Is my eSIM working? 4 Questions you might have.

The rise of travel eSIMs have provided travelers with greater amounts of convenience and flexibility, allowing them to easily stay connected as they explore the world. For those who are using eSIMs for the first time, there could be a slight anxiety about whether or not the eSIM would work. After all, you wouldn't want to arrive at your destination only to find that your eSIM doesn't work. Let's take a look at some of the questions that you might have

How do I know if my travel eSIM has been installed?

Check your phone settings.

If your eSIM has been installed, you will be able to see the eSIM listed in your device settings (in iOS, under 'Mobile Service'; and in Android, under your 'SIM manager'). As long as you see that your eSIM has been listed there, you know it is successfully installed.

It is recommended that you label your eSIM during installation, so that you can clearly identify the eSIM that you will be using for your travel.

How do I know if my travel eSIM has been activated?

It varies from provider to provider.

With Nomad, you can check your eSIM's activation status under the Manage page of the Nomad Web store or mobile apps.

How you activate your eSIM could differ depending on the eSIM that you buy. Some eSIMs will automatically activate upon connection to a network; while others require you to manually activate your eSIM to start your plan. Check the terms and conditions and instructions on the installation and activation kit of your eSIM to find out more.

So, if your eSIM will activate automatically upon connecting to a network at your destination, don't panic if you don't find an 'Start Your eSIM' option, or if you see your eSIM's status being 'Plan Has Not Started'.

Can I check if my travel eSIM is working before arriving at my destination?

In most cases, you cannot.

Travel eSIMs can only work with the networks that it has coverage for. This is not unlike a local SIM card that does not support roaming in destinations outside the home network.

That means to say that if you get an eSIM that has coverage in only a single country, say Australia, you will only be able to confirm that it is working as intended once you arrive in Australia and you can connect to the network using that eSIM.

However, if you are using a regional eSIM with coverage in multiple countries including your home country, you will be able to use your eSIM while you are still at home! Just remember that if you were to do that, you will be using your data from your travel eSIM while still at home, and that would eat into how much data you have left for your actual trip.

How do I know if my eSIM is working after arriving at my destination?

The best way to check if your eSIM is working is to try to use it.

But before you try to use it, check that your phone settings have been configured correctly. Check that your travel eSIM has been set as the (e)SIM that you will be using data from.

Alternatively, simply disable your primary SIM!

Once you have checked that the settings has been configured correctly, try accessing the internet. If you are able to use the internet with your eSIM as your data source, you can be sure that your eSIM is working!

P.S. You can still use your primary SIM, and there is no real need to disable it when using your travel eSIM! Just make sure your device settings are configured correctly

Get a Nomad travel eSIM for your next trip

Nomad offers data plans in over 170 countries, and you can be sure to find one that is suitable for your travel needs. And if you will be traveling across multiple countries, there are also regional plans available so you can stay seamlessly connected as you hop between countries. Data plans are available from as low as $1.50/GB.

The networks that Nomad's eSIMs use for each plan are stated on the plan details on the web store and apps, so you can check which networks are supported before buying your plan. Data sharing and tethering is also supported on Nomad's eSIM plans.

And, if you are unsure about how much data you need for your trip, Nomad also has a Data Calculator that can help you find the plan that is most suitable for you. Also check out our blog post on data-saving tips when traveling to keep your data usage in check when traveling.

Nomad also has a 24-hour customer support team. So, in the event where you face difficulties while using your eSIM, rest assured there will be someone available to help you resolve your issues!