If Personal Hotspot is greyed out on a travel eSIM (digital data SIM), the usual cause is which line is set for Cellular Data, not a broken phone. Fix the line pick and Allow Others to Join before you reset anything.
Hotspot follows the Cellular Data line
Personal Hotspot shares whichever plan is selected under Settings, Cellular, Cellular Data, not the Default Voice Line. Set Cellular Data to your travel eSIM first, then open Settings, Personal Hotspot.
Some travel plans block tethering
Some prepaid profiles do not allow sharing data to other devices. If the plan forbids hotspot, the control stays dim or turns on and clients never get online. Check the product page or support chat for hotspot allowed. When the plan blocks it, only a different plan fixes it.
Turn on Allow Others to Join
Open Settings, Personal Hotspot, and enable Allow Others to Join. Set a Wi-Fi password. On Dual SIM (two lines on one phone), confirm Cellular Data is still on the travel line after you change hotspot settings.
Maximize Compatibility for older laptops
If phones join but an older laptop fails, turn on Maximize Compatibility under Personal Hotspot. That uses a more compatible Wi-Fi mode. It can use more battery, so turn it off when you do not need it.
Reset Network Settings last
Only after the steps above, try Reset Network Settings. Wi-Fi passwords clear, but installed eSIMs usually stay. Re-select Cellular Data to the travel line afterward.
Quick checklist
- Greyed out: set Cellular Data to the travel eSIM, then Allow Others to Join.
- On but clients fail: check whether the plan allows hotspot.
- Old laptop only: Maximize Compatibility, then reset network settings last.
- Need a travel line that can hotspot: browse SimJuno travel eSIM plans and confirm hotspot is allowed before you buy.
