VenterraSIM

Travel eSIM Not Working? Fix It in 5 Minutes

Most eSIM problems come down to one setting. Work through these fixes in order and you'll usually be online in a few minutes.

Daniel Mor3 min read
A person checking a smartphone outdoors in warm sunlight.

Landed and no internet? Don't worry, and don't delete the eSIM. Almost every problem comes down to one setting. Work through the fixes below in order. Most people are online again before they reach step 4.

First, turn Wi-Fi off. Otherwise you can't tell whether the eSIM itself is working.

1. Turn on Data Roaming for the eSIM

This is the most common cause by far. Your travel eSIM connects through partner networks, so your phone treats it as roaming. It costs nothing extra.

  • iPhone: Settings › Cellular › [your travel eSIM] › Data Roaming on
  • Samsung: Settings › Connections › Mobile networks › Data roaming on
  • Pixel: Settings › Network & internet › SIMs › [travel eSIM] › Roaming on

2. Make sure the eSIM is on and used for data

  • The travel eSIM line is turned on.
  • It's selected for Cellular Data (iPhone) or Mobile data (Android).
  • Your home SIM is off. That way the phone isn't trying to use it, and you avoid roaming charges.

3. Restart the connection

Turn Airplane mode on, wait 10 seconds, and turn it off. If that doesn't help, restart the phone. It forces the eSIM to register on the local network again.

4. Pick a network manually

Sometimes the phone gets stuck on a network that won't give you data. Choose another one yourself:

  • iPhone: Settings › Cellular › [travel eSIM] › Network Selection › turn off Automatic, wait for the list, and pick a different network.
  • Android: Settings › Connections › Mobile networks › Network operators › turn off Automatic and pick a different network. On Pixel, open the travel SIM's settings and turn off Automatically select network.

Try each network in the list for a minute. One of them usually works.

A phone, coffee and notebooks on a blue desk

5. Resync the eSIM (iPhone)

If data is slow or keeps dropping even though everything above is correct:

  1. Settings › Cellular › [travel eSIM] › turn off Turn On This Line.
  2. Restart the iPhone.
  3. Go back and turn the line on again.

Error while installing?

"This code is no longer valid" or a similar error usually means the eSIM is already installed. That happens if you scanned the code before. Check your line list under Settings › Cellular (iPhone) or SIM manager (Android). The eSIM may already be there, just turned off or unnamed.

An eSIM can only be installed on one device, and it can't be moved to another phone. So don't scan the code on a second phone "just to test".

Still stuck? Check these

  • Are you in a covered country? Each package covers specific destinations. A stopover country may not be included.
  • Is the data used up or the package expired? Check your balance in My eSIMs. If a top-up is available for your eSIM, you can add data there.
  • Is your phone carrier-locked? A locked phone may refuse any other SIM, including an eSIM.

Contact support, with the right details

Our support team is available 24/7 in the chat on the website. To get it solved fast, send:

  • Your order number
  • Your phone model and the country you're in
  • Which of the steps above you've already tried
  • A screenshot of the eSIM line's settings screen

Don't delete the eSIM while you wait. Deleting it usually means it can't be reinstalled.

Setting up from scratch? Our iPhone and Android guides walk you through the correct settings.