Help & guides
How can we help?
Answers to what travelers ask us most, with picture guides just like in the POVNOMAD app.
What would you like to do?
Where did you buy?
Bought on povnomad.com
- Your eSIM arrives by email from POVNOMAD, usually in under 5 minutes. Please also check your spam folder.
- In the email, tap “View my eSIM”: there you’ll find the QR code, status and 1-click installation.
- Email gone? Message us and we’ll resend it to the address from your order.
Bought in the POVNOMAD app
- Your eSIM is in the app under your eSIMs.
- Tap “1-Tap Install” there. Remaining data and top-ups are in the same place.
- New phone or reinstalled the app? Sign in with the same email address and your eSIMs are back.
Bought on eBay
- eBay forwards our email. Check your inbox and “My eBay › Messages” for a message from POVNOMAD.
- eBay sometimes doesn’t show images and buttons. Then tap “Open the QR code in your browser” in the email: your full eSIM is there.
- Nothing found or the link is missing? Message us with your eBay order number and we’ll resend it, by WhatsApp too if you like.
Bought on Amazon
- Amazon doesn’t pass your email address on to us. That’s why you pick up your eSIM yourself.
- On the pickup page, enter your Amazon order number and postcode, and the eSIM arrives by email.
- The details are also in the starter pack sent by post.
Where do I find my QR code?
You’ll find your QR code in three places:
1. In the email from POVNOMAD with your eSIM. Search your inbox for “POVNOMAD”, including spam.
2. In that email via “View my eSIM”: QR code, status and 1-click installation are there.
3. In the POVNOMAD app under your eSIMs.
Important: a QR code only works once. If the eSIM is already installed, you don’t need it any more. Email gone? Have it resent.
Can you resend my eSIM email?
Yes. Message us with your order number. We’ll resend the email to the address from your order, for security never to a new one.
For Amazon you pick up the eSIM yourself on the pickup page, see Where did you buy?. Entered a wrong address when ordering? See Wrong email address.
Bought on eBay: the email is missing or looks wrong
eBay forwards our email and sometimes doesn’t show images or buttons. Tap “Open the QR code in your browser” in the email: your full eSIM is there, with QR code and 1-click installation.
You’ll also find the email under “My eBay › Messages”. If it’s missing or the link doesn’t work, message us with your eBay order number. We’ll resend it, by WhatsApp too if you like.
The three most common problems
We don’t have an answer for that yet. Ask us on WhatsApp, we’ll help right away.
No internet & network
Arrived, but nothing works
eSIM installed but no internet – what now?
Usually just one setting is missing: the eSIM must be switched on and its data roaming must be on, even if you never use roaming otherwise. At your destination your eSIM is a guest on a partner network. It costs nothing extra from us.
Settings › Mobile Service/Cellular › tap your eSIM › “Data Roaming” (on some iPhones “International Roaming”)Settings › Connections › “Mobile networks” › “Data roaming” for the eSIM › “All networks” (not “National roaming only”)Settings › Network & internet › “SIMs” › tap the eSIM › “Roaming”
Then restart your phone once and wait 2–5 minutes.
Step 1 of 3
Tap your new eSIM
Settings › Mobile Service. Your eSIM is usually the lowest one. The iPhone names it itself, e.g. “Travel” or “Secondary”.
Step 2 of 3
Turn on “Turn On This Line”
If the switch is off, the eSIM is installed but not switched on.
Step 3 of 3
Turn on “Data Roaming”
At the bottom of the same page. For “no internet” this is almost always the fix. It costs nothing extra from us.
Step 1 of 3
Switch the eSIM on
Settings › Connections › SIM manager. The switch next to your eSIM must be on.
Step 2 of 3
Data roaming: “All networks”
Connections › Mobile networks › Data roaming for the eSIM. Choose “All networks”, not “National roaming only”.
Step 3 of 3
Mobile data on
Swipe down and tap “Mobile data”. Then restart your phone once.
Step 1 of 3
Turn on “Use SIM”
Settings › Network & internet › SIMs › tap your eSIM.
