If you’re using mobile data with a VPN, T-Mobile will count that toward your hotspot data and throttle you once it’s all used up. They do not mention this anywhere in their Terms and Conditions. (I use express VPN).
ViggoB12, Reddit user, July 2024
My two cents here… I too have this issue, among many others but to throw a wrench in this thread I have an iPhone, not an android. I don’t use a VPN. And, I have a physical SIM as opposed to an e-SIM. So, it’s not just the Android users that experience it. As for the comment regarding the engineers should be embarrassed by this, I agree and would add a laundry list of other reasons why the entire company should be embarrassed beyond measure.
Cynically_Sane, T-Mobile user
The good news is that most VPNs don’t trigger this behaviour. If you have been experiencing hotspot throttling even though you don’t use hotspot data all that much, it’s possible that the VPN you are using is behind the issue. This could be frustrating since many people use VPNs as adblockers or for accession region-locked content.
I use a VPN to block ads. This is unacceptable to me, it should not be counted as hotspot data and I refuse to have advertisements shoved down my throat.
snaarb, T-Mobile user
One rep recommended to go back to physical sim AND WHAT DO U KNOW? PROBLEM SOLVED!
Legacy329, T-Mobile user
Although many T-Mobile customers have encountered this issue, T-Mobile has no official explanation for why it’s happening and has not implemented a fix so far.
If your VPN is triggering this issue, you might want to consider switching to another VPN. Also, since the problem seems specific to phones with eSIMs, getting a physical SIM is another workaround that has been suggested. If you are tech-savvy, you could try changing the maximum transmission unit (MTU) settings so that the value is as low as it is on cellular connections.
