How to distribute the Internet from Xiaomi phone to your computer via USB: full instruction

Modern Xiaomi smartphones allow you to use the mobile Internet not only for surfing on the device itself, but also for distributing traffic to other gadgets. USB-A modem is one of the most stable ways to share a network with a computer, especially when Wi-Fi is unavailable or is unstable. Unlike wireless distribution, cable connectivity provides higher data transfer speeds and minimal latency, which is critical for online gaming, video conferencing or downloading large files.

However, many users have difficulty configuring this connection, and problems may lie in the wrong settings of the phone, the absence of drivers on the PC, or the limitations of the carrier. USB-modem on Xiaomi, consider the typical errors and ways to eliminate them, as well as give recommendations for speed optimization. We will pay special attention to the nuances characteristic of devices of this brand - from Redmi Note to flagship Xiaomi 13.

If you've tried to share the Internet over USB before, but you haven't succeeded, it's probably one of three things: no modem support in the tariff, outdated drivers on your computer, or incorrect power saving settings on your smartphone, and then we'll look at each of these cases and suggest working solutions.

Preparing Xiaomi phone for the distribution of the Internet

Before you connect your smartphone to your computer, you need to make sure that all the necessary functions are enabled on the device. Start by checking the mobile Internet — without an active connection to the network, data transfer to your PC will not be possible. Open the notification panel and make sure that the 4G/5G or LTE icon is displayed in the status bar. If the mobile network is disabled, activate it in the settings:

Go to Settings. → SIM-Maps and mobile networks. Choose your own SIM-card (if there are several) and enable the option Mobile data. Please note: some operators (for example, Tele2 or Iota) by default block the Internet distribution, in which case you will need to connect an additional option or change the tariff.

The next step is to activate modem modem. On Xiaomi, this feature can be hidden depending on the shell version. MIUI. In most cases, the path looks like this: → Access Point and modem → USB-If the item USB-No modem, update your firmware or use an alternative method (we will talk about it below).

Important: on some models (e.g, POCO F3 or Redmi 9A) cable-wire USB A pop-up will appear asking you to select the mode of operation. USB-modem – this will allow the computer to recognize the device as a network adapter.

Setting up a computer to receive the Internet

After preparing the smartphone, connect it to the PC using the original USB-Cheap cables often don't support data transfer, which leads to connection errors. If a computer connects to Xiaomi for the first time, you'll need to install drivers. 10/11 It automatically downloads them through Windows Update, but sometimes the process is delayed or ends in an error.

To check driver status, open Device Manager (click Win + X → Device Manager) and search Network Adapters. A device called Remote NDIS based Internet Sharing Device or the like should appear here. If it displays a yellow exclamation point next to it, follow these steps:

• 🔄 Update the driver manually: right-click on the device → Update the driver → Automatic search.
• 💻 Download the official drivers from Xiaomi’s website (the support section of your model) or use the universal Mi package PC Suite.
• 🔌 Try another one. USB-port (preferably) USB 3.0 blue) or cable.

If the drivers are installed correctly, but the Internet still does not appear on the PC, check the network connection settings. → Network and Internet → Network connections and find a new connection over a local area network (usually called Ethernet or Ethernet). USB). Right-click on it, select Properties and make sure items are marked: IP version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and IP version 6 (TCP/IPv6). The parameters must be set to automatically receive IP and DNS.

Install the original USB-cable|Check for driver presence in Device Manager|Activate mobile internet on Xiaomi|Select a regime "USB-modem in the phone settings|Update Windows to the latest version-->

Alternative ways of inclusion USB-modem

Some MIUI firmware (especially custom or outdated ones) may not have a standard path to modem settings, such as a hidden menu of engineering settings or ADB commands.

Method 1: Engineering menu

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##.
2. In the menu that appears, select Phone Information (or Phone Information).
3. Scroll down to the Set preferred network type block and make sure LTE/4G is selected.
4. Go back to the main menu of engineering settings and select USB settings → USB tethering.