Step 2 of 3
Turn on “Roaming”
On the same page. Without roaming, no data flows abroad. It costs nothing extra from us.
Step 3 of 3
“Mobile data” on
Then restart your phone completely and wait 2–5 minutes.
Does data roaming have to be on? Does it cost extra?
Yes, data roaming has to be on for the eSIM, even in your own country. It runs on a foreign partner network. It never costs anything extra from us ✅
Roaming can stay off on your home SIM. Our tip: switch off your home SIM while travelling, or keep its data roaming off. Then your home provider can’t charge you anything.
My phone keeps searching and finds no network
After landing or crossing a border, the phone often still clings to the old network. First restart your phone completely. If that doesn’t help, pick the network manually:
Settings › Mobile Service/Cellular › tap your eSIM › “Network Selection” › “Automatic” offSettings › Connections › “Mobile networks” › “Network operators” › “Select automatically” offSettings › Network & internet › “SIMs” › the eSIM › “Automatically select network” off
Then tap one of the networks shown. Switch back to “Automatic” after your trip.
Step 1 of 2
Open “Network Selection”
Settings › Mobile Service › tap your eSIM › Network Selection.
Step 2 of 2
“Automatic” off, tap a network
Wait until the list loads and tap one of the networks. Example Turkey: Vodafone or Türk Telekom.
Step 1 of 2
Open “Network operators”
Settings › Connections › Mobile networks › Network operators.
Step 2 of 2
“Select automatically” off
Then tap one of the networks shown. If one doesn’t work, try the next.
Step 1 of 2
Automatic network off
Settings › Network & internet › SIMs › your eSIM › “Automatically select network” off.
Step 2 of 2
Tap a network
Choose one of the networks shown. Switch back to automatic after your trip.
Internet is very slow or only shows “E”
A slow connection is often down to the chosen operator. Try another one: Settings › Mobile Service/Cellular › tap your eSIM › “Network Selection” › “Automatic” offSettings › Connections › “Mobile networks” › “Network operators” › “Select automatically” offSettings › Network & internet › “SIMs” › the eSIM › “Automatically select network” off, then tap a different operator. On Android it sometimes helps to choose “LTE/4G” instead of “Automatic” under network mode. Reception is weaker inside buildings and in the countryside.
With Unlimited plans, speed drops after the daily allowance, see Unlimited.
What is the APN and where do I enter it?
The APN is your eSIM’s internet address. It usually sets itself. If it’s empty or shows a previous provider’s entry, enter it manually:
Settings › Mobile Service/Cellular › tap your eSIM › “Mobile Data Network”Settings › Connections › “Mobile networks” › “Access Point Names”Settings › Network & internet › “SIMs” › the eSIM › “Access point names”
You’ll find the right value in your eSIM email or in the app under your eSIM. Check first that the eSIM’s data roaming is on.
Step 1 of 3
Open “Access Point Names”
Settings › Connections › Mobile networks › Access Point Names. Select the eSIM at the top.
Step 2 of 3
“Add”, enter the APN
You’ll find the right value in your eSIM email or in the app under your eSIM. The name doesn’t matter.
Step 3 of 3
Save and select
⋮ › Save, then tap the new entry until its dot is filled. Then restart.
Step 1 of 2
Open “Access point names”
Settings › Network & internet › SIMs › your eSIM › Access point names.
Step 2 of 2
“+”, enter the APN
Value from your eSIM email or the app, save, select the entry, restart.
The picture guide is for Android. On iPhone the APN almost always sets itself; the path is in the text above.
No network after crossing a border
After a border the phone often still clings to the old network. Please restart it completely, then it picks the new one ✅ If that doesn’t work, pick the network manually.
Important: a country eSIM only works in the country you bought it for. For several countries there are regional plans. Which countries are included is shown on the product page.
Internet suddenly stopped – it worked before
Usually the data is used up or the validity has expired. You can see both in the POVNOMAD app under your eSIM. Out of data? Top up right in the app or on the website.
