USB tethering not working means your computer does not get internet from the phone through the cable. The USB tethering option may be greyed out, the PC may show no new network, or it connects but pages do not open.
There are two sides to check: the phone and the computer. The phone must have working mobile data and allow tethering, and the computer must recognise the phone as a network adapter. Most failures come from a charge-only cable, a plan or phone restriction, or a missing Windows driver. If you only want a wireless link instead, see mobile hotspot not working.
Common causes
1Cable only carries power
How to tellPhone charges but the computer never reacts or shows no USB popup
What fixes itUse the original data cable and another USB port
2USB mode is set to charging only
How to tellThe tethering switch is greyed out or missing
What fixes itPull down the USB notification and pick the tethering or data option
3Mobile data is off or has no balance
How to tellPhone has no signal or data of its own
What fixes itFix data on the phone first, then connect
4Missing or wrong adapter driver on Windows
How to tellDevice Manager shows a yellow mark or a Remote NDIS device with an error
What fixes itUpdate or reinstall the driver from Windows
5Operator limits tethering
How to tellConnects but sites do not load, or the phone says tethering is not part of the plan
What fixes itAsk the operator whether the plan allows sharing
6Data saver or firewall
How to tellPhone data works, PC shows connected but no internet
What fixes itTurn off data saver and test with the firewall paused briefly
How to fix it, step by step
Switch to a known good data cable
Cheap cables often carry only power. Use the cable that came with the phone, plug it into a port directly on the computer and not through a hub, and try a second port. If the cable has worked for file transfer before, it is fine.
Confirm the phone has working mobile data
Turn off Wi-Fi on the phone and open a website on mobile data. If that fails, tethering cannot work either. See mobile data not working first.
Pick the right USB mode on the phone
After plugging in, pull down the notification that says USB charging or similar and choose the data or file transfer option. Then open Settings, search for tethering, and switch on USB tethering. On most Android phones it stays greyed out until the cable is plugged in and set to data.
Unlock the phone and approve the computer
Keep the screen on and unlocked while you connect. If a prompt asks whether to allow this computer or to trust it, accept it.
Check the network adapter on Windows
On the computer open Settings, then Network and internet, and look for a new Ethernet entry. Right click the Start button and open Device Manager, then expand Network adapters. A phone appears as something like a Remote NDIS or USB Ethernet device. A yellow warning mark means the driver needs attention.
Update or reinstall the driver through Windows
Right click the device in Device Manager, pick Update driver and let Windows look for one by itself. If that fails, uninstall the device, unplug the phone, restart the computer, and plug in again so Windows reinstalls it. Do not download driver packs from random sites.
Turn off a VPN, data saver and proxy
On the phone, turn off data saver and any VPN for the test. On the computer, turn off proxies. They can make a tethered link look connected while pages refuse to load.
Restart both devices and try once more
Restart the phone and the computer, switch on mobile data, then plug in the cable and enable USB tethering again.
USB tethering not working on Windows 10 and Windows 11
Windows 10 and Windows 11 both treat a tethered phone as a wired network card. If the adapter exists but has no internet, open Network connections, right click the new Ethernet entry, and make sure it is enabled. Then run Windows' own network troubleshooter from Settings, System, Troubleshoot. A fresh restart often triggers the right driver.
The phone says USB tethering is on but the taskbar shows No internet beside a new Ethernet icon. This usually means the cable and driver are fine, and the real problem is data on the phone or a limit set by the operator.
Why USB tethering is greyed out
The switch stays grey when the phone does not see a data connection to a computer. That happens with a charge-only cable, a loose port, a phone locked to charging mode or a device that has tethering blocked by the plan. Plug in again, choose the data option from the notification, and wait a few seconds.
Ethernet tethering not working and iPhone sharing
Some phones offer Ethernet tethering for cables with an adapter, which is a different feature from USB tethering. On an iPhone, internet sharing over cable is switched on through the Personal Hotspot setting, and the Windows PC may need the iPhone's device support software, installed from the official store. A trust prompt on the phone must be accepted.
Quick reference for tethering problems
| Symptom | Check |
|---|---|
| Phone charges, PC ignores it | Cable and port |
| Option greyed out | USB mode and unlock |
| Adapter shown with a warning | Driver in Device Manager |
| Connected, no pages | Mobile data, balance, VPN |
| Works then drops | Loose cable, battery saver |
If the computer does not see any USB device, also read USB port not working.
When it is the operator or the phone
If every step on the computer is right but data will not pass, your operator may block sharing on that plan, or throttle it. Visit the operator's store or app for plan details instead of guessing. If the phone's USB port is loose or does not charge reliably, a technician must check the port, since cost depends on whether the port is on a separate board.
Frequently asked questions
Why is USB tethering not working on my Windows 11 PC?
Check the cable first, then the USB mode on the phone, then Device Manager for a driver warning under Network adapters. A restart of both devices fixes many cases.
Why is USB tethering not working on Windows 10?
Windows 10 sometimes needs the Remote NDIS or USB Ethernet driver to be reinstalled. Uninstall the device in Device Manager, replug the phone and let Windows set it up again.
Why is the USB tethering option greyed out?
The phone is not in a data connection with the computer. Use a data cable, unlock the phone and choose the data option in the USB notification.
Does USB tethering use my mobile data balance?
Yes. It shares the phone's mobile data with the computer, so the plan's data limit applies, and large Windows updates can drain it quickly.
Is Ethernet tethering the same as USB tethering?
No. Ethernet tethering is a separate option on some phones, used with an adapter. Normal USB tethering needs only a cable.