Your eSIM is installed but you have no signal, no data or no calls? In most cases, a setting is the problem, not the eSIM. Turn the eSIM line on, turn on Data Roaming for your travel eSIM, choose it for mobile data, then toggle Airplane Mode. If that doesn't work, the 9 fixes below cover iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel, from the quickest to the most thorough. Bought your eSIM from SimOptions? Our support team can check your plan for you.
This guide is for an eSIM that is installed, or that worked before, but now won't connect. If your eSIM never activated, read how to fix an eSIM that isn't activating instead.
Why is my eSIM not working?
When an installed eSIM has no signal or no data, the cause is usually one of these:
- Line or data settings: the eSIM line is off, Data Roaming is off, or another line is chosen for mobile data.
- The plan: it hasn't started yet, the validity has expired or the data is used up.
- Network selection or APN: your phone is stuck on a network your plan doesn't use, or the plan needs a specific APN.
- Outdated software: old iOS, Android or carrier settings.
- Coverage or provider issues: no partner network nearby, or an outage.
Work through the fixes in order and test your connection after each one. On iPhone, depending on your region, the menu is called Cellular, Mobile Service or Mobile Data. The steps are the same. On Samsung and Pixel, menu names change a little between models and Android versions.
Need an eSIM for your next trip? SimOptions eSIMs come with setup help: follow our installation guide for iPhone and Android, and our support team is there if it doesn't connect.
1. Turn on the eSIM line
An installed eSIM can be switched off. If it's already on, turn it off and on again to refresh the connection.
- iPhone: open Settings > Cellular, tap your travel eSIM under SIMs and turn on Turn On This Line (Apple: If you can't set up an eSIM).
- Samsung: go to Settings > Connections > SIM manager (SIM card manager on older models), tap the eSIM and turn it on.
- Pixel: go to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs, tap the travel eSIM and turn on Use SIM.
2. Turn on Data Roaming for the eSIM
Travel eSIMs usually connect to local partner networks as a roaming SIM, so they need roaming turned on, even in a country your plan covers. Keep roaming off on your home line to avoid charges from your home carrier. See the correct roaming settings for an eSIM.
- iPhone: go to Settings > Cellular, tap your travel eSIM, then Cellular Data Options and turn on Data Roaming. With only one line, it's under Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options (Apple: cellular data roaming options).
- Samsung: go to Settings > Connections > Mobile networks > Data roaming. If it's greyed out, turn on Mobile data first (Samsung: data roaming).
- Pixel: in Settings > Network & internet > SIMs, tap the travel eSIM and turn on Mobile data and Roaming.
3. Choose the eSIM for mobile data
On a dual SIM phone, only one line can use mobile data at a time. Signal bars but no data usually means your home line is still the data line.
- iPhone: go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data and tap your travel eSIM. On iOS 26 and later, you may see a Turn On Travel eSIM notification when you land. Tap it and choose to use the travel eSIM for data (Apple: Use eSIM while traveling).
- Samsung: in Settings > Connections > SIM manager, tap Mobile data and pick the travel eSIM (Samsung: use dual SIM cards).
- Pixel: in Settings > Network & internet > SIMs, under "Your primary SIMs", set Mobile data to the travel eSIM (Pixel Help: mobile networks).
4. Toggle Airplane Mode and restart your phone
Turning Airplane Mode on and off makes your phone search for networks again. If that doesn't help, a restart often does.
- iPhone: turn on Airplane Mode in Control Center or Settings, leave it on for at least 15 seconds, then turn it off (Apple: No Service or Searching). Still nothing? Restart your iPhone.
- Samsung: turn on Airplane mode, wait a few seconds and turn it off. Still nothing? Restart your phone.
- Pixel: toggle Airplane mode the same way. If that doesn't help, power off the phone, wait 30 seconds and turn it back on (Pixel Help: fix mobile connectivity).
5. Check that your plan is active and has data left
If your eSIM suddenly stopped working, the plan is the most common reason. When the validity expires or the data is used up, the eSIM stays installed but stops connecting.
- Any phone: check your remaining data and end date in your eSIM provider's app or account, or in the email with your eSIM details.
- Plan start: some travel eSIMs only start when you arrive in a country the plan covers, so check your plan details.
- Coverage: make sure the country you're in is covered by your plan.
- iPhone after a trip: depending on your region, iOS 26 can switch your travel eSIM off automatically when you get home. Check it's on again before your next trip.
6. Update your phone's software
Updates fix bugs that can affect mobile connections. Connect to Wi-Fi first.
- iPhone: install the latest update in Settings > General > Software Update. Then open Settings > General > About. If a carrier settings update is available, you'll get a prompt to install it. On iOS 18 and later, the Apple Support app can also run extra diagnostics.
- Samsung: go to Settings > Software update > Download and install, then restart your phone.
- Pixel: check for updates in Settings > System > Software updates.
7. Select a network manually
Your phone may be stuck on a network your plan doesn't use. Choose a partner network listed in your plan details. If you lose signal later, switch back to automatic: a manually chosen network drops out when it's out of reach.
- iPhone: tap your travel eSIM in Settings > Cellular, open Network Selection, turn off Automatic and choose the network.
- Samsung: go to Settings > Connections > Mobile networks > Network operators, turn off Select automatically and choose the network.
- Pixel: in Settings > Network & internet > SIMs, tap the travel eSIM, open Network and pick the operator.
