How to activate an eSIM on iPhone and Android

Most eSIM problems are installation problems, and most installation problems come from doing it at the wrong moment: at the airport, on patchy wifi, with the QR code open in a browser tab that will not survive the flight.

The sequence below works for every provider. Install at home, keep the line switched off as primary data, and turn it on when you land.

Before you install

1. Check the phone is eSIM-compatible: Settings, About, and look for an EID or a second IMEI.
2. Confirm the phone is not carrier-locked. A locked phone shows the eSIM menu but will not connect.
3. Be on a reliable wifi network. Installation downloads the profile, and a dropped connection can leave a half-installed line.
4. Have the QR code and the activation details in a screenshot, not only in email.

iPhone: install and label the line

1. Settings, then Mobile Service or Cellular, then Add eSIM.
2. Choose Use QR Code and scan the code from the provider, or enter the details manually.
3. Label the line with the country or provider name. This label is what you will see later.
4. Leave it as the secondary line. Do not set it as the default data line yet.
5. Take a screenshot of the new line details in case you need support.

Android: install and label the line

1. Settings, then Network and Internet, then SIMs, then Add eSIM.
2. Scan the QR code, or enter the activation code manually.
3. Name the SIM after the country. The default name is often meaningless.
4. Keep it disabled as the data SIM until you land.
5. Note which SIM slot is which, especially if you keep two physical SIMs.

First connection on arrival

1. Turn on the eSIM line and enable data roaming for that line. Roaming must be on even though you are not roaming in the usual sense.
2. Set the eSIM as the mobile data line.
3. Keep your home SIM active for calls and SMS so bank and airline codes still arrive.
4. Wait up to a minute for the network to register. If nothing happens, toggle airplane mode.
5. Test with a map or a speed test before you leave the airport.

Keeping your number while the eSIM handles data

Your home SIM stays active for calls and texts while the eSIM carries data. This is the setup most travellers want: the number stays, the data bill does not.

Check two things with your carrier before you fly: whether incoming SMS is free abroad, and what a call costs. Some carriers charge for received texts, and some charge for voicemail deposits. Turning off data roaming on the home line avoids the expensive mistake.

The five mistakes people make

1. Installing at the airport instead of at home.
2. Scanning the QR code on the wrong device.
3. Leaving data roaming off for the eSIM line.
4. Setting the eSIM as the line for calls, and losing access to bank codes.
5. Deleting the eSIM to fix a problem, which often cannot be undone without the provider.