URL: https://esimworld.co.uk/help/esim-no-signal/ Source: eSIM World (esimworld.co.uk) Author: Nadezhda Semenova, entrepreneur, co-founder of the Trippy travel service, https://esimworld.co.uk/author/ Updated: 26 October 2026 # eSIM or mobile data not working abroad? Fix it in five checks eSIM not working abroad? Run five checks in this order. The eSIM line is on and chosen for mobile data, and Data Roaming is on for that line. The network is one your plan names and the APN matches your order e-mail. Then restart. Samsung's UK page shows one Data Roaming switch, not one per line. Still stuck after the fifth check? Message us on [WhatsApp](https://esimworld.co.uk/go/uk) with your order number. It works over hotel Wi-Fi. This site is not affiliated with any of the networks mentioned here; we sell eSIMs. [How we compare](https://esimworld.co.uk/how-we-compare/) The five checks for an eSIM not working abroad, and where each setting lives. Menu paths come from the phone makers' UK pages, checked on 24 and 25 October 2026. Menus can differ by model and software version. | Check | What to look at | Where | |---|---|---| | 1 | eSIM line on, and set for mobile data | iPhone: **Mobile Service**, **Mobile Data**; Samsung: **SIM card manager**; Pixel: **SIMs** | | 2 | Data Roaming on for the eSIM line | iPhone: **Mobile Data Options**; Samsung: **Mobile Networks**; Pixel: **Roaming** | | 3 | Network chosen by hand | Samsung: **Select automatically** off; Pixel: **Network**; iPhone: no Apple UK path, ask us | | 4 | APN | your order e-mail | | 5 | Aeroplane mode, restart, then contact us | [WhatsApp](https://esimworld.co.uk/go/uk) | ## Check 1: is the eSIM line selected for mobile data? Your iPhone can use one mobile data network at a time, so a switched-on eSIM does nothing until you select it for data (checked on 24 October 2026, [Apple](https://support.apple.com/en-gb/109317)). On an iPhone, first make sure the line is on. Go to **Settings → Mobile Service** (on some iPhones: **Mobile Data**), tap the number and check **Turn On this Line** is enabled ([Apple](https://support.apple.com/en-gb/118227)). Then go to **Settings → Mobile Data → Mobile Data** and select the eSIM line. On a Samsung Galaxy, go to **Settings → Connections → SIM card manager**, then choose the eSIM under **Mobile data** ([Samsung UK](https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/how-to-use-or-manage-dual-sim-cards/), page of 8 October 2026). If mobile data is off altogether, **Settings → Connections → Data usage** has the Mobile data switch ([Samsung UK](https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/how-do-i-enable-or-disable-mobile-data/)). On a Pixel, go to **Settings → Network and Internet → SIMs**, turn on **Mobile data**, and under "Your primary SIMs" choose the eSIM for data ([Google](https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/9449293?hl=en-GB)). ## Check 2: is data roaming on for the eSIM line? Data Roaming is set per number: on a Dual SIM iPhone, Apple has you tap the number first (checked on 24 October 2026, [Apple](https://support.apple.com/en-gb/109037)). Turning it on for your UK line leaves the eSIM line as it was. Your order e-mail says how to set it for the plan you bought. On an [iPhone](https://esimworld.co.uk/esim-iphone/), open **Settings → Mobile** (on some iPhones: **Mobile Data**), tap the eSIM number, tap **Mobile Data Options**, and turn on **Data Roaming**. On a [Samsung Galaxy](https://esimworld.co.uk/esim-samsung/), go to **Settings → Connections → Mobile Networks** and turn on **Data Roaming** ([Samsung UK](https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/how-do-i-turn-international-data-roaming-on-or-off-on-my-samsung-galaxy-device/)). If it is greyed out, turn on Mobile data first, as in check 1. On a Pixel, open **Settings → Network and Internet → SIMs**, use the tabs for the eSIM, and tap **Roaming** ([Google](https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/2926415?hl=en-GB)). Every path is set out in [data roaming settings](https://esimworld.co.uk/help/data-roaming-settings/). ## Check 3: choose the network by hand Each plan names its networks per country. Our Europe plan lists Orange Spain and Telefónica Móviles España for Spain, and Free Mobile, Orange France and Bouygues Télécom for France (checked on 24 October 2026). The plan page shows the list for your country. If the phone has a signal bar but no data, or sits on "Searching", switch from automatic to manual network selection. Pick a network the plan names for the country you are in, and try the next one if the first gives nothing. Some plans list one network for a country, so there is no second one to try. On a Samsung Galaxy: **Settings → Connections → Mobile networks**, then turn **Select automatically** off and pick the network. Source: [Samsung UK](https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/how-do-i-manually-select-a-network-on-my-samsung-galaxy-device/), page updated 18 September 2023, checked on 25 October 2026. On a Pixel: **Settings → Network and Internet → SIMs**, choose the eSIM tab, then tap **Network**. Google's page says it lets you "pick your network operator from available networks" ([Google](https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/2926415?hl=en-GB), checked on 25 October 2026). On an iPhone, Apple's UK help pages give no steps for choosing a network by hand, so we print none. Send us your phone model on [WhatsApp](https://esimworld.co.uk/go/uk) and we will point you to the right screen. Menus can differ by model and software version. Samsung's page dates from 2023, so the switch may sit one screen deeper on your phone. ## Check 4: the APN setting The APN is the access point name your phone uses to reach mobile data. Your order e-mail gives the APN for your plan. Type nothing that is not in that e-mail. On an iPhone with iOS 16 or later, the APN fills in automatically. Apple says "Don't edit the APN unless directed by your network provider" (checked on 24 October 2026, [Apple](https://support.apple.com/en-gb/102483)). Where the network allows