Situations where a desktop or laptop is left without access to the global network, and a Wi-Fi router is unavailable or faulty require a quick and reliable solution. Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners can use their devices as high-performance devices. USB-modem, providing a stable connection where wireless networks are powerless.
Use of a wired connection through USB-cable provides a number of undeniable advantages over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi hotspot, the main of which is the minimum latency and no loss of speed due to radio interference. In addition, the smartphone in wired modem consumes much less energy, as it simultaneously receives a charge from the computer, which is critical for long sessions of work.
In this article, we will take a detailed look at all the stages of configuration, from enabling hidden functions in the MIUI system to installing specific drivers in the Windows operating system, you will learn how to bypass typical connection errors and choose the best data transfer protocol for your tasks.
Advantages USB-modem before Wi-Fi access point
When it comes to speed and stability, wired connections always win over wireless counterparts. Cable data transfer eliminates the influence of external factors such as walls, distance to the router or neighboring networks at the same frequency. For players and professionals working with large amounts of data, this is the only way to get honest ping and maximum channel bandwidth.
Another important aspect is energy efficiency: when operating in Wi-Fi hotspot mode, the smartphone processor and radio module are in a high-speed mode, which leads to rapid heating of the case and battery discharge. USB-The modem phone not only heats less, but also charges from the computer port, turning into a full-fledged peripheral device without the risk of a sudden shutdown.
Data security is also key: Wi-Fi is broadcast and theoretically can be intercepted by intruders with insufficient protection, and the cable connection is physically isolated from the outside world, making it almost impossible to intercept packets without direct access to the equipment.
Preparation of the smartphone and checking the settings
Before you connect your device to your computer, you need to make sure that the system is activated mobile data. Without a 4G/5G connection on the SIM card, you can not physically distribute Internet. Check the balance and make sure that your plan allows you to use your smartphone as a modem, as some operators may block this feature or require a separate payment.
The next step is to check. USB-The modem needs a high-quality wire to support data transfer, not just charging. Cheap charging-only cables don't have the necessary lines to transmit signals, so the computer simply won't see the connected device. It is recommended to use the original cable from the kit or a certified analogue with the marking USB 2.0 or higher.
☑️ Checking before connection
Also worth paying attention to is the Android operating system version and the MIUI shell. In older versions of firmware, the settings menu may differ, and some features may not work well. Updating to the latest available version often solves driver compatibility issues and improves connection stability.
Activation of modem modem in the MIUI interface
The process of activating the modem modem in Xiaomi smartphones is standardized, but has its own features depending on the version of the shell. After connecting the cable to the computer port and phone, the system usually automatically prompts you to choose the USB mode. If the pop-up window does not appear, you need to go to the settings manually.
Open the Settings menu, then look for the Connection and Sharing section (some versions call it "More" or "More"). USB-Modem. Switch the slider to the active position. If the item is inactive (gray), this means that the computer does not recognize the phone or the necessary drivers are not installed.
⚠️ Warning: When you first connect to a new computer, a request for debugging or data access may appear on the screen of the smartphone.
After activation of the function in the upper right screen of the phone will appear icon USB-It's a modem, and the Windows tray should have a notification that a new network device is connected, and normally the system automatically determines the type of network and assigns it the status of "Interet", and if that doesn't happen, we move on to the next step, which is working with drivers.
Why the badge doesn't appear USB-modem?
Installation of drivers and setting up Windows
Windows 10 and 11 have a large driver base and often automatically recognizes Android devices, but it requires a specific RNDIS (Remote Network Driver Interface Specification) driver to work properly in modem mode, rather than drive mode.
Open Device Manager (click Win) + X and select the appropriate item. Find an unknown device or device with an exclamation mark in the list, which may be called "Android" or "Xiaomi." Right-click, select "Update driver" → "Search for drivers on this computer" → "Select a driver from the list of available drivers".
In the list of manufacturers, find Microsoft, and in the list of models, select USB RNDIS Adapter or Remote NDIS based Internet Sharing Device. After installing the driver, the device should be identified as a network card.
| Type of device in the dispatcher | Required driver | Connection status |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown device | RNDIS / Network Adapter | No, no. |
| Portable Devices (MTP) | No requirement (storage mode) | Only files. |
| Network adapters (RNDIS) | Installed automatically | There's Internet. |
| Modems | Standard modem | Work is possible. |
If standard Windows tools didn’t help, you can use the official Xiaomi USB Drivers tool, which installs all the necessary components for communication, including ADB and Fastboot, which also solves the problems with the modem definition.
Solving Typical Connection Problems
One of the most common problems is when the computer sees the phone as a charger, but not as a modem. In this case, you need to switch USB mode. To do this, turn on the Developer menu. Go to Settings → About the phone and quickly press 7 times on the MIUI version.
In the developer menu, find the Configuration item USB Change the default value to "USB-modem "RNDIS". This will force the phone to offer the desired connection mode immediately when connecting to the PC, bypassing the file transfer mode.
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If the Internet on your PC appears and disappears immediately, try to turn off the traffic savings in the browser and antivirus. Sometimes they block a new network connection, considering it suspicious.
There may also be problems with Windows' power saving settings. USB-You can use the power-saving ports to break the connection. USB-the controller in the Device Manager, the tab "Power management" and uncheck the box from the item "Allow disconnection of this device".
⚠️ Warning: Antivirus software or firewall on your computer may block the connection of a new network interface. Check your security settings and add your phone network to your trusted list.
Network setup and speed optimization
Once you've successfully connected, it's important to set up network settings correctly. Windows assigns by default. IP-address automatically DHCP, But if you have address conflicts, you can write static. IP. This is done in the properties of the protocol. IPv4 Please specify the address 192.168.42.129 and the mask 255.255.255.0.
To increase the download speed can be changed DNS-servers, use of public DNS Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) It often speeds up the response of sites and solves problems with access to certain resources, and this is especially true when using mobile networks. 3G/4G, Where providers can provide their slow DNS.
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Optimal speeds are achieved only with high-quality cable and USB 3.0 port, although the RNDIS protocol itself is limited to USB 2.0 speeds (up to 480 Mbps), which is more than enough for mobile Internet.
Remember to monitor your traffic. Your computer, unlike your smartphone, is less economical in its data consumption: Windows background updates, cloud storage synchronization, and torrents can quickly exhaust your mobile packet limit. It is recommended to set a limit tariff in your Windows network settings to limit background activity.