How to activate your Entel eSIM step by step
To activate your Entel eSIM, scan the QR code that Entel provided when you purchased it from Settings > Mobile Data (or Mobile Networks, depending on the phone) and confirm the installation. The line will be active in a couple of minutes. You need Wi-Fi, an eSIM-compatible phone, and ensure the code has not been used before.
In order, from most likely to least likely, this is how most people manage to activate it:
- Scan the QR code with your phone's camera from the network settings (not from the regular camera app).
- If you don't have the QR handy or it has already been used, enter the manual activation code also provided by Entel.
- If you purchased the line online, activate it from the Entel app or website before installing the profile on the phone.
- If none of the above works, check that your phone is compatible and that no other eSIM is occupying the same profile slot.
Before we go into each step in detail, a note: if your phone already has an active physical SIM, the eSIM is added as an additional line; it does not automatically replace the other unless you deactivate it.
Before you start: what you need to have on hand
Activation fails more often due to lack of preparation than technical errors. Before touching any settings, gather these items:
- Stable Wi-Fi connection. Most phones require Wi-Fi (not mobile data) to download the eSIM profile for the first time.
- The QR code or activation code that Entel sent you by email, SMS, or on the purchase receipt in the store.
- An eSIM-compatible phone. Not all models support it, and some that do have it factory-locked. You can check which phones accept it in this list of eSIM-compatible phones.
- Sufficient battery. If the phone turns off in the middle of installation, the profile may be incomplete, and you'll have to restart the process.
- Know if you will use only eSIM or eSIM + physical SIM. This saves you from having to reconfigure data later.
If you have never used an eSIM before, it is worth reading first what it is exactly and how it differs from the usual plastic SIM: we explain it in what an eSIM is.
Activate with the QR code (the most common method)
This is the method that works for the vast majority of Entel eSIM activations, so it's the first one to try:
- Open Settings on your phone.
- Go to Mobile Data or Mobile Networks (on Android, it may be called "Connections" or "SIMs and mobile networks," depending on the brand).
- Select Add eSIM or Add data plan.
- When prompted to scan a code, point the camera at Entel's QR. It must be the scanner that appears within that menu, not the regular camera app.
- Confirm the installation and wait for the phone to notify you that the line is active. It may ask you to restart.
If you received the QR by email on the phone where you want to install the eSIM, you have a problem: you cannot scan a code that is on the same screen you are using to scan. In that case, open the email on another device (another phone, a tablet, or a computer screen) and scan from there. We have the complete details, step by step and with screenshots, in how to install an eSIM.
No QR: manual activation with the activation code
If you lost the email with the QR, changed phones, or the scan simply isn't working, almost all operators—including Entel—offer an alternative: a manual activation code, along with a server address (known as SM-DP+). You enter it as follows:
- In the same Add eSIM menu, look for the option "Enter details manually" or "Can't scan?".
- Copy the activation code and, if prompted, the server address, exactly as Entel provided them.
- Confirm and wait for validation. It usually takes the same amount of time as the QR method.
Something few people know until it happens to them: an eSIM QR code usually works only once. If you install the profile and then delete it from your phone—for example, to test it on another device or because you factory reset it—it's common for that same code to no longer work for reinstallation. You'll need to ask Entel for a new one; rescanning the same one is not enough.
That's why it's advisable not to delete the eSIM profile "to test" unless you are sure you can request a new code without hassle.
Activate from the Entel app or website
When you purchase the eSIM online (without going through a store), the process normally begins before you even touch your phone settings:
- Log in to your account on the Entel app or website with your credentials.
- Confirm the new line or the change from physical SIM to eSIM.
- Entel generates and sends you the QR code (or the manual code) to your email.
- Only then do you follow the steps from the previous point to install the profile on your phone.
The "online" part is the management of the line with the operator; it does not replace the step of scanning or entering the code on the phone: that step always occurs on the physical device where you will use the eSIM.
How eSIMs are activated, in general
The process we just described for Entel is, fundamentally, the same for any eSIM from any operator: a digital profile (QR or manual code) is received, installed from the phone's network settings, and the operating system activates it as another line. Menu names change between iOS and Android, and some operators use their own app to generate the code, but the underlying logic is identical.
If you are interested in understanding the complete process without tying it to a specific operator—useful if you also use travel eSIMs or from another company—we have a more general guide in how to activate an eSIM.
| Method | When to use it | What you need | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| QR Code | Most common method; provided when purchasing the eSIM | Another device (or screen) with the QR and a camera on the phone | Low |
| Manual activation code | When you cannot scan the QR or have changed phones | The alphanumeric code (and sometimes the SM-DP+ server) provided by Entel | Medium |
| Operator app or website | When contracting or migrating the line online | Entel account, personal data, Wi-Fi | Medium |
How long activation takes
Scanning or manually entering the code takes just a couple of minutes. What can take a little longer is network confirmation: once the profile is installed, the phone has to register on the operator's network, and that depends on coverage and system load at that moment, not on anything you did wrong. If the signal icon doesn't appear immediately after installing the profile, the first thing to do is wait a few minutes before assuming something went wrong.
