eSIM Not Working? 5 Steps to Solve Problems.

Introduction

You bought an eSIM in advance, planned everything, but now you've landed in a new country and you see "No Service" or "No Network." Your first reaction is panic. "I'm out of touch! All my money is gone!" Sound familiar? In reality, in 99% of cases, eSIM problems can be solved in a couple of minutes on your own, without contacting support. It's just a digital product, and like any software, it can have minor glitches. The main thing is to know what to do and in what order. This article is your Plan B, a detailed guide for digital self-help. Save it to your bookmarks, and you'll be prepared for any unexpected issue.

Step 1: Basic Check (Solves 50% of Problems)

Don't blame the eSIM right away. Start with the simplest and most obvious things.

• Restart your phone. This is classic advice that solves many temporary software glitches that prevent you from connecting to the network.

• Check if Data Roaming is enabled for the eSIM. This is the most common mistake! For an eSIM, data roaming must be ON. Don't be scared by this word—in this context, it's just permission to use the network abroad.

  • On iPhone: "Settings" > "Cellular" > Select your eSIM > "Cellular Data" > "Data Roaming" - ON.

  • On Android: "Settings" > "Connections" > "Mobile Networks" > Select your eSIM - Enable "Data Roaming."

• Make sure the eSIM is active. Go to your SIM card settings and check that the toggle next to your eSIM profile is active.

Step 2: Check Network Settings (Solves Another 30% of Problems)

If the basic check didn't help, let's dig a little deeper.

• Select the network manually. Sometimes the phone can't automatically connect to the most stable network.

  • Go to "Settings" > "Cellular" > "Network Selection."

  • Disable "Automatic."

  • Wait for the device to find all available networks. Choose the right operator from the list (if it's specified in your plan description, e.g., "T-Mobile" for the USA).

• Check APN settings. APN access points are set up automatically 95% of the time. But sometimes, you need to do it manually.

  • Find the current APN data on your eSIM provider's website (it's usually in the FAQ or in the email with the QR code).

  • Go to "Settings" > "Cellular" > Select eSIM > "Cellular Data Network" > "APN."

  • Enter the data provided by the provider. The "Name" field can often be left blank, and you just enter the value in the "APN" field (e.g., "globaldata").

• Check if the correct eSIM is selected for data. Make sure your eSIM is selected by default for mobile internet, not your native physical SIM card.

Step 3: Check Plan Activation and Status

Maybe the plan hasn't been activated yet, or it has already expired.

• Activation upon arrival. Remember: most eSIM plans are not activated upon purchase, but upon the first connection to a network in the destination country. Make sure you are already in the country for which the plan was purchased. Sometimes you need to turn airplane mode on and off briefly to activate it.

• Check the validity period. Go to your provider's personal account on the website or in the app (if available) and check your plan's status: is it active, has the data limit been reached? Perhaps the plan activated at home while the phone was in airplane mode, and its validity period has already expired.

Step 4: Reinstall the eSIM Profile

If the previous steps didn't work, try deleting and reinstalling the eSIM. Your purchased data package will not be lost.

• Delete the eSIM profile: "Settings" > "Cellular" > Select eSIM > "Remove Cellular Plan."

• Restart your phone.

• Reinstall the eSIM by scanning the QR code from the email. Make sure the camera focuses well. If the QR code can't be read, many providers offer an alternative: manual activation by entering a code.

Step 5: Check Device Compatibility and Contact Support

This is the last step that solves the remaining 1% of the most complex problems.

• Make sure your phone actually supports eSIM and is unlocked to work with other operators' SIM cards. You can check the list of supported models on our website.

• If nothing helped, contact your eSIM provider's support. But do it correctly to get help faster:

  • Connect to Wi-Fi in advance (at the airport, cafe, hotel).

  • Prepare the data: your order number, the email you used for the purchase, and the name of the plan.

  • Clearly describe the problem: "Not connecting to the network, I've tried manual network selection, I've checked the APN."

  • Specify your phone model and the country you're in. Competent technical support will be able to check your eSIM's status on their end and help you with activation remotely.

Conclusion

A breakdown is not scary. What's scary is not knowing what to do. Now you have a simple and effective five-step guide that will help you restore your connection in most situations. Remember that eSIM is a technology, and any technology can have minor glitches. The main thing is not to panic and act sequentially: from a simple restart to manual settings. This guide not only solves the problem but also increases your digital literacy. You stop being afraid of technology and start managing it. And if even this doesn't help, you always know how to quickly and effectively contact professionals. Buy an eSIM from us and get round-the-clock support! Our specialists will help solve any problem — because we are confident in our product and don't leave our customers in trouble.