How to Share Wi-Fi from Your Phone to Your Computer via USB: Complete Instructions (2026)

Sharing internet from your phone to your computer via a USB cable is a reliable way to access the internet when you don't have a router or your PC's Wi-Fi module is broken. Unlike wireless hotspots, a USB connection saves battery life, provides stable speeds, and works even in areas with heavy interference. However, many users encounter issues: drivers don't install, Windows doesn't recognize the connection, or the internet doesn't work despite a visible connection.

In this article we will look at all working methods For Android And iPhone, including setup Windows 10/11, MacOS And LinuxYou will learn how to avoid common errors (for example, NDIS error 10 (or the lack of a "USB modem" option in the settings), what drivers are needed for specific phone models, and how to check the data transfer speed. And if your PC doesn't detect the phone at all, there's a solution at the end of the article. diagnostic checklist.

Spoiler: on Android the process takes 2-3 minutes, but with iPhone It will take longer due to restrictions AppleBut first things first.

1. Preparation: What you need to share Wi-Fi via USB

Before connecting your phone to your computer, make sure you have everything you need:

• 📱 Smartphone on Android 6.0+ or iPhone With iOS 12+ (Older versions may not have the required features).
• 🖥️ Computer with port USB 2.0/3.0 (on MacBook an adapter may be required USB-C → USB-A).
• 🔌 USB cable - preferably original (cheap cables often do not support data transfer).
• 🔄 Mobile Internet on a phone (3G/4G/5G) with sufficient traffic.

Also check:

• 🔋 On the phone battery saving mode is disabled - it can block the USB connection.
• 🔒 On the computer no active VPNs or firewalls, which block new network connections.
• 🛠️ Installed on PC current drivers for USB ports (especially important for Windows 7/8).

Important: if you use corporate laptop, connections to external network devices may be blocked via Group Policy. In this case, please contact your network administrator.

⚠️ Attention: some mobile operators (eg Tele2 or Iota) block internet tethering on unlimited data plans. Check your plan's terms in your personal account.

2. Sharing Wi-Fi from Android to a PC via USB: Step-by-step instructions

On Android The process is extremely simple—the system automatically installs the necessary drivers upon first connection. Follow the instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your computer with the original USB cable.

2. On your phone, select the connection mode in the notification bar: File Transfer (MTP) → USB modem (RNDIS).

   If there is no such item, go to Settings → Network & Internet → Hotspot & Tethering → USB Tethering and turn on the switch.

3. On your computer, wait for the drivers to be installed (in Windows A notification may appear stating "The device is ready for use."

4. Check your connection: in Windows open Control Panel → Network Connections - a new connection should appear Remote NDIS.

If the Internet does not work:

• 🔄 Reconnect the cable (sometimes changing the USB port helps).
• 📱 Restart your phone and turn it on again USB modem.
• 🖥️ In Windows update drivers for Remote NDIS through device Manager.

Mobile Internet is enabled on the phone|The cable is connected to the USB 3.0 port (blue)|USB modem mode is activated in the settings|There are no driver errors in the Device Manager on the PC-->

On phones Samsung With One UI 5.0+ The USB modem option may be hidden in the menu Connections → Mobile Hotspot & TetheringIf it is not there, update the firmware via Settings → Software Update.

3. Sharing Internet from iPhone to Computer via USB

WITH iPhone the process is more complicated due to restrictions AppleYou will need:

1. Connect iPhone to the computer with the original cable (non-certified cables do not support data transmission).

2. On iPhone go to Settings → Cellular → Personal Hotspot and turn on the switch.

   If there is no option, check what you have a tariff with modem support is active (for some operators, for example, MTS, this function is blocked on cheap tariffs).

3. Wait for the drivers to be installed on your computer:

   • IN Windows a new network connection should appear Apple Mobile Device Ethernet.
   • IN MacOS the connection will be established automatically (check in System Preferences → Network).

Typical problems and solutions:

⚠️ Attention: on iPhone With iOS 16+ When connecting to a new computer for the first time, you'll need to unlock your phone and trust the device ("Trust this computer?"). Without this, USB modem won't work.

4. Configuring your computer to receive internet via USB

Even if your phone is properly distributing internet, you may still have connection issues on your computer. Let's look at the settings for different operating systems:

Windows 10/11

If the connection is established, but the Internet does not work:

1. Open Control Panel → Network Connections.

2. Find a connection Remote NDIS (For Android) or Apple Mobile Device (For iPhone).

3. Right click → Properties → Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).

4. Check the boxes Obtain an IP address automatically And Obtain DNS server address automatically.

If there is no network connection:

• 🔧 Update drivers for USB RNDIS through device Manager (chapter Network adapters).
• 🔄 Reinstall the drivers for your phone (download from the manufacturer's website, for example, Samsung Smart Switch or Mi PC Suite).

