Fix: BSOD Caused by USB Tethering on Windows 11

Using tethering, you can share a mobile device’s Internet connection with your computer. This can be done via both wireless and physical connections like a cable or a USB. Recently, Windows 11 users have been complaining that as soon as they try to use USB tethering on their computers, their system crashes, resulting in a Blue Screen of Death. 

We had a look into the issue and discovered that it is typically caused due to the following reasons:

• Outdated device drivers – In most cases, the issue was a result of outdated/corrupt drivers that are required by the system for USB tethering. The best way to counter this issue, in this case, is to update the drivers. If that does not work, then you can uninstall the driver and reinstall the latest version by following the steps we have described below.
• Defective USB cable – there can be a hardware or software-related issue with your USB cable which is causing the problem. You can try using another USB cable to check if this is the reason you are facing the problem. The same goes for your USB port, so you can try switching to another port as well.
• Generic corruption error – Your system may also be infected with a generic corruption error or virus which is triggered when you try to use USB tethering on the system. If this scenario is applicable, then you can run the built-in Windows troubleshooting utilities or your third-party antivirus to rule out the problem.
• The interruption caused by unnecessary network adapters/connections – there is also a chance that the connections already enabled in the system cause an interruption with the USB tethering process, causing the crash. If this happens, you can simply disable the other connections and check if that makes any difference.

Now that we know about the potential causes, let’s have a look at the troubleshooting methods that will help you resolve the USB tethering problem for good, in detail.

1. Check Your USB Cable and Port

The best way to start troubleshooting in cases like this is by checking the hardware for any potential problems. Since the issue is related to USB tethering here, we suggest you try to connect your USB cable with another device and check if it works fine there. If it is infected with a virus or a corruption error, the issue will appear on the other device as well. 

Another thing that you can try is switching the USB port and see if that makes any difference. 

2. Update Device Drivers 

As we mentioned earlier, most users discovered that the USB tethering issue is typically caused due to outdated or corrupt drivers within the system. Drivers are what connect the hardware devices to the system, so keeping them functional at all times is necessary if you wish to use any of the hardware components like the webcam or USB cable in this case. 

The best way to deal with issues related to drivers is by updating them. In most cases, that will resolve the issue for you. However, if the problem persists, then you can proceed with uninstalling the drivers and reinstalling the latest available version from the manufacturer’s website. 

In this method, we will first walk you through the steps of installing the latest updates for the targeted driver. If that fails to do the job for some reason, we will then proceed with reinstalling it from scratch.

Here is all that you need to do:

1. Press Win + R together to open Run.
2. Type devmgmt.msc in the text field of Run and click Enter. 
   
3. Alternatively, you can also type Device Manager in Windows search and click Open.
   
4. Once you are inside the Device Manager window, expand the Network Adapters option.
   
5. Locate and right-click on Remote NDIS based Internet Sharing Device.
6. Choose Update driver from the context menu.
   

   

7. In the following window, choose Browse my computer for drivers.
   

   

8. Click on Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
   
9. Uncheck the Show compatible hardware option and choose Microsoft from the options just below it.
   

   

10. Then, move to the right side and click on Remote NDIS based Internet Sharing Device there.
    

    

11. Click Next to proceed.
    
12. If a confirmation prompt appears, choose Yes.
    

Wait for the driver to install and then exit Device Manager. Restart your PC and upon reboot, check if the USB tethering issue is resolved.

If the error persists, then you can reinstall the driver and check if that makes any difference. Here is how:

1. Launch the Device Manager again by following the steps mentioned above.
2. Right-click on the Remote NDIS based Internet Sharing Device driver in the Network Adapters section.
3. Choose Uninstall device from the context menu and follow the on-screen instructions to proceed. 
   

   

4. Once the driver is uninstalled, click on Action in the ribbon menu.
   
5. Choose Scan for hardware changes. This will reinstall the driver automatically again. 
   

   

Hopefully, it will fix the problem once and for all.

3. Use the Built-in Troubleshooters

Another fix that worked for users was using the built-in troubleshooters within Microsoft that can scan the system for hardware and connection-related problems. 

In the case of USB tethering error, we will be using the troubleshooting utility that has proven to be effective for other users; Network Adapter troubleshooter.

As the name suggests, this tool will look for any connection and hardware issues that may be resulting in the Blue Screen of Death. 

Follow these steps to proceed:

1. Press the Win + I keys to open Windows Settings.
2. Choose System from the left pane and click on Troubleshoot.
   
3. In the following window, click on Other troubleshooters.
   

   

4. Now, locate the Network Adapter troubleshooter and click on the Run button associated with it.
   

   

    

5. Wait for the troubleshooter to complete its process and if it finds any issues, click on Apply this fix to apply the suggested solution by the troubleshooter.
6. If the troubleshooter does not find any issues, click on Close the troubleshooter.
   

If you cannot run the Network Adapter troubleshooter via Windows Settings, then you can also use the Control Panel to perform the same operation. 

Here is how:

1. Type Control Panel in Windows search and click Open.
   
2. Type Troubleshoot in the search bar of the Control Panel and click Enter.
   

   

3. Choose Hardware and Sound > Network Adapter.
   

   

4. Wait for the troubleshooter to complete its process and then proceed with on-screen instructions. Then, check if the USB tethering BSOD is fixed.
   

4. Run an SFC Scan

Additionally, corrupted system files or viruses within the protected system files may also cause issues such as this one. 

In this case, you should run the System File Checker, which is a Microsoft utility. The software scans the system for problematic files, and if any are detected, the corrupt files are replaced with their healthy counterparts, without affecting the system.

Here is how you can run an SFC scan on Windows:

1. Press the Win + R keys together to open Run.
2. Type cmd in the text field of Run and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys together. This will launch Command Prompt as an administrator. 
   
3. Once you are inside the Command Prompt window, type the command mentioned below and hit Enter. 
   

   sfc /scannow

   

4. Wait for the command to execute and once it is done, restart your computer.

Hopefully, you will not face the problem again at the restart. 

In the event that the USB tethering error persists, it would be a good idea to contact Microsoft support and report the problem. They can identify the issue for you and suggest appropriate troubleshooting measures.