If your eSIM hotspot is not working, first check whether the phone can browse using the travel eSIM with Wi-Fi switched off. If it cannot, troubleshoot the mobile connection first. If it can, check tethering permission, the hotspot password and the connected device.
A laptop showing “connected, no internet” has joined a Wi-Fi network, but that does not prove the phone has a working mobile-data connection. Separating these two connections helps you avoid changing settings that are unrelated to the problem.
This guide covers iPhone and Android hotspot problems while travelling. Official guidance was reviewed on 24 September 2026. Menu names vary by device and software version. These are documentation-based checks, not a claim that we reproduced every fault.
Your travel eSIM provides mobile internet.
Your hotspot shares that connection over Wi-Fi.
A laptop can join the hotspot even when the phone has no usable mobile internet. “Connected” confirms only part of the journey.
Start here: which connection is failing?
Test the phone first, then follow the matching path.
Can you open a new webpage using the travel eSIM?
Confirm activation, selected data line, destination coverage and remaining allowance.
Retest the phone before troubleshooting the laptop.
Confirm tethering permission, hotspot name and password. Try another connected device.
One device works? Focus on the affected device.
Neither works? Check with the provider.
Working but slow? Check the high-speed allowance and compare performance on the phone and laptop. Change one setting at a time.
1. Test the travel eSIM on the phone first
Temporarily switch off Wi-Fi on the phone and open a new webpage. Confirm that the travel eSIM is the selected mobile-data line before testing; otherwise you may test your home SIM by mistake.
If the page does not load, check your purchase details for activation status, covered destination, remaining data and validity. Follow the provider’s instructions for roaming and network selection. Do not assume that installing an eSIM means its package is already active.
Use our travel eSIM setup checklist for the installation checks. Restore your usual Wi-Fi connection after the test if you need it to contact support.
Do not delete the eSIM as a first fix. Apple advises against erasing an eSIM for troubleshooting unless the provider directs you to do so. See Apple’s eSIM deletion guidance.
2. Fix an eSIM hotspot on iPhone
- Open Settings → Personal Hotspot and enable Allow Others to Join.
- Keep that screen open while your laptop selects the hotspot. Check the displayed network name and password.
- Turn the laptop’s Wi-Fi off and on, then reconnect. Restart both devices if necessary.
- If the hotspot option is missing or unavailable, ask the provider whether the package supports it.
- On supported iPhones, try Maximize Compatibility if the other device cannot connect. Apple notes that this can reduce performance and Wi-Fi security; use it as a targeted compatibility check.
These steps follow Apple’s Personal Hotspot troubleshooting guidance. Check for software updates over a suitable connection if the problem persists.
3. Fix an eSIM hotspot on Android
On Pixel, open Settings → Network & internet → Hotspot & tethering → Wi-Fi hotspot. Other Android devices may use different labels; search Settings for “hotspot.”
Confirm the hotspot is enabled and reconnect using its current name and password. Keep password protection enabled.
On Pixel, Data Saver must be turned off to tether over Wi-Fi. Also check whether an automatic shutoff setting explains why the hotspot disappears after devices disconnect. Google’s Pixel tethering guide covers both settings.
For other brands, follow the manufacturer’s instructions rather than assuming every Pixel setting exists. Google’s general Android hotspot guide explains connecting another device and notes that operators can restrict tethering.
4. Hotspot connected, but no internet on the laptop
If the phone’s mobile browsing works, try connecting one other device to the same hotspot. This comparison is a useful diagnostic clue, not proof of a particular cause.
| Result | Next check |
|---|---|
| Another device works | Focus on the affected laptop’s saved connection and network configuration. For a work-managed laptop, ask your IT team. |
| Neither connected device works | Ask the eSIM provider to confirm hotspot permission, remaining tethering allowance and any required settings. |
| Phone browsing also stops working | Return to the mobile-data test. The issue is no longer limited to the laptop. |
A browser failure does not automatically mean you need another eSIM. Record which devices work before buying a replacement. Avoid disabling company security tools to force a connection.
5. Check plan limits before treating slow internet as a fault
A hotspot can remain connected while the plan’s high-speed allowance is exhausted. A separate hotspot quota may also differ from the data available directly on your phone.
Check the package’s remaining data, full-speed threshold, reduced speed and reset time. Compare a small webpage on the phone and laptop rather than repeatedly downloading large files to test performance.
Our eSIM hotspot and tethering comparison explains how provider rules differ. The fixed-data versus unlimited guide explains why the word “unlimited” does not settle the speed question.
When should you reset network settings?
Treat a network reset as a later step, after basic checks and provider advice. On iPhone, Apple’s reset removes saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords and resets cellular, VPN and APN settings. Save the information you need before proceeding. Follow the exact instructions for your device; do not select an erase-all-content option. Apple’s reset instructions and consequences.
Do not copy an APN value from an unrelated plan or internet comment. Ask your provider whether your specific package needs a manual value and use its exact instructions.
What to send your eSIM provider
A short, specific report is more useful than “my hotspot is broken.” Include:
- Your destination and package name.
- Phone model, operating-system version and laptop type.
- Whether the phone browses with Wi-Fi off.
- Whether a second device can use the hotspot.
- The exact error and whether the problem is constant or intermittent.
- Remaining allowance and the checks already completed.
Use the provider’s private support channel. Do not post your eSIM QR code, activation code or account details publicly.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my eSIM work on my phone but not through hotspot?
The phone’s data connection and hotspot connection are separate parts of the setup. Check plan permission, the hotspot password and any provider-required settings. Testing another connected device helps narrow the problem.
Does “connected, no internet” mean my eSIM is broken?
No. It means the device has joined the hotspot but has not established usable internet access. Test the phone’s mobile browsing first, then compare another device.
Should I delete and reinstall the eSIM?
Not as a first troubleshooting step. Ask the provider before deleting it so you know how service would be restored.
Will buying unlimited data fix hotspot problems?
Not necessarily. A larger allowance does not correct a password, device or configuration problem. First identify the failure, then compare packages if your existing plan’s restrictions do not meet your needs.
Choose a plan that supports your trip
Once you know whether the problem is a device setting or a package restriction, you can make a more useful buying decision. Review hotspot allowances and tethering rules, estimate your phone and laptop data needs, then compare eSIM plans by destination.
Editorial method: This guide combines official Apple and Google documentation with a diagnostic sequence for travellers. It does not promise that every device, network or package will behave identically. Provider-specific settings should be confirmed with the provider.