eSIM Not Working? 15 Easy Fixes (iPhone & Android)

In most cases, your eSIM can be fixed in under 2 minutes. Start with these quick fixes:

These steps fix most eSIM issues including no signal, activation problems, and data not working.

• Restart your phone. Clears temporary network errors - the single most effective first step.

• Toggle airplane mode. Turn it on for 15 seconds, then off. Forces the phone to re-register on the network.

• Enable data roaming. Go to Settings > Mobile Data > your eSIM > turn on Data Roaming. Essential when abroad.

• Check the eSIM is active. Settings > Mobile Service (iPhone) or SIM Manager (Android) - confirm the line is switched on.

• Select the correct network. Settings > Mobile Data > Network Selection > set to Automatic, or Manually to choose a local carrier.

• Check APN settings. An incorrect APN (Access Point Name) blocks mobile data even when the eSIM shows a signal. Your provider's app or website will list the correct APN.

Why Your eSIM Is Not Working

Understanding the root cause helps you fix it faster. These are the most common reasons an eSIM stops working. 

eSIM Says “Unable to Activate” on iPhone

If you see a message like “Unable to Activate eSIM” during installation on your iPhone, don’t worry - this is usually completely normal.

With your easySim eSIM, activation only happens when your phone connects to a supported network in your destination country.

Why this happens

When you install your eSIM before travelling:

• Your iPhone tries to activate it straight away

• But because you're not yet in the destination country, it can’t connect to a supported network

• This may cause the installation to appear to “hang” or show an error message

What you might see

• “Unable to Activate eSIM”

• “Activation Failed”

• The eSIM appears in your settings but shows as inactive or “No Service”

The important bit

👉 This does NOT mean your eSIM is faulty

In most cases:

• The eSIM has installed correctly

• It will activate automatically when you arrive, turn on data roaming and connect to a local network

What you should do

• Make sure the eSIM is visible in your mobile settings

• Keep it installed - no need to delete or reinstall

• Turn it on when you arrive at your destination

When to take action

Only contact support if:

• The eSIM is not showing at all in your settings

• Or it still doesn’t activate after you arrive and have signal

eSIM No Signal

Your phone may not be connecting to any supported network, especially in areas with limited coverage. If the status bar shows "No Service" or "Searching," the issue is network-level, not device-level.

eSIM Data Not Working

This is usually an APN misconfiguration or a roaming setting that has been left off.

Having one or two bars of signal does not guarantee data - the correct settings must also be in place.

Roaming Disabled

Most phones ship with data roaming turned off by default. If you are outside your home country and haven't manually enabled roaming for your eSIM line, data will not work.

Device Compatibility

Not every phone supports eSIM, and not every eSIM supports every network band. A device that works fine in the UK may struggle to find signal in parts of Asia or the Americas if the eSIM plan doesn't include the right bands for that region.

To confirm your device is supported, check if your phone supports eSIM before troubleshooting further.

Network Lock

Carrier-locked phones may refuse to activate a third-party eSIM. This is common with handsets purchased directly from a mobile network rather than unlocked from a manufacturer or retailer.

These steps apply to iOS 13.3 and later. Earlier iOS versions have limited eSIM support.

Step 1: Confirm the line is turned on Go to Settings > Mobile Service. Tap the eSIM line. Make sure "Turn On This Line" is enabled. If it is greyed out, the eSIM has not activated correctly - see the activation error section below.

Step 2: Enable data roaming Still inside the eSIM line settings, tap Data Roaming and switch it on. Without this, international data will not work even with a valid plan.

Step 3: Set your eSIM as the mobile data line Go to Settings > Mobile Data > Mobile Data (the sub-menu). Select your eSIM from the list. If your travel eSIM isn't selected here, your phone will use your physical SIM instead.

Step 4: Choose a network manually Go to Settings > Mobile Data > Network Selection. Turn off Automatic, wait for a scan, then either select a local partner network or turn Automatic back on to force a fresh scan.

