Once you've installed your eSIM (ideally before you travel), there's nothing more to do until you land — you can leave it off while you're still home.
For most plans, your eSIM's validity period only starts once you first connect at your destination. So when you arrive, or once you're in the coverage area, take a minute to turn the eSIM on, set it as your data line, and switch on data roaming. The exact menu names vary a little by phone, but the steps are the same.
On iPhone
Go to Settings → Cellular (called Mobile Data in some regions).
Tap your Vuoly plan and turn on Turn On This Line.
On the same screen, turn on Data Roaming.
Back in Settings → Cellular, tap Cellular Data at the top and select your Vuoly plan so your phone uses it for data.
On Android
(steps vary by brand — Samsung, Pixel, and others)
Go to Settings → Network & Internet → SIMs (or Connections → SIM manager).
Select your Vuoly eSIM and turn it on.
Open the Vuoly eSIM and turn on Mobile data and Data roaming. If you have more than one SIM, set Vuoly as the one used for data.
A few things to know
Data roaming has to be on for your travel eSIM — it connects through local networks, which your phone treats as roaming. This won't trigger roaming charges from Vuoly; it's just how the eSIM gets online.
Keep your home number for calls and texts if you want to stay reachable: leave calls and messages on your usual line and use the Vuoly eSIM only for data.
To avoid charges on your home line, turn off data roaming for your home SIM while you travel. Or, if you won't need your home line while traveling, turn it off entirely. You will still be able to use WhatsApp on your main number.
Connected but no data?
If your eSIM shows signal but you can't get online, your phone may need the APN entered manually (more common on Android). See our troubleshooting guide: Why isn't my eSIM working?