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Last updated: 2026-06-19
If your eSIM-Now data isn't working on your Android phone, don't worry — the large majority of cases are a quick settings fix, not a faulty eSIM. Work through the checks below in order and you'll be back online in a couple of minutes.
First — are you actually at your destination yet?
Travel eSIMs connect to a local network only when you arrive. Seeing "No service" or "Searching for service…" while you're still at home, in the air, or in transit is completely normal — it's not broken. Give it a few minutes after you land (with Airplane mode off). And whatever you do, don't delete the eSIM to "retry" — most travel eSIMs can't be reinstalled once removed.
Menu names vary by brand. Android has no single layout. On most phones the path is Settings → Network & internet → SIMs, but the wording differs:
Samsung (One UI): Settings → Connections → SIM manager / Mobile networks. Google Pixel: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs. Xiaomi (MIUI / HyperOS): Settings → SIM cards & mobile networks. Where we say "SIMs" below, use whichever your phone shows.
The 60-second checklist
Nine times out of ten, it's one of these:
Fix it step by step
Confirm the eSIM is installed
Go to Settings → Network & internet → SIMs (Samsung: Connections → SIM manager). You should see your eSIM-Now line listed alongside any physical SIM.
Not there? It never finished installing. Reinstall it from the QR code or activation link on your profile page — over stable Wi-Fi. If install fails with an error, jump to common error messages below.
Turn the line on & make it your data SIM
Tap your eSIM-Now line and check Use SIM = ON (Samsung calls this turning the SIM on in SIM manager).
Then set the Mobile data SIM to eSIM-Now (Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Mobile data; Samsung: SIM manager → Preferred SIM → Mobile data). On Pixel, also turn off any automatic data SIM switching so your phone can't quietly fall back to your home SIM.
Turn Roaming ON — the #1 fix
On your eSIM-Now line, set Roaming = ON (Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → eSIM-Now → Roaming; Samsung: Mobile networks → Data roaming). Travel eSIMs connect through local partner networks, which counts as roaming — without it you'll have no data even with full bars. This single setting resolves most "not working" cases.
Restart, then toggle Airplane mode
Restart your phone (off, wait 30 seconds, on) and give it two minutes. A surprising number of issues clear here.
Then swipe down the quick settings and toggle Airplane mode on for 30 seconds and off — this forces your phone to re-register on the local network.
Pick a network manually
This is the step most people never try — and it fixes a lot of "No service". Go to Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → eSIM-Now → Choose network automatically and turn it OFF (Samsung: Mobile networks → Network operators → uncheck "Select automatically"). Wait for the list, then tap a different carrier.
If one partner network won't connect, another usually will. (Only works once you're at your destination.)
Confirm it's actually working
Turn Wi-Fi fully OFF (swipe down → tap Wi-Fi off) and open Chrome. If pages load, your eSIM is working.
Still unsure? Go to Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → eSIM-Now → App data usage (Samsung: Connections → Data usage → Mobile data usage). If eSIM-Now's data usage is climbing, it's connected. If it's stuck at zero, your phone isn't using the eSIM for data — recheck Steps 2–3.
Decode your status bar
✅ You're connected
⚠️ Needs attention
If you see anything in the right-hand column after you've arrived, work through Steps 3–5 above (Roaming, restart, manual network selection).
A note on APN
On almost all Android phones the APN (Access Point Name) is configured automatically when the eSIM connects — you don't need to type anything. Don't edit or delete APN settings unless support specifically asks you to. If you've already changed them and data won't work, go to Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → eSIM-Now → Access Point Names and tap the menu to Reset to default, then restart.
Common error messages
Likely cause: weak Wi-Fi during install, the QR code was already used, the phone is carrier-locked, or a temporary download hiccup.
Fix: restart and try again on stable Wi-Fi. Confirm your phone is unlocked (your carrier or Settings → About phone → SIM status can confirm). Each QR code works once — if it's already installed, don't rescan; find it on your profile page.
Likely cause: Roaming off, wrong network selected, you haven't arrived yet, or a temporary outage.
Fix: if you're at your destination, turn Roaming ON (Step 3), then try manual network selection (Step 5). Before arrival, this is normal.
Likely cause: your phone reaches a network for emergency calls but can't register for data — usually no partner network selected.
Fix: manual network selection (Step 5) almost always resolves this. Restart afterwards.
Likely cause: the phone can't register on a network — wrong network, temporary carrier issue, or you're not at the destination yet.
Fix: restart, then pick a network manually (Step 5). Give it up to two minutes to reconnect.
Internet works, but it's slow
Service is fine but pages crawl? This is almost always temporary local congestion, not your eSIM. Try, in order:
- Toggle Airplane mode on and off
- Switch networks manually (Step 5) — a less-busy partner network is often much faster
- Check your preferred network type — Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → eSIM-Now → Preferred network type — and make sure 5G/LTE is allowed, not "2G only"
- Move outdoors or to a different spot — walls and crowds kill mobile speeds
- Disable any VPN you have running
- Restart your phone
Last resort: Reset network settings
If nothing above works, reset your network settings: Settings → System → Reset options → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth (Samsung: Settings → General management → Reset → Reset network settings).
This clears saved Wi-Fi passwords and network preferences — but it will not delete your eSIM. Your eSIM-Now line stays installed.
💬 Still stuck? Send us this and we'll fix it fast
Having these ready in your first message means we can usually pinpoint the issue in one reply — no back-and-forth:
Good to know
- eSIM-Now plans are data-only — no phone number, so no regular calls or SMS/OTP codes. Keep your home SIM for those, and use WhatsApp or other apps over data.
- Roaming must be ON for travel eSIMs — this is normal and expected, not extra charges from us.
- APN is set automatically on Android — you don't need to enter it by hand. Don't change it unless support asks.
- Removing an eSIM is permanent — most travel eSIMs can't be reinstalled. Keep yours installed until your trip is over.
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