8. Check the APN
Only do this if your eSIM provider gives you an APN (access point name). Enter it exactly as given: a wrong APN can cut your data. Learn more about what an APN is.
- iPhone: go to Settings > Cellular, tap your travel eSIM, then Cellular Data Network. You can only edit it if the carrier allows it (Apple: View and edit your APN).
- Samsung: go to Settings > Connections > Mobile networks > Access Point Names.
- Pixel: in Settings > Network & internet > SIMs, tap the travel eSIM, then Access point names.
9. Reset network settings
A network reset is a good last step before contacting support. It does not delete your eSIMs on iPhone, but it wipes saved Wi-Fi networks and other settings, so know what you lose first.
- iPhone: go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. According to Apple, this removes Wi-Fi networks and passwords, VPN settings and other network settings, resets your device name to "iPhone", untrusts certificates you trusted manually, and may turn Data Roaming off. Don't tap Delete All eSIMs, a separate option in the same menu (Apple: reset iPhone settings).
- Samsung: go to Settings > General management > Reset > Reset network settings. This resets Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other network settings (Samsung: mobile data issues).
- Pixel: go to Settings > System > Reset options > Reset mobile network settings. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have their own reset option.
Samsung and Google don't list eSIMs among what these resets remove. If any reset screen offers to erase your eSIMs, leave that option off. Afterwards, rejoin Wi-Fi and turn Data Roaming back on for your travel eSIM. Don't confuse this with a full factory reset (Erase All Content and Settings on iPhone), which can remove your eSIM. Here's how to reset an iPhone without losing your eSIMs.
"No Service", "SIM not provisioned", "SIM not supported" or "Locked SIM"
The message on your screen tells you where to look:
- No Service or Searching (eSIM not connecting to the network): your phone can't connect to any network. Work through fixes 2, 4 and 7, and move to an area with better coverage. If it stays that way, contact your eSIM provider to check that the plan is active.
- SIM not provisioned: your phone can see the eSIM, but the network hasn't activated it yet. Wait a few minutes and restart your phone. If the message stays, see how to fix an eSIM that isn't activating. Don't delete the eSIM to fix this.
- SIM not supported or SIM not valid: your phone is probably locked to your home carrier. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > About and look at Carrier Lock. "No SIM restrictions" means it's unlocked. Only your carrier can unlock it (Apple: unlock your iPhone). Read what a carrier-locked phone means.
- Locked SIM, PIN or PUK request: an eSIM can have a SIM PIN, just like a plastic SIM. Don't guess the code: too many wrong tries can lock the eSIM for good (Apple: SIM PIN). Ask your provider for the PIN or PUK, or see how to unlock a SIM without a PUK code.
When to contact support
Contact your eSIM provider if you've tried the 9 fixes and still have no service or no data. To get help faster, have this ready:
- the exact error message, or a screenshot of it,
- your order number or the email with your eSIM details,
- your phone model and software version,
- your EID: on iPhone in Settings > General > About, on Android usually in Settings > About phone,
- the country you're in and which fixes you've already tried.
Bought your eSIM from SimOptions? Check our help center or contact our support team by live chat or email. If your eSIM stopped working in the middle of a trip, read what to do when your eSIM stops working abroad.
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FAQs
Why is my eSIM installed but not working?
Usually because of a setting. Check that the eSIM line is turned on, Data Roaming is on for the travel eSIM, and the travel eSIM is selected for mobile data. Then toggle Airplane Mode and restart.
Why is my eSIM not connecting to the network?
Data Roaming may be off, your phone may be stuck on a network your plan doesn't use, or there's no partner network nearby. Turn on Data Roaming, toggle Airplane Mode, then try selecting a network manually.
Why is my eSIM not working on my Samsung?
Check Settings > Connections > SIM manager: the eSIM must be on and selected for Mobile data. Then turn on Data roaming in Mobile networks, update the software and restart. If you see "SIM not supported", your phone may be carrier-locked.
Why did my eSIM suddenly stop working?
Most often the plan has run out of data or validity, or the line was switched off. On iOS 26 and later, depending on your region, your iPhone may switch the travel eSIM off when you return home. Turn it back on in Settings > Cellular and check your remaining data.
Can an eSIM go bad or get corrupted?
The eSIM chip is built into your phone, so it can't get bent, scratched or lost like a plastic SIM card. When an eSIM "goes bad", the problem is usually the plan or the profile: the plan ended, the profile was deleted, the provider suspended it, or a software glitch after an update. A restart, the latest update or a network reset usually fixes a glitch. If your provider confirms the plan is fine and nothing else works, the phone itself may need a repair.
Does resetting network settings delete my eSIM?
No, not on iPhone. Apple lists Delete All eSIMs as a separate option. On Samsung and Pixel, a network reset clears network settings, and Samsung and Google don't list eSIMs among what it removes. A full factory reset is different and can remove your eSIM.
Why can't I make calls after activating my eSIM?
Many travel eSIMs are data-only, so they have no phone number for calls or SMS. Check your plan details, or use apps such as WhatsApp or FaceTime. Learn how to make phone calls with a data-only eSIM.
Should I delete my eSIM and install it again?
Only if your provider tells you to. Apple advises against erasing an eSIM as a troubleshooting step, because you'll need to contact your carrier to get a new one (Apple: erase an eSIM). Try the 9 fixes above first.