This is the single most common reason travelers can't get online with their eSIM. Even though you bought a local plan, your phone treats the foreign network as roaming and blocks data unless you explicitly allow it.
Why is roaming required?
When your phone moves outside your home country and connects to a foreign carrier, it's "roaming" — even if you're using a tukango eSIM with a plan designed for that exact country. Phones default to blocking data while roaming to prevent surprise bills.
You need to manually enable roaming for the tukango line so it can use the local network.
How to enable data roaming
iPhone
- Open Settings → Cellular
- Tap your tukango line
- Tap Data Roaming
- Toggle it ON
Samsung Galaxy
- Open Settings → Connections → Mobile networks
- Toggle Data roaming ON
- Important: this enables roaming for the line currently set as data line, so make sure tukango is your data line first (Settings → Connections → SIM card manager → Mobile data → tukango)
Google Pixel
- Open Settings → Network & internet → SIMs
- Tap your tukango eSIM
- Toggle Roaming ON
After enabling roaming
- Restart your phone (recommended)
- Wait 30-60 seconds for the network to register
- Try opening a web page or sending a message
- If still no service, check that the tukango line is set as your data line
Disable roaming on your home line
To prevent your home SIM from accidentally using expensive roaming, disable Data Roaming on it specifically:
- iPhone: Settings → Cellular → [home line] → Data Roaming → OFF
- Samsung: SIM card manager → home SIM → Roaming preference → off
This way, only your tukango line uses cellular data abroad. Your home SIM stays active for calls and texts via local roaming agreements but won't run up data charges.
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