Travel SIM and eSIM mistakes: before buying, before you leave, and when you land
Most trouble with travel data comes from a handful of mistakes, and almost all of them are settings, not the plan. Here they are in the order they happen: before buying, before you leave, and when you land.
Before buying
- Buying an eSIM without checking the phone: dial *#06# first. No EID line, no eSIM; choose a physical SIM instead.
- Expecting calls and texts: travel data plans are data only. Your home number stays on your usual SIM.
- Buying too few days: count from the day you land to the day you leave, and check whether the plan starts when you first connect there or when you pay (the plan page says).
- Leaving a physical SIM to the last day: it is posted, 1–3 days after ordering.
Before you leave
- Installing on a mainland-China iPhone at home: iPhone Air, 17e and other mainland eSIM iPhones only install a foreign eSIM abroad. Wait until you land.
- Scanning one code on two phones: an eSIM installs once, on one phone.
- Leaving photo backup and app updates on over mobile data: they can use up a plan in a day.
When you arrive
- Not turning on Data Roaming for the travel eSIM: it shows signal but gets no data until you do.
- Leaving mobile data on your home SIM: switch it to the travel eSIM, or the phone may use your home SIM and run up roaming charges.
- Leaving data roaming on for your home SIM: turn it off. With international roaming on, it can still receive text codes.
- Deleting the eSIM to “reset” it: once deleted it usually cannot be installed again. Restart the phone instead, and check the two settings above.
Questions
What are the biggest mistakes with a travel SIM?
Not turning on data roaming for it when you land, leaving mobile data on your home SIM (and its data roaming on), and deleting an installed eSIM, which usually cannot be installed again.
Can I put the travel SIM in before I leave?
Yes: install an eSIM or insert a SIM before you go, and switch on data roaming for it when you land. Most plans start counting when they first connect there. A mainland-China eSIM iPhone is the exception: it installs a travel eSIM only abroad.
Will I still get text messages abroad?
The travel plan is data only. Keep your home SIM in with international roaming on and it can usually still receive text codes; keep its data roaming off.
Can I use it as a hotspot?
It depends on your phone and the local network.