If you already have your eSIM's QR code or manual code, you can have data working in a few minutes. This guide goes straight to the steps, and further down covers the most common setup errors: the option not appearing, the eSIM installed but without data, and the code not scanning.
How to set up the eSIM on your phone (quick steps)
To set up an eSIM, you need Wi-Fi, the QR or manual code provided by your provider, and a compatible phone: you scan or enter the code in the network settings, wait for the profile to download, activate mobile data and roaming for that line, and you're done. The order matters more than speed.
These are the steps in the order most people need them, from most common to least frequent:
- Connect to Wi-Fi. The eSIM profile is downloaded over the internet, not via mobile data from your current line. Without stable Wi-Fi, the installation will be incomplete.
- Open your phone's network settings and look for the option to add a line or plan (the exact name varies between iPhone and Android; we'll cover it in detail below).
- Scan the QR code with your phone's camera from within the settings menu itself, not from the regular camera app. If the QR is in a PDF or email, you can scan it from another phone by pointing it at the screen.
- Wait for the system to validate the profile. This can take from a few seconds to a couple of minutes depending on the connection.
- Activate mobile data and roaming for that line. This step is the one most people skip: the eSIM is installed but "off" until you explicitly activate data and, if you're going to use it outside your country, roaming.
- If you don't have a QR, enter the manual code (SM-DP+ address and activation code) using the "Enter details manually" option. We cover this in the activation without QR section.
You can install the profile calmly before your trip: simply adding the eSIM to your phone does not start using your plan. With PuraSIM, you have 180 days from purchase to activate it, so you can do the installation at home, with Wi-Fi, and only activate data and roaming once you land at your destination — the plan's countdown starts when you activate it, not when you install it.
Before you start: what you need at hand
Most configuration errors occur because this quick check is skipped before touching the phone's settings.
| You need | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Stable Wi-Fi | The profile is downloaded via the internet; with mobile data from your physical SIM, it may fail or take a long time. |
| eSIM-compatible phone | Not all models or all regional versions have the feature enabled. Check our guide on eSIM-compatible phones before buying or installing. |
| Space for one more eSIM | Most phones support multiple saved profiles but only one or two active at a time. If yours is full, you need to delete one before adding another. |
| The QR or manual code, unopened previously | Each activation code is usually single-use: if you scan it to "view" it with the phone's regular camera, nothing happens, but if you accidentally activate it on another device, it will no longer work for the one you intended. |
| Know if your phone is unlocked | Phones purchased with a carrier contract sometimes block the option to add eSIMs from another provider, even if the hardware supports it. |
If you don't have your eSIM yet and want to understand what it is exactly before installing anything, this guide on what an eSIM is explains the difference from a physical SIM in simple terms.
Set up the eSIM step by step on iPhone
On iPhone, with a recent iOS version and a compatible model, the most direct way is:
- Go to Settings > Mobile Data (or Settings > Cellular depending on the language and iOS version).
- Tap Add eSIM or Set up eSIM.
- Choose Use QR Code and point the camera at the code provided by your provider.
- Confirm the line name (for example, "Travel" or the country) to avoid confusing it with your main line.
- Under Default Line for Mobile Data, choose the eSIM if you are only going to use that line for internet during the trip.
- Activate Data Roaming within that same line: on iPhone, it's within the specific settings of each eSIM, not in the general menu.
One detail that confuses many people: iPhone allows you to keep the physical SIM for calls and WhatsApp, and the eSIM only for data. This prevents you from losing your number while using the travel data plan.
Set up the eSIM step by step on Android
On Android, the exact name of the menus changes depending on the brand (Samsung, Google Pixel, Xiaomi, Motorola), but the general path is:
- Go to Settings > Network & internet (or Connections on some Samsung phones) > SIMs or SIM Manager.
- Tap Add eSIM, Download a SIM, or Add more, depending on the manufacturer.
- Select Scan QR code and point the camera at the code.
- Wait for the system to download and validate the profile; on some models, it may ask you to restart the phone to finish.
- Enter the newly installed profile and manually activate mobile data and data roaming for that line.
- If you are going to use the eSIM as your primary data line, check that it is marked as Preferred data SIM.
On several Android models, if the phone doesn't find a camera available or the QR doesn't scan well, there's an "I don't have a QR code" option that leads directly to manual entry, which we'll see next.
How to activate eSIMs without a QR code
If your provider gave you a text code instead of a QR image (this happens when you buy from a phone without a free rear camera, or when the QR doesn't load properly in the email), manual activation requires two pieces of information: the SM-DP+ address and the activation code.
- On iPhone: Settings > Mobile Data > Add eSIM > Enter details manually.
- On Android: within the same Add eSIM menu, look for the option "Don't have a QR code?" or "Enter information manually".
- Copy and paste both details exactly as you received them, without extra spaces at the beginning or end: this is the most common reason the system says "invalid code" even if the code is correct.
- Confirm and wait for validation, just like with the QR.
An eSIM is a digital profile, not a physical chip: once you delete it from your phone, you need a new code to reinstall it. That's why the most expensive error to fix in the configuration is often deleting the profile "just to try" before confirming that everything works.
The option to add eSIM does not appear
If "Add eSIM" or similar does not appear in your settings, check in this order, from most probable to least probable:
- The phone is carrier-locked. Some devices purchased with a contract plan hide the option to add lines from other providers even if the eSIM chip is physically present. You need to ask the original carrier for unlocking.
- The model or regional version does not support eSIM. Not all models sold under the same commercial name have the function activated; it varies by manufacturing region. Confirm your model in the guide to eSIM-compatible phones.
- The operating system is outdated. Go to software update settings before assuming the phone is not compatible.
