The stressful moment is rarely “I have not installed the eSIM yet.” It is installed—but maps, rides, and translation apps keep spinning.
Avoid two traps: deleting the eSIM too early, and toggling random settings out of order. Most failures cluster around the same points—wrong mobile-data line, roaming off when required, APN / network selection, or the phone not yet registered on a local tower.
These 10 steps follow Jeko’s support and FAQ logic. Work top to bottom; many people recover in the first five.
(Related: What is an APN, install vs activate; full help on Support / FAQ.)
Before you start
- Do not delete the eSIM first—a profile can usually be downloaded only once; self-deletion often cannot be undone and complicates support.
- Separate no signal from signal but no data (the latter is often data / roaming / APN).
- Test outdoors or by a window when possible so indoor dead zones do not confuse you.
Step 1: Confirm the eSIM is installed and turned on
Open Settings → Cellular / SIMs and check that the travel eSIM appears and its line switch is on. If it is missing, this is an install issue—use the order QR or SM-DP+ manual entry (install guide).
Step 2: Set mobile data to the travel eSIM
Keeping voice on your home SIM is fine. Leaving mobile data on the home SIM means the travel eSIM never carries traffic. Select the new eSIM for Mobile Data.
Step 3: Turn data roaming on (or not) per plan type
- Non-native / roaming plans: enable Data Roaming on that line—most will not connect without it.
- Native eSIMs: follow the product page / email; enable roaming only if instructed.
The toggle must be under the travel eSIM, not only under your home line.
Step 4: Confirm coverage and that the plan should be usable
- Are you inside the covered country/region? (Planes and some transit zones may not count.)
- Has validity started—or already ended?
- Do number / special plans still need an activation dial code or similar step?
Turning data on too early at home can burn validity on some plans—see the install/activate guide.
Step 5: Check the APN
With signal but no internet, APN is often the fix. If your plan requires a manual APN, add and select it on this eSIM; leave username/password blank unless told otherwise.
Classic case: Android missing the required APN → bars but no data. Do not edit your home SIM’s APN list. Details: APN guide.
Step 6: Set network selection to Automatic first
Under that eSIM, prefer Automatic network selection. Locking the wrong carrier can cause no signal or no data.
If Automatic sticks to a congested network, pick another available carrier once to test, then return to Automatic (also recommended on our support page for slow speeds).
Step 7: Airplane Mode refresh, then reboot
- Enable Airplane Mode for about 30 seconds, then turn it off
- If needed, restart the phone
This often clears “settings look right but registration never finished.”
Step 8: Try 4G / LTE if 5G is flaky
On some devices or locations, set Voice & Data for that eSIM to 4G / LTE temporarily, then refresh with Airplane Mode again. Some product troubleshooting notes use a similar step.
Step 9: Rule out “slow, not dead”
- Move outdoors or near a window
- Check remaining data / FUP throttling
- Temporarily disable VPN, private DNS, and Low Data Mode
These do not replace roaming/APN checks, but they prevent false “offline” conclusions.
Step 10: Keep screenshots and contact support—still do not delete
If it still fails, capture:
- Cellular / SIM list (which line is for data)
- Data roaming toggle on that eSIM
- APN list and the selected entry
- Signal and any error messages
Send them with your order number. Self-deletion, setup mistakes, and incompatible/locked devices are often outside refund coverage—troubleshoot first and let support decide on a replacement.
Quick lookup
| Symptom | Start here |
|---|---|
| eSIM missing | Step 1 (install) |
| Line present, data still on home SIM | Step 2 |
| Roaming plan, no data | Step 3 |
| Signal, no internet | Steps 5 → 7 |
| No signal / searching | Steps 4, 6, 7 |
| Very slow but not offline | Steps 9, 6 |
Bottom line
Most “eSIM not working abroad” cases are wrong data line, roaming off, or APN/network not ready—not a dead profile. Finish the first seven steps in order; if needed, contact support with screenshots and leave deletion as a last resort.
Device checks: Support. Install screens: iPhone / full guide.
