Troubleshooting
eSIM not working? A systematic troubleshooting checklist
A freshly installed eSIM that refuses to connect is almost always one of ten causes. Here they are in order of how often we see them.
Updated 2026-04-14
Key takeaway
"The number-one cause of a non-working travel eSIM — by a significant margin — is Data Roaming being turned off on the new profile. Apple defaults it to off for safety. You have to manually turn it on."
When a travel eSIM fails, it almost always fails in a predictable way. Ten causes account for roughly 95% of the "my eSIM isn't working" support tickets we see. Here they are in order of frequency.
Work through them in order. If you reach the end and still have no signal, contact our support — but nine times out of ten you'll fix it yourself before you get there.
1. Data Roaming is off on the travel line
Check first. Settings → Cellular → tap the travel line → Data Roaming. Must be ON for the profile to actually connect to a foreign network. Apple defaults it to off to prevent accidental charges — this is correct on home SIMs but wrong on travel eSIMs.
2. Cellular Data is set to the wrong line
Settings → Cellular → Cellular Data. Should point at the travel eSIM, not the home line. If it's pointed at the home line, the travel eSIM is installed but unused.
3. You're not in the country yet
Travel eSIMs activate on the target country's network. Until you physically land there, the profile won't connect. Installation can happen anywhere in the world, but activation needs the right country.
4. Airplane mode toggle needed
On landing, toggle airplane mode on then off. This forces a fresh network scan and typically registers you within 30 seconds. Some devices don't auto-register on a new carrier until you prompt them.
5. Your phone is carrier-locked
Phones sold on carrier contracts are sometimes locked to that carrier's network. Foreign eSIMs fail on locked phones. Contact your home carrier to unlock — usually free after contract end.
6. The destination country requires manual network selection
Rare but real. Some countries don't auto-register foreign eSIMs on their networks. Settings → Cellular → Network Selection → Automatic OFF → manually select the partner carrier listed in your confirmation email.
7. Your device needs an iOS/Android update
Old OS versions have known eSIM registration bugs — particularly Pixel 6 on Android patches older than March 2024, and iPhone 11 on iOS 15.x. Update to the latest.
8. The destination has network congestion
Hajj at Mecca, Kumbh Mela in India, New Year's Eve in Tokyo. When millions of people are within a square kilometre, even perfect eSIMs see slow speeds. Not a fix, just a reality.
9. You installed the wrong country's QR
It happens. Double-check the email matches the country you're in. Delete the wrong profile and install the correct one.
10. Contact support
If none of the above work, our support team can reset the profile on the carrier side. Response is typically under 30 minutes for anything tagged urgent. Include your order ID and the exact error message.
Questions people actually ask.
- Toggle airplane mode first. If that doesn't work, confirm Data Roaming is ON for the travel line and Cellular Data is set to the travel line. These two settings fix the majority of "No Service" cases.
Keep reading.
Related guides
Installation
How to install an eSIM on iPhone: the full walkthrough
Screenshots-style guide for every iPhone from XR onwards.
Installation
How to install an eSIM on Android: Pixel, Samsung, and the rest
The unified Android install plus vendor-specific differences.
Technical
Dual SIM with eSIM: keeping your home number and travel data
The exact settings that make your phone work abroad without surprises.
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