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Sparks eSIM not working? Here’s what you can do

If your Sparks eSIM is not working, you’ll find the solutions to the most common issues in this step-by-step guide.

Struggling to stay connected abroad due to a Sparks eSIM not working? Even though most users enjoy a hassle-free experience with their Sparks eSIM, problems can arise. Fortunately, most common problems are usually easy to resolve on your own.

In this guide, we’ll provide the most common causes for your Sparks eSIM not working, with step-by-step instructions on how to fix them. If you’re interested in comparing other deals, we’ll introduce you to the unlimited data plans by Holafly at the end.

In this article

Why is Sparks eSIM not working?

If your Sparks eSIM is not working, one of the following culprits might be responsible:

Your device is incompatible with eSIMs: Although eSIM technology is becoming increasingly widespread, some phones still don’t support eSIMs.
Network connection errors: Issues with your network settings can prevent your device from connecting to the local network provider.
Incorrect or outdated APN settings: You won’t be able to access data services if your device’s APN details are incorrect.

Now that you know what some of the most common problems are, let’s dive into the solutions.

How to fix Sparks eSIM issues

Follow the instructions below to get your eSIM up and running.

Check if your device supports eSIMs

First, follow these steps to check whether your device supports eSIMs:

iPhone

All iPhone releases following the XR support eSIMs, except for devices from Mainland China and certain models from Macao and Hong Kong. Here’s how to check:

Tap the grey gear icon on your Home Screen to open the Settings app.
Tap either Mobile Data or Cellular, depending on your phone’s region settings.
Tap Add Mobile Data Plan.
If your iPhone supports eSIMs, you’ll see an option to Add eSIM.

Android

Not all recent Android releases support eSIM technology, though most flagship models do. You can check by following these steps:

Open Settings, then tap About phone.
If there’s an EID section, your device supports eSIMs.

Make sure your device isn’t carrier-locked

Carrier-locked phones only support SIM cards and eSIMs from the provider that sold the phone.

If you purchased your phone as part of a contract with a carrier in the US. Check if your device is unlocked by following these steps:

iPhone

Open Settings and tap General, then About.
Scroll down until you see Carrier Lock.
Your iPhone is unlocked if you can see the message No SIM restrictions.

Android

Open Settings.
Tap Connections, then Mobile Networks, followed by Network Operators.
Disable the Select automatically toggle by swiping the switch to the left.
If multiple carrier options appear, your phone is likely unlocked.

The instructions above can vary slightly depending on the make and model of your device, but those steps are fairly typical for Android phones.

Restart your phone after eSIM installation

When you restart your device, it attempts to connect to the best local network when it turns back on. It also closes services and apps that might be preventing your eSIM from activating.

Turn your device off for 30 seconds before turning it back on.

Turn on data roaming

Make sure your data roaming is enabled. Otherwise, you won’t be able to use mobile data abroad.

Follow these steps to enable data roaming on iPhone and Android:

iPhone

Open Settings and tap either Mobile Data or Cellular Data (or just Cellular on some devices).
Tap Mobile Data Options/Cellular Data Options.
Slide the Data roaming toggle to the right to enable it.

You can adjust the data roaming settings for each SIM card and eSIM individually on dual-SIM iPhones.

Read our guide on how to troubleshoot data issues with your iPhone if the steps above don’t work.

Android

Typically, the steps to enable data roaming on Android devices look like the following:

Open Settings, then tap Connections, then Mobile Networks.
Slide the Data roaming toggle to the right to enable it.

Still experiencing data problems? Our guide on troubleshooting data issues with Androids might have the answers you need.

Enable and disable Airplane Mode

A fast way to reset your network settings is to turn Airplane Mode on and then off again.

The steps involved with toggling Airplane Mode are similar for Android and iPhone.

Quickly swipe downwards from the top (top-right for iPhones) edge of your screen.
On the Control Panel/Quick Settings menu that appears, you’ll see an airplane icon.
Tap that icon to toggle Airplane Mode on and off.

Enable Airplane Mode for 30 seconds before turning it back off again. This forces your phone to try and connect to the best local network automatically.

Manually select a local network in settings

If your phone isn’t connecting to a network, you can search for available networks manually using these steps:

iPhone

Open Settings and tap either Mobile Data or Cellular Data/Cellular.
Tap Mobile Data Options/Cellular Data Options.
Tap or drag the Automatic toggle to switch it off.
Select a carrier from the list that appears.

Then, see if your iPhone’s Home Screen displays signal bars with the carrier’s name.

Android

Here are the typical steps to manually select a network on Android:

In Settings, tap Connections, then Mobile Networks.
Tap or drag the Select automatically toggle to switch it off.
Select a carrier from the list that appears.

Try connecting to several networks to find out which one works best for your area.

Update your APN settings

You need to make sure your device’s Access Point Name (APN) details match those provided to you by Sparks when you purchased your eSIM.

From within your iPhone’s Settings app, tap Cellular/Mobile Data, then Cellular Data Network/Mobile Data Network, then scroll down to enter the correct APN details.

If you have an Android, tap Settings, Connections, Mobile Networks, then Access Point Names and enter the correct details.

Restart your phone after changing the APN settings.

If you need a trustworthy eSIM, Holafly is here to help

Tried all the steps above to find your Sparks eSIM not working? If the problems persist, consider getting an eSIM from Holafly instead. Make staying connected a breeze with unlimited data plans in 200+ destinations and 24/7 customer support.

If you want to learn more about eSIMs provided by Sparks, check out our detailed Sparks eSIM review.