Problems Tethering from Dual Sim Android Mobile Phones

Lmacmine on 22/12/2018 - 14:05

Hi everyone,

I've been having problems for ages trying to tether from an Android phone that has dual SIMs.

I started with a Xiaomi Mi A1 (Oreo 8.1), the moved on a Nokia 6.1 Plus (Pie 9.0), and the same problem always exists.

Whenever I have two SIMs turned on and active, and I try to tether from one of the SIMs for data, my connecting device (be it another iPhone or laptop, or iPad), would not load anything. It would appear as it its not connected to the internet, although I have a full signal.

On the Android phone itself, internet would be working just fine and a webpage will load.

However, if I deactivate one of the SIMs, followed by an airplane mode toggle, or reboot (if severe), then I will be able to tether without issues. But once I turn on the other SIM, it's a matter of time the tethering will not work properly again and the joining device will not connect to the Android's internet again.

I've tried swapping SIM positions on the tray, and I initially thought it was a Xiaomi problem. But when it happens on the Nokia too, I suspect something is amiss. Having said that, a single SIM Nokia 7.1 never had this problem.

Does anyone have this experience and know how to fix it?

So many thanks in advance!

Cheers :)

Mobile

Comments

  • dheywood on 22/12/2018 - 14:21

    I haven't had issues with using wifi hotspot on my previous Moto G4 Plus and nowy Moto G5 Plus. My primary sim is Kogan (default for data and calls etc), secondary sim is Telstra (work supplied Sim, used mainly for calls/txt and occasional data when my Kogan has patchy reception).
    I've connected Windows, macOS, iPad etc to it for hotspot and never had any issues.

    • macmine on 22/12/2018 - 14:22

      Thanks mate. I just don't understand what is wrong, or if I am doing anything wrong!

  • bazingaa on 22/12/2018 - 14:31
    +1

    Never had the issue with any Xiaomi.
    Just check whether you have enabled data for both sim or not? I always enable data only on one sim.

    • macmine on 22/12/2018 - 14:35

      Hmm… Let me check and turn off one of the SIMs' data. Maybe that will fix it?

    • macmine on 22/12/2018 - 14:36

      Does it mean that I can have only one SIM with data turned on for a dual SIM phone?

    • macmine on 22/12/2018 - 14:54

      Just tried- turning off data for one of the SIMs still doesn't work. Same problem, :(

  • aarn on 22/12/2018 - 15:13

    On my cheap ZTE (running android 4.4.2): Settings > turn on wifi > More > Tethering & portable hotspot > then you can chose either to activate wifi hotspot, tether via usb, or tether by bluetooth

    • macmine on 22/12/2018 - 15:14

      Thanks mate- I do know how to turn on tethering. It's having the tethering working with both SIMs on, that is the problem…..

  • josetann on 22/12/2018 - 17:35
    +1

    Every issue I've had with tethering working intermittently like that (might kinda work but very slow, or not at all until a reboot, sometimes toggling airplane mode on/off would work, sometimes it'd work until it lost signal and then not after the signal came back, phone itself had no problem accessing internet), has been fixed by adding "dun" to the APN type. The issue wasn't specific to a dual sim phone, but I have used that "fix" multiple times since I've had my Axon 7, with carriers ranging from Optus, Telstra, Verizon, and Tracfone (AT&T service). Newer versions of Android will specifically prohibit adding that if the carrier disallows it, but with a rooted phone anything is possible.

    Not saying this is your issue. Just saying it's the very first thing I'd do.

    • macmine on 22/12/2018 - 19:03

      Thanks mate. May I ask if you have more specific instructions on how to add 'dun' to the APN settings?

      • josetann on 22/12/2018 - 19:16
        +1

        Assuming it's not locked down, you edit the APN and change the type value. It'll probably be something like this:

        default,supl

        You'd add dun to the end, so the above example would turn into:

        default,supl,dun

        If it started out looking like this:

        default,mms

        Then change it to be:

        default,mms,dun

        Make sure you save, else the changes are discarded (you can verify by going into the APN settings again and making sure "dun" is on the end of the APN type).

        • macmine on 22/12/2018 - 22:06

          Thanks heaps. Just gave it a try. Funny thing is, only one of the SIMs allowed me to edit and insert 'dun'. The other didn't. After I changed the SIMs into different trays, the same restrictions were there. One was restricted, but the other allowed me to change it.

