How to reinstall an eSIM?
To reinstall an eSIM, first reactivate the plan in Settings → Cellular Data: if the profile was only deactivated, that's enough. If it was deleted, you factory reset your phone, or you changed devices, that profile is no longer valid and you need to request a new one from the operator, because the original activation code is for single use only.
The exact solution depends on what happened to your eSIM, so this article is ordered from the most common cause to the least common. Start with scenario 1 and only move on to the next if it doesn't apply to you. If you've never installed an eSIM and want to understand what it is first, check out what an eSIM is before continuing.
What you need on hand before reinstalling
Before touching any settings, gather these three things: they will save you two or three failed attempts.
- Stable Wi-Fi connection. Do not use mobile data for the process: that's exactly what's missing while the eSIM is out of service. Connect to a Wi-Fi network before opening Settings.
- The original email from the operator. This usually contains the QR code or the activation link (sometimes called "LPA" or "SM-DP+"). Search for it by the operator's name, not just "eSIM": many confirmation emails don't use that word in the subject.
- Your phone unlocked and with the date/time set to automatic. A device locked by the previous operator, or with the manual date set incorrectly, will cause activation to fail even if the profile is correct.
If you are going to request a new profile because the original is no longer valid, also have your order number or the email you used to purchase the line handy: it's the first thing support will ask for to locate your purchase. If you also have doubts about whether your phone supports eSIM, confirm it in the guide to eSIM compatible phones before wasting time reinstalling on a device that will never support it.
Scenario 1: the eSIM was only deactivated (the most common case)
This happens when you accidentally touched the line switch, changed the "primary" line for calls, or the system deactivated it when installing an update. The profile is still on the phone: you just need to turn it on.
On iPhone:
- Open Settings → Cellular.
- Find the data plan corresponding to your eSIM in the list.
- Tap it and activate "Turn On This Line" or the top switch, depending on your iOS version.
- Restart your phone if it still shows no signal after this.
On Android:
- Open Settings → Network & Internet (or "Connections" on Samsung).
- Go to SIM Cards or eSIM Manager.
- Activate the switch next to the profile that appears as "Deactivated" or grayed out.
- If no profile appears there, it wasn't deactivated: it was deleted, and you'll need scenario 2 or 5.
Scenario 2: you factory reset your phone
A factory reset erases the eSIM profile from the phone's secure chip, along with everything else. The line still exists on the operator's side, but the phone no longer has the "key" to use it.
- First, check if the operator has its own app or web portal: some allow you to re-download the same profile from there without using your single original QR attempt.
- If there's no app, find the original email and try scanning the same QR code or using the same activation link.
- If the system tells you that the code "has already been used" or "is not valid," the profile has been consumed: you need to request a new one from support, there's no way to reactivate it from the phone.
- Next time, before factory resetting, manually deactivate (do not delete) the eSIM from Settings: on some devices, this preserves the record and facilitates subsequent reinstallation.
An eSIM profile is tied to the identifier of the device where it is first installed (the EID). Therefore, when you change phones, factory reset, or format, that profile becomes invalid on the new device, even if the plan still appears active in the operator's system: it's not your fault, it's how the technology works.
How to reinstall an eSIM on iPhone
Apple has three different ways to reinstall an eSIM, and using the wrong one is the number one reason people get stuck here.
- Transfer between nearby iPhones: if you have the old iPhone handy and it still has the eSIM active, go to Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM → Transfer from another iPhone. Both devices must be nearby and have Bluetooth/Wi-Fi active.
- QR code or operator details: Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM → Use QR code (or "Enter details manually" if the operator gave you a link instead of an image).
- Operator app: some operators allow you to reinstall the profile directly from their app, without using a QR code. Check if you have it installed before contacting support.
- If you migrated from an Android to a new iPhone, the process is not "reinstalling": it's activating a new profile, because the profile format doesn't transfer between different operating systems.
For a step-by-step guide to the first installation (useful if the phone is completely new), see the complete guide on how to install an eSIM.
How to reinstall an eSIM on Android
On Android, the menu name changes depending on the brand, but the logic is the same across all of them: find the SIM manager and add the profile from there.
| Brand / device | Path in Settings | What button to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | Settings → Connections → SIM card manager | "Add eSIM" or "Download SIM without a physical card" |
| Google Pixel | Settings → Network & Internet → SIMs | "Download an eSIM" (requires a new QR, doesn't reinstall the same one) |
| Xiaomi / Redmi | Settings → SIM cards & mobile networks | "Add data plan" |
| Motorola / other standard Android | Settings → Network & Internet → SIM cards | "+" icon next to the list of lines |
One detail that is often overlooked: on several Androids, if the profile appears listed but grayed out, there is an option to "Activate" without needing to scan anything again. Before requesting a new profile, go to the SIM manager and confirm that it's not there, simply turned off.
How to replace your eSIM if you changed or lost your phone
"Replace" is different from "reinstall": it means there is no profile to recover and you need the operator to issue a new one for the same line or plan. This happens in two typical cases.
