July 29, 2026
eSIM not connecting: the checklist, in the right order
You landed and there is no signal. Seven checks in order of likelihood — the first one solves most cases.
You landed, turned off aeroplane mode, and nothing happened. First thing to know: this is almost always configuration, not a fault. The list below is in order of likelihood — the first item solves most cases.
If you are reading this without mobile data, you found airport wifi. That is enough for this page.
1. Data roaming on — for the eSIM
The most common mistake, and the least intuitive.
Your travel eSIM operates as a visitor on the local network. Without data roaming enabled on it, it will not connect, even with everything else correct.
- iPhone: Settings › Cellular › select the eSIM line › Data Roaming → on
- Android: Settings › Network & internet › SIMs › select the eSIM → Roaming → on
At the same time, keep roaming off on your home SIM. Two different lines, two different switches.
2. The eSIM is selected for data
Having the line installed does not mean it is being used.
- iPhone: Settings › Cellular › Cellular Data → select the travel eSIM
- Android: Settings › Network & internet › SIMs → “Mobile data SIM”
3. Aeroplane mode for 30 seconds
Force a fresh network search. Aeroplane mode on, count to thirty, off. Then wait one to three minutes — registering on a local network is not instant.
4. Select the network manually
If the phone will not choose, choose for it.
Settings › Cellular › Network Selection → turn off “Automatic” → pick the carrier named on your plan.
If it is not in the list, try another from the same country; many eSIMs have agreements with more than one network.
5. Restart the phone
Yes, really. Network registration is one of the things that benefits most from a clean restart, especially after a long flight with aeroplane mode on.
6. Check the APN
Normally filled in automatically. If your provider gave you an APN and the field is empty, enter it by hand under the eSIM’s settings.
7. Confirm the profile is still installed
If the line has disappeared from the list entirely, the profile was deleted. Some profiles cannot be reinstalled from the same QR code — that is a support question, not a settings one.
Still nothing
Write to us. If the eSIM never activated, the refund is full and we do not argue about whose fault it was.