Can I use USB tethering and the Wi-Fi hotspot at the same time?

Both can technically run together, but this increases battery drain and mobile data usage noticeably, so most people enable only one sharing method at a time.

Does USB tethering use mobile data or my home Wi-Fi?

USB tethering shares whichever internet connection your OnePlus is currently using, which is mobile data unless the phone itself is connected to a Wi-Fi network.

Why does my phone ask which connection type to use when I plug in the USB cable?

OxygenOS shows this prompt because the USB port can serve several purposes, such as charging, file transfer or tethering, and it needs to know which mode to activate for that session.

The USB tethering toggle is greyed out, what can I do?

This usually means no active mobile data connection is available, so check the mobile data toggle first before returning to Settings ➔ Wi-Fi & network ➔ Hotspot & tethering.

OnePlus

OnePlus: Turn USB Tethering On or Off

If your laptop or PC shows no internet connection after plugging in the USB cable, USB tethering on your OnePlus is probably still switched off or fighting with another active connection. Some OxygenOS versions also pop up a prompt asking which network connection to share, and picking the wrong one leaves the computer offline. This is different from a broken cable or driver issue, since the phone controls the tethering toggle itself.

Updated: 07.08.20263 min4 steps

VersionAndroid 10 · Oxygenos 10

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Android 10 · Oxygenos 10

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OnePlus

Enable or Disable USB Tethering auf OnePlus

USB tethering shares your OnePlus phone's mobile data connection with a computer through the USB cable instead of Wi-Fi. The function sits inside the same menu as the mobile hotspot, so it can get switched off by accident when you toggle other sharing options.

When you connect the phone to a PC, OxygenOS sometimes shows a selection screen asking which network mode the USB connection should use. Choosing a mode other than tethering (like file transfer or charging only) stops the internet from being shared, even though the cable is connected correctly.

To enable or disable the function directly, open Settings ➔ Wi-Fi & network ➔ Hotspot & tethering ➔ enable or disable USB tethering.

Use USB tethering when Wi-Fi hotspot drains the battery too fast or when the receiving device has no wireless adapter. Keep in mind that tethered data still counts against your mobile data plan, and a low-quality or charge-only USB cable can prevent the connection from working at all.

Frequently asked questions

Check that the cable supports data transfer and not only charging, and confirm the toggle under Settings ➔ Wi-Fi & network ➔ Hotspot & tethering ➔ USB tethering is actually switched on after reconnecting the cable.

Compatible devices

Tap your device — opens its hub with matching guides.

Android 10 · Oxygenos 10

OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren OnePlus 8 OnePlus 8 Pro OnePlus N10 OnePlus Nord OnePlus Nord N100

Network & Connectivity

OnePlus: Turn USB Tethering On or Off

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Enable or Disable USB Tethering auf OnePlus

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