Google Fi Quietly Enables ESIM Support For Laptops
Contents
Summary
- Google Fi now supports data-only eSIM for laptops, allowing users to access Fi data without a phone.
- The change was rolled out quietly and we only spotted it thanks to a change in Fi support pages.
- Data-only SIMs are free for Fi subscribers on certain plans, and can be used across devices in over 200 countries.
Google Fi just made a quiet but important change to its device compatibility. Laptops are now supported for data-only eSIM connections, so users can tap into Fi’s cellular network without needing a hotspot to their Android phone.
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We spotted the change in a recent update to Google’s support documentation. The page was titled “How to add Google Fi to tablets” until this week. It included a prominent disclaimer stating that data-only eSIMS were not supported on tablets. Both the page name and the disclaimer have been changed. Today it reads “Google Fi now supports data-only eSIM for tablets and laptops.”
Use your Fi data on the go, no phone required
Source: Google Fi support
The update doesn’t include a list of specific supported laptop models, although it will obviously need to be one that supports eSIMs. However, the page states that most modern devices capable of downloading an eSIM should work. This includes tablets. Users still have the option of ordering a free physical SIM if their device doesn’t support eSIM.
Google says these data-only SIMS (both physical and digital) work at no extra cost for Fi subscribers on the Flexible or Unlimited Premium plans. Users on Unlimited Standard or Unlimited Essentials will not be able to add data-only SIMs. These SIMs support data in more than 200 countries and can be used across multiple devices. However, tethering from the connected device is not supported.
Interestingly, Google did not mention the new eSIM support for laptops in its recent blog post about new Fi plan tiers. It introduced broader access to data-only eSIMs, but only mentioned Android tablets and iPads.
A quiet but useful expansion for Fi users
Google Fi has just become more flexible than ever for anyone who needs to work away from home or the office. Access to Fi data through an eSIM makes it easy for anyone who is traveling, working remotely, or simply needs a backup connection to their computer.
There’s still no word from Google on whether tethering restrictions might change in the future, but for now, this is a big tweak for any mobile worker .