          So I put it into the SIM that allowed me to change the settings. And so far it's looking good! I've left both SIMs on, switched to Wi-fi and back, and still holding it. Crossing my fingers it will stay that way!

        • mckennal on 23/12/2018 - 15:34
          +1

          My dad ran into this exact problem today on his MI A2 running dual SIM with Aldi and Lyca.
          The "dun" fix appears to have worked :)

          Thanks josetann!!

    • macmine on 25/12/2018 - 13:24

      Thanks to Josetann, my tethering issues have been fixed! the 'dun' setting work and my tethering has consistently worked now with both SIM turned on. Thanks SOOOO MUCH. Took me so many months of figuring out and yet didn't get the solution!

    • macmine on 31/12/2018 - 15:19

      Hi mate,

      Guess what? After the latest Android Pie update and security patch level on 1 Dec, the same problem has returned despite entering ‘dun’. Argh- have you face such update issues before?

      • josetann on 31/12/2018 - 15:49

        I always manually update. Not necessarily the best from a security standpoint, but it means I don't tend to run into issues like these (not until I do a major update, that is). There's two things I'd try first, things that shouldn't work but sometimes do for others.

        If it doesn't let you add "dun" to the APN type (or it does but isn't working), try "DUN". Apparently it's a bit buggy, it knows to not allow "dun" but lets you add "DUN" which will do the trick. Worth a shot. Secondly, if it doesn't allow you to edit APN type at all, you can set MVNO Type to something such as GID (leave MVNO Value alone). This may cause your APN to not show up at all, i.e. you'll need to hand type everything in (so take a screenshot of the prior values or something). Since it lets you type everything in manually, you can add "dun" to the APN Type and it should accept it no problem. Do note that both of these are hacks, they shouldn't work, so don't be surprised if they don't (or if they do but a later update "fixes" it).

        If that doesn't work, you'll need to root the phone.

        • macmine on 31/12/2018 - 20:21

          Thanks mate, you are a wealth of information. I'll give it a shot! :)

  • whooah1979 on 22/12/2018 - 22:12

    Is your device 4g/3g or 4g/2g?

    • macmine on 22/12/2018 - 22:14

      One SIM is 4G/3G, the other is 4G/3G/2G.

      I wonder if this is network dependent. Should be right?

      • whooah1979 on 22/12/2018 - 22:15

        Some devices force sim2 to use 2g. Check the manual.

        • macmine on 22/12/2018 - 22:16

          I see…..

    • macmine on 22/12/2018 - 22:15

      Oh I mis-read your question. My Nokia 6.1 Plus can access 4G/3G on both SIM trays…

      • whooah1979 on 22/12/2018 - 22:16

        Ok. I'm out of suggestions.

        • macmine on 22/12/2018 - 22:17

          Thanks still. So far josetann's suggestion seems to be working fine…..

          I don't know though if my changing the SIMs in the SIM trays had any effect on it. I don't think so because I have done this stunt before….

  • blaxland36 on 23/12/2018 - 09:12 
      Yes recently purchased a dual sim allcall mix 2 phone and with mine had to scroll to Select USB config tap on that

    then select USB Ethernet then go and tap on tethering
    in the select tethering or hotspot maybe that might help good luck.

  • Boshait on 23/12/2018 - 11:12

    Don't most dual SIM phones have only one antenna which prevents them from using both SIMs at once?

    • macmine on 24/12/2018 - 10:40

      Don't know about that that works, but from the account of some others with dual sim phones, theirs seem to work tethering properly!

  • macmine on 25/12/2018 - 13:24

    Thanks to Josetann, my tethering issues have been fixed! the 'dun' setting work and my tethering has consistently worked now with both SIM turned on. Thanks SOOOO MUCH. Took me so many months of figuring out and yet didn't get the solution!

  • robin0608 on 21/10/2019 - 09:17

    Many thanks, josetann

    Solving my puzzle that one sim card can share data, and the second one cannot.

    "dun" is not allowed, and Add "DUN" in APN instead.

  • frankdonca on 24/10/2021 - 05:45

    "Thanks to Josetann, my tethering issues have been fixed! the 'dun' setting work and my tethering has consistently worked now with both SIM turned on"

    Another thanks to Josetann here.

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