Step 5: Check the APN Go to Settings > Mobile Data > Mobile Data Network. Confirm the APN matches what your eSIM provider specifies. Leave username and password blank unless the provider states otherwise.

For full step-by-step guidance, see how to install eSIM on iPhone.

Quick summary - iPhone eSIM not working: Settings > Mobile Service > enable the line > turn on Data Roaming > set eSIM as Mobile Data > check Network Selection is on Automatic > verify APN.

Android steps vary slightly by manufacturer, but the core path is consistent across Samsung, Google Pixel, and most other Android brands.

Step 1: Open SIM manager Go to Settings > Connections > SIM Manager (Samsung) or Settings > Network & Internet > SIMs (Pixel). Confirm your eSIM is listed and toggled on.

Step 2: Set data preference Inside SIM Manager, tap Mobile Data or "Preferred SIM for data" and select your eSIM. This is the single most missed step on Android.

Step 3: Enable roaming Tap your eSIM line > Data Roaming or Roaming. On some devices this is labelled "International Data Roaming." Set to All Networks rather than "Home only."

Step 4: Rename the eSIM (optional but helpful) If you have both a physical SIM and an eSIM active, renaming the eSIM (e.g., "Travel eSIM") prevents confusion when switching data preferences.

Step 5: Turn off the primary SIM temporarily If data still doesn't work, try disabling your home SIM so the phone uses only the eSIM. This rules out any SIM conflict.

For full instructions, see how to install eSIM on Android.

International eSIM problems are overwhelmingly caused by one of three things: roaming disabled, wrong network selected, or the eSIM plan not covering your destination.

• Data roaming must be on. Even if your eSIM is a travel plan, the roaming toggle in your phone's settings still needs to be enabled.

• Network selection. In some countries, your phone may latch onto a non-partner network that doesn't carry your eSIM provider's data. Manually select a network or tap Automatic to reset.

• Coverage gaps. Not every eSIM plan covers every country equally. Check your provider's coverage map before travelling - particularly for destinations outside Western Europe and North America.

Planning a trip? Browse destination-specific coverage:

• Travelling to the US? See our USA travel eSIM for full coverage details.

• Heading to Europe? Our Europe eSIM covers the major destinations with local network support.

If your eSIM still isn't connecting abroad, it may be due to network limitations with your provider. In that case, the advanced fixes below - or switching to a more reliable plan - are worth considering.

If your eSIM keeps dropping signal or fails to connect in certain countries, it's often due to weaker network partnerships - something many travellers experience with lower-tier providers.

Before troubleshooting further, confirm your device actually supports eSIM.

How to check Dial *#06# on your phone. If an EID (Embedded Identity Document) number appears, your device supports eSIM. No EID means no eSIM hardware.

You can also check if your phone supports eSIM using a full compatibility checker.

Your device must also be unlocked. A locked device cannot activate a third-party eSIM. Contact your original network provider to unlock - most will do this free of charge once a minimum ownership period has passed.

Compatible devices (examples)

• Apple: iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 series; iPhone SE (2nd gen+); select iPad Pro, Air, and Mini models

• Samsung: Galaxy S20+, S21, S22, S23, S24 series (not S20 FE); Z Fold/Flip series; Note 20

• Google: Pixel 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 series

• Motorola: Edge series, Razr 5G+

• Xiaomi, Oppo, Honor: select flagship models (verify your specific variant)

Note: Regional variants of the same model may differ. Always verify your exact model number.

QR code not scanning Ensure the QR code is displayed on a separate screen or printed clearly. The camera needs good lighting and the QR code should fill most of the frame.

If scanning keeps failing, ask your provider for a manual activation code instead.

eSIM not appearing in settings If the eSIM profile doesn't show up after scanning, the activation may have failed silently. Restart your phone and check again.

If it still isn't there, you will need to re-download the profile from your provider.

Activation stuck or pending This usually happens when activation is attempted on mobile data rather than Wi-Fi. Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network and retry.  This may also happen when installing your eSIM before you travel - most eSIMs will only ‘Activate’ in the country purchased.

