How to distribute the Internet from Xiaomi phone to your computer through a wire

Situations when a desktop computer or laptop is left without access to the global network, and the Wi-Fi router suddenly stops working, are familiar to many users. At such moments, your Xiaomi smartphone becomes a lifeline, which can instantly turn into a full-fledged smartphone. USB-Using a wired connection instead of a wireless access point often provides a more stable signal and lower latency, which is critical for online gaming or video conferencing.

The main advantage of connecting via cable is not only speed, but also battery saving, as the device is simultaneously charged from the computer port. Many users mistakenly believe that the process requires the installation of complex software, but in the shell of MIUI or HyperOS, this feature is built in by default. Just activate the right switch in the system settings to bridge the mobile Internet and the PC network card.

In this guide, we will take a detailed look at all the stages of configuration, look at possible driver problems and find out why your computer may not see your phone as a network device. USB-modem on different versions of the Windows operating system and get answers to frequent questions that arise when organizing a wired connection.

Advantages of wired connection over Wi-Fi

Cable choice USB Instead of creating a wireless access point, it's often dictated by the need to maximize the reliability of the communication channel. Wireless networks are subject to interference from neighboring routers, microwave ovens and even Bluetooth devices, which leads to ping spikes and connection breaks. USB-modem completely eliminates the influence of external radio interference, ensuring stable data transmission without packet loss.

Another important factor is power consumption: When operating in Wi-Fi hotspot mode, the Xiaomi smartphone consumes battery power extremely intensively, which can lead to overheating and rapid wear of the battery. Cable connection solves this problem by allowing the device to simultaneously perform the function of a modem and receive power from the computer, which is especially true for long sessions of operation.

In addition, data security is higher in wired connection, and it is much more difficult to intercept traffic from the physical cable between the phone and the computer than it is with a radio channel that can theoretically be listened to by attackers within range of the signal, and for corporate laptops or sensitive information, this becomes a decisive argument for a wired interface.

💡

The wired connection provides stability, safety and no load on the smartphone battery, making it the preferred option for stationary operation.

Preparation of equipment and compatibility check

Before you start setting up, you need to make sure your hardware is ready to work in modem mode, first of all, this applies to the cable you plan to use. Not all USB cables support data transfer; many cheap analogues are designed exclusively for charging and do not have the appropriate internal contacts. Successful Xiaomi connection to the PC requires a quality USB 2.0 or 3.0 cable with soldered data lines.

⚠️ Note: If a computer makes a device connection sound but does not identify it as a network card, 90% of the time the problem is a poor-quality cable that does not support data transmission.

It's also worth checking the version of the operating system on your computer. USB-The modem is supported by most modern operating systems, on older versions of Windows (for example, XP or Vista) additional drivers may be required that are not automatically installed. On Windows 10 and Windows 11, the system usually recognizes the connected smartphone and installs the necessary components in the background.

Make sure your mobile carrier plan includes Internet distribution service. Some tariffs limit the amount of traffic for tethering mode or require a separate fee for this feature. Checking the balance and tariff conditions before setting up will help avoid unpleasant surprises in the form of blocked access or write-offs of additional funds.

Step-by-step activation instruction USB-Xiaomi modem

The process of turning on modem modem on Xiaomi smartphones with a shell MIUI or HyperOS is as simplified as possible and takes only a few seconds. First, connect your phone to your computer using a serviceable device. USB-After connecting on the smartphone screen, a request for mode of operation may appear. USB (For example, "Charge only", "File transfer"), which can be ignored or selected any option, since we are interested in the network function.

Then you go to the device settings. Open the Settings menu, find the Connection and Sharing section (in some versions it may be simply called Additional Features or More). USB-If you can't find it right away, use the search bar at the top of the settings screen and type in the "modem" request".

After activation of the slider USB-The modem system can warn you that Wi-Fi will be turned off, because it is not possible to distribute simultaneously through different interfaces on some models. On the computer screen in the lower right corner (tree) should appear a new icon network connection, similar to the one that appears when you connect a conventional Ethernet cable, which means that the drivers are installed successfully and the Internet is ready to work.

Set up network settings in Windows

In most cases, after enabling the feature on the phone, Windows automatically assigns IP-addresses DNS-The servers, and the Internet starts to work instantly, but sometimes the system requires manual configuration or driver updates. If the network icon shows "No Internet access", go to the Control Panel. → Network connections. Find a new connection, which is usually referred to as Remote. NDIS based Internet Sharing Device.

Right-click on this connection and select Properties. In the component list, find IP version 4 (TCP/IPv4) Make sure that the checkmarks are on automatic receipt. IP-addresses DNS-servers, if you use specific DNS (For example, from Google or Yandex, they can be manually prescribed, but for standard use, you just need to leave the default settings, which will allow the operating system to correctly route traffic through the gateway created by the phone.

Sometimes Windows may block the connection due to firewall or antivirus settings. If all settings are correct but no access, try temporarily disabling third-party antivirus programs. It is also worth checking whether the connection properties should tick "Allow other network users to use an Internet connection", although in the mode USB-This modem is not usually required, as the phone itself acts as a source.

💡

To speed up the response of the network can be manually prescribed DNS-Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) servers in properties IPv4, This sometimes helps to bypass the provider’s locks.

Solving common problems and errors

One of the most common problems is when the computer sees the phone only as a drive or a charger, ignoring network functions. USB. Pull the notification curtain down, click on the connection notification USB and select the File Transfer Mode (MTP) or USB-A modem, if it is available separately, sometimes switching between these modes rocks the connection and causes Windows to reinstall drivers.

If the drivers are not installed correctly, you may see an unknown device with a yellow exclamation point in Device Manager, in which case you try to remove the device, turn off the phone and plug it back in. Windows will try to find the driver again. You can also try to manually update the driver by selecting from the list of manufacturers of Microsoft and the model Remote NDIS based Internet Sharing Device.

⚠️ Attention: When in use USB 3.0 ports (blue) on older motherboards can cause driver conflicts. USB 2.0 (black) for greater compatibility.

Another problem is connection breaks when there is a high load, which can be due to overheating of the smartphone or insufficient power supply of the port. USB. If the phone is too hot, remove the case and provide air. USB-cables (more than) 1.5-2 (metres) without active amplifier, as the voltage drop may cause the network interface to operate in an unstable manner.

Security issues and traffic consumption

Using your smartphone as a modem, you should be aware that all computer traffic passes through the mobile network. Windows 10 and 11, when connected to new networks, often automatically starts downloading major updates, which can quickly exhaust your mobile traffic limit. To avoid this, immediately after connecting, click on the network name in Windows and activate the Limit Connection mode. This will prevent the system from downloading heavy updates and synchronizing cloud storage in the background.

From a security perspective, wired connections are more reliable, but the risk still exists if there are viruses on the computer that can attack connected devices. Although modern Xiaomi smartphones have good protection, it is not recommended to connect them to public or suspicious computers in modem mode without installed antivirus protection on the PC.