What is an eSIM and how does it work on your iPhone?
An eSIM is a SIM card integrated into the iPhone itself: it's not a plastic card you insert, but a chip that the phone already has and is activated by software. Instead of receiving a physical Claro card at a store, you scan a QR code and within minutes your iPhone is connected to the network.
For someone accustomed to the traditional physical SIM, this sounds like a technical trick, but it's simpler than it seems: the iPhone stores that operator "profile" in the same way it stores a WiFi network, and you can have several stored at once, even if you only use one or two simultaneously. If you've never heard of this technology, it's worth starting with the basics before ordering yours with Claro: in what an eSIM is, we explain it from scratch, assuming nothing.
The important thing for what follows in this guide is this: a Claro eSIM serves your usual line in your country. If you also travel, that same technology allows you to add a second data line just for the destination, without touching the one you already have. It's exactly the same mechanism, but with a different use.
Which iPhone models are eSIM-compatible?
Not all iPhones come with eSIM, and since 2022 Apple started manufacturing versions that no longer have a physical tray at all, only eSIM. Before ordering your Claro eSIM, it's a good idea to check which group your device falls into, because that changes whether you can continue to use a physical SIM in parallel or not.
| Model | Launch Year | Physical Tray | eSIM |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone XS, XS Max, XR | 2018 | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone 11 / 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max | 2019 | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone 12 / 13 (all versions) | 2020-2021 | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone 14 onwards, bought in the US | 2022+ | No | Yes (eSIM only) |
| iPhone 14 onwards, bought outside the US | 2022+ | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation) | 2020 / 2022 | Yes | Yes |
If you bought your iPhone in the United States starting with the iPhone 14, you have no choice: every line, whether Claro or any other operator, must be an eSIM. If your device is from another region, you usually keep the physical tray and can decide whether to combine a physical SIM with an eSIM or use two eSIMs. You can check the complete list of compatible devices and brands in eSIM compatible phones before ordering yours.
How to order a Claro eSIM for iPhone?
The process, for most operators, follows the same logic: you request the eSIM through the official operator app, their website, or at a physical store, confirm that your device is compatible and unlocked (not tied to another operator), and you receive a QR code or an activation link. This QR is personal and non-transferable: each one serves for a single device.
Before ordering it, it's worth confirming two things with your operator: that your plan supports eSIM (not all old plans do) and that the iPhone you'll use it with is factory unlocked or liberated. If the device arrived "tied" to another operator due to a financing plan, it's likely that the request will be rejected until it's unlocked.
An eSIM doesn't replace the need to check coverage before traveling: it replaces standing in line at the airport to buy a physical SIM.
Once you have the QR, the rest no longer depends on the operator but on the iPhone's own settings, which are the same regardless of who gave you the code.
How to activate your eSIM on your iPhone step-by-step?
Activation is the same for any eSIM, whether from Claro or another provider, because the process is controlled by the iPhone's operating system, not the operator:
- Open Settings and go to Cellular (or Mobile Data, depending on the region).
- Tap Add eSIM or Add Cellular Plan.
- Choose Use QR Code and point the camera at the code the operator gave you. If the code arrived by email or app, you can also install it with a direct link from that same iPhone.
- Confirm which line you want as primary for calls and iMessage, and which you want to use for mobile data.
- Name each line ("Personal", "Travel", etc.) so you don't confuse them later.
You need an internet connection to complete this step: use the WiFi network of your current location, as you don't yet have mobile data for that new line. That's why it's a good idea to activate the eSIM before leaving home, calmly and with WiFi, instead of trying it at your destination airport with low battery. The guide on how to install an eSIM has screenshots of each screen if you prefer to follow the process with images.
How does eSIM work with Claro when you have two lines?
The iPhone allows you to save multiple eSIM profiles, but only a small number can be active at once: usually one line for mobile data and another for calls and messages, which can be the same or two different ones. This is precisely what makes it useful to combine your usual Claro eSIM with a second travel eSIM: you keep your Claro number active so you continue to receive calls and messages, while the other line uses the data.
In Settings > Cellular Data, you can decide, line by line, if you want the iPhone to automatically switch between them according to the signal, or if you prefer to fix one for data and leave the other only for calls. This prevents something that happens to many travelers unintentionally: the phone using data from the wrong line (the expensive one, with roaming activated) instead of the one you bought for that trip.
What happens to your Claro eSIM when you cross the border?
Your Claro line continues to exist when you leave the country: the number, contacts, and WhatsApp still function the same, because all that depends on the phone number, not the country you are in. What changes is the cost and availability of mobile data, because outside your country your line goes into roaming, something that each operator charges and limits differently according to the plan and destination.
That's where many travelers discover, already at the destination airport, that their usual data plan does not cover that country or that roaming is deactivated by default. This is exactly the problem that a travel eSIM solves: instead of depending on your Claro line's roaming, you activate a second eSIM designed only for data in that destination, with its own amount of gigabytes and no surprises upon return. The difference between both paths, traditional roaming or data eSIM for the destination, is explained in full in eSIM vs. roaming.
How to transfer an eSIM from one iPhone to another?
When you change iPhones, the eSIM doesn't copy itself: you have to transfer it or reactivate it, and here's an Apple feature that few people know about and that saves a lot of time.
If you have both iPhones at hand (the old and the new one), during the setup of the new device, the option for eSIM Quick Transfer appears: using Bluetooth and WiFi between both devices, the new iPhone can take the eSIM profile directly from the old one, without needing to request a new QR from the operator. If that option doesn't appear, or if you no longer have the old device, then you do need to contact Claro (or the travel eSIM provider) to generate a new activation code for the new device, because each QR usually only works once.
