eSIM Not Working Abroad? 8 Fixes for iPhone, Samsung, Pixel
eSIM not working abroad? Fix a travel eSIM with no internet: turn on data roaming, pick the data line, check APN settings and more on iPhone, Samsung and Pixel.
ArriGo team 12 min read Updated
If your eSIM is not working abroad, the fix is almost always in your settings: turn on data roaming for the travel eSIM line, make sure that line is selected for mobile data, then switch airplane mode on and off. Those three steps solve most cases of a travel eSIM with no internet on iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel.
If they do not, the rest of this guide works through the remaining fixes in the order support teams use them: choosing a network manually, checking the APN settings, restarting, and, only as a last resort, resetting network settings. Every menu path below comes from Apple, Samsung or Google’s own support pages, with a link so you can check the wording for your software version.
Key takeaways
- A travel eSIM is a roaming line by design, so it needs data roaming switched on even though you are not paying your home carrier to roam.
- On a dual SIM phone, only one line carries mobile data. If your Canadian line is still selected, the travel eSIM sits idle.
- Toggling airplane mode makes the phone search again for a local network, which fixes many “signal but no internet” problems.
- Do not delete the eSIM to “start over”. Reset network settings only after everything else has failed, and read what it removes first.
Why is my eSIM not working abroad?
A travel eSIM connects to local networks as a visitor, in the same way your Canadian SIM does when it roams. Our explainer on how an eSIM works covers the technology. In practice, a travel eSIM that will not connect almost always falls into one of these groups:
- Data roaming is off for the eSIM line. This is the most common cause by far. Phones treat any network outside the plan’s home country as roaming.
- The wrong line carries data. On dual SIM phones, mobile data goes over one line at a time. If your Canadian line is still the data line, nothing goes over the eSIM.
- The phone is stuck on a network the plan does not use. It may have grabbed a network during landing and refused to let go.
- The data settings (APN) are wrong or missing. Less common, but it shows up as full signal bars and no internet.
- The eSIM line is switched off. Easy to miss after a phone update or a restart.
Apple’s guide to SOS, No Service or Searching lists the same causes in roughly the same order, and its steps form the backbone of this checklist.
Tip: Before you change anything, connect to Wi-Fi if you can. It lets you open this guide, the support pages linked below and your eSIM email while you work through the fixes.
Step 1: Turn on data roaming for the eSIM line
This is the fix for the majority of “travel eSIM no internet” messages. Data roaming must be on for the travel eSIM, even though it is a local or regional plan. Your home line can stay off.
iPhone
Apple’s guide to cellular data roaming options gives the path. Open Settings, tap Cellular (or Mobile Data), and make sure Cellular Data is on. On a phone with two lines, tap the travel eSIM line, then Cellular Data Options, and turn on Data Roaming. On a single line, go straight to Cellular Data Options.
Apple’s iPhone User Guide on cellular data settings explains that data roaming lets the phone use data outside your carrier’s coverage area, which is exactly where a travel eSIM works.
Samsung Galaxy
Samsung’s guide to managing data on a Galaxy phone puts the switch under Settings > Connections > Mobile networks, where you turn on Data roaming. The same page notes that the Mobile networks menu cannot be opened if the phone has no active SIM, so check the eSIM is switched on first (see step 3).
Google Pixel
Google’s page on connecting to mobile networks says to open Settings > Network & internet > SIMs, tap the SIM, and turn on Roaming. If you have two SIMs, the settings for each one are separate, so make sure you change the travel eSIM and not your home line.
Step 2: Select the travel eSIM as your cellular data line
A dual SIM phone can keep both lines active for calls and texts, but only one carries mobile data. If the phone still uses your Canadian line, the eSIM will show signal while your data goes nowhere, or worse, onto your home carrier’s roaming fees.
| Phone | Where to choose the mobile data line | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data > pick the travel line | Apple |
| Samsung Galaxy | Settings > Connections > SIM manager > Primary SIM, then set Mobile data | Samsung |
| Google Pixel | Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Mobile data, then pick the SIM |
Apple’s guide to using an eSIM while travelling explains that you can keep using iMessage, FaceTime and other apps on your home number while the travel line handles data. Google notes that only one SIM can be the default for data on a Pixel, and that during a phone call, data goes through the SIM making the call.
If you want your Canadian number to stay reachable while the eSIM does the data work, our guide to keeping your Canadian number with dual SIM explains how texts, calls and roaming fees interact.
