Cannot active hotspot while abroad

[chroos]

Hi, I’m hoping someone can help with a hotspot issue while roaming. I’m an EE contract customer currently using a Zone 2 roaming pass. Mobile data works fine while roaming (LTE connection active, data browsing normal), but mobile hotspot will not enable; the toggle switches on briefly and then immediately turns itself off.

Device: Google Pixel 8
Things I have already tried:
Restarted phone
Reset network settings
Airplane mode on/off
Confirmed roaming is enabled
Mobile data is working normally
Checked *#*#4636#*#* phone info — device shows roaming and data connected
Tried editing APN — EE uses everywhere, but APN type is locked and I cannot add dun
Created new APN — still cannot add dun (greyed out)
No VPN or data saver active

From what I understand, Android is failing the tethering entitlement check while roaming, which suggests the tethering feature/SOC may not be provisioned correctly on my line for roaming, even though I have the pass.

I have tried calling 150 (but Im in morocco and this is the number for the country's emergency services), and calling 07953966150 takes me to the rapid2/aimee, which leads to sending messages to me. It then eventually says someone will call back, and to text details to help - after which it says "Sorry something went wrong, please call 150"

Could someone please tell me what to do my side, or in EE check that tethering / hotspot entitlement is active on my account while roaming and refresh the feature if needed?

[bristolian]

A comprehensive set of checks well-explained, which makes responses so much easier!

Have you previously hotspotted whilst in the UK, before travelling abroad? Have you confirmed this same behaviour across multiple local networks?

I'm not, off-hand, sure what the T&Cs are here, but I think that these are the only two variables left to eliminate. Prove it off a specific local network, and prove that the only thing that's changed from previously working, is roaming.

[Christopher_G]

Hi @chroos 

Welcome to the community.

In addition to @bristolian's advice, could you see if these settings are available in your phone?:

1 Tap Settings.
2 Tap Connections.
3 Tap Network and Internet or Connectivity.
4 Tap Hotspot and Tethering.
5 Tap Wi-Fi Hotspot.
6 Tap the Extend compatibility slider to enable it.

Will be interesting to hear if they are, and if it fixes this.

Chris

[chroos]

Hey both,

Cheers for the quick replies!

Hotspot has always worked previously in the UK and abroad - I was in the exact same place, same plan and same phone last November so I'm assuming it's an EE issue/change.

There is only one network here "Maroc-Telecom EE".

When I go to Hotspot and Tethering, it just says Hotspot: Error, but nothing more. When I can I'll plug into ADB and see if I can get any better logs/error messages.

[Ali_A]

@chroos 

Hotspot is accessible by default for all plans and packages- we don't have a separate hotspot feature to switch on/off.  

Do you recall if you had updated your Pixel firmware since the last time you were away? Just wondering if there may have been a change in the firmware to disallow hotspot in countries where that device is not officially sold. 

I was in Marrakech 3 weeks ago and successfully used my hotspot, albeit using a different make/model device. 
a bit of a long shot, but are you able to test your SIM in an alternative device at all? 

Ali 

[chroos]

@Ali_A 

Cheers for the reply. The fact that EE do not do anything special here probed me to look around and I found this from 2024:
https://support.google.com/pixelphone/thread/257672674/pixel-8-hotspot-not-working-immediately-switc...
stating that there was a bug with Pixels which wouldn't allow hotspot from "unsupported countries". This wasn't an issue before (re: November). I did try the pattern that was laid out as a workaround of Airplane mode on, Restart phone, Hotspot on, Airplane mode off. The hotspot stayed on while airplane mode was on, however when I turned airplane mode off the hotspot turned off a couple seconds later. 

As of https://support.google.com/pixelphone/thread/386000789/5g-connectivity-inaccessibility-in-morocco?hl... this seems like a pixel-related issue. Whether or not this is a bug or a feature, I don't know, but it's daft that it exists.

My assumption is that an update has enforced this, hence why it worked in November but doesn't work now.

• Restarting the phone with airplane mode on would stop the phone from "realising" it is in Morocco. This is why hotspot can be turned on.
• The moment airplane mode is turned off, the phone connects to the Moroccan provider, and "realises" it is in Morocco and so turns hotspot off.
• Connecting to WiFi and using a VPN to another country before turning off airplane mode also does not work - the moment the phone connects to the provider, hotspotting is rejected.
• This seems embedded into the Morocco provider itself. I'm not sure of any other countries this may happen in.
• It seems aligned with the disabling of 5G in Morocco too, as my phone also has this unavailable while here.

I can't try my SIM in a new device right now, which would be able to validate all this. For now, best strategy seems to be just to run around looking for WiFi and eventually get as far away from Google as possible haha.

Thanks to all for their help! @bristolian @Christopher_G @Ali_A 

[Ali_A]

Thanks for the update with this @chroos 

It's a shame that it's you're unable to toggle this despite being able to in the past. 
Your research will be helpful to others who may find themselves in a similar unexpected experience! 

Ali