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Install your eSIM

It takes a few minutes on iPhone or Android. You need your QR code and a Wi‑Fi connection.

Before you start

  • Your phone supports eSIM and isn’t locked to a carrier.
  • You’re on Wi‑Fi or another working connection.
  • Your QR code is at hand: it’s on your order page and in the email we sent you.
  • When to install: before you leave, or close to your trip if validity starts on install.

On iPhone

Installing on the iPhone that shows your order page? With iOS 17.4 or later, the order page offers a one-tap install link: tap it and follow the prompts. Otherwise:

  1. Open Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM.
  2. Tap Use QR Code and scan the QR code on another screen, or tap Enter Details Manually and type the two parts of your activation code.
  3. Follow the prompts. Keep your home line for calls if you like, and choose the eSIM for Cellular Data.

On some iPhones, Cellular is called Mobile Service or Mobile Data.

On Android

  1. Open Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Add eSIM.
  2. Scan the QR code on another screen. If your phone offers to enter a code instead, paste or type your whole activation code.
  3. Follow the prompts, then turn on the eSIM and choose it for mobile data.

Menu names differ between Android phones. On a Samsung Galaxy, start from Settings → Connections → SIM manager → Add eSIM.

Entering the code by hand

Your order page shows your activation code with a copy button, and your email includes it too. After LPA:1 it holds two parts, each after a $ sign: the SM-DP+ address, then the activation code itself. Android takes the whole code; iPhone asks for the two parts separately.

Example activation code

LPA:1$smdp.example.com$K2-4F7C-EXAMPLE

SM-DP+ address
smdp.example.com
Activation code
K2-4F7C-EXAMPLE

An example only. Use the code from your own order.

Installing on the phone that shows the code

A phone can’t scan its own screen. Copy the activation code from your order page and enter it by hand, or on iOS 17.4 or later use the one-tap install link.

Or open your order page or your email on another device, such as a laptop or a second phone, and scan the QR code from there.

When to install

Your plan’s label says whether its validity starts on install or on first connection. If it starts on first connection, install before you leave. If it starts on install, install close to your trip.

Install it once and keep it. A QR code works for one installation, so don’t delete the eSIM until your plan has ended.

When you arrive

  1. Turn on the eSIM line if it’s off.
  2. Turn on data roaming for the eSIM.
  3. Choose the eSIM for mobile data.
  4. Give your phone a few minutes to find a network.

Not connecting?

Work through these five checks in order. Menu names can differ a little on your phone, especially on Android.

  • Turn on data roaming for the eSIM

    Your eSIM connects to local networks as a visitor, so your phone treats it as roaming. Turn data roaming on for the eSIM line only; your home SIM can keep it off.

    iPhone
    Settings → Cellular → your eSIM → turn on Data Roaming.
    Android
    Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → your eSIM → turn on Roaming.
  • Choose the eSIM for mobile data

    With two lines on your phone, mobile data uses only one of them. Choose the eSIM, so your home SIM doesn’t use data abroad.

    iPhone
    Settings → Cellular → Cellular Data → choose your eSIM, and turn off Allow Cellular Data Switching.
    Android
    Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → your eSIM → turn on Mobile data.
  • Check the APN

    Your phone usually sets the APN, the name of the data connection, by itself. If the eSIM line has no APN, write to us with your order reference and we’ll tell you what to enter.

    iPhone
    Settings → Cellular → your eSIM → Cellular Data Network.
    Android
    Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → your eSIM → Access Point Names.
  • Choose a network by hand

    Automatic selection usually finds a network your plan can use. If it doesn’t, turn it off and choose one of the networks your plan lists.

    iPhone
    Settings → Cellular → your eSIM → Network Selection → turn off Automatic.
    Android
    Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → your eSIM → turn off Automatically select network.
  • Restart your phone

    Restart the phone, or turn airplane mode on and off again, so the eSIM searches for a network afresh. Just after landing, give it a few minutes.

Still not connected? Write to us