What is an eSIM QR code and what is it for?
An eSIM QR code is an image that contains, encoded, the data your phone needs to download and install a data plan without using a physical card. You scan it once with your phone's camera and, in seconds, the profile is saved within the electronic chip integrated into the device.
It's a method designed so you don't have to open your phone's tray, insert a plastic chip, or wait for it to be delivered to you in a store. All the information —the profile's serial number, the address of the server that activates it, and an authorization key— travels within that small square of black dots. If you've seen it arrive via email after purchasing a plan, in your carrier's app, or printed on a receipt, that's exactly what it is: the gateway to your new data line.
How do you get an eSIM QR code?
The QR code is not generated automatically, nor does your phone invent it: it is provided by the plan provider after you purchase or contract it. The process varies slightly depending on who it is, but the pattern is repeated in almost all cases:
- You purchase the plan. It can be a local carrier, like Claro, in a physical store or from their app; or a data provider for travel, who sells exclusively online.
- The system generates a unique profile for your device. Each QR is linked to a single device: it is not a generic code that works for any phone.
- It is sent to you via the appropriate channel. It can arrive via email, within an app, in a confirmation message, or printed on a ticket, depending on how you contracted it.
If you purchased your line with a local carrier for daily use, check the welcome email or the "my eSIM" section within their official app: the code is usually available there for scanning. If, on the other hand, you purchased an eSIM designed for travel, the QR usually arrives in the purchase confirmation or in your account on the site where you acquired it.
Where do I see the QR code once I have it?
Once the provider sends it to you, the QR code lives in the same place where it arrived: usually your inbox, the carrier's app, or the purchase portal. It's advisable not to delete that message until you confirm that the eSIM has been installed and is working, because in some cases, that code can only be scanned once.
Within the phone itself, you can also check if the profile has already been saved: on iPhone, in Settings → Cellular Data, you will see the plan listed with the name the carrier gave it; on Android, the path is usually Settings → Network & Internet → SIMs. You won't see the QR code itself there—it has already served its purpose when scanned—but you will see the active line that resulted from using it.
How to scan the QR code to activate an eSIM?
The process is virtually identical regardless of who sold you the plan, because it is controlled by the phone's operating system, not the carrier. You need two things: the phone where you are going to install the eSIM and a way to view the QR code (a screen or a printed paper).
| Step | iPhone (iOS) | Android |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM | Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Add eSIM |
| 2 | Choose "Use QR Code" | Choose "Download a SIM from your carrier" |
| 3 | Point the camera at the QR code | Point the camera at the QR code |
| 4 | Confirm "Continue" and wait for activation | Confirm and wait for activation |
| 5 | Choose which line to use for data | Choose which line to use for data |
One point that many guides don't clarify: if the QR code arrived on the same phone you are going to activate —for example, you opened it in an email from that same phone— you won't be able to scan it with the camera, because a device cannot photograph its own screen. In that case, look for the option "Use the details from your carrier instead" or "Enter manually", which appears on both systems: there you can paste the activation code as text instead of scanning it, without losing the eSIM or having to request a new QR.
Real example: activating an eSIM before a trip
Imagine you are traveling from Bogota to Mexico City for five days. Your local Claro line works for calls and messages while you are in Colombia, but outside the country, roaming can be expensive or limited, and it's not always clear how much you will pay until you see the consumption reflected on your bill.
Before leaving, you buy a data eSIM specifically for Mexico from your phone, while you still have Wi-Fi at home. The QR arrives by email. You scan it following the steps in the previous section and leave the profile installed, but without activating it yet: most travel eSIMs allow you to install the profile in advance and only activate the data plan when you land, so the day counter starts when you really need it, not from when you bought it.
When you get off the plane, you activate the data line, keep your Claro line for calls and messages, and browse with the new eSIM without looking for airport Wi-Fi or relying on your local carrier to confirm a roaming cost. This is how scanning a QR code before traveling works in practice.
Common errors when scanning an eSIM QR code
Most problems when activating an eSIM are related to the order of the steps, not the phone itself. Before assuming something went wrong, it's worth checking these points:
- The QR code has already been used. Most eSIM profiles are designed to be installed only once. If you scanned it, accidentally deleted it, and want to try again on the same phone, it usually won't work; you'll need to request a new one from the provider.
- No internet connection during installation. Although the QR is an image, activating it requires downloading the profile from a server, so you need working Wi-Fi or data at that moment.
- The phone does not support eSIM or is locked by the carrier. Some devices purchased through a carrier come locked to use only their network, which prevents installing an additional eSIM until they are unlocked.
- Attempting to scan from the same phone that displays the code. As explained earlier, in that case, you must use the option to enter the code manually.
If, after checking these points, the problem persists, it is generally advisable to contact the support of the provider who sold you the plan directly, because each provider manages its own activation servers. There are more frequent cases and their solutions in common eSIM problems.