If a considerable amount of time has passed and there's still no signal, then it's worth checking the most common problems, which we'll look at next.
Common problems and how to solve them
Most failed activations fall into one of these categories:
- "The QR code has already been used." As mentioned earlier, a code usually works only once. If you've already tried to install it before (even if it was on another phone), you need to request a new one from Entel.
- The phone does not appear as compatible. This is not an Entel problem: some models—especially "dual" versions sold outside certain markets—do not have the eSIM function enabled by default. Check the list of eSIM-compatible phones before trying further.
- The profile was installed, but there's no signal. Try activating and deactivating airplane mode, or restarting your phone. If there's still no signal after that, it's a line issue, not an installation issue.
- The QR cannot be scanned. Make sure you are using the scanner within Settings and not the phone's camera app; they are different scanners.
- The phone is locked to an operator. If the device comes from another company or another country with an operator lock, it may reject the Entel profile even if it is technically eSIM compatible.
We review these and other cases in more detail in common problems when activating an eSIM.
What happens to your Entel eSIM when you travel outside Chile
Once you've managed to activate your Entel eSIM, it's worth clarifying something that confuses quite a few people: this line is designed to work within Chile, with Entel's network. If you leave the country, what happens to your data depends on the roaming plan you have contracted with them, not on the eSIM itself; the technology (eSIM) and the coverage (the plan) are two different things.
For travel, one option is simply to buy a second eSIM specifically designed for your destination, and keep your Entel eSIM saved for when you return to Chile. Since your phone can have more than one eSIM profile installed at a time (even if only one is active), there's no need to delete anything.
| Aspect | Entel eSIM (Chile) | International eSIM for travel |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | Entel network within Chile | More than 200 destinations, depending on the country you choose |
| Usage abroad | Depends on the contracted roaming plan | Specifically designed for use while traveling |
| Activation | Requires process with Entel (QR, code or app) | Activation in approximately 1 minute from the app |
| Support if something goes wrong | Usual Entel customer service channels | 24/7 support in all languages via email and WhatsApp |
If you're interested in better understanding the difference between using your local operator's roaming and buying a separate eSIM for your trip, we compare them in detail in eSIM vs. roaming. And if you want to get everything ready before you travel, you can check options by destination in the international eSIM collection: they are purchased in advance and stored for up to 180 days to activate when you need them, so there's no rush to use them as soon as you buy them.
Frequently asked questions
Can I activate my Entel eSIM without Wi-Fi?
It's possible on some phones using mobile data from another line, but most manufacturers recommend Wi-Fi for the initial installation because it's more stable. If your only connection is mobile data, try it anyway; if it fails, find a Wi-Fi network before proceeding.
What if I lose the QR code for my Entel eSIM?
Contact Entel to have them resend the code or generate a manual activation code for you. There's no way to "recover" a lost QR from the phone if it was never installed.
Can I have an Entel eSIM and another eSIM on my phone at the same time?
Yes. Most eSIM-enabled phones allow storing multiple profiles, although only one or two can be active for data at the same time (depending on the model). You can keep the Entel eSIM stored and activate another for travel without deleting any.
Do I need to insert a physical SIM if I already have an Entel eSIM?
No. The eSIM replaces the physical SIM for that line; they function identically at the network level. You can have both if you need two different numbers on the same phone, but it's not mandatory.
Does the Entel eSIM work in another country?
It depends on the roaming plan you have contracted with Entel, not on whether it's an eSIM or a physical SIM. If your plan doesn't include the country you're traveling to, you won't have data there, even if the line is perfectly active.
Which phones are compatible with Entel eSIM?
Generally, the same models that support eSIM with any Chilean operator: most recent iPhones and several mid-to-high-end Android phones. Check the complete list in eSIM-compatible phones before buying or activating.
How long do I have to activate my eSIM before it expires?
This period is defined by each operator and may vary depending on the plan. Confirm it directly with Entel at the time of purchase to avoid ending up with an expired code.
What do I do if my Entel eSIM has no signal after activation?
Try restarting your phone and activating/deactivating airplane mode. If the problem persists, check that the profile is marked as an active line (not just installed) in the network settings, and if none of that works, contact Entel: it may be a line issue, not a phone issue.
In summary
For most cases, activating your Entel eSIM is a matter of scanning the QR from Settings > Mobile Data and confirming; if that fails, the manual code is the next step, and if you purchased online, you first need to manage the line from the Entel app or website. The most frequent problems—code already used, incompatible phone, no signal after installation—are almost always resolved by checking these three points before contacting support.
Now, if the reason you've come this far is that you're traveling and concerned about what happens to your data outside Chile, that's a different question from activating the eSIM itself: your Entel line will continue to work in Chile, but for abroad, an eSIM designed for that purpose is advisable. You can check options by destination in the international eSIM collection, with activation in approximately 1 minute and 24/7 support in all languages via email and WhatsApp if anything is unclear during your trip.
