.

Check Hotspot Data Limit (If Available)

Some HyperOS versions include a data limit for Personal Hotspot that can cut off internet when reached.

  1. Settings → Connection & sharing → Personal hotspot → Data limit.
  2. Check if a limit is set. If it's set too low, disable it or increase the limit.
  3. Test hotspot again after adjusting.

Forget and Reconnect to the Hotspot

Sometimes the connected device's DHCP lease expires or becomes corrupted. Reconnecting forces a fresh IP assignment.

  1. On the connected device, forget the Xiaomi hotspot.
  2. Reconnect using the password again.
  3. Test internet access.

SIM / Network Reset Actions

Try these in order. Test hotspot after each step.

  1. Toggle Airplane mode – ON for 30 seconds, then OFF. Forces re-registration on Giffgaff network.
  2. Restart your Xiaomi – Full reboot clears temporary glitches.
  3. Reinsert SIM – Power off, remove SIM, check for dirt, reinsert firmly, power on.

HyperOS / System Update Check

Occasionally, a HyperOS update may temporarily affect hotspot or tethering until another update is released.

  • Settings → About phone → Check for updates. Install the latest available HyperOS update.
  • If the issue started after a recent update, restart your phone again. Some network settings may reset after major HyperOS updates and require a second restart to stabilise.

Check Your APN (Only If Mobile Data Isn't Working)

If mobile data also doesn't work on your Xiaomi, incorrect APN settings may be preventing internet access.

Verify or update your APN:

  1. Settings → SIM cards & mobile networks → [Giffgaff] SIM → Access Point Names.
  2. Select the active APN (usually labelled giffgaff).
  3. Verify these values exactly:
    • Name: giffgaff
    • APN: giffgaff.com
    • Username: giffgaff
    • Password: password
    • MMSC: http://mms.giffgaff.com
    • MMS Proxy: 203.133.48.102
    • MMS Port: 8799
    • APN type: default,supl,mms
    • APN protocol: IPv4
    • APN roaming protocol: IPv4
  4. If anything differs, correct it, save, and select this APN.
  5. Toggle Airplane mode ON for 30 seconds, then OFF to apply changes.

If no APN exists: Tap the + (plus) icon to create a new APN using the values above. Save and select it.

If APN is correct but data still doesn't work: Reset APN to defaults – Settings → SIM cards & mobile networks → [Giffgaff] SIM → Access Point Names → three-dot menu → Reset to default. Then restart your phone.

Reset Network Settings (Last Resort)

If nothing else works, reset network settings. This removes saved WiFi passwords and Bluetooth pairings.

  1. Settings → Additional settings → Backup & reset → Reset phone → Reset network settings.
  2. Confirm the reset.
  3. Restart your phone.
  4. Re-enter your Giffgaff APN if it was reset (see APN section above).
  5. Test hotspot again.

Test With Another Device Before Contacting Giffgaff

Before contacting support, test your hotspot with at least two different devices (e.g., another phone and a laptop). If the issue only happens with one device, the problem may be that device rather than your Xiaomi or Giffgaff.

Contact Giffgaff

If your hotspot fails on multiple devices after completing the steps above, the issue is more likely to be with your mobile connection or Giffgaff account than with the connected devices.

Contact Giffgaff support if:

  • Mobile data works on your phone but hotspot consistently fails on multiple devices.
  • Your APN is correct and network reset didn't help.
  • You have data allowance but tethering is blocked.
  • You suspect a restriction on your account.

How to contact:

  • Giffgaff community forums – community.giffgaff.com
  • Giffgaff app – Support section
  • Call Giffgaff – 0330 123 0002 (standard rates apply)

Final Verdict

In most cases, the hotspot itself isn't broken. The issue is usually the mobile data connection, an expired Goodybag, Battery Saver, or a temporary software issue. Check your data balance first. Confirm mobile data works on the phone. Disable Battery Saver and VPN. Only check APN if mobile data also fails. Restart and toggle Airplane mode. Reset network settings only as a last resort. If all fails, contact Giffgaff to confirm tethering is enabled on your account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my hotspot say "Connected, No Internet"?
This means the Wi-Fi connection between devices is working, but data isn't routing through your Xiaomi's mobile connection. Common causes include no mobile data, expired data allowance, Battery Saver, VPN, or temporary software glitches.

Why does hotspot work on one laptop but not another?
Different devices handle IP assignment differently. Try forgetting and reconnecting to the hotspot on the problematic device. Also check if that device has a VPN or proxy enabled.

Can unlimited Giffgaff data be used for tethering?
Yes, Giffgaff allows tethering on Goodybag plans. However, tethering usage counts toward your data allowance. If you exceed your fair usage policy, speeds may be reduced.

Does 5GHz hotspot cause connection problems?
Some older devices don't support 5GHz Wi-Fi. If devices see the hotspot but can't connect, try switching to 2.4GHz: Settings → Connection & sharing → Personal hotspot → Set up Wi-Fi hotspot → AP Band → 2.4GHz.

Should I reset APN or network settings first?
Reset APN first if mobile data isn't working at all. If mobile data works but hotspot has no internet, try network settings reset only after all other steps fail.

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