When a laptop is without Wi-Fi and a mobile router is dead or unstable, many people know that in such moments, an Android smartphone becomes a real salvation, allowing you to instantly organize an access point for work or study. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices often choose a wired connection, because it provides a more stable signal and lower latency compared to wireless mode.
Use of the USB-Not only does the cable have an advantage in data rate, but it also saves battery power on the phone, because the device is powered by the computer at the same time. MIUI Or HyperOS takes a few minutes if you know where to look for the switches you want, and below we'll go through all the connection steps, the drivers' nuances, and how to solve typical problems.
Unlike a Bluetooth modem, which can be slow, or a Wi-Fi hotspot, which greatly heats the case of a smartphone, the cable method is the “golden mean” in reliability. USB-The modem creates a direct connection, minimizing packet loss, which is critical for video calls or online games. Let's take a look at how to properly activate this feature on your device.
Preparation of equipment and checking of settings
Before you go to the software part, you need to make sure you're physically ready to connect. USB-The cheap cables of the powerbank kits often lack internal contacts to transmit information, making the connection useless.
Make sure your mobile carrier plan includes Internet distribution. Some providers may block or additionally charge traffic transmitted via Tethering (modem mode). Also check that the phone is mobile data enabled and there is a confident signal of a 4G or 5G network.
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Use the cable that came bundled with your phone, or a high-quality analog with high-speed data to avoid connection breaks.
An important step is to check the status USB-If you use a desktop computer, it is preferable to connect the cable to the ports on the back of the system unit, as they are directly soldered on the motherboard and provide a more stable voltage.
⚠️ Warning: When you first connect your phone to a new computer, you may be asked to debug or access data on your smartphone screen. Always choose Charge Only or File Transfer, but don't agree to debug. USB, If you are not sure about the security of your computer.
Activation of the regime USB-Xiaomi modem
The process of enabling the Internet on Xiaomi devices is standardized, but may vary slightly depending on the version of the MIUI shell. First connect the phone with a cable to your computer and wait for the beep to start charging. Then unlock the smartphone screen and go to the main settings menu.
You need to find the partition that handles network connections. Most firmware versions have the path that goes like this: go to Settings, select Connect and Sharing (or Access Point and Modem), and that's where all the tools for managing Internet connections are hidden.
☑️ Incorporation algorithm USB-modem
In the menu that opens, you'll see several options, including setting up the Wi-Fi hotspot and Bluetooth modem. USB-If the cable is connected correctly and the computer recognizes the device, this switch will become active (it won't be gray.
After inclusion in the status bar Android will appear icon USB-The system will automatically try to install the necessary drivers if they have not been downloaded before, and a new network icon will appear on the computer in the tray (near the clock) that resembles a computer monitor.
Installation of drivers and diagnostics on Windows
Windows 10 and Windows 11 typically automatically find and install standard drivers for Android devices, but in some cases, especially on older versions of the OS or using specific Redmi and POCO models, manual intervention may be required.
If you don't have Internet on your laptop after you turn on the switch, open Device Manager, and you can do this by right-clicking the Start button and selecting the appropriate item on the menu.
If you see a device with a yellow exclamation point or a string of "Android" or "RNDIS", then the driver is installed incorrectly. In this case, right-click on the device, select "Update driver" and then "Automatic driver search." The system itself downloads the missing components from the update center.
| Status in Device Manager | Probable cause | Action. |
|---|---|---|
| Remote NDIS based Internet Sharing Device | Driver set up correctly | Check the IP settings |
| Unknown device | No drivers. | Update drivers automatically |
| Android ADB Interface | USB debugging enabled | Disable debugging in settings |
| Charging via USB | Poor quality cable | Replace USB-cable |
What if the driver is not automatically located?
Set up network and connection priorities
Once successfully connected, the computer can default to a wired Ethernet network or other Wi-Fi, ignoring the use of a wired Ethernet network. USB-To make sure that traffic is coming through the phone, you can temporarily disable other network adapters or change the priority of connections in Windows settings.
It's important to understand how the system distributes traffic. The interface metric prioritizes it. USB-Smartphone connectivity is a high priority, but if you use a corporate network with strict security policies, conflicts can arise.
To check the current connection, open the command line. Press Win + R, type in cmd and press Enter. type in ipconfig command and find the adapter that matches your phone (often called "Ethernet" with a number or has a brand name). IP-Address other than 0.0.0.0.
- 📶 Check if the badge is on fire. 4G/5G near the network name on the phone.
- 💻 Make sure that the browser does not have a proxy server that blocks the connection.
- 🔄 Restart the network adapter in Device Manager if the connection is unstable.
⚠️ Attention: When in use USB-modem IP-Your computer address changes to the address provided by your phone. If you use remote access programs or whitelist games, you will need to update your security settings.
Saving traffic and optimizing speed
Mobile Internet often has limits, so use traffic wisely through the Internet. USB-The modem becomes critical. MIUI You can flexibly adjust your data consumption, go to the access point and modem settings to set a traffic limit or see the amount of data transferred in real time.
Windows 10 and 11 are capable of “Limit Connection” mode, a critical feature that prevents the system from downloading major updates, syncing cloud storage in the background, and updating applications through the Microsoft Store. To activate it, go to Settings → Network and Internet → Status (or Connection Properties) and turn on the “Limit Connection” switch.
You should also disable automatic game updates in Steam, Epic Games or Origin clients, as they can instantly “eat” your entire package of gigabytes. In the settings of each launcher there is an option to disable downloads when using the mobile network, but when using the mobile network, you can also use the new system. USB-In connection, they may not recognize the network type correctly without manual settings.
Solving common problems and errors
Despite the simplicity of the procedure, users may encounter difficulties. One of the common problems is that the phone only charges, but the computer does not see. 90% of the time, this is solved by replacing the cable with one that accurately supports data transmission. Visually, they may be identical, but the internal structure is different.
Another common mistake is a gray (inactive) switch. USB-It means that the phone can't see the host device. Try switching the cable to another device. USB-port, preferably USB 2.0, because some older drivers work better with them, and rebooting both devices helps.
If the internet is available but is slow, check your settings. APN Sometimes resetting the access point settings to factory values solves the problem of low speed. SIM-maps and mobile networks select your SIM card, find "Access Points (APN)» and press "Reset».
- 🔌 Problem: The computer buzzes when connected, but no reaction.Solution: Check the PC motherboard chipset drivers.
- 📉 Problem: Speed is lower than on the phone itself.Solution: Disable the antivirus on your PC while you check it, it can scan traffic.
- ⚡ Problem: The phone is running out fast.Solution: USB-The modem consumes energy, use the original cable to minimize losses.
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The stability of the wired connection depends on the quality of the cable and the condition of the wired connection. USB-Ports, not just software settings.