How to distribute the Internet from Xiaomi phone to your computer via USB: full instructions with error solutions

When there is no Wi-Fi router at hand or mobile Internet on Xiaomi works more stable than home connection, distribution of the network through the Internet is more reliable. USB-This method not only saves battery life compared to a Wi-Fi hotspot, but also provides a more stable connection without packet loss. The computer does not see the connection, drivers are not installed, or the speed is lower than expected.

In this article, we will discuss all stages of adjustment. USB-modem on smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO — From turning on a feature in the phone menu to solving typical PC-side errors, we'll focus on hidden settings. MIUI, And that's blocking Internet distribution on some firmware, and alternative methods for older models. If you've tried to connect before, but it didn't work out, here's the reason and the way to fix it.

Why? USB-handout is better than Wi-Fi or Bluetooth?

At first glance, it's easier to turn on a Wi-Fi hotspot or use a Bluetooth connection. USB-The modem has significant advantages:

• 🔋 Minimum battery consumption: the phone charges during the handout, while Wi-Fi and Bluetooth discharge the battery 2-3 times faster.
• 🚀 Maximum speed: USB 2.0 provides up to 480 Mbps (real) ~300-350 Mbps), while Wi-Fi at 2.4 GHz is limited to 150 Mbps, and Bluetooth is limited to 25 Mbps.
• 🛡️ Security: The cable connection cannot be intercepted, unlike Wi-Fi, where the password can be selected.
• 🖥️ Stability: No interference from other devices or walls, as is the case with wireless technology.

The only downside is that you need to physically connect the cable, but if you're a stationary computer or you're working at a desk, that's not a problem, and today's USB-C cables can withstand thousands of connections without losing quality.

Preparing the Xiaomi phone for USB-distribution

Before you connect your phone to your computer, you have to do several steps on the device itself, and skipping any of these steps can cause your PC to simply not see the network.

First and most obvious, make sure your phone is activated on the mobile Internet.

1. Open the notification panel with a swipe from top to bottom.
2. Click on the Mobile Data icon (usually marked with up and down arrows).
3. If there is no icon, go to Settings. → SIM-Maps and mobile networks and switch on the switch.

Check if your model supports Xiaomi. USB-on most of the devices with MIUI 12 and later is available by default, but on some budget models (e.g. Redmi). 9A or POCO C31) It may be necessary to activate the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Click 7 times in a row on the MIUI version (the notification “You became a developer” will appear).
3. Return to the main settings menu, open Additional settings → For developers.
4. Activate USB Debugging and OEM Unlock (the latter is not necessary, but sometimes helps).

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI post-debugging USB You get a request for permission to connect to your computer, USB-The modem will not work. Always press Allow the first time you connect.

Step-by-step instruction: how to turn on USB-modem

Now, the main step is to turn on the handout function itself. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI, but the general logic remains.

Follow these steps:

1. Connect your phone to your computer with the original cable (or quality cable) and cheap cables often lead to data errors.
2. The phone will have a message in the notification panel, Charge via USB, and tap it.
3. In the window that opens, select File Transfer (MTP) – this is a temporary step for the PC to recognize the device.
4. Now open Settings → Access Point and modem (or Settings → Connections → Access Point and modem on newer versions of MIUI).
5. Activate the switch. USB-If not, see the "Problem Solving" section below.
6. The computer must automatically determine a new network connection, and if that doesn't happen, see the next section.

On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or POCO F4) point USB-The modem may be hidden:

1. Turn on modem modem (usually the first switch in the Access Point and modem menu).
2. Under it will appear an additional menu with a choice of connection type – select USB.

💡

If the Internet on the phone disappears after connecting, check the settings. APN. Sometimes operators block the simultaneous use of mobile data and USB-Modem. Solution: Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Access points (APN) Choose your operator profile manually.

Setting up a computer to work with USB-Xiaomi modem

Even if the phone is properly configured, there can be problems on the PC side, most often due to the lack of drivers or the wrong network settings.

First, check if a new connection has been made:

1. On Windows: Open Control Panel → Network & Internet → Network Management Center. In the View Active Networks section, a connection called Network Connection or Remote NDIS should appear.
2. On macOS: go to System Settings → Network. The list on the left should include a new USB Ethernet connection.
3. On Linux: run ip a and find a new interface (usually eth1 or usb0).

If the connection does not appear, install the drivers manually:

⚠️ Note: Windows sometimes has a driver conflict MTP (for the transfer of files. USB-The modem is not working, turn it off. MTP In the phone settings and reconnect the cable.

Addressing common problems with USB-distribution

Even with the right setup, errors can occur, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

• 🔌 Computer can't see phone: Try another USB-port (preferably) USB 3.0 blue. Replace the cable -- cheap cables often don't support data. USB-Connection select Only Charge, then File Transfer again and enable modem.
• 🌐 Connection is available, but no internet: Check the balance SIM-card -- some operators block the distribution when the balance is negative. Restart the phone and computer. MIUI Turn off traffic savings (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Saving traffic).
• 🐢 Low connection speed: Turn off VPN Check to see if you have Battery Savings on your phone. If you use Windows, turn off the speed limit in the adapter settings (see below).

For Windows, check the network adapter settings:

1. Open Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network Control Center → Change the adapter settings.
2. Find a Remote NDIS or USB Ethernet connection, right-click → Properties.
3. In the list, mark IP version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
4. Make sure you choose to receive IP-Address automatically and get the address DNS-server.

Alternative ways to distribute the Internet with Xiaomi

If USB-The modem doesn't work for some reason, you can use other methods, they're less stable, but sometimes they're the only way out.

• 📶 Wi-Fi Access Point: Included in Settings → Access Point and modem → Wi-Fi hotspot. Cons: fast battery drain, interference from other networks.
• 🔵 Bluetooth modem: Connect your phone to your PC via Bluetooth, then activate the Bluetooth modem in your phone settings.Cons: low speed (~25 Mbps), unstable connection.
• 🔄 Reverse Tethering: Allows you to distribute the Internet from PC to phone, but in our case you can try to configure a reverse connection through the Internet. ADB. Requires root rights or unlocked bootloader.

For advanced users, there is another way – configuring USB-ethernet through the ADB. This method works even on phones where USB-modem disabled at firmware level:

adb shell


su




setprop sys.usb.config rndis,adb

After these commands are executed, reconnect the cable. Attention: root rights are required, otherwise the command will not work.

💡

USB-Modem is the most reliable way to distribute internet with Xiaomi, but if it doesn’t work, check the cable, drivers, and settings first. APN. In 90% of cases, the problem is solved by replacing the cable or reinstalling the drivers.

FAQ: Frequent questions on USB-handout