How To Fix USB Tethering Not Working in Windows PC

Tethering is an excellent alternative to connecting to the internet via mobile data when facing issues with your Wi-Fi. This is why when USB tethering doesn’t work; it can be frustrating. There can be several reasons responsible for this problem like –

Outdated USB drive
Broken USB Cable
Corrupt Port, etc.

Regardless of the reason, there are multiple ways to fix it, and this article will discuss them in detail.

What is USB Tethering?

USB Tethering is a way to share cellular data with devices. It allows you to enjoy internet connectivity on your computer when there’s an internet connectivity issue. It is faster and has a USB cable to connect to the PC.

USB
Wi-Fi and

Why is USB Tethering not working?

There may be several reasons behind USB tethering not working correctly on Windows 10. Here we enlist the common causes for better understanding.

Too many wireless devices are connected at the same time.
Defective USB cable
Tethering Not Enabled
The firewall is blocking the connection.
Corrupt USB port
Missing or Outdated USB/Wi-Fi Drivers
Exceeded the limit of mobile data.
Bluetooth Access Point Is Turned Off
Misconfigured APN Settings

Must Read: How to Update Outdated Drivers in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7

How To Fix USB Tethering Not Working – Windows?

The USB tethering not working problem can be fixed by applying several fixes. Starting with the simple fixes like checking the USB cable, re-connecting the device, and connecting to an alternate port, you can move on to the technical fixes to troubleshoot the tethering malfunction problem.

Check out the fixes list below and resolve the tethering issue.

Method 1 – Disable Wi-Fi

When the USB tethering is giving connectivity issues, check whether the Wi-Fi is enabled or disabled. If enabled, it interrupts the connection sharing between devices. Therefore, disable it for an interference-free experience.

Go to your smartphone Settings.
Tap Wi-Fi to disable it.

Now try to connect the PC. The tethering should now work. If this doesn’t help, move to the next fix.

Must Read: How to Fix “MTP USB Device Driver Failed” Problem for Windows 11, 10, 8, 7

Method 2 – Update Outdated Driver

Before following the technical steps given below, create a restore point.

Manually Updating Driver

Press Windows Key + X > and select Device Manager to open it.

Double-click Network adapters > look for “Remote NDIS based Internet Sharing Device” > right-click on it and select Update driver.

Select “Browse my computer for drivers. “

Click “Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer. “

Uncheck “Show compatible hardware” > select Microsoft under Manufacturer.
Select USB RNDIS6 Adapter from the right pane > and click Next.

Click Yes to confirm your action and proceed.

Wait for a while for Windows to install the network adapter drivers.

This should help fix the tethering not working issue. No worries if this method did not help, as you could not find the update manually, no worries. Use Advanced Driver Updater to detect outdated drivers and update them in just a few clicks.

Automatically Update Device Driver – Advanced Driver Updater

Download and install Advanced Driver Updater.

Launch the powerful driver updating software and click Start Scan Now.

Wait for the scan and update the driver. Use the Update All button to update all outdated drivers. If you are re-directed to the purchase page, it seems you are using the Free version. To update the driver, click the Update driver link next to the driver you want to update. If you want me to install all driver updates, switch to the paid version of Advanced Driver Updater.

Restart the PC to apply the change.

Method 3: Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run window.
Type command prompt and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run it as administrator.
Type the following command – exe -id DeviceDiagnostic and let the troubleshooter run
If any issues are detected, they will be automatically fixed.
Restart the PC to save changes.

Must Read: How to Fix Microsoft Teredo Tunneling Adapter Missing

Method 4: Run a Windows Registry Command

Run Command Prompt as admin. In the Windows search field, search for Command Prompt > select the best result > right-click > Run as administrator.
Type the following command: sc.exe config netsetupsvc start=disabled and press the Enter key.

Next open Device Manager. Press Windows Key + X > select Device Manager from the list.
Double click Network adapter > right-click on Remote NDIS based Internet Sharing Device > Uninstall device.

Confirm the action.
Next, click the Action tab under the Device Manager window and select “Scan for hardware changes. “

The drivers for your network card will be automatically installed, and you’ll find them under Network Adapters.
Press Windows Key + R > type regedit > click Ok.

Go to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E972-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

Double click the registry key > find the registry key with “Remote NDIS based Internet Sharing Device.”

Right-click on it > select New > DWORD (32-bit) value. (repeat this to create a 3DWORD name as:

*IfType

*MediaType

*PhysicalMediaType

Set the DWORD value for IfType, MediaType, and PhysicalMediaType as follows:

*IfType = 6

*MediaType = 0

*PhysicalMediaType = 0xe

Open Command Prompt (as Admin) and type sc.exe config netsetupsvc start=demand

Go to Device Manager, double click Network Adapters right-click your device select Disable.
Again, right-click on it > select Enable, which should Fix USB Tethering Not Working in Windows 10.

That’s it. This is how you can fix the USB Tethering not working on the Windows issue. If you have any queries, leave them in the comments section. Make sure your device drivers are up-to-date.

Preeti Seth

A UX writer who loves explaining technical details in a clear, crisp, and concise manner. She loves writing about technical troubleshooting, How-To's, product reviews, etc. In her free time, she loves reading, meditating, and traveling.

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View Comments

Rupak Verma says:

April 23, 2024 at 3:00 pm

This blog post is an absolute lifesaver! 🙌 I've been struggling with USB tethering issues on Windows for ages, and stumbling upon this article felt like hitting the jackpot! 💰 The step-by-step solutions provided here are super clear and easy to follow, making it a breeze to troubleshoot and fix the problem. 🔧💻 Plus, the additional tips and tricks offered are a godsend – I've already tried a couple and noticed a significant improvement in my tethering experience! 🚀 Thank you so much for sharing this valuable information. It's definitely going straight into my bookmarks for future reference! 📑