The phone is stuck searching for a network after install
Toggle airplane mode for ten seconds, then check that the profile is enabled, set as the data line, and has data roaming switched on for that profile.
A screen stuck on the words searching for network is one of the most common sights right after finishing an eSIM install. The feeling in that moment is usually a mix of worrying the wrong plan was bought and wondering if the phone itself is faulty. The good news is that most cases are neither — they come down to a setting that has not been completed yet, and can be fixed within a few minutes by working through the checks in the right order.
This page is written for someone facing this exact problem right now and wanting it fixed as quickly as possible. It works through the fastest fix first, then the settings people miss most often, then situations that depend on outside factors such as signal or the network the phone is attached to — without pretending every device shows the identical menu, since the model and OS version each shape what that menu looks like.
The first thing to always try
Toggle airplane mode on for about ten seconds, then off again. This is the first thing worth trying every time, because it forces the phone to drop every connection and start searching for a network completely fresh. Many cases of getting stuck on the searching screen happen because the phone is still trying to latch onto a network that does not work in the current area. This kind of reset lets it start the search process over without restarting the entire device.
Check the profile is actually enabled
Open the SIM management or eSIM menu in device settings and check whether the profile just installed shows as enabled or disabled. Sometimes installation finishes completely but the system does not switch that profile on automatically, especially on a device carrying both a physical SIM and an eSIM at the same time, where the phone has to decide which line takes the lead.
Where this menu lives differs by device manufacturer and OS version. Some call it SIM card settings, others call it mobile network profile management. If it is not where expected, try searching for the word SIM or Cellular in that device's own settings search box instead.
Check it is set as the correct data line
On a device running two lines at once, one has to be chosen as the data line for internet. If the phone still has the original SIM or another eSIM set as the data line, the newly installed profile will not carry any traffic at all even while enabled. This is one of the most common sticking points, because switching a profile on feels like the job is done, when the data-line assignment has not actually been changed.
Turn on data roaming for that specific profile
Even with the profile enabled and set as the data line, if data roaming for that profile is still switched off, the phone still cannot connect abroad, because most travel plans work by roaming onto a partner network in the destination country. This setting usually sits separately from the profile's on/off switch and needs turning on as its own extra step.
Menus differ by device
Why we do not name an exact menu path
Each manufacturer lays out SIM and eSIM settings differently, and every OS version keeps shifting where those menus sit. We do not claim one fixed menu path works everywhere. Instead, look for words like SIM, mobile network, or eSIM in that specific device's own settings search box.
When the settings are correct but a network still will not show
If all three checks come back correct and there is still no network, the cause may sit outside the phone's own settings, such as weak signal in that area or a partner network that does not reach there yet — common in rural areas, inside thick-walled buildings, or near border regions where signal tends to be unreliable. Moving closer to a window or into open ground and trying again can sometimes help.
A phone still locked to its original carrier, or one imported from certain markets, can carry eSIM support or roaming limitations that differ from a standard device. If you suspect this kind of restriction, check again with the device checker, or check directly with the manufacturer about whether that model is locked to a particular carrier.
Automatic versus manual network selection
Normally the phone automatically picks the strongest partner network available in that area. Some devices allow switching to manual network selection instead, in the mobile network menu. If manual selection was set earlier and that particular network has no signal in the current area, the phone will get stuck searching just the same. Switching back to automatic selection usually resolves this.
Trying to remove and reinstall the profile
If every step above has been tried without success, removing the profile and reinstalling it can sometimes fix a problem that came from an incomplete first install. Be careful, though: the QR code or install link for many plans works only once. If unsure whether reinstalling is even possible after removal, check with support before actually removing the profile.
The recommended order of checks
- Toggle airplane mode for ten seconds, then off
- Check the profile is enabled
- Check it is set as the correct data line
- Check data roaming is on for that profile
- Try switching network selection back to automatic
- Move to open ground or near a window and try again
- Contact support if it still does not work
Summary table: symptom and what to check
| Symptom | What to check first |
|---|---|
| Stuck searching right after install | Whether the profile is enabled |
| Enabled already but still no data | Whether it is the data line and roaming is on |
| Everything set correctly but still nothing | Local signal and whether network selection is automatic |
What to have ready before contacting support
- The device model and OS version
- The order confirmation email or the plan name purchased
- Every step already tried, along with the result of each
- The area or country you are in when the problem occurs
If every step has been tried and it still does not work, our support team can help check further over LINE or email. Having the information above ready in advance makes checking and replying back much faster.
iOS and Android: what stays the same even though the menus differ
Even though menu locations and names differ between operating systems, the underlying checks stay the same on every device: the profile must be enabled, set as the data line, and have data roaming switched on specifically for it. These three checks apply regardless of which system a phone runs, even without knowing that exact model's precise menu name.
