Is your eSIM still installed, or was it deleted?
Before proceeding further, double-check whether your iPhone still has the eSIM installed or if it was deleted from your phone entirely. If the eSIM is still there but is not working, here are the most common scenarios that could point you toward a fix:
Situation | What does it mean? | What are the next steps? |
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eSIM still appears under “Cellular” (or “Mobile Service”) in the phone’s settings | The eSIM is inactive | Turn the eSIM back on manually |
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eSIM has the “No Service” message | The eSIM exists, but the connection has failed | Check the network settings under “Cellular” (or “Mobile Service”) and “SIMs” |
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eSIM has disappeared | The eSIM was likely deleted | |
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eSIM transfer has failed | The eSIM’s activation process needs to be restarted | Restart the setup process |
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Keep in mind that if your eSIM is still visible in the “SIMs” subsection (under “Cellular” or, as it’s named in some regions, “Mobile service”), you may just need to reactivate it. If the eSIM is gone, follow our guide to restore an eSIM on your iPhone.
Step-by-step guide to reactivating an eSIM on your iPhone
Travel eSIMs can become inactive because roaming was disabled, the wrong eSIM was selected for data, you returned home and automatically switched lines, or the eSIM was manually turned off. The steps below cover how to reactivate an existing travel eSIM:
Step 1: Turn the eSIM back on
Open “Settings” and tap “Cellular” or “Mobile service.”
Tap the name of your travel eSIM.
If “Turn on this line” is toggled off, tap to enable it.
Once the line is turned on, your iPhone will attempt to reconnect to the network.
Step 2: Select the eSIM for mobile data
Your eSIM may be active but not currently handling data — another line may be selected instead.
Go to “Settings” > “Cellular” (or “Mobile service”) > “Cellular data” (or “Mobile data”).
Select your travel eSIM from the list.
Selecting the right line will ensure that eSIM actually provides mobile data.
Step 3: Re-enable roaming for the travel eSIM
Many travel eSIMs require roaming to be enabled to function abroad.
Go to “Settings” > “Cellular” (or “Mobile service”).
Tap on your travel eSIM.
Tap “Data roaming” to toggle it on.
Without roaming enabled, the eSIM may appear active but fail to connect to a local network.
Reactivating your eSIM after updating or restarting your iPhone
Your eSIM might become inactive or lose its connection after a software update, a reset, a carrier change, or even a routine phone restart. This common situation has a straightforward fix.
Turn the eSIM line back on after an iPhone update
If the eSIM profile is still visible in “Settings” > “Cellular,” or “Mobile service” in other regions, but the line is inactive after an update or restart:
Go to “Settings” > “Cellular” (or “Mobile service”).
Tap on your eSIM.
Toggle “Turn on this line” back on.
If the issue persists, toggle it off and back on again, then restart your iPhone.
Check for carrier settings updates
Outdated carrier settings can prevent the eSIM from reconnecting after an iOS update or restart.
Go to “Settings” > “General” > “About.”
Wait a few seconds — if a carrier settings update is available, your iPhone will prompt you automatically.
Tap “Update” if prompted.
Installing the latest carrier settings can restore a connection that dropped after a software change.
Restart the network connection if the eSIM still says "No service"
If the eSIM is turned on, but the eSIM still shows “No service” on your iPhone:
Toggle “Airplane mode” on, wait 10 seconds, then toggle it off.
Restart your iPhone.
Connect to Wi-Fi if available, since this can help the eSIM to reconnect with the network.
Reactivating an eSIM after switching to a new iPhone
When transferring an existing eSIM onto a new iPhone, some carriers temporarily deactivate the eSIM during the process. The eSIM may appear on the new device but remain inactive until the reactivation is complete.
Use “Transfer from nearby iPhone” again
If the eSIM did not activate properly during the initial transfer:
Keep both iPhones close together.
On the new iPhone, go to “Settings” > “Cellular” (or “Mobile service” > “Add eSIM.”
Tap “Transfer from nearby iPhone” and follow the on-screen instructions.
Retrying the transfer often completes the activation process.
Reactivate the eSIM through your carrier or provider’s app
Some carriers require additional confirmation after an eSIM transfer, like logging in to an account or verifying your identity through an app.
Open your carrier or eSIM provider’s app and check whether a reactivation step is pending. Completing this step typically restores the line.
What to do if the transfer leaves the eSIM inactive
If the eSIM line appears on your new iPhone but the connection is not working, look out for these common issues:
“Activating” message displays for several minutes. Stay connected to your Wi-Fi network and wait, since activation can take some time.
“No service” after transfer. Go to “Settings” > “Cellular” (or “Mobile service”), tap on the eSIM line, and toggle it off and back on.
Transfer appears to be completed, but the eSIM is still not working on your iPhone. Contact your carrier or provider’s customer support to confirm the transfer was registered on their end.
Why does your eSIM say “No service” after reactivating?
If you have reactivated the eSIM but the connection is still not working, use this quick reference guide:
Problem | Potential solution |
|---|
eSIM is reactivated but has no signal | Restart your iPhone |
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eSIM is active but has no data. | Under “Cellular” (or “Mobile service”), select the correct eSIM line. |
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A travel eSIM is not reconnecting | Enable “Data roaming” for that eSIM |
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eSIM is stuck on “Activating” | Stay connected to a Wi-Fi network and wait a few minutes |
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eSIM is active, but apps are not loading | Go to “Settings” > “General” > “Transfer or reset iPhone” > “Reset network settings” |
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The potential solutions should solve any issues you might have with your eSIM or travel eSIM after you’ve reactivated it.
Can you reactivate a deleted eSIM on an iPhone?
If you’ve deleted an eSIM from your iPhone, you will have to reinstall or restore it using your carrier or eSIM provider’s instructions.
However, note that you might encounter two different situations:
If the eSIM has been deleted, you will have to reinstall it. Some providers allow you to redownload the eSIM directly through their app using the same account, while others might provide you with a QR code to complete the process. The installation of a deleted eSIM will depend on your carrier or provider.
Why your Saily eSIM may need reactivating on your iPhone
Some Saily users may find that their eSIM needs to be reactivated if it was manually turned off, the iPhone switched back to a primary SIM, roaming was disabled, or the eSIM lost its connection.
To reactivate your Saily eSIM:
Open the Saily app and check the status of your plan.
Go to “Settings” > “Cellular” (or “Mobile service”) and confirm the Saily line is turned on.
Go to “Settings” > “Cellular” (or “Mobile service”) > “Cellular data” (or “Mobile data”) and select the Saily eSIM.
Tap the Saily line under “Cellular” or “Mobile service” and make sure “Data roaming” is turned on to enable Saily’s eSIM on your iPhone if you’re abroad.
