Why is eSIM Not Working? Check the Reasons and Fix It!

Overview

After selecting the right eSIM product and figuring out how eSIM works, you finally start your overseas travel plans. However, upon reaching your destination, you despairingly discover that there is no network, and the eSIM is not responding. This can be incredibly frustrating!

Don't worry, this article will provide a professional guide to help you fix eSIM transfer not working issues, whether you are using an iPhone or an Android phone. Keep reading to ensure you fully enjoy your trip!

Common Reasons that Cause the eSIM to Fail to Activate

If you're trying to install an eSIM on an iPhone or iPad, you might come across an error message that says, "Unable to Activate eSIM. You can try again, or contact your carrier for assistance." There are several common reasons why your eSIM might not be working properly:

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Device Incompatibility: Not all devices support eSIM. Make sure your device, such as your iPhone or Samsung phone, is compatible with eSIM technology. Check the manufacturer's website for a list of supported models.

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Carrier Lock: If your device is locked to a specific carrier, you might not be able to activate an eSIM from another carrier. Ensure your device is unlocked before trying to activate a new eSIM.

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Improper Activation: Sometimes, the eSIM activation process might not be completed correctly. This can happen if you don't follow the instructions provided by your carrier. For instance, if you incorrectly scan the QR code, it can lead to activation failure.

If you've ruled out these issues and your eSIM still isn't working, don't worry. The following sections provide detailed solutions to help you fix the problem. Make sure you have a good signal and follow these steps to get your eSIM up and running. Also, you may refer to this guide to fix the "This Code is No Longer Valid" error if you come across this prompt after eSIM installation.

Solution 1: Turn on/off Airplane Mode

Sometimes, the reason your eSIM is not working is due to an unstable internet connection that prevents you from downloading and installing your eSIM. One quick and simple fix is to turn on and then off Airplane Mode. This action can reset your network connections and might help resolve the issue. Here's how you can do it:

Step 1: Go to your device's Settings app, look for Airplane Mode, and toggle the switch to turn it on. This will disable all wireless connections.

Step 2: Leave Airplane Mode on for about 10-15 seconds. This gives your device enough time to reset its network connections.

Step 3: Toggle the switch again to turn off Airplane Mode. This will re-enable all wireless connections, including your internet and cellular data.

After performing these steps, try to activate your eSIM again. This simple method often helps in resolving issues related to an unstable internet connection, enabling your eSIM to be downloaded and installed properly. If your eSIM still not working on your iPhone or any other devices, proceed to the next solution for further troubleshooting.

Solution 2: Ensure Proper eSIM Activation

Sometimes, eSIM cards may not work properly on iPhone or Android devices because you did not use them correctly or did not activate them in the right way. For instance, you might not have scanned the QR code provided by the eSIM provider correctly, resulting in your device showing an invalid eSIM profile or not finding the eSIM option. In such cases, it is recommended to carefully read the following two guides to ensure you are using the eSIM correctly on your phone.

What's more, it's likely that you forget to enable data roaming on your iPhone or Android, which results in eSIM activation failure. If you're not using an eSIM card that is supported by the local carrier, you'll have to turn on the data roaming.

Solution 3: Restart Your Device

Restarting your device can solve many technical issues, including problems with eSIM activation. This is because a restart clears temporary caches, resets network connections, and reloads system processes.

Sometimes, apps or settings on your device may conflict with the eSIM activation process. Restarting your device closes all running apps and services, avoiding these conflicts. Additionally, certain system updates or configuration changes may require a restart to fully take effect. By restarting your device, you ensure that all updates and changes are correctly applied, which can help resolve eSIM activation problems.

Here's how you can restart your device:

For iPhone X or later:

Step 1: Press and hold the Side button and either volume button until the power off slider appears.

Step 2: Drag the slider and wait 30 seconds for your device to turn off.

Step 3: After the device turns off, press and hold the Side button again until the Apple logo appears.

For Android devices:

Step 1: Press and hold the Power button on your device until a menu appears on the screen.

Step 2: In the menu that appears, tap on Restart or Reboot. If your device doesn't have a restart option, tap on Power off instead.

Step 3: Once the device is off, turn it back on by pressing and holding the Power button until the screen lights up.

Solution 4: Reinstall eSIM Profile

If the previous methods haven't worked, you might need to delete the existing eSIM profile and reinstall a new one.

Follow these steps to safely reinstall an eSIM profile from your iOS device:

Step 1: On your iPhone, tap on the Settings app to open it.

Step 2: Scroll down and find either Cellular or Mobile Data, then tap on it.

Step 3: Locate the eSIM plan you wish to remove and tap on it.

Step 4: Scroll down to the bottom and tap on Remove Cellular Plan or Delete Mobile Plan. Confirm the removal when prompted.

Step 5: Head to Settings again, and scroll down to find Cellular or Mobile Data to re-add your eSIM.

Solution 5: Update Carrier Settings

Network provider settings updates allow your carrier to update the network and related settings to improve mobile network connectivity and performance. These updates can also add support for new features, such as 5G or Wi-Fi Calling. Here's how to manually update the carrier settings.

For iPhone:

Step 1: Make sure your iPhone is connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network.

Step 2: Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap on General, then tap on About.

Step 3: Scroll down to Carrier. If a new update is available, you'll see an option to update. Otherwise, you'll see the current carrier settings or version number. Tapping on the version number can provide more details about the carrier.

For Android:

Step 1: Go to the Settings app on your Android device.

Step 2: Tap on More, then select Mobile Networks.

Step 3: Tap on Carrier Settings, then select Update Profile. This will update your device with the latest carrier settings if they are available.

Solution 6: Check Network Settings

If you're still having trouble with your eSIM, another step you can try is resetting your network settings. This can clear out any corrupted data or settings that might be interfering with your eSIM, helping resolve issues like eSIM transfer not working. However, be aware that this will erase all your saved Wi-Fi passwords and cellular p

• Use eSIM Cards on iPhone: Everything You Need to Know
• How to Use an eSIM Card on Android Phones [Full Tutorial]