A detail worth checking before selling, giving away, or factory restoring an iPhone: the eSIM is not deleted automatically when you make an iCloud backup. If you are going to get rid of the device, you must manually delete the line from Settings > Cellular Data so that it is not active on a phone that is no longer yours.
Local eSIM vs. travel eSIM: what's the difference?
They are not competitors, they are two tools for different moments. One serves for your daily life in your country, the other for when you leave it. Seeing them side-by-side helps decide which one you need for each trip:
| Criterion | Local eSIM (like Claro) | Travel eSIM (like PuraSIM) |
|---|---|---|
| What it's for | Your usual number: calls, SMS, and data in your country | Mobile data only, designed for one or several destinations |
| Coverage | The country where you contracted the line | More than 200 destinations available depending on the chosen destination |
| Outside the country | Roaming, according to the plan and operator | That's exactly what it's for: it doesn't depend on roaming |
| Activation | Depends on the local operator's process | In approximately 1 minute after scanning the QR |
| Purchase validity | Depends on the contracted plan | Up to 180 days to activate it from the date of purchase |
| Support | Local operator channels | 24/7 by email and WhatsApp, in several languages |
The practical conclusion is simple: it's not about choosing one over the other, but about using them together. You keep your Claro eSIM active so your number stays alive, and you add a travel eSIM just for the days you're away. You can check available destinations directly in the international eSIM collection.
A real-world example: a trip with two active eSIMs on the same iPhone
Think of someone living in Mexico City who travels for ten days to Colombia, with layovers in Bogotá and Medellín. Before leaving, while still having WiFi at home, they do two things with the same iPhone: first, confirm that their Claro eSIM is still active for their usual number (so they continue to receive calls from the bank, work messages, verification codes), and then add a second eSIM designed only for that trip, with data for Colombia.
During the trip, in Settings, they set the data line to the travel eSIM, to avoid spending on roaming without realizing it. The Claro line remains for calls and messages, just as it was before leaving. Upon landing in Bogotá, without looking for airport WiFi or queuing at a counter, they already have data working. When returning to Mexico, they simply stop using that second eSIM: there's no need to cancel anything urgently, because it doesn't affect their Claro line at all.
This same scheme works equally if the trip is to Argentina, Chile, Peru, the United States, or any other destination: the logic of keeping the local line and adding a data eSIM for the country you visit does not change. If the trip includes more than one country, it is advisable to check beforehand which eSIM covers each leg; we explain this in detail in the definitive eSIM guide for travel.
Common errors when setting up an eSIM on iPhone
Most problems with a Claro or travel eSIM are not due to the technology itself, but rather a couple of steps that are skipped due to haste:
- Scanning the QR from the same phone that will be activated. The code must be opened or scanned with the iPhone that will receive the line, not with another device, or the process will fail.
- Activating it without WiFi. If the iPhone doesn't yet have any data line working, it needs WiFi to download the eSIM profile.
- Not checking if the device is unlocked. An iPhone tied to an operator by financing may reject another provider's eSIM until it is unlocked.
- Leaving the wrong data line as default. If you travel with two active eSIMs, check in Settings which one is marked for mobile data before leaving home.
- Deleting the eSIM too early when changing devices. It's best to complete the transfer to the new iPhone before deleting the profile from the old one.
If anything is unclear during installation, in common eSIM problems we review the most common failures and how to solve them without having to restart the process from scratch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my Claro eSIM and a travel eSIM at the same time on the same iPhone?
Yes, if your model supports dual eSIM. You keep your Claro line for calls and messages, and set the travel eSIM as the mobile data line while you are out of the country.
Do I need WiFi to activate an eSIM on the iPhone?
Yes, the first time. The iPhone downloads the eSIM profile over the internet, so if it doesn't yet have any active data line, it needs a WiFi network to complete the installation.
What happens if my iPhone is locked to another operator?
It is likely that the eSIM request will be rejected until the device is unlocked. It is advisable to confirm this with the operator that sold the iPhone before ordering any new eSIM.
Can I activate the Claro eSIM before I travel?
Yes, and it is recommended. Activating it calmly, at home and with WiFi, avoids depending on the signal or WiFi of the arrival airport.
Is the eSIM lost if I factory restore the iPhone?
The profile may become unusable after a full restore. Before restoring an iPhone, it is advisable to check with the operator whether the eSIM will need to be reactivated afterwards.
How long does it take to activate an eSIM?
It depends on the provider. A travel eSIM like PuraSIM's is ready in approximately 1 minute after scanning the QR code; the time for a local operator's eSIM depends on its own process.
What happens if I change iPhones and don't transfer the eSIM?
The line still exists, but it won't work on the new device until it's transferred with eSIM Quick Transfer or the operator provides a new activation code for that device.
Does a travel eSIM replace my Claro line?
No, and it shouldn't. The travel eSIM only covers mobile data for the destination; your Claro line is still the one that receives calls, SMS, and verification codes on your usual number.
In summary
The Claro eSIM on your iPhone takes care of your daily needs: your number, your calls, your usual plan. But as soon as you cross a border, that same line goes into roaming, with the costs and limitations that implies depending on your plan. The solution isn't to choose between one or the other, but to combine them: keep your Claro eSIM active for the essentials and add a travel eSIM just for data at your destination, exactly as in the Colombia trip example in this guide.
If it's your first time setting up an eSIM, carefully review the getting started guide linked above before ordering yours, and once you have your destination clear, check the available plans in the international eSIM collection to have it ready before leaving home.