Step 3: Check the eSIM line is turned on
After an update, a restart or a few days unused, a line can end up switched off. Apple’s No Service guide says to open Settings > Cellular, tap the line, and if it is off, tap Turn On This Line.
On Samsung, Samsung’s data guide says to open Settings > Connections > SIM manager and make sure the switch next to your eSIM is on. On Pixel, Google’s guide to fixing mobile connectivity says to tap Settings > Network & internet > SIMs, select the SIM and check that Use SIM is on.
Step 4: Toggle airplane mode to force a new network search
When a phone lands, it can latch on to the first network it hears and stay there. Switching airplane mode on and off makes it drop every connection and search again.
- iPhone: Apple’s No Service guide says to turn on Airplane Mode in Settings, leave it on for at least 15 seconds, then turn it off. Apple’s roaming guide suggests about 30 seconds abroad, then letting the iPhone pick the best network automatically. The same page says to check that Set Automatically is on under Settings > General > Date & Time if the clock is wrong after you arrive.
- Samsung Galaxy: Samsung’s no-signal troubleshooting guide lists Airplane mode under Settings > Connections. Turn it on, wait a few seconds, then turn it off and check the connection again.
- Google Pixel: Google’s connectivity guide lists the setting under Settings > Network & internet, where you switch Airplane mode off.
Step 5: Choose a network manually
Most travel eSIMs can use more than one local network, and the phone normally picks the strongest one. Sometimes it picks a network the plan does not support, or one with weak coverage where you are. Our networks page lists every mobile operator our plans use, and each plan page shows the networks for that country under “Coverage & networks”.
Samsung Galaxy
Samsung’s data guide puts this under Settings > Connections > Mobile networks > Network operators, with a Select automatically switch that Samsung recommends keeping on as a first check. If automatic selection keeps failing, Samsung’s manual network selection steps show the idea: under Network operators, search for networks and tap the one you want. That page was written for an older Galaxy, so menu names may differ slightly on yours.
Google Pixel
Google’s mobile network page lists Network in the SIM’s settings (Settings > Network & internet > SIMs), where you can pick your operator from the networks available.
iPhone
Apple’s support pages do not document a manual network picker for iPhone. Apple’s advice abroad is the airplane mode step above, which makes the iPhone choose the best network again. If your iPhone keeps landing on a network that is not listed on your plan page, contact your eSIM provider rather than guessing.
Step 6: Check the APN settings on your eSIM
The APN (Access Point Name) tells the phone how to reach the mobile internet through a network. Most travel eSIMs set it automatically. A missing or wrong APN is the classic cause of full bars with no data, so it is worth a look if steps 1 to 5 did not help.
Only change an APN if your eSIM provider has given you specific details. Apple warns in its guide to viewing and editing your APN that incorrect settings can cut off cellular data and may lead to extra charges.
| Phone | Where to find the APN | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Network (on the travel line) | Only shown if the carrier allows it; Reset Settings on the same screen restores the default |
| Samsung Galaxy | Settings > Connections > Mobile networks > Access Point Names | More options (three dots) > Reset to default restores the original APN |
| Google Pixel | Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > select SIM > Access point names | Pick the correct entry from the list for the travel SIM |
Sources: Apple’s APN guide, Samsung’s APN guide and no-signal troubleshooting guide, and Google’s mobile network page. Apple also notes that an iOS update resets APN changes you made by hand, so check again if the problem returns after an update.
The APN details for your plan come from your eSIM provider, not from a forum post or a generic list. If you do not have them, our help centre is the place to start.
Step 7: Restart the phone and check for updates
A restart clears temporary glitches in the phone’s modem. Apple lists it as a standard step in its No Service guide, along with updating to the latest iOS and checking for a carrier settings update: connect to Wi-Fi, then go to Settings > General > About, and an update prompt appears if one is available.
Samsung’s data guide describes the restart: swipe down twice from the top right of the screen, tap the power icon, then Restart. It also recommends installing any available system update. Google’s connectivity guide covers the remaining Pixel checks, including the preferred network type and signal strength.
Tip: If your phone shows 5G but data is slow or patchy, try switching the line to LTE. Our guide to 5G vs 4G when travelling explains when 4G is the more reliable choice.
Step 8 (last resort): Reset network settings
Resetting network settings returns every network option on the phone to factory defaults. It can fix problems the steps above do not, but it has side effects. Do it only after steps 1 to 7, and preferably while on Wi-Fi you can reconnect to.
