How to share an Android phone's mobile data with a computer over a USB cable, with the menu paths on Pixel, Samsung, Xiaomi and Huawei.
USB tethering lets an Android phone share its mobile data connection with a computer over a USB cable; the computer sees the phone as a wired network adapter. It is useful when a PC has no working network driver, because Windows 10 and 11 include a generic driver (RNDIS) for this connection.
Pixel and most phones close to stock Android: Settings > Network & internet > Hotspot & tethering > USB tethering.
Samsung Galaxy (One UI): Settings > Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering > USB tethering.
Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO (MIUI and HyperOS): Settings > Connection & sharing > USB tethering; on some versions under Portable hotspot or More connectivity options.
Huawei (EMUI): Settings > Mobile network > Tethering & portable hotspot > USB tethering.
Menu names change between versions; the settings search box finds 'USB tethering' on all of them.
A data-capable USB cable (some charging cables carry power only), mobile data turned on, and a carrier plan that allows tethering. The switch stays grey until the cable is connected.
After a clean Windows install the Wi-Fi or Ethernet driver may be missing. USB tethering gives the PC internet through the generic driver, so Windows Update can then download the missing drivers.
Note: Rain Recovery Link uses a phone connection like this to bring a PC without network drivers back online.
Last updated: 2026-10-08
How to turn on Android developer options, what USB debugging allows, and why to switch it off when you do not need it.
What Android's Battery Saver and Adaptive Battery do, what they limit, and how to check which apps use the most battery.
How to see which Android version and security patch your phone has, how to update, and why the patch date matters.