Hotspot is on but other devices cannot connect

Check three things: is the eSIM line set as the data line, is the hotspot configured to use it, and does the plan allow sharing? Some plans in some countries block tethering at the network side — that is stated on the plan page.

A hotspot that shows as on while other devices fail to connect rarely comes down to a single cause, because sharing a connection depends on three layers being correct at once: the data line on the source phone, the hotspot's own settings, and the terms of the plan you bought. If any one layer is wrong, the other two being correct does not help. This page works through each layer in the order most likely to reveal the actual break, rather than toggling things at random.

This page is written for anyone who has turned on a hotspot from a phone carrying an installed eSIM, where a second device — a laptop or tablet — can see the hotspot's name but fails to join it, or joins yet gets no real internet. We walk through the three main points named in the short answer, then expand into the secondary points that come up almost as often, and close with what sits entirely outside your own device's control.

The three main points to check first

1. 1Confirm the eSIM is set as the source phone's data lineOpen the cellular or mobile network menu and check that the line marked as the mobile data line is the eSIM, not the original physical SIM. If the phone still uses the home SIM for data, the hotspot ends up sharing the home line's signal instead, which may have no data left or roaming switched off.
2. 2Confirm the hotspot itself is configured to use that lineSome phones have the correct data line set overall, yet the separate hotspot menu is still tied to the old line, especially on phones running two lines at once. Open the hotspot or personal hotspot menu and look for a source-line selector; if that option exists, point it at the eSIM line to match.
3. 3Confirm the plan actually allows tetheringOpen the specific plan page you bought and check its specification for whether tethering is listed as allowed. Some plans in some countries are restricted at the network side, and no matter how correctly your device is configured, the connection still fails, because the network refuses the share at its own end.

Why the wrong data line breaks a hotspot that looks turned on

A hotspot does not create an internet connection of its own; it only shares whatever mobile data line the phone is actively using at that moment out to other devices. If the line actually in use is the home SIM with roaming switched off, or with no data left, the hotspot toggle still shows as 'on' normally, because that feature is working correctly at its own level — there is simply nothing to share. This is why many people conclude the hotspot itself is broken, when the real cause is the wrong data line being selected.

On iPhone: two separate menus to check

Settings > Cellular is where you confirm which line is set as the cellular data line, while Settings > Personal Hotspot is a separate second point that controls the sharing itself. Both menus sit apart on iPhone as distinct screens, and both need checking independently, because getting one correct does not automatically make the other correct too.

Some iPhones hide the personal hotspot option until the cellular data line has been set correctly first. If opening the hotspot menu shows no option at all, go back to the cellular menu, set the data line correctly, then return to the hotspot menu afterward.

On Android: menu wording differs by manufacturer

Android has no single standard menu for a hotspot. Common wording includes 'Hotspot', 'Hotspot & tethering', or something close, tucked inside a network and internet menu, depending on the brand and software version. Some phones carry a separate 'data line for hotspot' selector distinct from the phone's main data line, and this is the single most common miss on a dual-line Android phone.

If the menu is hard to find, use the search box inside the settings menu and type 'hotspot' instead of clicking through by hand, since Android's menu layout shifts around with each manufacturer's own update cycle.

Common symptoms and their likely causes

A plan that disallows tethering cannot be fixed from the device side

This kind of restriction is set by the underlying network provider behind that specific plan, not a blanket rule we impose ourselves. Two plans that look very similar, from two different countries, can allow tethering differently simply because they come from different providers. Always open the specific plan page you bought to read its specification, rather than relying on memory of a different plan bought previously.

Check plan specifications by destination country

Points often overlooked: device limits and power saving

Many phones cap the number of devices that can join a hotspot at the same time. That cap differs by model and operating system. If several other devices are still connected from earlier, a new device can be refused silently, without a clear error message. Disconnecting devices no longer in use, then trying again, is worth doing before assuming anything else is wrong.

A laptop consumes more data than a phone once tethered

A device like a laptop often runs background tasks that pull data without you noticing, such as operating-system updates, cloud file syncing, or automatic app updates. These continue even while the screen is off. If data on a plan runs out faster than expected after tethering a laptop, check that laptop's own automatic-update settings before suspecting the hotspot itself is at fault.

The troubleshooting order that saves the most time

Mistakes people commonly make while troubleshooting a hotspot

Checklist before concluding the hotspot has a problem

• The source phone's data line is confirmed set to the eSIM
• The hotspot menu is tied to that same line, not a different one
• The hotspot password is typed correctly, including case
• The number of connected devices does not exceed the phone's limit
• Power-saving mode is switched off temporarily while the hotspot runs continuously
• The plan page has been opened and confirms tethering is allowed
• Both the source phone and the connecting device have been restarted

Test with a second device before concluding where the problem lies

If a second device is nearby — a spare phone or another tablet — try connecting it to the hotspot instead of the original device that is failing. If the second device connects normally, the problem likely sits with the Wi-Fi settings on the first device trying to connect, not with the hotspot itself — for example, a saved network profile left over from an earlier attempt, or a stuck Wi-Fi driver. This approach isolates the fault faster than repeatedly re-checking the hotspot menu alone.

Some devices remember a hotspot network from a previous trip, along with an old password that no longer matches the new one generated this time. This causes the device to keep attempting the wrong password automatically and fail repeatedly, without a clear message stating that the password is the issue. The fix is to forget the previously saved network on the connecting device first, then reconnect fresh with the current password.

How a Wi-Fi hotspot differs from sharing over a USB cable

Beyond a Wi-Fi hotspot, most phones also support sharing data over a USB cable, using the same underlying eSIM data line but sending it through a direct wired connection instead of a radio signal. This route tends to be more stable and avoids password or frequency-band issues, but requires a matching cable and port between the two devices. If the Wi-Fi hotspot keeps misbehaving and a suitable cable is on hand, trying USB sharing instead is worth the attempt.

If you have gone through every point and it still fails

Some cases carry conditions that do not fit the general situations above — a device that has been repaired, one with organisation-restricted permissions, or a plan with a country-specific condition. If you have checked every point on this page and it still does not work, do not keep guessing. Contact us with the source phone's model, the connecting device's model, and the plan name, so we can help look into anything specific to your particular case.

Talk to us on LINE about the hotspot issue