eSIM not working in India
Your Drift Asia eSIM has no data in India? Here is the real fix, step by step, iPhone and Android, with India operator APN reference.
Networks in India
India has 3 major operators, all compatible with travel eSIMs:
| Operator | Coverage | Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Jio | 1er réseau par abonnés, 4G/5G natif, meilleure couverture rurale récente | 4G/5G |
| Airtel | 2e réseau, meilleur réseau urbain historique | 4G/5G |
| Vi (Vodafone Idea) | 3e réseau, couverture inégale selon les cercles | 4G/5G |
Your eSIM connects to one of these networks (most often Jio). 4G coverage spans the large majority of tourist and urban areas.
Diagnosis in 5 steps (in this order)
Work through these before anything else. Nine times out of ten, the fix is in this list.
Steps 2 and 3 fix the large majority of cases. Data roaming is required for any travel eSIM. It does not add charges on a Drift Asia plan.
Airplane mode as a diagnostic tool
Toggling airplane mode forces the phone to detach from the network and search fresh. It is faster than a full restart and clears most handover issues (when the phone stays attached to a ghost signal after a long flight). If after the toggle you see the operator name on screen but still have no data, the issue is almost certainly roaming (step 2) or data line (step 3).
Signal bars vs. data
A common trap: you see signal bars but nothing loads. Bars mean the phone detects the network, not that it is authorized to exchange data. That is exactly what happens with roaming off: signal is there, but the network refuses your data packets. Turn roaming on and data resumes.
APN in India: do you need to set it?
No, in 99% of cases. Your travel eSIM sets its own APN automatically via the installed profile.
Do not enter your home operator's APN or a Jio APN found online into the eSIM line. Those are APNs for local physical SIMs, not travel eSIMs. Entering one overwrites the profile's APN and breaks your data instead of fixing it.
For reference only (do NOT enter these on your eSIM line):
| Operator | Primary APN | Alt APN | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jio | jionet | -- | 1er réseau par abonnés, 4G/5G natif, meilleure couverture rurale récente |
| Airtel | airtelgprs.com | internet | 2e réseau, meilleur réseau urbain historique |
| Vi (Vodafone Idea) | internet | portalnmms | 3e réseau, couverture inégale selon les cercles |
Manual APN entry only if support asks with a specific value. Full procedure: Do I need to set an APN?
Country-specific notes for India
Mountain areas (Himachal, Uttarakhand, Ladakh)
Coverage drops sharply above 2,500m. Ladakh has very limited coverage outside Leh. Manali and Shimla are covered but treks into the interior are not. Jio and Airtel have the best mountain coverage, but expectations should be modest.
Rajasthan desert
Cities (Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer) are well covered. Desert excursions (Sam dunes, Thar interior) have limited to no coverage.
Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu coast
Excellent 4G coverage across the tourist coast. No issues expected.
Still not working?
Prepare these three things and contact support:
Support typically identifies the cause in a single exchange.
FAQ
Why does my eSIM have no signal in India?
Most likely data roaming is not turned on for the eSIM line. Enable it in your mobile data settings. If you see signal bars but no data, also check that the eSIM is set as your data line.
What APN should I use for my eSIM in India?
None. The eSIM sets its own APN automatically. Do not enter an APN for Jio or any other local operator.
Do I need to enable roaming to use my eSIM in India?
Yes, it is required. Data roaming must be ON for the eSIM line. There is no extra charge. Roaming is already included in your plan.
My eSIM worked yesterday in India but not today. What do I do?
Check that your plan is not expired or used up. If it is still valid, toggle airplane mode (10 seconds on, then off). If that does not help, force network selection to Jio then switch back to automatic.
Will my eSIM work in Ladakh and the Indian Himalayas?
In Leh, yes. Outside Leh and at high altitude, coverage is very limited. Download maps and essential content before heading into the mountains.
Do I need to set an APN? · Data roaming toggle fix · India eSIM guide · India coverage map · Drift Asia Help Center