How to Set Up Hotspot/Tethering with Your eSIM

Can You Use Hotspot with a Data-Only eSIM?

Yes. Most Only eSIM plans support hotspot and tethering, which means you can share your eSIM's data connection with your laptop, tablet, or a travel companion's phone. It is one of the most useful features for travelers who need to get work done on a laptop or keep multiple devices connected.

A quick note before we dive in: a small number of plans may have tethering restrictions depending on the carrier network in your destination country. If hotspot is restricted, it will be noted in the plan details on onlyesim.com. When in doubt, check your plan's description before purchasing.

How to Set Up Hotspot on iPhone

1. Open Settings
2. Tap Cellular (or Mobile Data)
3. Tap Cellular Data and make sure your Only eSIM line is selected as the data source
4. Go back to Settings
5. Tap Personal Hotspot
6. Toggle on Allow Others to Join
7. Note the Wi-Fi Password shown on screen — you will need this to connect other devices
8. On your other device, open Wi-Fi settings and look for your iPhone's name. Connect using the password from step 7.

If you do not see the Personal Hotspot option, try this: go to Settings > Cellular > your eSIM line > Cellular Data Network and make sure there is an APN entered. Some eSIM profiles require a specific APN for hotspot to appear. Check our APN configuration guide for help.

How to Set Up Hotspot on Samsung Galaxy

1. Open Settings
2. Tap Connections
3. Tap Mobile Hotspot and Tethering
4. Tap Mobile Hotspot
5. Toggle the hotspot on
6. Tap the hotspot name to view or change the network name and password
7. On your other device, find the hotspot network in Wi-Fi settings and connect using the password

Make sure your eSIM is set as the data SIM: Go to Settings > Connections > SIM manager and confirm your Only eSIM is selected for Mobile data.

How to Set Up Hotspot on Google Pixel and Other Android Devices

1. Open Settings
2. Tap Network & Internet
3. Tap Hotspot & Tethering
4. Tap Wi-Fi Hotspot
5. Toggle the hotspot on
6. Set a hotspot name and password if you haven't already
7. Connect your other device to the hotspot network using the password you set

Confirm your data line: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > SIMs and make sure your Only eSIM is selected for data.

Set a Strong Hotspot Password

Your hotspot is a Wi-Fi network, and anyone nearby can see it. Always set a strong password to prevent strangers from connecting and using your data. A good hotspot password is:

• At least 8 characters long
• A mix of letters, numbers, and a symbol
• Not something obvious like "12345678" or "password"

You can change your hotspot password in the same settings screen where you turn the hotspot on.

Tips for Managing Hotspot Data Usage

Tethering uses data faster than you might expect, especially when a laptop is connected. Here is why: computers tend to download updates, sync cloud storage, and load full desktop versions of websites — all of which consume significantly more data than a phone would.

To keep your data usage under control:

• Turn off automatic updates on your laptop (Windows Update, macOS Software Update) while tethered
• Pause cloud sync services like Dropbox, Google Drive, and iCloud
• Close background apps and browser tabs you are not actively using
• Monitor your remaining data regularly through your Only eSIM dashboard (see our data balance guide)
• Disconnect devices you are not actively using — do not leave your hotspot running with idle devices attached

Troubleshooting: Hotspot Not Working?

If you have turned on the hotspot but other devices cannot connect, or the connection shows "No Internet," try these steps:

1. Verify your eSIM is the active data line. This is the most common issue. Your phone might be routing hotspot traffic through your home SIM instead of the eSIM.
2. Check your APN settings. Some eSIM profiles need specific APN settings to enable hotspot. Visit our APN configuration guide.
3. Restart your phone. A quick reboot often resolves connectivity glitches after switching data lines.
4. Toggle airplane mode on and off. This forces your phone to re-register on the network.
5. Check your plan details. Confirm that your specific plan supports tethering.

If none of these steps work, reach out to our support team at onlyesim.com/support and we will help you sort it out.