If there’s data left, a restart or picking the network manually helps. If there’s an outage on the partner network, we’ll get back to you as soon as we know more.
Installation
Getting the eSIM onto your phone
iPhone says “Unable to Activate eSIM” or “code no longer valid”
Don’t worry, your eSIM is almost always installed already. The message is a known iOS display glitch. Close it and don’t scan again: each code works only once, a second try gives “code no longer valid”.
You’ll find your eSIM under Settings › Mobile Service as the lowest line. Turn on the line and data roaming there.
Step 1 of 3
Close the message, don’t scan again
The eSIM is almost always installed already. Scanning again only gives “code no longer valid”, because each code works once.
Step 2 of 3
Find the new eSIM in the list
Settings › Mobile Service: it’s the lowest line, often still “Off”.
Step 3 of 3
Line and data roaming on
Turn on “Turn On This Line” and “Data Roaming”. Done, it connects at your destination.
This message only appears on iPhone. Choose “iPhone” above to see the picture guide.
How do I install my eSIM?
The easiest way: open your eSIM email or the POVNOMAD app on your phone and tap “1-click installation”. If the iPhone asks about the plan: “Data only”. Best do it now, on Wi-Fi ✅
Step 1 of 3
Open the eSIM email or app
On the phone that will use the eSIM, on Wi-Fi. Then tap “1-click installation”.
Step 2 of 3
Follow the steps on your phone
If the iPhone asks how to use it: choose “Data only”. Calls and texts stay on your home SIM.
Step 3 of 3
Done, even before your trip
At home the eSIM shows “No Service”. That’s normal. The validity only starts at your destination.
Which line in the list is my eSIM?
The phone names the eSIM itself, e.g. “Business”, “Travel”, “Secondary” or “Plus”. Sometimes a foreign network name appears. On iPhone it’s usually the lowest line.
Settings › Mobile Service/Cellular › section “SIMs”Settings › Connections › “SIM manager”Settings › Network & internet › “SIMs”
Step 1 of 2
The lowest one is the newest
The iPhone names eSIMs itself (Business, Travel, Secondary …). Sometimes it even shows a foreign network name like “Orange France”. That’s normal.
Step 2 of 2
Rename it, e.g. “Turkey”
Tap the eSIM › “Mobile Plan Label”. That way you’ll always find it.
Step 1 of 1
eSIMs are in the SIM manager
Settings › Connections › SIM manager. The one installed last is at the bottom under “eSIMs”. Tap it to rename it.
Step 1 of 1
eSIMs are under “SIMs”
Settings › Network & internet › SIMs. Tap one to see its name and settings.
When should I install? At home it says “No Service”
You can install the eSIM any time, ideally before you fly, on Wi-Fi. At home it shows “No Service”; it only connects at your destination. That’s also when the validity starts ✅
Tip: turn on the eSIM’s data roaming right away. It costs nothing at home.
Step 1 of 2
“No Service” at home is right
The eSIM only joins a network at your destination. That’s also when the validity starts.
Step 2 of 2
After landing
Airplane mode off, wait a moment. No network after 5 minutes? Restart once.
“1-click installation” doesn’t work
Common reasons: weak Wi-Fi, no internet connection while adding, or the email was opened on another device. Try again on stable Wi-Fi, directly on the phone that will use the eSIM. If it doesn’t work in the app, use the button in the eSIM email.
If the phone says “not supported”, quickly check whether it supports eSIM.
iPhone asks “Data only” or “Voice and data”?
Choose “Data only”. Your eSIM is for internet; calls and texts keep running on your home SIM. Picked something else by mistake? No problem: at your destination, select the eSIM under Mobile Data.
Phone & eSIM
Compatibility, deleting, new phone
Does my phone support eSIM?
Type *#06# in the phone app. If you see an EID, your phone supports eSIM ✅ Best check this before you buy. Every product page also has the device check.
You see an EID and it still doesn’t work? Phones bought from a mobile carrier can have a SIM lock.
Step 1 of 2
Type *#06# in the phone app
Like a phone number, without calling.