- You have reached the maximum number of saved profiles. Delete a profile you no longer use (not the active one you are currently using) and try again.
- You are using a phone with a dual physical SIM and no real eSIM slot. Some "dual SIM" models use two physical trays and do not have an eSIM chip, even if the software in the country where it is sold mentions it.
You installed the eSIM but have no data
This is the second most frequent problem after the QR that doesn't scan, and it's almost always a configuration issue, not the profile itself.
- Check that roaming is activated for that specific line. This is most often behind "I installed everything correctly but I can't browse": mobile data may be on, but roaming for that eSIM may be off.
- Confirm that the eSIM is selected as the data line. If your physical SIM is still marked as the preferred data line, the phone will continue to try to use it instead of the eSIM.
- Check the APN. Most profiles configure it automatically, but in some Android phones, it must be manually confirmed within that line's menu.
- Restart the phone. It sounds obvious, but after installing a new profile, restarting forces the system to reconnect to the network correctly.
- Verify that you are within the coverage area of the country or region you purchased. A plan designed for one country will not provide data in another, even if the profile is correctly installed.
If, after checking these points, it still doesn't work and the problem seems to be with the provider, PuraSIM offers 24/7 support in all languages by email and WhatsApp, without depending on office hours or finding a physical store in the middle of your trip.
How to activate multiple eSIMs without them deleting each other
If you travel frequently, it's common to want to save more than one eSIM profile on the same phone: one per country or per provider. The usual confusion is thinking that installing a new one automatically deletes the previous one, but this is not the case.
- Each eSIM is saved as an independent profile; you can have several installed at the same time, although only one or two are active depending on the phone model.
- Before installing a new one, give each line a clear name (the country or the travel date) to avoid confusing them later.
- If the phone warns you that you have reached the profile limit, you will have to delete one that you no longer use; choose the oldest one, not the one you just installed by mistake.
- Upon arriving in a new country, you just have to go to settings and activate data and roaming for the profile corresponding to that destination, without having to reinstall anything.
To compare when an eSIM per country is convenient and when a roaming plan from your country's operator is, this guide on eSIM vs roaming explains it in more detail.
eSIM vs physical SIM: what changes when setting up
Many configuration doubts come from applying the logic of the physical SIM (which is plug-and-play) to a process that is actually a digital download.
| Aspect | eSIM | Physical SIM |
|---|---|---|
| How it's installed | You scan a QR code or enter a manual code | You insert the card into the phone's tray |
| Where you get it | It's sent by email, no need to pick it up | You have to pick it up in-store or wait for physical delivery |
| Time to get data | Activation itself takes about 1 minute once the profile is installed | Depends on delivery or the queue at the operator's store |
| Risk of loss | It doesn't get lost or physically damaged; it's linked to the phone | The chip can be lost, bent, or damaged |
| Multiple profiles at once | You can save several and switch between them from settings | You need a physical tray for each SIM |
| Reinstallation | Requires a new code if you delete the profile | The same card can be reinserted without limit |
If you're still unsure which one is best for your next trip, the full comparison is in eSIM vs physical SIM, and if you haven't bought any yet, this guide on how to get an eSIM covers the step before configuration.
Frequently asked questions
How are eSIM cards activated?
They are activated by scanning a QR code or entering a manual code (SM-DP+ address and activation code) from the phone's network settings, and then manually turning on mobile data and roaming for that line. Profile installation and data activation are two distinct steps.
How can I activate my eSIM step by step?
Connect to Wi-Fi, go to your phone's mobile data or network settings, add the eSIM by scanning the QR code (or entering it manually), wait for the profile to validate, and activate mobile data and roaming on that line. Full details by operating system are in the iPhone and Android sections of this guide.
Do I need Wi-Fi to install the eSIM?
Yes, for the initial profile download. Once installed and with data and roaming activated, the eSIM works with the mobile network of the country you are in, without relying on Wi-Fi.
Can I install the eSIM before traveling?
Yes, and it is recommended: install the profile at home with Wi-Fi, calmly, and leave data and roaming off until you land. With PuraSIM, you have 180 days from purchase to activate it, so installing it beforehand does not make you lose plan days.
What happens if I lose the QR code?
If you haven't installed it on any phone yet, you can usually access it again from your purchase confirmation email or by contacting your provider's support. If you have already installed it once, the same code will not work to install it on a second phone.
Does the eSIM work in airplane mode?
No, not while airplane mode is activated, just like a physical SIM. You can have airplane mode on and only activate Wi-Fi to install the profile, but to use mobile data with the eSIM, you need to deactivate it.
Can I configure the eSIM without removing my physical SIM?
Yes, that is one of the advantages over changing physical cards: you can keep your main line for calls and messages, and use the eSIM only for data, without touching your physical SIM at any time.
What if my phone is not eSIM compatible?
First, confirm the exact model and region where the phone was sold, because compatibility varies even within the same model family. The complete list is in the guide to eSIM-compatible phones.
Conclusion
Setting up an eSIM is, in most cases, a matter of three things: Wi-Fi for the download, the correct code, and not forgetting to activate roaming for that line after installing it. Almost all the "it's not working" issues that appear in this guide are resolved by checking these three points before suspecting that the profile is damaged.
If you've already checked the steps and the problem is still on the provider's side —a profile that doesn't validate, a code that doesn't arrive, coverage that doesn't appear where it should—, that's where it's worth having 24/7 support in all languages via email and WhatsApp, instead of depending on a physical store or office hours in the middle of your trip. You can see the available plans by destination in the international eSIM collection, with coverage in more than 200 destinations and 180 days from purchase to activate it when you need it.