it, you can see it at **Settings → Mobile** → **Mobile Data Network**, or **Mobile Data** → **Mobile Data Options** → **Mobile Data Network**. To undo a wrong entry, use **Reset Settings** on that screen. On a Samsung Galaxy: **Settings → Connections → Mobile networks → Access Point Names**, then tap the access point to check it ([Samsung UK](https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/how-do-i-check-my-apn-mobile-internet-settings/)). On a Pixel: **Settings → Network and Internet → SIMs**, then **Access Point Names** for the eSIM ([Google](https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/2926415?hl=en-GB)). If your order e-mail shows an APN and the phone shows a different one, change the phone to match the e-mail. ## Check 5: restart, then contact us If an iPhone shows "No Service" or "Searching", Apple's first step is to turn aeroplane mode on for at least 15 seconds, then off. Then restart (checked on 25 October 2026, [Apple](https://support.apple.com/en-gb/120000)). On any phone, restart with the eSIM line switched on and check the signal again. Still no data? Message us on [WhatsApp](https://esimworld.co.uk/go/uk). Send the order number from your order e-mail, your phone model and the country you are in. A screenshot of the line settings from check 1 speeds up the first reply. You will need other internet to reach us: hotel or airport Wi-Fi is enough. We also answer at support@esimworld.co.uk; there is no phone line. If the eSIM doesn't work and it isn't your phone's fault, we refund the payment whether or not it was installed. If it has not connected to a network yet, you get a full refund within 30 days of purchase. We refund within 14 days of your request: [refunds and cancellation](https://esimworld.co.uk/refund-policy/). Installing from scratch: [how to install an eSIM](https://esimworld.co.uk/how-to-install-esim/). **Turkey:** Buy and install your eSIM before you travel — eSIM shops, including ours, may not open on Turkish networks. Whether an eSIM installed at home always works once you are in Turkey is not confirmed, so install, then check your data settings before you fly. See [eSIM for Turkey](https://esimworld.co.uk/esim-turkey/). ## Your UK SIM isn't working abroad either? If your UK line has no data abroad, the cause is often on the network's side, not the phone. It can be a text you didn't send, a pass you didn't buy or a switch in the app. Open the network's own page for your destination before you buy anything: [roaming charges and passes by network](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/). Three cases we have checked: - **EE.** Before you travel EE asks you to text ROAMING to 150 so the phone is ready to roam (checked on 24 October 2026, [EE](https://ee.co.uk/help/mobile/roaming/get-ready-to-roam)). More: [EE roaming](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/ee/). - **VOXI.** Without a pass, VOXI says you cannot use your allowances abroad but can still receive calls and texts (checked on 24 October 2026, [VOXI](https://www.voxi.co.uk/help/roaming-international/does-voxi-have-european-roaming)). - **iD Mobile.** iD asks you to enable roaming in the iD Mobile app or My Account. Its £45 roaming data limit applies wherever you are (checked on 24 October 2026, [iD Mobile](https://www.idmobile.co.uk/help-and-support/roaming)). More: [iD Mobile roaming](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/id-mobile/). A travel eSIM is a second line. It does not repair a UK line, but it gives you data while you sort that out. Calls and texts stay on your UK number ([keeping your UK number](https://esimworld.co.uk/help/keep-your-uk-number/)). ## Frequently asked questions ### Why isn't my data roaming working? Usually because it is on for the wrong line. Check that the eSIM line is switched on, is the line chosen for mobile data, and has Data Roaming on, then restart the phone. Data Roaming on the UK line does not help the eSIM. ### Why isn't my eSIM activating? On most of our plans the days start when the eSIM first connects at your destination; check the activation rule shown on your plan. If it shows a line but no signal, run the five checks in order. If the eSIM never installed, you need Wi-Fi to install it, so use hotel Wi-Fi and then message us. ### Why is my iD Mobile not working abroad? Often roaming is not switched on: iD asks you to enable it in the iD Mobile app or My Account. iD also applies a £45 roaming data limit wherever you are (checked on 24 October 2026). Outside its 50 Roam Free destinations you need a Roam Beyond add-on or pay per MB, for example £1.50 a MB in Turkey. ## Sources - Apple: [Dual SIM](https://support.apple.com/en-gb/109317), [travel eSIM](https://support.apple.com/en-gb/118227), [data roaming](https://support.apple.com/en-gb/109037), [APN](https://support.apple.com/en-gb/102483), checked on 24 October 2026; [No Service or Searching](https://support.apple.com/en-gb/120000), checked on 25 October 2026 - Samsung UK: [dual SIM](https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/how-to-use-or-manage-dual-sim-cards/), [mobile data](https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/how-do-i-enable-or-disable-mobile-data/), [data roaming](https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/how-do-i-turn-international-data-roaming-on-or-off-on-my-samsung-galaxy-device/), [APN](https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/how-do-i-check-my-apn-mobile-internet-settings/), [manual network selection](https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/how-do-i-manually-select-a-network-on-my-samsung-galaxy-device/) - Google Pixel Help: [dual SIM](https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/9449293?hl=en-GB), [SIM settings](https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/2926415?hl=en-GB) - [EE: get ready to roam](https://ee.co.uk/help/mobile/roaming/get-ready-to-roam) - [VOXI: European roaming](https://www.voxi.co.uk/help/roaming-international/does-voxi-have-european-roaming) - [iD Mobile: roaming](https://www.idmobile.co.uk/help-and-support/roaming)