Your Figabytes eSIM may sometimes display 4G or LTE instead of 5G, even if your device supports 5G.
This doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem with your eSIM. The network type available to your device depends on several factors, including local network coverage, your location, device compatibility, network availability, and your phone settings.
Here's what to check if you expected 5G but your Figabytes eSIM is connecting to 4G/LTE.
5G availability depends on the destination, local network partner, coverage area, and the specific eSIM plan.
Even when a local network supports 5G, it may not be available everywhere.
Your device may automatically switch between:
depending on local network conditions.
There are several possible reasons.
5G coverage can vary significantly within the same country or city.
For example, 5G may be available:
Your phone will normally connect to 4G/LTE when 5G isn't available.
Figabytes eSIMs connect through supported local network partners.
Depending on your location, your device may automatically connect to a network that currently provides 4G/LTE.
Another supported network may provide 5G in the same area.
Having a 5G-compatible phone doesn't guarantee compatibility with every 5G network worldwide.
Different countries and mobile operators use different 5G frequency bands.
Your phone may support 5G in your home country but connect to 4G/LTE while traveling if it doesn't support the frequencies used by the local network.
Check that your device is configured to use 5G when available.
Go to:
Settings → Cellular / Mobile Data → Figabytes → Voice & Data
Depending on your iPhone and iOS version, you may see:
Select 5G Auto or 5G On if available.
The menu varies by manufacturer, but generally go to:
Settings → Network & Internet / Connections → Mobile Networks → Preferred Network Type
Select an option that includes 5G.
For example:
5G/LTE/3G/2G (Auto Connect)
If you're using your home SIM and Figabytes eSIM at the same time, confirm that Figabytes is selected for mobile data.
Go to:
Settings → Cellular / Mobile Data → Cellular Data / Mobile Data → Figabytes
Go to:
Settings → Network & Internet / Connections → SIMs / SIM Manager → Mobile Data → Figabytes
Travel eSIMs generally require Data Roaming to connect to supported partner networks.
Go to:
Settings → Cellular / Mobile Data → Figabytes → Data Roaming
Turn Data Roaming ON.
Go to your Figabytes eSIM settings and make sure Data Roaming is enabled.
Make sure you're enabling roaming for the Figabytes eSIM, not your primary home SIM.
Your phone may need to refresh its network connection before detecting an available 5G network.
Check whether the network indicator changes.
Restarting your phone can force it to search for available networks again.
After restarting:
Your device should normally select the best supported network automatically.
Go to:
Settings → Cellular / Mobile Data → Figabytes → Network Selection
Make sure Automatic is enabled.
Go to:
Settings → Mobile Networks → Network Operators
Enable Automatically Select Network.
You can try another supported local network if your current network isn't providing the expected connection.
However, manually selecting a network does not guarantee 5G.
5G still depends on:
If you're unsure which networks are supported, check your Figabytes eSIM details or contact Figabytes Support.
Not necessarily.
A stable 4G/LTE connection can sometimes perform better than a weak or congested 5G connection.
The network indicator alone shouldn't be used to judge connection quality.
If your internet is working properly on 4G/LTE, you can continue using your Figabytes eSIM normally.
No.
5G can provide faster speeds under the right conditions, but seeing a 5G icon doesn't guarantee a specific speed.
Actual performance depends on:
In some situations, a strong 4G/LTE connection may be faster or more stable than 5G.
If you believe 5G should be available with your plan and device but you're only connecting to 4G/LTE, contact Figabytes Support.
Please provide:
Our support team can help check the available networks and your eSIM configuration.