How to turn a Xiaomi smartphone into a USB- modem for your computer: full instruction

When Wi-Fi is out of reach and the Internet is urgently needed, Xiaomi can become a full modem via a regular USB- cable, which not only saves battery power compared to a Wi-Fi hotspot, but also provides a more stable connection — without delays and cliffs. However, many users face problems: the phone is not defined as a modem, speed leaves much to be desired, or Windows stubbornly requires drivers.

In this article, we’ll look at all the steps of setting up the USB- modem on Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO smartphones, from preparing your phone to solving common bugs. You’ll learn how to get around carrier limitations, why the connection can be slow, and how to speed it up manually. And if your PC refuses to see the phone as a network device, you’ll find proven ways to fix it without flashing it.

Spoiler: For most modern Xiaomi models (starting with MIUI 12), it is enough to include one tick in the settings, but there are nuances with carrier locks, drivers and even the Windows version - everything in order.

What Xiaomi phones support USB- mode

Almost all Xiaomi smartphones released after 2017 are able to distribute Internet over USB, but there are important exceptions and limitations:

• 📱 All models on MIUI 12 and newer (including Redmi Note 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5, Xiaomi 11/12/13) support modem out of the box.
• ⚠️ Older models on MIUI 10-11 (e.g., Redmi 5/6/7, Mi 8/9) may require manual driver installation on a PC.
• 🚫 Operator firmware phones (e.g., MTS, Beeline, Megaphone) often block the USB- modem, so you can reset your network settings or flash the global version MIUI.
• 🔄 Devices with unlocked bootloader – sometimes lose modem function after installing custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS).

To check support on your model, go to Settings → SIM- Cards and Mobile Networks → Data Transfer and Access Point → Modem Modem. If there is no USB-modem, then the function is blocked at the firmware or operator level.

Preparing your phone: 5 mandatory steps before connecting

Before you connect your phone to your computer, do these steps – they will save you an hour of debugging:

Make sure that the phone is on mobile Internet (the icon 4G/5G in the status bar)

Disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your phone (they may conflict with the USB- modem)

Enable the developer mode and activate debugging over USB (optional, but helps with errors)

Check that the cable supports data transmission (not all charging cables are suitable!)

Update MIUI Up to the latest version (old versions have modem bugs)-->

Pay special attention to the cable: cheap "nounaime" wires often do not transmit data, but only charge. If after connecting the computer produces an error "USB device is not recognized" - first try another cable (original from Xiaomi or certified USB 2.0 Type-C).

Also check the balance and tariff: some operators (for example, Tele2) block the distribution of the Internet without an additional option. Check the terms with your provider - sometimes it is enough to send a USSD- request (for example, *111*77# for MegaFon).

⚠️ Warning: If you use two SIM- cards, the modem will only work with the one selected as the primary data transfer mode. You can switch it to Settings → SIM- maps → Mobile Internet.

Step-by-step instruction: how to turn on USB-modem

Now, let's get to the bottom line. Follow the instructions exactly, the order is important.

1. Connect your phone to your computer with the original cable. On your phone screen, select File Transfer (MTP) mode (this is temporary, then we'll change).
2. Open on your phone Settings → SIM-cards and mobile networks → Data transfer and access point.
3. Activate Modem Modem Modem Modem Modem Slider, then tick the USB- Modem.
4. On your computer, wait for the drivers to install (on Windows, it can take 1-2 minutes). If the notification appears, "Device ready to use" - everything went well.
5. Check the connection: the phone should have a USB icon with two arrows in the status bar, and a new network connection on the PC.

If you don't have the Internet on your computer after that, go to the "Problem Solutions" section, and it's probably the drivers or Windows settings that are to blame.

Computer configuration: drivers and network parameters

Often the problem is not the phone, but the PC, and here's what you need to do on the computer side:

For Windows 10/11:

• 🔧 Install the Xiaomi USB Modem Driver (you can download from the official website or 4PDA).
• 🖥️ Go to Control Panel → Network Adapters and check if the Remote NDIS device has arrived.
• 🔄 If there is a connection but the internet is not working, in connection properties, disable IPv6 and manually install DNS (e.g., 8.8.8.8 and 1.1.1.1).

For macOS/Linux:

These systems usually don't require additional drivers, unless the modem is defined:

• 🐧 In Linux, check the output of the lsusb command — the phone should appear as a network device.
• 🍎 On a Mac, restart your computer with your phone connected (sometimes helps reset the cache of USB- devices).

