Nexus 6P Hotspot Disabled for ATT Unlimited Data Plan Users only?

[alferz]

Thanks for the tips all, I was able to get my 5X tethering again despite no tethering provision on Cricket Wireless. Unbelievable the carriers were able to win the battle to require you to pay more to decide where and how you want to use your data - where is the FCC on this issue since this clearly goes against their posture of net neutrality? I can understand locking it down on a carrier provided and branded device, but even a generic unbranded device like the Nexus?

Anyway I wrote a quick script to set the build.props flag without having to manually edit it yourself. This requires root, and ADB - just run this in a command prompt and then reboot your device.

adb shell "su -c 'mount -o rw,remount /system;echo net.tethering.noprovisioning=true >> /system/build.prop;mount -o ro,remount /system;'"

 

[Stephman]

I finally gave AT&T the middle finger regarding tethering and switched to Google Fi.
Tethering is working like a dream now... Thanks for nothing AT&T!

 

[jsarino]

I thought I would resurrect this thread to include not just grandfathered unlimited plans, but those that get the unlimited plan through bundled accounts (ie: ATT/DirecTV bundles). I no longer have tethering on my 6P. Outside of rooting (which I may do if all options are out), has anyone done any workarounds?

Edit: looks like one workaround is Bluetooth tethering. I managed to connect my Macbook to it.

 

[scott41373]

I just signed up for the unlimited data with direct TV also. Before I had a 30 gig with rollover that usually gave me between 40-48 gigs of data. On that plan, tethering worked fine. I switched to unlimited, then it errors out even on Bluetooth tethering. Here's what is odd: Nexus 6p doesn't work, Nexus 5x doesn't work, LG G4 doesn't work, OnePlus 3 WORKS! The OnePlus is the only one I have rooted, if I were to root the others, I wonder if that would kill the provisioning check?

 

[ChinChillaz]

I'm on AT&T and my wifi hotspot was also disabled. I usually tether my MacBook pro. I managed to get tethering using Bluetooth tethering instead of wifi on my Nexus. It works just fine.

 

[DLK1]

The OnePlus is the only one I have rooted, if I were to root the others, I wonder if that would kill the provisioning check?

No it will not I have a Nexus 6P and it is rooted it still checks for Provisioning. You will have to root and the edited the build.prop file by adding the following to the end of the file. net.tethering.noprovisioning=true

You can also root and the run a router app. This worked for me the app called Wi-Fi Tether Router.

 

[camdeoliviera]

Hello Everyone,

DLK1 is correct, the only way around this is to root and edit the build.props file. Or be using a Nexus 5 or below, however the last time i checked the nexus 5 was before i received my nexus 6p so it was before the 6.0.1 updates.

NOTE: I was rooted with 6.0.1, newest twrp and SuperSU, did the OTA update to 7.0. I lost my TWRP recovery, and the ability to tether. Just an FYI before you UPDATE! I now need to try to flash the new TWRP recovery by following the instructions from the link here.

Please let me know if you need any help and ill try to assist where I can.

(UPDATE: 8/31/16) I was able to complete this on my 6P using the method for editing the build props being rooted on N7. Big shoutout @alferz, i was having problems updating my build.props from the editor but was able to achieve the edit through the script.

Thank you again to everyone that has participated in this thread and as stated above please reach out if you need help.

 

[albyone]

The build.prop file edit worked like a charm.... yep, you have to be rooted for this to work....
Use Total Commander as your file explorer and use Totalcmd-Editor to make the changes.... easy as pie!!
net.tethering.noprovisioning=true

 

[PGrey]

You want to watch this though, technically you agreed to "no tethering" with "data only on the single, unlimited device" (with some exceptions for connected-car and such), when switching to this plan.
Not saying I necessarily agree with it (in fact I spend time helping on the AT&T forums, and often am vocal about backing up those that end up in this situation, when someone clearly told them they could still tether, but wanted to sell them the unlimited deal with TV).
I know the carriers have an algorithm to try and catch tethering on unlimited, probably by watching screen density used and such, but that's a total guess. They all have a clause saying that they can terminate for it, and or prosecute, but I think the former is all that ever really happens, but I know it happens...

 

[camdeoliviera]

I would agree except theres no definition on tethering with the unlimited plans from back in the day. Its a grey area, and who cares how I use my unlimited data, thats what I'm paying for thats what they need to supply me with. I get that at 22GB they start throttling your speeds. And at times I've gone well over. But this thread was not to dispute ATT's policy, just to inquire to the community if anyone else had similar problems after upgrading phones.