Method 2: ADB teams

1. Download and install Platform Tools from the official Android website.
2. Connect your phone to your PC in USB Debugging mode (includes in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then return to Additional → For Developers).
3. Open the command line in the adb.exe folder and type: adb shell settings put global tether_dun_required 0 adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.TetherSettings

These techniques are especially useful for devices with unofficial firmware or after resetting, but beware: changes to the engineering menu can affect the stability of the network.

Solving common problems

Even with the right setup, Xiaomi users may encounter errors when distributing the Internet via USB. Let’s consider the most common of them and how to fix them:

Critical feature for Xiaomi: on some models (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro) feature USB-The modem automatically shuts down when you lock the screen. To avoid this, add the Settings app to the battery optimization exception list: go to Settings → Battery and productivity → Battery management applications and select No restrictions for system processes.

Another common problem is conflict. IP-If your computer is connected to another network (e.g. via Ethernet), there may be an error. IP-In this case, temporarily disable all network adapters except for the USB-modem, or manually assign static IP connection settings.

💡

If the Internet speed is through USB lower than on your phone, try to disconnect VPN Or a proxy on your computer, and check if you've set up traffic savings in your settings. MIUI (Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Saving traffic).

Optimization of connection speed and stability

Xiaomi is limiting the speed limit by default. USB-To remove this limitation, follow the following steps:

• 🔋 Go to Settings. → Battery and productivity → Performance mode and select High Performance.
• 📶 In the mobile network settings (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Network type) Install only LTE (if available).
• 🔄 Turn off automatic switching between 4G and 3G In Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Network switching.

For maximum speed, use USB 3.0 (Blue ports) and a high-quality cable with support for high-speed data transfer. If you connect to Windows, turn off the USB selective suspend function in the power settings:

1. Open Control Panel → Power supply → Setup of power supply circuit → Change additional power parameters.
2. Find the Parameters section USB → Temporary shutdown parameter USB-port and establish the forbidden.

If you use Linux, you may need to manually configure the network interface.

sudo ifconfig usbx 192.168.42.2 netmask 255.255.255.0


sudo route add default gw 192.168.42.129 usbx

(Where is usbx your name? USB-Check the interface with the ifconfig command).

💡

For a stable job. USB-Modem on Xiaomi be sure to disable the function "Battery Optimization" for system applications. Otherwise, the connection will break when the screen is locked or low charge.

Security in the distribution of the Internet

Using a phone as a modem opens up potential vulnerabilities to attack USB-To minimize risks, follow these guidelines:

1. Disable the modem after use. A constantly active connection increases the battery load and makes the device vulnerable to network attacks.

2. Use strong passwords for SIM-If your phone gets stolen, an attacker can access your data.

3. Update your firmware. Older versions of MIUI had vulnerabilities that allowed you to access your phone files via USB. Make sure your device has the latest version of the software installed.

If you connect to public networks (such as at a cafe or airport), avoid using the service. USB-a modem for transmitting sensitive data, in such cases it is better to use VPN For Xiaomi, built-in solutions (for example, Mi) will work. VPN) or third-party applications like ProtonVPN.

⚠️ Note: Some operators (e.g. MegaFon in All Inclusive rates) may charge an additional fee for the distribution of the Internet, even if it is technically permitted. Check the terms of your fare in your personal account or with the operator to avoid unexpected charges.

Comparison with other ways of distributing the Internet

USB-A modem isn't the only way to share mobile internet from a computer, but let's look at its advantages and disadvantages over alternative methods:

As you can see from the table, USB-The modem wins in speed and stability, but loses in mobility (a physical connection is required). Wi-Fi access point is more convenient for connecting multiple devices, but it drains the battery faster and can suffer from interference. Bluetooth is the most economical, but slow option, suitable only for text information transfer.

If you need to share the Internet with your laptop and tablet at the same time, combine the methods: use USB for your laptop (where speed is important) and Wi-Fi for your tablet. On Xiaomi, this is possible thanks to the Multichannel Access Point feature available in the modem settings.

⚠️ Attention: When activated simultaneously USB-Modem and Wi-Fi access point on Xiaomi may conflict IP-Addresses that cause a connection to break, in which case, turn off one of the modes or set up static ones. IP manually.

FAQ: Frequent questions on USB-modem on Xiaomi