⚠️ Warning: If you use VPN on your phone (for example, to bypass locks), turn it off before activating the modem. Some VPN- applications conflict with the distribution of the Internet over USB.

Problem Solving: The modem is not working or is slow

Even if you do everything according to the instructions, there may be failures. Here are the top-5 causes and solutions:

1.The telephone is not defined as a modem

• 🔌 Try another USB- port (better USB 2.0 than 3.0 - they sometimes conflict).
• 📱 Reboot your phone in Fastboot mode (keep Volume Down + Power), then turn it back on.
• 🖥️ In Windows, turn off driver digital signature verification (via Run → gpedit.msc).

2. connection is available, but the Internet is not working

Check it out.

• 📶 Signal level on the phone (if 1-2 stick 4G, the speed will be meager).
• 🔒 Settings APN (Access Points). For most operators in Russia, use:

Name: Internet


APN: internet.mts.ru (for MTS) / internet.beeline.ru (for Beeline) / internet.tele2.ru (for Tele2)




Type of authentication: PAP or CHAP




APN Protocol: IPv4/IPv6

• 🔄 Switch the network from 4G to 3G (sometimes helps with unstable signaling).

3. Low speed (less than 5 Mbps)

On Xiaomi smartphones with Qualcomm processors (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3) the speed of USB-modem is limited to 150 Mbit / s, and on MediaTek (Redmi POCO ZXZ M3) - 50 Mbit / s. This hardware limitation cannot be circumvented.

To speed up the connection:

• 📵 Turn off the background apps on your phone (they are "stealing" traffic).
• 🔧 In the modem settings (Settings → Modem Mode → Additional), turn on Optimize for Speed.
• 🌐 Use DNS from Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google (8.8.8.8).

💡

If the speed is critically low (less than 1 Mbps), try turning off traffic savings in the SIM- card settings. To do this, go to Settings → SIM- Cards → Data Transfer → Traffic Saving and deactivate the option.

4. "No Internet access" error in Windows

This is a typical problem in a network setting conflict, and it corrects this:

1. Open the Command Prompt on behalf of the administrator.
2. Execute commands in order: netsh winsock reset netsh int ip reset ipconfig /flushdns
3. Restart the computer.

5.The phone overheats or discharges quickly

The USB- modem loads the phone’s processor, so:

• 🔋 Connect your phone to charge (it is better to use the original power supply).
• ☁️ Close all apps on your phone except those you need.
• ❄️ If the phone is getting too hot, turn down the screen brightness and turn off Auto Sync.

💡

If no solution has worked, check if your carrier is blocking the distribution of the Internet. For example, MTS and Beeline require the option "Modem" (cost ~50-100 ₽/month) to be connected at some rates.

Alternative ways to distribute the Internet with Xiaomi

If the USB- modem doesn’t work or doesn’t suit the speed, consider these options:

• 📶 Wi-Fi hotspot -- easier to set up, but consumes the battery faster. Enables in Settings → Modem Mode → Wi-Fi hotspot.
• 🔵 Bluetooth modem is slower USB (max. 3 Mbps), but saves charge. Suitable for transferring small files.
• 🔌 Reverse Tether – if you want to distribute the Internet from PC to phone (for example, via USB or Wi-Fi Direct).
• 📡 External 4G- modem – if the phone doesn’t work, buy a USB- modem from a carrier (e.g., Huawei E3372).

Comparison of methods by key parameters:

If you need the most stable connection (for example, for online games or video conferencing), it is better to use a USB- modem or an external 4G- modem. Wi-Fi is also suitable for checking mail.

Security: Risks of using your phone as a modem

Phone Internet is convenient, but not always secure.

• 🔓 Open ports: In modem mode, the phone becomes vulnerable to network attacks. Do not connect to questionable networks (e.g., public Wi-Fi + modem at the same time).
• 📡 Traffic interception: If you use HTTP (not HTTPS), the data can be intercepted. Always check the lock in the browser address bar.
• 📱 Personal data leak: Some applications (e.g. banking) block the operation of an active modem. Close them before connecting.
• 🔋 Battery overheating and wear: Constant modem operation accelerates battery degradation. Try to plug your phone into charging.

To minimize the risks:

• Use a VPN on your computer (like ProtonVPN or Windscribe).
• Turn off USB Debugging in modem modem (if not needed).
• Regularly update MIUI – new versions will close vulnerabilities.

⚠️ Warning: If you connect your phone to a public computer (such as an internet cafe), after use, be sure to restart the device and check the network settings. Attackers can swap DNS or install a proxy.

FAQ: Frequent questions about USB-modem on Xiaomi