Some providers also require you to wait a few minutes after purchase before scanning the QR code.

Wrong plan selected If you accidentally activated a plan for the wrong region, the eSIM may technically activate but fail to find a network in your current location.

Check your provider's app or portal to confirm the plan matches your destination. Not sure how eSIM plans work? Read our guide on what is an eSIM and how it works.

If the quick fixes haven't resolved the issue, these steps go deeper.

Reset network settings

• iPhone: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings

• Android: Settings > General Management > Reset > Reset Network Settings

This clears saved Wi-Fi passwords, VPN settings, and APN data - you'll need to re-enter them. It does not delete the eSIM profile.

Update your software Older iOS or Android versions can have eSIM-related bugs that are resolved in updates.

Check for updates under Settings > General > Software Update (iPhone) or Settings > Software Update (Android).

Reinstall the eSIM Delete the eSIM profile from your device and re-add it:

1. Go to Settings > Mobile Service > tap the eSIM > Remove Plan

2. Request a fresh QR code from your provider - most providers let you regenerate this

3. Follow the eSIM installation guide to re-add the profile from scratch

Contact your provider's support If none of the above resolves the issue, the problem may be on the provider's end - an expired QR code, an account activation delay, or a network outage.

Contact support directly with your order reference.

Not all eSIM providers are equal. The quality of the experience can vary significantly depending on who you buy from.

• Unstable network partnerships. Some providers route traffic through secondary networks that can be unreliable in certain regions, even when coverage maps suggest otherwise.

• Speed throttling on unlimited plans. Plans marketed as "unlimited" often include a high-speed data cap, after which speeds drop significantly - sometimes to the point of being unusable.

• Unclear setup instructions. Poorly written or incomplete activation guides leave users with partially installed eSIMs that appear active but don't carry data.

• Limited customer support. When things go wrong abroad, slow or hard-to-reach support makes a frustrating situation much worse.

These aren't necessarily bugs - they're feature gaps that show up most clearly when you need reliable connectivity most.

When you're travelling, even a few minutes without mobile data can be stressful - especially when you rely on maps, bookings, and transport apps.

If you've worked through every fix above and your eSIM still isn't performing reliably, the issue may not be your phone - it may be your provider.

easySim is built specifically for travellers who need a dependable connection without the setup headaches:

• Reliable networks - partnered with leading local carriers in each destination, not secondary fallback networks

• Easy setup - clear, step-by-step activation that works first time on both iPhone and Android

• Strong global coverage - from Europe and the USA to Asia and beyond.

• Responsive support - real help when you need it, not automated replies

Browse easySim plans and find the right option for your next trip.

Why is my eSIM not working even though it's activated? Activation and connectivity are two separate things. Your eSIM profile can be installed correctly but still fail to carry data if roaming is disabled, the APN is wrong, or your phone isn't set to use the eSIM line for mobile data. Work through the iPhone or Android fix steps above to resolve it.

Why does my eSIM show no service? No service usually means your phone isn't finding a compatible network. Try toggling airplane mode to force a reconnection, then go to Network Selection and switch to Manual to see which networks are available in your area. If nothing appears, check your provider's coverage map for your current location.

How do I fix eSIM data not working? First confirm data roaming is enabled for your eSIM line. Then check that the eSIM is selected as your preferred data SIM - not your physical SIM. Finally, verify the APN settings match your provider's requirements. These three steps resolve the majority of data issues.

Can an eSIM stop working suddenly? Yes. Common causes include a carrier-side outage, an expired data plan, a software update that reset network settings, or accidental changes to SIM preferences. Start with a restart and airplane mode toggle, then check your plan status in your provider's app.

Do I need to turn on roaming for an eSIM? Yes, always. Even travel eSIMs designed for international use require the Data Roaming toggle to be switched on within your phone's settings. This is separate from whether your plan includes roaming - the phone-level setting must also be enabled.