A common difference is that some systems keep the enable switch and the data-roaming switch on the same screen, while others separate them onto different screens. If one of the two switches cannot be found where expected, try opening that profile's own details again, since some menus tuck the data-roaming switch one layer deeper inside a sub-screen.
When more than one eSIM profile is installed on the device
Travellers who use eSIM often build up old profiles from previous trips without removing them. When a new profile is installed, the phone may still keep an old profile set as the data line, meaning the newly purchased one carries no traffic at all even after being switched on successfully. This gets overlooked often, because it is easy to assume the most recently installed profile automatically becomes the default.
The safeguard is opening the full list of profiles on the device before each trip and removing old ones no longer in use, or at minimum confirming the new profile is genuinely set as the data line, rather than simply enabled alongside an old profile still holding that role.
Restarting the phone versus toggling airplane mode
Both aim to do something similar: force the phone to drop its connection and search again. A full restart also clears other temporary state that may be lingering in memory, which sometimes fixes something toggling airplane mode alone cannot. If airplane mode has been toggled a couple of times with no network appearing, a full restart is the next thing worth trying before moving on to anything else.
The trade-off with restarting is that it takes longer than toggling airplane mode, and if the phone has a passcode or biometric lock, it needs unlocking again after it boots. In a time-pressured moment, such as queuing to board transport or check in, try airplane mode first, and save the restart for when there is more time to spare.
When to stop troubleshooting alone and contact support
If every check in the recommended order has been worked through, from toggling airplane mode, checking the profile, checking the data line, checking data roaming, to trying manual network selection, and still nothing shows up, that is the point to stop troubleshooting alone and contact support instead, since something may need checking on the system or supplier side that a user cannot do themselves.
Battery saver and background data limits that quietly shut data off
Many devices carry a battery saver mode that restricts background data to extend battery life. If this mode is switched on while trying to get a new profile connected, it can look as though the phone is still stuck searching for a network when it has actually connected but background use is being throttled. Turning battery saver off temporarily while setting up a new profile helps rule this factor out.
Some devices also carry a separate background data limit set per app, which may have been configured before travelling without realising it. If a web browser loads fine but a specific app still does not work, suspect this first, and check that app's own background data setting separately from the network profile settings.
Why the phone's own notification does not always match the real problem
Sometimes the phone displays a message saying no service or SIM not supported when the real cause is simply that data roaming has not been switched on yet. On-device notifications are often written to cover several possible causes at once, so they should not be taken literally as proof the SIM itself is broken. Go back through the recommended order of checks before concluding it is something unfixable.
These notifications also differ by the language set on the phone and the OS version, so the exact wording seen may not match what someone else encountered even with the identical underlying problem. If it becomes necessary to report this to support, a screenshot of the exact message is far more useful than describing it from memory, since it lets the actual cause be checked far more precisely.
常見問題
After toggling airplane mode, how long should it take before a network shows up?+
Usually it shows up within a few seconds to a couple of minutes. If it takes longer than that with nothing appearing, move on to checking the profile settings rather than waiting indefinitely.
On a device with both a physical SIM and an eSIM, do I need to turn the physical SIM off first?+
Not necessarily. It just needs the eSIM set as the active data line. Both lines can coexist as long as the data line is assigned correctly.
How many times can a profile be removed and reinstalled?+
This depends on the specific plan and provider. Some plans allow the QR code to work only once. Check with support before removing it if you are not certain.
Is manually selecting a network better than leaving it on automatic?+
In general, leaving it on automatic is better, since the phone tends to pick the strongest available network on its own. Manual selection only helps if you know exactly which network works in that specific area.
Could this problem simply be caused by having bought the wrong plan?+
It is possible if the plan bought does not cover the country you are actually in. Recheck the plan name against your destination country before working through the other settings.
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