Six checks that fix almost every no-service case abroad, in order, before you assume the network is at fault.
You land, switch the travel line on, and nothing happens. In almost every case the cause is one of six settings, and the fix takes a minute. Work down this list before assuming the network or the plan is at fault.
Planning the trip? See all our travel eSIM data plans and prices before you buy a plan.
1. The line is on, but not selected for data
Installing a profile does not activate it for data. In iPhone settings, check Cellular and confirm the travel line is on and set as the line for mobile data. On Android, check Settings - Connections - SIM Manager for the same two things.
2. Data roaming is off for that line
Travel plans are usually treated as roaming by the local network even though they are prepaid. If the roaming switch for the travel line is off, the phone will refuse to connect to data. Turn roaming on for the travel line only.
3. The phone is holding on to a weak network
- Turn automatic network selection off, wait for the list, and pick a listed network manually.
- Then turn automatic selection back on, so the phone can move between partners.
- Toggling airplane mode for thirty seconds achieves much of the same reset.
4. The phone has not re-registered since landing
A simple restart clears a surprising number of cases. So does removing and re-inserting your own SIM if it is physical - the phone re-reads both lines on boot.
5. Coverage, not configuration
Check whether the plan covers the region you are actually in, not just the region you booked for - border areas, islands and cruise ports are the usual gaps. Our coverage page lists what each plan includes.
6. The plan has expired or been used up
A plan that has reached the end of its validity stops working, and some plans throttle rather than stop when the high-speed allowance runs out. If a plan worked yesterday and not today, check validity before changing any settings.
See the full list of regions covered on our coverage page.
If your eSIM still will not connect, check these four things
- Confirm the travel line is on AND set as the data line.
- Turn data roaming on for that line only.
- Toggle airplane mode, then restart the phone.
- Check region coverage and plan validity before touching settings.
- Never delete the profile to 'reset' it.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my eSIM show full signal but no internet?
Signal means the network accepted the line; no internet usually means roaming is off for it, or it is not the data line, or the allowance has run out.
Should I reset network settings?
Only as a last resort. It clears saved Wi-Fi passwords and can disturb other lines, and it rarely fixes a roaming configuration problem.
Can I reinstall the same eSIM QR code?
Usually not. A profile that has already been installed once is normally locked to that device, so re-scanning the same code fails.
Does airplane mode fix it?
Often. Thirty seconds in airplane mode forces the phone to re-register with the local network.
What if nothing works?
Contact the provider with your phone model, the region you are in, and what you have already tried. That is usually enough for them to check the plan from their side.