eSIM data not working? How to fix it

Walk through these checks in order. Most travel eSIM data issues are settings problems, not the eSIM itself.

1. 1Turn airplane mode off.
2. 2Confirm the travel eSIM is installed.
3. 3Confirm the travel eSIM is turned on.
4. 4Select the travel eSIM for mobile data.
5. 5Turn mobile data on.
6. 6Turn data roaming on for the travel eSIM only if your plan instructions require it.
7. 7Restart the phone or toggle airplane mode for 20–30 seconds.
8. 8Move to a place with better signal and test again.

Some iPhones show Mobile Service, while others show Cellular or Mobile Data. These labels all point to the same iPhone settings area for SIMs, eSIMs, mobile plans, and mobile data.

1. 1Open Settings → Mobile Service, Cellular, or Mobile Data.
2. 2Confirm the travel eSIM appears in the list.
3. 3Tap the travel eSIM and confirm Turn On This Line is on.
4. 4Open Mobile Data or Cellular Data.
5. 5Choose the travel eSIM.
6. 6Open the travel eSIM line and check Data Roaming only if required by your plan instructions.
7. 7Keep home SIM data roaming off if avoiding home-carrier charges.
8. 8Restart the iPhone.
9. 9Test Safari, Maps, WhatsApp, or another internet app.

If mobile data still does not work after these steps, move to the No Service or SOS section below.

Android labels vary by brand, Android version, region, and carrier. The steps below use the two clearest paths — Pixel and Samsung Galaxy.

• Pixel: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs
• Samsung: Settings → Connections → SIM card manager

1. 1Confirm the travel eSIM appears in your SIM settings.
2. 2Confirm the travel eSIM is turned on.
3. 3Select the travel eSIM for mobile data.
4. 4Turn mobile data on.
5. 5Turn data roaming on for the travel eSIM only if required.
6. 6Restart the phone.
7. 7Test Chrome, Maps, WhatsApp, or another internet app.

If your phone is not a Pixel or Samsung Galaxy, look for SIMs, SIM manager, Mobile network, Network & internet, Connections, or Cellular data.

No Service or SOS usually means the phone cannot register on any network. Common causes include:

• You are out of coverage for the travel eSIM's supported networks.
• The wrong data line is selected.
• The travel eSIM is not turned on.
• The phone is carrier-locked to a provider that blocks other SIMs.
• The device model or region is not supported by the plan.
• The plan is not valid for the destination you are in.
• The phone made a temporary network selection error.

Try these fixes in order

1. 1Move to a location with better outdoor signal, ideally near a window or outside a building.
2. 2Restart the phone.
3. 3Toggle airplane mode for 20–30 seconds.
4. 4Set network selection to Automatic in mobile network settings.
5. 5Confirm the plan is valid for your current destination.
6. 6Contact support with your order and device details if there is still no service.

No mobile network can be guaranteed everywhere. Coverage depends on local networks, buildings, and terrain.

If you have signal but apps still do not load, check the settings that decide whether data actually flows.

• Confirm the travel eSIM is selected for mobile data.
• Confirm data roaming is on for the travel eSIM if your plan requires it.
• Confirm your plan still has data remaining.
• Check the state of the included VPN — it may need to be on, or temporarily off.
• Some apps may block certain regions or IP addresses.
• Some local networks restrict specific services or apps.
• Check that you are not silently connected to a captive Wi-Fi network that is not signed in.

Even with working mobile data, some apps and websites behave differently abroad. This is normal and usually not an eSIM problem.

• Location checks in banking and payment apps.
• Fraud protection systems that flag foreign IP addresses.
• Local network restrictions on specific services.
• Content availability that varies by country.
• Security systems in work tools that block unfamiliar networks.

Travel eSIM roaming and home SIM roaming are different settings, even though they use the same word.

• Many travel eSIMs connect through roaming agreements with local networks.
• That means the travel eSIM may need data roaming turned on.
• This is different from turning on roaming for your home SIM.
• Keep home SIM data roaming off if avoiding home-carrier charges.

Choose the travel eSIM for mobile data first. Then turn Data Roaming on for the travel eSIM only if your plan instructions require it.

Most travelers should not need to edit APN settings manually. If your order provides APN instructions, use those exact values.

The included VPN does not install or activate the eSIM. First make sure mobile data works. Then turn on the included VPN in the app when you want privacy, security, and unrestricted internet abroad.

If a banking, payment, streaming, or work app refuses VPN traffic, temporarily turn the VPN off and test again.

• Do not delete the eSIM while you still need it.
• Do not repeatedly scan the QR code. Some eSIM profiles can only be installed once.
• Do not guess APN settings.
• Do not turn on home SIM roaming unless you understand the charges.
• Do not assume the included VPN is on automatically.
• Do not assume all apps behave the same abroad.
• Do not wait until you have no internet to contact support if the order details are missing.

If you still cannot get mobile data working, contact support with as much of the following as possible. This shortens the time to a fix.