How to turn it on USB-modem on Xiaomi Redmi

In today’s world, mobile internet has become an integral part of life, and there are often situations when it is necessary to provide a stable network connection for a computer or laptop, and a Wi-Fi router is not available. Xiaomi Redmi smartphones have powerful functionality that allows you to use them not only as a means of communication, but also as a full source of Internet for other devices. USB-A modem that provides higher speed and stability compared to Bluetooth or a regular Wi-Fi hotspot.

However, users often find that when you connect the cable to the PC, the Internet does not appear automatically, or the corresponding option in the settings simply does not activate, this may be due to the features of the MIUI shell, the lack of drivers on the computer or the specific settings of the operator. In this article, we will discuss the configuration process, eliminate common problems and figure out how to turn your smartphone into a high-speed gateway for the global network.

It's worth noting that using a wired connection has its advantages, especially in poor signal reception or minimizing delays in games and video conferencing when necessary. Cable data transfer eliminates packet loss typical of wireless connections, while simultaneously charging the device, which is critical for long-term operation. Let's get to the practical part and set up your device correctly.

Preparation of equipment and compatibility check

Before you start software setup, you need to make sure that the components used are physically healthy. Not all USB cables are the same: many of them, which come with cheap accessories, are designed exclusively for charging and do not have internal contacts for data transfer. To successfully run the modem mode, you will need a quality USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 cable that can transmit a digital signal.

It is also important to check the status of the connectors on the smartphone and computer itself.Dust, pile and oxidation of the contacts can prevent the establishment of a stable connection, even if the cable is working.Get a thorough look at the USB Type-C or Micro-USB port on your Xiaomi Redmi and clean it with compressed air or a non-metal toothpick if necessary.

⚠️ Attention: Using damaged or substandard cables may short-circuit and cause the smartphone motherboard power controller to fail.Do not use cables with visible inflections or damaged insulation.

Another critical point is the availability of SIM-cards with an active plan and network coverage, make sure that the balance is available and the mobile network settings include data transfer. Without this step, all further manipulation will be meaningless, since the smartphone will have nothing to give away".

To check the quality of the connection, the following algorithm of actions can be used:

• 🔌 Connect the cable to your computer and make sure the system makes the device’s connection sound.
• 📱 Check if the smartphone screen displays a notification about the charging mode or file transfer.
• 📶 Make sure the link indicator has badges on it. 4G or LTE.
• 💾 Try transferring any file from your phone to your PC to rule out driver problems MTP.

Activation of the regime USB-modem MIUI

The process of enabling the Internet distribution function via cable on Xiaomi devices is standardized, but may have slight differences depending on the version of the MIUI shell or HyperOS. The main sequence of actions requires moving to the system settings menu, where connection parameters are hidden.

First, open the Settings app on the home screen or in the notification curtain. Find a section that is usually called Connection and Sharing or Access Point and Modem. In some firmware versions, this item may be inside the Additional Features menu. This is where all the tools for managing the network interfaces of your mobile device are concentrated.

After entering the menu, you will see a switch "USB-The modem. It's going to be inactive (grey) initially if the smartphone isn't connected to the computer by a cable. Once you connect the devices, the switch becomes available for activation. Just put it in the "On" position".

It's important to understand the difference between modes of operation, unlike a Wi-Fi hotspot where you set the password and the network name, USB-The modem creates a direct virtual network connection. The computer perceives the smartphone as a conventional wired network device, similar to an Ethernet cable, which provides maximum data security and secrecy from unauthorized connections.

The path to setting up is as follows:

Settings → Connection and Sharing → Access Point and Modem → USB- Modem

If there is no change to the computer after switching on, it is possible that the system did not automatically install the necessary network adapter drivers, in which case manual intervention or waiting for 1-2 minutes until the Windows or Linux operating system completes the identification of the new hardware may be required.

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If the switch USB-The modem is inactive, try changing the mode of operation USB in the "Default" menu (in the same settings section) on "File Transfer (MTP)" or “Security (MIDI)", Then you put it back. It often restarts. USB-protocol.

Setting up your computer and installing drivers

Modern operating systems such as Windows 10 and Windows 11 have a large driver base and often automatically recognize Android smartphones in modem mode, but in some cases, especially when using older OS versions or specific Redmi models, manual driver installation is required.

When you first connect your smartphone in modem mode, your computer may try to find drivers on the Internet. If this does not happen, an unknown device with a yellow exclamation mark may appear in the Device Manager. To solve this problem, you should download the official Android USB Driver package from the developer’s website or use the universal Google USB Driver drivers.