Step 2 of 2
Do you see an EID? ✅
Then your phone supports eSIM. Without an EID it doesn’t, e.g. many iPhones from Hong Kong or China and some Samsung and Xiaomi models.
I deleted my eSIM by mistake – what now?
Message us with your order number or POV code. Our service team will check what’s possible. Please don’t scan the old code again, it only works once.
New phone – can I take the eSIM with me?
An installed eSIM is tied to the phone and unfortunately can’t be transferred. Message us with your order number and we’ll see what’s possible.
eSIM for travel companions or a second phone
Each eSIM belongs on exactly one phone. For travel companions, just buy a separate eSIM. You install each one from its own email. If you only want to share your internet, hotspot works too.
Does the eSIM work with an eSIM adapter?
eSIM adapters don’t always work with our eSIMs, and we can’t offer support for them. The safest way is to install the eSIM directly on an eSIM-capable phone.
Order & email
eSIM email, payment, returns
I paid but didn’t get the eSIM email
The eSIM usually arrives by email in under 5 minutes; with PayPal the payment check can take a moment. Please also check your spam folder. Nothing there? Send us your order number and we’ll check right away.
I entered the wrong email address
Please send us your order number and the correct email address. We’ll then send the eSIM to the new address.
Bought on Amazon – where is my eSIM?
With Amazon orders we don’t receive your email address. That’s why you pick up your eSIM on our pickup page. The details are also in the starter pack sent by post.
Why can’t I choose my billing country?
For tax reasons we can’t invoice every country yet. You’ll see which billing countries are possible in the list at checkout. We’re adding more all the time.
Can I return my eSIM?
If your eSIM hasn’t used any data yet, you can return it within 30 days of purchase. Just message us with your order number. Top-ups are excluded.
Your phone doesn’t support eSIM? Check quickly and message us.
Data & top-ups
Remaining data, Unlimited, validity
How much data do I have left?
You can see your remaining data and validity in the POVNOMAD app under your eSIM, sometimes with a short delay. Bring website purchases into the app with your POV code.
High usage often comes from photo backups, app updates or videos in the background. Which app uses how much is shown in your mobile settings.
Can I top up my eSIM?
For GB plans, yes: in the app under your eSIM or on our top-up page with your ICCID. This also extends the validity ✅ Top up at least 24 hours before it expires; after that you need a new eSIM. After topping up, a restart is enough.
Can I extend Unlimited?
Yes, by 1–30 days on the same eSIM, as long as it hasn’t expired. Use our extend page with your ICCID or POV code, no new QR code needed. Not every Unlimited eSIM is included yet (e.g. regional plans).
Unlimited: why does it get slower after a while?
Unlimited includes a daily allowance at full speed: Smart 1 GB, L 2 GB, XL 3 GB. After that it continues without limit, but at up to 1 Mbit/s. Full speed is back roughly every 24 hours ✅
When does the validity start?
Only with the first connection at your destination, not at purchase or installation. You can activate the eSIM up to 120 days after purchase.
Calls, hotspot & apps
Number, WhatsApp, hotspot
Does my eSIM have a phone number? Can I text and call?
Our eSIM is for internet only: no number of its own, no texts or calls. Your number keeps working as usual on your home SIM.
Does WhatsApp keep working with my number?
Yes. WhatsApp keeps your usual number; the data comes via the eSIM. WhatsApp calls work too.
Can I use a hotspot?
Yes, hotspot works with all our eSIMs at no extra cost.
Do Google and WhatsApp work in China without a VPN?
Yes. The data runs via Hong Kong or Singapore, so you don’t need a VPN.
Do I have to switch off my home SIM?
No. It can stay on for calls and texts. Just keep its data roaming off, then your home provider won’t charge you. Your iPhone uses at most two lines at the same time. If you have more, switch off one home line.
Questions from the community
Asked by travellers, answered by the POVNOMAD team
No questions yet. Ask the first one!
Didn’t find your question?
Message us on WhatsApp. We usually reply within minutes, in your language. A screenshot of your SIM list helps us fastest.