What a network reset removes
- iPhone: Apple’s guide to resetting iPhone settings says Reset Network Settings removes all network settings, including previously used Wi-Fi networks and VPN settings not installed by a profile. It also renames the device to “iPhone” and notes that cellular data roaming may be turned off. The path is Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
- Samsung Galaxy: Samsung Canada’s reset guide puts it under Settings > General management > Reset > Reset mobile network settings. Samsung says it does not affect your apps or personal data, but you may need your provider’s help to re-establish network settings afterwards.
- Google Pixel: Google’s mobile network page gives the path Settings > System > Reset options > Reset Mobile Network Settings.
The warning that matters most
On iPhone, the same Reset menu also contains Delete All eSIMs. Apple says that option deletes every eSIM on the phone, after which you need to set up a new eSIM or physical SIM to connect. That would remove your travel plan and your Canadian eSIM, if you have one.
After any network reset, go back to step 1. Turn on data roaming for the travel line again and check it is the mobile data line, because both settings may have reverted.
Quick checklist: travel eSIM no internet
Use this order. Test mobile data with Wi-Fi off after each step, so you know which change worked.
| # | Check | Fixes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Data roaming on for the eSIM line | No data with signal bars |
| 2 | Travel eSIM chosen as the mobile data line | Data going to your home line, or nowhere |
| 3 | eSIM line switched on | No signal on the eSIM at all |
| 4 | Airplane mode on, wait, off | Stuck on a weak or wrong network |
| 5 | Choose a network listed on your plan page | Phone keeps picking an unsupported network |
| 6 | APN matches your provider’s details | Full bars, no internet |
| 7 | Restart and update | Temporary glitches |
| 8 | Reset network settings (not Delete eSIM) | Stubborn setting conflicts |
How to avoid eSIM problems before you fly
Most of the problems above are easier to prevent than to fix in an arrivals hall. A few minutes at home makes a difference:
- Confirm your phone is ready. It needs eSIM support and must be unlocked. Our compatibility checker and our guide to checking if your phone is eSIM compatible cover both.
- Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi. With our plans, the QR code arrives by email within about a minute and the validity days only start when the eSIM first connects at your destination. Our guide to installing an eSIM before you fly walks through every phone.
- Set data roaming before boarding. Turn it on for the travel line and off for your home line, so the phone is ready the moment you land.
- Know your home carrier’s rules. If the phone uses your Canadian line by mistake, a daily roaming fee can apply. Our comparison of Bell, Rogers and Telus roaming vs an eSIM shows what that costs.
Still not connected?
If you have worked through every step and the travel eSIM still has no data, the problem may be on the plan or network side rather than your settings. Note what your phone shows (the network name, the signal bars, any error message) and which steps you have tried. If you have some connection but it is slow, run our free internet speed test and include the result. Then reach us through our support page, or look up your question in our help centre.
Planning another trip? Browse plans for the United States, Mexico, Europe or any of our destinations, and check which local networks each one uses before you go.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my eSIM not working when I land?
The most common reason is that data roaming is switched off for the travel eSIM line. A travel eSIM always connects as a roaming line, so it needs data roaming on even though you are not paying your home carrier for roaming. The second most common reason is that the phone is still using your home line for mobile data.
Do I need data roaming on for a travel eSIM?
Yes. Turn data roaming on for the travel eSIM line only, and leave it off for your home line if you want to avoid your carrier's daily roaming fee. On a dual SIM phone each line has its own roaming setting.
My eSIM shows signal bars but no internet. What should I do?
Bars mean the phone has reached a local network, but data is not flowing. Check that the travel eSIM is selected as the mobile data line, that data roaming is on for it, and then toggle airplane mode. If it still fails, check the APN against the details your eSIM provider gave you.
Should I delete and reinstall my travel eSIM if it does not connect?
No. Deleting the eSIM removes the plan from your phone, and Apple notes that after deleting eSIMs you need to set up a new one to connect. Work through the settings fixes first, then contact your eSIM provider's support if nothing helps.
Will resetting network settings delete my eSIM?
Resetting network settings clears saved Wi-Fi networks, VPN and APN settings, and Apple notes it can turn data roaming off. On iPhone, deleting eSIMs is a separate option in the same menu, so read each option carefully before you tap and turn data roaming back on afterwards.
How long should a travel eSIM take to connect after landing?
Usually only a few minutes once the phone has signal. If you still have no data after you have checked roaming, the data line and airplane mode, keep going through the remaining steps in order rather than waiting longer.