The driver installation process usually looks like this:

• 💻 Open "Device Manager" through the search in the Start menu.
• 🔍 Find the device with the error or the section "Network adapters".
• 🔧 Right-click and select "Update driver" → "Search for drivers on this computer".
• 📂 Specify the path to the folder with loaded drivers.

It is worth noting that for the modem to work, it is not necessary to install heavy software complexes such as: MIUI PC Suite. Enough basic system drivers that provide the protocol RNDIS (Remote Network Driver Interface Specification. This protocol allows you to emulate a network card through a network card. USB-port.

⚠️ Warning: Don’t download drivers from questionable aggregator sites. Use only official Google resources or proven manufacturers’ repositories to avoid infecting your computer with malware.

Once the drivers are successfully installed, a new adapter, often called "Ethernet" or "Remote NDIS based Internet Sharing Device", should appear in the computer's network connection list. The connection status will change to "Connected", and the system will automatically apply the IP and DNS settings received from the smartphone.

Diagnostics and Solving Connection Problems

Despite the ease of setting up, users may experience situations where the Internet is not working even though the device is formally connected. One of the most common reasons is that the mobile operator has blocked the Internet distribution. Many tariff plans prohibit or restrict the use of the phone as a modem for other devices.

Operators determine the traffic distribution by the value of the TTL (Time To Live) parameter. By default, this parameter has one value in the Windows operating system, and when passing through a smartphone, it decreases. The operator sees this change and blocks the connection. To circumvent this restriction, you need to change the registry on your computer or use specialized software.

Table of common problems and their solutions:

If the problem lies in the power saving settings, Windows can disable USB-port to save energy, which causes a connection to break. To fix this, go to Device Manager, find "Root". USB-hub", open its properties, tab "Power management" and uncheck the box from the item "Allow disconnection of this device to save energy".

It is also worth checking the APN settings (access points), sometimes for the modem to work correctly you need to manually prescribe certain access point parameters, which can be found on the official website of your carrier or get an automatic message.

Features of distribution of the Internet for different operators

Each mobile operator (MTS, Beeline, MegaFon, Tele2, and others) has its own technical limitations and conditions for using the modem service, some of which require additional options to be connected, others simply limit the amount of traffic that can be distributed to other devices, and knowing these nuances will help to avoid unexpected charges.

For example, some tariffs allow you to share traffic only within a certain amount (for example, 3 GB per month), after which the speed is cut to a minimum or an additional fee is charged. Other operators require the activation of the service Modem in the personal account of the subscriber.

You can use an engineering menu or special applications to change the network type to a more stable one, but the most reliable way is to use the phone's standard settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Preferred network type and select Preferred LTE. This will provide the maximum speed available in your area.

If the operator blocks the distribution, users often resort to changing the TTL on the smartphone itself, requiring root rights or the use of firewall applications that replace the TTL value in outgoing data packets, but this is an advanced level of customization and requires caution.

Key recommendations for different scenarios:

• 📞 For voice rates: make sure that the data service is enabled, as some older rates require separate activation GPRS/3G/4G.
• 🌐 For unlimited tariffs: read the fine print in the contract carefully, often "no-limit" is valid only within the operator's network or on certain resources.
• ⚖️ For corporate SIM cards: contact the IT-Internet distribution can be blocked at the network level.

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The success of the Internet distribution depends not only on the settings of the phone, but also on the loyalty of the tariff plan of your carrier. SIM-map.

Safety and optimization of traffic consumption

Using a smartphone as a USB-The modem opens the computer connected to the network to potential threats, as it receives a white one" IP-The address of the mobile operator, unlike the home router, which usually has a built-in firewall and a firewall. NAT, Smartphones provide more direct access, so having an antivirus and firewall installed on your PC becomes critical.

Also, mobile traffic is often limited. Background processes of a computer's operating system, such as Windows Update, cloud storage synchronization, or Steam game updates, can stealthily "eat" the entire data packet in minutes.

In Windows, you can set up an active connection as "Limited." To do this, go to network settings, select your Ethernet connection (which is now a phone), and turn on the "Limited Connection" switch, which will prevent the system from downloading large updates and limit the background activity of applications.

⚠️ Attention: When working through USB-The modem of the smartphone can be very hot, especially if you are simultaneously charging and transferring data. Watch the temperature of the device and when heated, remove the case or stop using.

To monitor traffic flow directly to Xiaomi Redmi, use built-in controls. In the Security → Data Transfer section, you can set limits and see which apps consume the most megabytes, which will help identify “gluttonous” programs.

Optimization also includes disabling unused services, and if you’re not using Bluetooth or NFC while the modem is running, it’s best to turn them off to reduce the load on the phone’s processor and radio module, which will have a positive effect on connection stability.