You changed phones: the profile from your old device cannot be manually copied to the new one (except for direct transfer between nearby iPhones in the previous section). Contact operator support, confirm your purchase, and ask them to re-issue the profile for the IMEI or EID of the new device.
You lost your phone or it was stolen: before requesting a replacement, notify the operator to invalidate the old profile for security, as it is still linked to your line even if you don't have the device. Then request the new profile for the phone you will be using.
| Local operator (contract line) | International travel eSIM | |
|---|---|---|
| Support channel to request replacement | Physical store, operator hotline or chat depending on the country | Email and WhatsApp, available 24/7 in all languages |
| Typical time to get the new profile | Varies depending on the operator and identity verification process | Activation in approximately 1 minute once the profile is issued |
| Period to use the profile from purchase | Depends on the operator's policy | 180 days to activate the eSIM from purchase |
| Coverage if you are traveling soon | Local operator roaming, subject to its coverage by country | More than 200 destinations available in the same type of plan |
If the replacement process with your current operator is taking too long and you have a trip coming up, there's no need to wait to resolve everything: you can separately activate an international eSIM for your trip while your local line is resolved at your leisure.
Why sometimes you can't reinstall the same eSIM
The reason is almost always the same: an eSIM activation code (QR or link) is designed for single use. The moment the profile is successfully downloaded to a device, the operator's system marks that code as consumed. Scanning it again on another phone, or on the same one after a factory reset, won't work because it's not a file that's stored locally: it's a call to an operator's server that has already responded "delivered" once.
That's why no configuration trick fixes this case. If the error message mentions something like "profile already activated," "invalid code," or "SIM already in use," stop trying from the phone and go directly to requesting a new profile through support.
Common errors that block reinstallation
Before writing to support, review this list: it covers most cases where reinstallation fails due to something external to the profile itself.
- You are trying with mobile data off and no Wi-Fi. The phone needs some connection to validate the new profile.
- Airplane mode is still active even if you have reactivated Wi-Fi separately.
- The date and time are set manually and out of sync: this breaks the validation of the profile's security certificate.
- There is an active VPN that interferes with the connection to the operator's server during download.
- The email with the QR code was deleted or went to spam. Search by the operator's name, not by the word "eSIM."
- The same profile is already installed on another phone (for example, if you didn't delete the line from the old device before selling it). A profile cannot be active on two devices at the same time.
If you have already checked all of this and the problem persists, it is advisable to rule out first that it is not a compatibility issue with the phone itself. And if you have a broader pattern of failures (not just reinstallation), it is likely to be a different cause than what this guide covers.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the same QR code to reinstall my eSIM?
Only if the profile was deactivated but is still installed on the phone: in that case, no code is needed, just activate the switch. If the profile was deleted or the code has already been used once, that same QR will not work again and you need the operator to issue a new one.
Can I reinstall an eSIM on another phone?
Not directly. The profile is linked to the identifier of the first device where it was installed. The exception is the direct transfer between two nearby iPhones offered by Apple, which does move the profile from one device to another without going through support.
How many times can an eSIM be reinstalled?
The original activation code, usually only once. After that first successful installation, any reinstallation (for example, after a factory reset) depends on whether the operator allows the same profile to be re-downloaded from its app or portal, which varies depending on each operator.
Why does my eSIM say "not available" after restoring my phone?
Because the factory reset erases the profile from the device's secure chip. The plan remains active on the operator's side, but the phone no longer has the profile installed locally, so it must be re-downloaded or a new one requested.
Will I lose my data or minutes if I reinstall the eSIM?
The data or minutes balance you already had contracted does not depend on the phone, but on the account with the operator, so it is not lost by reinstalling. What can happen is that you are left without a connection while resolving the process, especially if you need a new profile.
What do I do if I lost my phone with an active eSIM?
First, contact the operator to invalidate the profile for security, as it is still associated with your line even if you don't have the device. Then request a replacement profile for the phone you will be using from now on.
Does reinstalling the eSIM change my phone number?
No. The number or data line belongs to your account with the operator, not to the technical profile installed on the phone. Reinstalling or replacing the profile does not change the number; it only restores technical access from the device.
What to do now
If your line was only deactivated, your eSIM should be working after scenario 1. If you had to go through the replacement process with your operator and that process became complicated (queues, slow responses, limited support channels), it's worth keeping in mind for the next time you travel: not all eSIM providers work the same once something goes wrong.
For your next trip, an alternative is to directly contract an international travel eSIM, with 24/7 support in all languages via email and WhatsApp and activation in approximately 1 minute, so if something gets stuck halfway through, you don't depend on finding a physical store of the local operator. If you also want to understand the difference between using roaming from your usual line or a physical SIM from another country, these two guides will help you decide: eSIM vs. roaming and eSIM vs. physical SIM. And if you are planning the entire trip, not just solving this specific problem, the definitive guide to eSIM for travel covers everything else you should have ready before you leave.
