eSIM Installed but Not Showing in Settings? 8 Fixes
The QR scanned successfully but no new line appears — or it appears and does nothing. Here are the eight fixes for an eSIM that installed but will not show up or connect.
This is a different problem from a QR code that will not scan. Here the install worked — but the line is missing, greyed out, or sitting there doing nothing.
Short answer: most cases are one of three things: the line is switched off, it is not set as the data line, or Data Roaming is off for it. Work through the list below in order.
1. Check the line is actually turned on
iPhone: Settings → Cellular → tap the new plan → Turn On This Line. Android: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → select the eSIM → toggle Use SIM on.
An installed but disabled line looks like nothing happened.
2. Set it as your data line
Installing is not using. On iPhone: Settings → Cellular → Cellular Data → select the travel eSIM. On Android: SIMs → Mobile data → travel eSIM. Until you do this, your phone keeps using the old line.
3. Turn on Data Roaming for that line
A travel eSIM connects to a foreign network, so roaming must be on for that specific line. This costs nothing extra on a prepaid travel plan — it is simply how the plan reaches the local network. It is the single most common cause of "installed but no service".
4. Restart the phone
Genuinely effective. A full power cycle re-registers the profile with the network and clears a surprising share of these cases.
5. Toggle Airplane Mode
On for ten seconds, then off. This forces a fresh network search — often enough on arrival when the phone is still clinging to a memory of your home network.
6. Check you are actually in the coverage area
Many travel eSIMs show No Service until you are physically in the destination country. Seeing nothing at home before your trip is usually normal, not a fault. See when does an eSIM activate.
7. Select the network manually
If auto-selection fails: Settings → Cellular → Network Selection (iPhone) or SIMs → Network operators (Android), turn off Automatic, and pick a partner network from the list. Give each one a minute to register.
8. Check the APN
If you have signal but no internet, the plan's APN may need entering manually under the eSIM line's settings. Your provider lists it with the plan. After adding it, toggle Airplane Mode.
Still nothing?
Then it is usually a locked phone or a profile that needs re-issuing. Re-download your eSIM from your account dashboard, or contact support via the contact page — a good provider re-issues quickly. Related: QR code not working.
The bottom line
Nine times in ten it is line-off, wrong data line, or roaming-off. Check those three before anything else. Browse plans for 190+ destinations.
The three-toggle check: line ON, set as DATA, roaming ON. That fixes most "eSIM not working" reports.