How do I know which carrier to select from the list?

There's no single right answer — it depends on your destination and eSIM provider. The best approach is to try each available carrier until one connects and provides data. Start with the larger, well-known carriers in the country you're visiting.

What if no carriers appear when I turn off automatic selection?

First, make sure Data Roaming is enabled — without it, your phone won't scan for roaming networks. If it's already on, try toggling Airplane Mode on and off, then attempt the manual scan again. In rare cases, you may be in an area with no compatible coverage.

Should I leave my phone on manual network selection permanently?

It's fine to leave it on manual while you're troubleshooting. However, switching back to automatic is recommended for normal use — it lets your phone seamlessly switch to the strongest available network as you move around.

How to Manually Select a Carrier/Network

When to Manually Select a Network

Your phone normally selects a carrier automatically. But automatic selection doesn't always work perfectly with travel eSIMs. It might pick an incompatible network, fail to find any carrier at all, or connect to a slow network when a faster one is available.

Manually selecting a carrier solves all of these problems. It takes about a minute and is one of the most effective troubleshooting steps for connection issues.

Before You Start

Make sure these settings are in place first — manual network selection won't work without them:

Data Roaming is ON — Your phone won't scan for foreign networks if roaming is disabled
The eSIM line is enabled — The network selection option only appears for active SIM lines
The eSIM is set as your data line — Make sure you're adjusting network settings for the right SIM

On iPhone

Open Settings
Tap Cellular
Tap on your eSIM plan (it will be listed by the label you gave it, or as "Travel eSIM," "Secondary," etc.)
Tap Network Selection
Toggle off Automatic
Wait 15-30 seconds for your phone to scan for available networks
A list of carrier names will appear
Tap a carrier to connect

If the first carrier you try doesn't work (you'll see an error or it'll keep searching), go back and try a different one from the list. Work your way down until you find one that connects.

On Android (Stock Android / Google Pixel)

Open Settings
Tap Network & Internet
Tap SIMs
Tap your eSIM
Tap Network operators (you may need to scroll down)
Toggle off Select automatically
Wait for the network scan to complete
Select a carrier from the list

The exact menu labels vary slightly between Android versions, but the path is generally the same.

On Samsung Galaxy

Samsung uses slightly different menu names:

Open Settings
Tap Connections
Tap Mobile networks
Tap Network operators
If prompted, select your eSIM when asked which SIM to configure
Toggle off Select automatically
Wait for available networks to load
Choose a carrier

On some Samsung models, you may need to go to Settings > Connections > SIM manager first to make sure the eSIM is active and set for data.

How to Choose the Right Carrier

When the list of carriers appears, you'll see names that correspond to local mobile operators in the country you're visiting. Here's how to approach the selection:

Try the largest carriers first. In most countries, 2-3 major carriers provide the best coverage. A quick search for "major mobile carriers in [country]" will tell you which ones to prioritize.
Don't worry about getting it wrong. Selecting an incompatible carrier will simply fail to connect — it won't damage your eSIM or incur charges. Just try the next one.
Look for LTE or 4G indicators. Some phones show the network type next to the carrier name. Prefer carriers that show LTE or 4G for faster speeds.

What If No Carriers Appear?

If the list is empty after scanning:

Check Data Roaming — this is the most common reason. Enable it and scan again.
Toggle Airplane Mode — turn it on for 30 seconds, then off, and try the manual scan again.
Move to a different spot — if you're underground, in a basement, or in a rural area, you may not have coverage. Step outside or move to a more populated area.
Restart your phone — then try the scan one more time.

Switching Back to Automatic

Once you've successfully connected and your data is working, you can switch back to automatic network selection if you prefer. Follow the same steps above, but toggle Automatic back ON.

Automatic mode will let your phone choose the best available network as you move around. However, if you run into connection issues again, you can always come back and manually select a known working carrier.

Still Having Trouble?

If manual network selection isn't showing any carriers or none of the listed carriers connect, there may be a coverage gap or a plan configuration issue. Contact our support team with your order number and current location, and we'll help you find a compatible network.