MacOS

On Mac Usually everything works out of the box, but if the internet doesn't work:

1. Open System Preferences → Network.

2. Select connection iPhone USB (or USB 10/100/1000 LAN For Android).

3. Click Advanced → TCP/IP and check what it's worth Use DHCP.

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)

On Linux Manual adjustment may be required:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install usb-modeswitch
sudo modprobe usbnet

After connecting the phone, check the new network device with the command:

ip a | grep usb

5. Why Wi-Fi sharing via USB doesn't work: Troubleshooting

If you followed the instructions but still can't connect to the internet, check the following:

If the problem is not resolved, please do network diagnostics:

• 📊 In Windows: open Command line and enter ping 8.8.8.8If packets don't get through, the problem is at the connection level.
• 🔍 In MacOS/Linux: use ifconfig or ip ato check if an IP address has been assigned to the USB connection.

What should I do if I can ping but websites won't open?

This indicates a DNS issue. Try manually entering Google's DNS (8.8.8.8 And 8.8.4.4) in the network connection settings. If that doesn't help, check your firewall or antivirus (for example, Kaspersky or Avast may block traffic).

6. How to speed up internet transfer via USB

USB data transfer speed depends on several factors: protocol version, cable quality, and phone settings. Here's how to increase it:

• 🔌 Use USB 3.0 port (usually blue) - it supports speeds up to 5 Gbps (against 480 Mbps (for USB 2.0).
• 📶 Turn on your phone 4G/5G mode (in mobile network settings, select 4G only or 5G instead of Auto).
• 🚫 Turn it off background applications, consuming traffic (for example, updates Google Play or cloud backups).
• 🔄 In Windows turn it off TCP/IP autoconfiguration:

  netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=restricted

  (after rebooting, the speed may increase by 10–30%).

To check your actual speed, use the following services:

• Speedtest.net (works in browser).
• Fast.com (from Netflix, shows the download speed).

⚠️ Attention: if you use USB hub or extension cord, the speed may drop to 100–200 Mbps Even on USB 3.0. Connect your phone directly to the port on your computer.

7. Alternative ways to share the Internet from your phone

If USB sharing doesn't work or is inconvenient, consider alternatives:

To enable Wi-Fi hotspot on Android:

1. Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Hotspot & Tethering.
2. Select Wi-Fi hotspot and set up the network name/password.
3. Connect to this network from your computer.

On iPhone:

1. Open Settings → Tethering.
2. Turn on Allow others to connect.
3. Connect to the network iPhone [your name] from PC.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is it possible to share the Internet via USB if the phone does not have mobile data, but only Wi-Fi?

Yes, but you need to use it for that. reverse tethering (reverse tethering). On Android With root rights this can be done through applications like ClockworkMod TetherOn . iPhone Without jailbreak there is no such function.

Why does Windows say "Unidentified device" when connecting a phone?

This means that the driver RNDIS is not installed. Download it from the phone manufacturer's website (for example, Samsung, Xiaomi) or install Google USB Driver through Android SDK. Also check if it is disabled. USB modem in the phone settings.

Is it possible to charge a phone and share the Internet via USB at the same time?

Yes, but the charging speed will be slower because some of the power is used to support the USB modem. If your phone is draining too quickly, use powerful power supply (from 18W) or connect to USB 3.0 (it provides more current).

How can I share internet from my phone to my PC via USB if my carrier blocks this feature?

There are several workarounds:

1. Use VPN on your phone (For example, 1.1.1.1 or ProtonVPN) - some operators block distribution only for their own traffic.
2. Change it APN settings to custom ones (find the current parameters for your operator on the forums).
3. Buy external 4G modem (For example, Huawei E3372) - it bypasses operator restrictions.

⚠️ Be careful: changing your APN may violate your contract with your carrier.

Does USB sharing work on phones with custom firmware (LineageOS, MIUI, etc.)?

Yes, but there may be nuances:

• On LineageOS sometimes you need to turn it on manually RNDIS in the kernel settings.
• On MIUI (Xiaomi) USB modem option may be hidden in Advanced settings → Tethering mode.
• On firmware without Google Services (For example, GrapheneOS) there may be missing drivers - install them manually.