How it works
Tethering from an eSIM: when you can, and what it uses
In most cases yes, and it uses more than people reckon on. How to switch it on, what limits it, and how much data to allow for.
Dani Requena 6 min Photo by Patrick on Unsplash Sharing your phone's connection, what your settings call a hotspot or personal hotspot, works the same with an eSIM as with a physical card in almost every case. The caveat is in the almost.
What it depends on
- The plan. Most travel data plans allow it, and some rule it out explicitly in their terms.
- The phone. Every eSIM-capable handset knows how to tether, though some manufacturers bury it in a submenu.
- The local network. In the odd destination an operator can apply technical restrictions to tethered traffic.
Before relying on it for work, check the terms of the plan you're buying. It's a stated fact, not something to assume.
How to switch it on
On iPhone
In Settings, under Personal Hotspot. If the phone has two lines, it shares whichever is set as the data line, so make sure that's the travel eSIM.
On Android
In Settings, under Connections or Network & internet, in the hotspot and tethering section. Same as above, it shares the active data line.
In both cases it's worth setting a password, because in a hotel or an airport an open network with your name on it attracts company.
The part that matters: how much it uses
Tethering doesn't use data by itself. It uses whatever the connected device uses, and that's where the surprise lives: a laptop uses far more than a phone, because it downloads full pages, syncs files and updates itself unprompted.
| Connected device | Typical usage per hour |
|---|---|
| Another phone, normal use | 100 to 300 MB |
| Tablet watching video | 500 MB to 1.5 GB |
| Laptop working with cloud files | 300 MB to 1 GB |
| Laptop on a video call | 500 MB to 1 GB |
| Laptop switched on after days off | 1 GB or more in one go |
That last row is the one that ruins plans: a laptop that's been off for a week catches up the moment it sees a network, and it doesn't ask first.
Three precautions before tethering a computer
- Mark the network as metered in your laptop's system settings. That holds back automatic updates and syncing.
- Pause cloud syncing while you're connected through your phone.
- Turn off automatic operating system downloads before you leave.
Sharing with whoever you're travelling with
Giving the person you're with a connection for a while is no problem: switch it on, let them connect, switch it off after. For two weeks of family travel the sums change, and there you're choosing between one large data plan and an eSIM each.
Both options, with the numbers, are in one eSIM for two phones: what works and what doesn't.
Frequently asked questions
Can you tether from an eSIM?
In most cases yes, just as with a physical card. It depends on the plan, which may limit it in its terms, so it's worth checking before you rely on it.
Does tethering use more data?
Not from the sharing itself, but from whatever the connected device uses. A laptop uses far more than a phone because it syncs and updates on its own.
How do I switch on the hotspot?
On iPhone, in Settings under Personal Hotspot. On Android, in the hotspot and tethering section. Both share whichever line is set as the data line.
How much data should I allow for tethering a laptop?
Between 300 MB and 1 GB per hour of normal use, and more with video calls or if the laptop is catching up after days switched off.
Is an eSIM each better?
For longer trips or families, nearly always: everyone has data even if the group splits up, and you're not depending on one phone's battery.