QR from your local carrier (like Claro) vs. travel eSIM QR
Both are QR codes and the scanning process is the same, but they don't solve the same problem. Confusing them is what leads many travelers to end up paying for roaming without realizing there was another option.
| QR from your local carrier (e.g., Claro) | Travel eSIM QR | |
|---|---|---|
| What it's for | Your main line: number, calls, messages, and data in your country | Data only, for use while outside your country |
| Coverage | The carrier's network in your country (and roaming where they have an agreement) | The destination country or region you choose when purchasing it |
| When it activates | Upon contracting or changing plans | Can be installed before traveling and activated only upon arrival |
| What it replaces | Your physical SIM card or primary eSIM | None of your primary line: it is used alongside it, not instead of it |
Neither replaces the other: your local carrier line is still what your contacts use to call you, while the travel eSIM simply ensures you have data at your destination without incurring roaming costs. If you want to see a full comparison between sticking with your carrier's roaming or using a travel eSIM, you can find it in eSIM vs. roaming.
eSIM vs. physical SIM: why QR replaces the chip
A physical SIM card is a plastic chip that needs to be inserted into a phone tray; an eSIM is the same type of profile, but electronically embedded within the device, with no physical part to move. The QR code is, in practice, what replaces the delivery of that chip: instead of receiving a piece of plastic by mail or in a store, you receive an image that installs the same profile digitally.
An eSIM is not a smaller or invisible chip: it's the same information that a physical card would carry, stored in a component already soldered inside the phone. The QR is simply a way to deliver that information without sending you anything by postal mail.
This offers practical advantages for travelers: you can buy and activate a new data line while packing your suitcase, without waiting for a delivery or having to find a place to pick up a chip upon arriving in another country. If you want to delve deeper into the differences between both technologies, there's a more comprehensive comparison in eSIM vs. physical SIM.
Is your phone eSIM compatible?
Not all devices can install an eSIM, and this does not depend on which carrier you use but on the model and, sometimes, the region where the phone was purchased. Before attempting to scan any QR code, it's advisable to confirm two things: that the model supports eSIM and that it's not locked by a carrier to exclusively use its network.
The quickest way to verify this is to go to Settings → Cellular Data (or Network & Internet, on Android) and look for the "Add eSIM" option. If it doesn't appear, it's likely that the device is not compatible or is locked. There's a more detailed list of compatible models in eSIM compatible phones.
If you have never used an eSIM and want to understand the complete technology before taking the plunge, it's best to start with the general explanation in what an eSIM is and, for step-by-step installation on different systems, in how to install an eSIM.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get the QR code for an eSIM?
It is provided by the plan provider after purchase, almost always by email or within their official app. There is no generic QR code or one you can generate yourself: each one is linked to a specific data profile and device.
Where do I see my eSIM's QR code?
In the same channel where it was sent to you: email, carrier app, or purchase portal. Once scanned and installed, the profile appears within the phone's settings, although the QR as an image is no longer necessary.
How do I scan Claro's eSIM?
The process is controlled by the phone's operating system, not the carrier: on iPhone, it's Settings → Cellular Data → Add eSIM → Use QR Code; on Android, Settings → Network & Internet → SIMs → Add eSIM. You point the camera at the code provided by Claro and follow the on-screen instructions.
How to scan a QR code to activate a chip?
You need the QR code visible on a screen other than the phone you are activating (or printed), and follow your operating system's path to "Add eSIM." If the code is on the same phone you are activating, use the option to enter the details manually instead of scanning.
Can I use the same QR code on two phones?
No. Each eSIM QR code is designed to be installed on a single device. If you need the same line on another phone, you must request a new profile from the provider, not reuse the old image.
What happens if I lose or delete the QR code before scanning it?
It depends on the provider: some allow you to re-download the code from their app or your account on the purchase site; others require you to contact support to have it resent. That's why it's advisable not to delete the confirmation email until you verify that the eSIM is active.
Do I need Wi-Fi to scan the QR code?
Yes. Although the QR is just an image, installing the profile requires downloading information from a server, so you need working Wi-Fi or mobile data at the time of activation.
Does a travel eSIM replace my Claro line?
No, and it's not intended to. A travel eSIM is installed alongside your primary line and is used only for data at the destination; your number and Claro line continue to work normally for calls and messages.
In summary: what to do with your QR code now?
The QR code of an eSIM is, purely and simply, the way your provider delivers a data line without a physical chip: you scan it once, follow the steps of your operating system, and in a couple of minutes, it's installed. If the one you have is from your local carrier, like Claro, it serves for your main line; if it's from a travel data provider, it only serves for the destination and period you purchased.
If your next trip is outside your country and you want to avoid relying on your local carrier's roaming, you can install a data eSIM before you leave and activate it only when you arrive. At PuraSIM, there are data plans for more than 200 destinations, with 24/7 support in all languages via email and WhatsApp, activation in approximately 1 minute once you activate the plan, and 180 days from purchase to install the eSIM when you need it. You can review the available plans by destination in the international eSIM collection, and if you want the complete step-by-step before your first trip with an eSIM, there's the installation guide in how to install an eSIM.
