eSIM not working in Germany
Your Drift Europa eSIM has no data in Germany? Here is the real fix, step by step, iPhone and Android, with Germany operator APN reference.
Networks in Germany
Germany has 3 major operators, all compatible with travel eSIMs:
| Operator | Coverage | Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Telekom | 1er réseau, meilleure couverture rurale | 4G/5G |
| Vodafone DE | 2e réseau | 4G/5G |
| O2 DE | 3e réseau (Telefónica DE) | 4G/5G |
Your eSIM connects to one of these networks (most often Telekom). 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 Europa 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 Germany: 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 Telekom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telekom | internet.telekom | internet.t-d1.de | 1er réseau, meilleure couverture rurale |
| Vodafone DE | web.vodafone.de | internet | 2e réseau |
| O2 DE | internet | pinternet.interkom.de | 3e réseau (Telefónica DE) |
Manual APN entry only if support asks with a specific value. Full procedure: Do I need to set an APN?
Country-specific notes for Germany
German rail (ICE, IC)
Germany is famously patchy for mobile coverage on trains. The ICE Munich to Berlin line has frequent dead zones, especially in rural Bavaria and Thuringia. This is a known infrastructure gap, not an eSIM issue. The eSIM reconnects when signal returns.
Rural eastern Germany
Coverage in Brandenburg, Mecklenburg, and Saxony-Anhalt is less dense than in the west. Telekom has the best rural reach.
Alps (Bavaria)
Main valleys and ski resorts are covered. Higher mountain trails may have weak signal.
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 Germany?
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 Germany?
None. The eSIM sets its own APN automatically. Do not enter an APN for Telekom or any other local operator.
Do I need to enable roaming to use my eSIM in Germany?
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 Germany 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 Telekom then switch back to automatic.
Why does my eSIM keep dropping on German trains?
Germany has well-documented mobile dead zones along rail corridors, especially in rural areas. This affects all phones and SIMs, not just eSIMs. The connection returns automatically when signal is available.