Handing the Internet from Xiaomi phone to laptop via USB: the full guide 2026

Why? USB-Connection is better than Wi-Fi distribution?

When it comes to sharing the internet from smartphone to laptop, most Xiaomi users automatically choose a Wi-Fi hotspot. USB-The modem has a number of hidden advantages: connection stability, lower battery consumption of the phone and no interference problems. Unlike wireless transmission, where speeds can sag behind walls or other devices, wired connectivity guarantees maximum bandwidth – especially important for online gaming or video conferencing.

Another plus — USB-Xiaomi modems work even with a dead battery if the laptop is supplying enough power through the port, which is critical in situations where sockets are not available and communication cannot be interrupted. POCO Automatically limit the speed of Wi-Fi distribution to save energy, while the USB There are no limitations, but there are pitfalls: drivers, settings. MIUI features Windows/Linux They can make it harder. We'll take it Step-by-step.

What Xiaomi phones support USB-modem?

Function USB-The modem is available on all Xiaomi smartphones under control MIUI 10 and newer, but there are nuances.Old models (up to Redmi Note) 5) You may need to manually install drivers, and the flagships of the Mi series 11/12/13 support USB 3.1 — This gives you speed up to 30% compared USB 2.0. Here is a complete list of compatible devices:

• 📱 Xiaomi 13/13 Pro/13 Ultra - support USB 3.2, speed 500 Mbit/s
• 📱 Redmi Note 12 Pro+/Pro — Optimized for gaming laptops
• 📱 POCO F5/F4 GT — Automatic driver configuration in Windows 10/11
• 📱 Xiaomi Civi 3 – low power consumption in modem modem
• 📱 Redmi 10C/10A — Budget models with basic support

On devices with MIUI for POCO (for example, POCO X5 Pro) may not be a separate item "USB-"modem" in the menu - instead, the function is activated through Developer Mode.

Step-by-step adjustment USB-Xiaomi modem

Before connecting, make sure that your laptop has drivers for your Xiaomi model installed. Without them, the system will not recognize the phone as a network device. For Windows 10/11, drivers are usually installed automatically, but older versions (Windows 7) or Linux may need to be manually installed.

Instructions for MIUI 14 (relevant to most devices 2022-2026):

1. Connect your phone to your laptop through the original USB-cable (low-quality cables may not transmit data).
2. On your phone, unlock the screen and select File Transfer (MTP) (this is temporary, we will change later).
3. Open Settings → Connection and Sharing → Modem Modem.
4. Activate the switch. USB-If there is no point, go to the Additional → Developer mode → Networks. → USB-modem.
5. On your laptop, check for a new network connection in the Control Panel → Network Connections.

If the Internet does not appear after activation of the modem, check:

• ⚡ Regime. USB: must have USB-modem, not charge or MTP.
• 🔄 Reboot: Sometimes it helps to restart your phone and laptop.
• 🛠️ Drivers: Device Manager should not have exclamation points near Xiaomi.

Solving driver problems on Windows

Error “Network Device Unidentifiable” or “Driver Missing” is the most common problem when connecting Xiaomi as a mobile device. USB-modem. 90% In some cases, missing or outdated Qualcomm drivers (for Snapdragon processors) or MediaTek (for chips) are to blame. Dimensity/Helio).

Solutions:

For devices on MediaTek (for example, Redmi Note 11 or POCO M4 Pro), you may need a separate MTK USB Driver package. It can be found on the 4PDA or XDA Developers forums - search by your processor model (you can find out in the CPU-Z application).

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If Windows persistently doesn’t see the phone, try connecting it to another. USB-port (preferably) USB 3.0, usually blue. Sometimes the problem is a faulty port controller on a laptop.

Features of setting up on macOS and Linux

On MacBooks or laptops with Linux (Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora) Xiaomi connection as USB-The modem is usually smoother than Windows, but there are some nuances. The main problem is that there is no automatic driver installation. CDC Ethernet (protocol that uses a phone to distribute the Internet).

For macOS (Monterey, Ventura, Sonoma):

1. Connect the phone and activate it. USB-modem.
2. Open System settings → Network.
3. Wait for the new USB Ethernet interface (it can take up to 30 seconds).
4. If there is no connection, install HoRNDIS (Driver for USB-modem Android).

For Linux (Ubuntu/Debian):

sudo apt update


sudo apt install usb-modeswitch usb-modeswitch-data




sudo modprobe cdc_ether

After you have completed the commands, reconnect the phone. If the Internet is not working, check the output of the command dmesg | grep cdc - there should be lines about the successful connection of the network interface (for example, eth1 or enp0s20u1).

How to speed up the Internet through USB-modem?

Data transmission speed USB It depends on three factors: version USB-port, cable quality and operator settings, even if your Xiaomi supports USB 3.1, a laptop may be speed limiting because of an outdated controller. Here's how to maximize performance:

• 🚀 Use a support cable USB 3.0+ (And the cheap cables limit the speed to the blue connectors. USB 2.0 (480 Mbps).
• 📶 Turn it off. VPN Proxies on a laptop – they can artificially slow down the speed.
• 🔧 In the phone settings (SIM cards and mobile networks) select Only 4G (LTE) Instead of a car, it will eliminate the delays in switching between 3G/4G.
• 🔄 Restart your phone before connecting — MIUI Sometimes you forget to optimize your network settings after a long time.

To check the real speed, use the services of speedtest.net or fast.com directly via USB, not Wi-Fi. If the speed is below 50 Mbps at a rate of 100+ Mbps, the problem may be:

• 📉 Operator restrictions (some tariffs block the distribution of the Internet).
• 🔌 Faulty. USB-Laptop port (try another port).
• 📱 Overheating of the phone – Xiaomi when overheating reduces the performance of the modem.

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Maximum speed USB-Xiaomi modem is limited not only by tariff, but also by version USB: USB 2.0 gives you up to 300 Mbps, USB 3.0 – up to 1 Gbps, however, the real speed rarely exceeds 200-400 Mbps due to the limitations of mobile networks.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even with the right setup, Xiaomi users face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

⚠️ Attention: If after connection USB-The modem starts to run out quickly, turn off Fast Charging in the battery settings. Some models (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro) overheat when you distribute Internet and charge simultaneously, which leads to lower performance.

If none of these methods worked, try an alternative method: turn on the developer mode (Settings) on the phone. → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times), then activate Debugging in the Developer Settings USB. Sometimes it's "wakes up" USB-modem.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions