Instructions for eSIM installation

Hand scanning an eSIM QR code with a smartphone for installation and activation

eSIM Installation Instructions

After purchasing eSIM, you will receive an email with installation details: QR code, quick installation buttons, SM-DP+ address, Activation Code, APN, ICCID/IMSI, and a link to the eSIM personal account.

eSIM can be installed at home before your trip. An internet connection is required: Wi-Fi or mobile internet from another SIM. You can only use the eSIM internet in the country or region where the tariff is valid.

Before Installation

Check 4 things:

  1. The phone supports eSIM.
    Quick check: dial *#06# and see if there is an EID. If EID is present, the device usually supports eSIM.

  2. The phone is not locked by the operator.
    On iPhone, check: Settings → General → About → SIM Restrictions.
    It should state: No SIM Restrictions.

  3. There is internet for installation.
    Connect to Wi-Fi or use mobile internet from another SIM.

  4. You are installing eSIM on the phone you will use it with.
    Do not share the QR code and installation details with others.

Do not delete the eSIM after installation until you have used the package. A deleted profile can be reinstalled using the same QR code on the same device, but this QR code cannot be used on another device.

1. Quick Installation on iPhone / iPad

Suitable for iPhone and iPad with iOS / iPadOS 17.4+.

  1. Open the email with eSIM on the iPhone or iPad where you want to install eSIM.
  2. Click the Install on iPhone button.
  3. When prompted to Activate new eSIM, click Allow.
  4. Click Continue.
  5. Wait for the installation to complete.
  6. Select eSIM for mobile data.
  7. For this eSIM, enable Data Roaming.

Path in settings after installation:
Settings → Cellular → Cellular Data → select eSIM

To enable roaming:
Settings → Cellular → your eSIM → Data Roaming

If the button did not open, use QR code installation or manual entry.

2. Quick Installation on Android

On Android, one-click installation is available via Android Universal Link. Support depends on the phone model, Android version, eSIM availability, and current Google services.

Typically required:

  • Android 10 or newer;
  • eSIM support on the device;
  • up-to-date Google Mobile Services;
  • opening the link on the same phone where eSIM is being installed.

How to install:

  1. Open the email with eSIM on your Android smartphone.
  2. It’s best to open the button from Chrome, Gmail, or the default browser.
  3. Click the Install on Android button.
  4. If the device supports this method, the system screen for adding eSIM will open.
  5. Confirm the installation.
  6. Wait for the eSIM profile to download.
  7. Select eSIM for mobile data.
  8. Enable Data Roaming for this eSIM.

Typical path in Android settings:
Settings → Network & internet → SIM cards → Add eSIM

On Samsung, the path may differ:
Settings → Connections → SIM card manager → Add eSIM

If the Android button did not work, it does not mean the eSIM is faulty. Use the QR code or manually enter the SM-DP+ and Activation Code.

3. Installation via QR Code

The QR code is the primary universal method for installing eSIM on iPhone, iPad, and Android.

iPhone / iPad

  1. Open: Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM.
  2. Select Use QR Code.
  3. Scan the QR code from the email.
  4. Confirm the addition of eSIM.
  5. Select eSIM for mobile data.
  6. Enable Data Roaming for this eSIM.

On iOS 17.4+, you can also open the email or page with the QR code, press and hold the QR code, then select Add eSIM.

Android

The names of the items may vary by manufacturer.

General path:
Settings → Network & internet → SIM cards → Add eSIM → Scan QR code

Samsung:
Settings → Connections → SIM card manager → Add eSIM → Scan QR code

Google Pixel:
Settings → Network & internet → SIM cards → Add SIM → Download SIM instead of physical → Scan QR code

After installation:

  1. Select eSIM for mobile data.
  2. Enable Data Roaming.
  3. Restart the phone or toggle airplane mode if the network does not appear immediately.

4. Manual Installation via SM-DP+ and Activation Code

Use manual installation if the QR code cannot be scanned or the quick installation button does not open.

The data for manual installation is in the email and in the Data tab of the eSIM personal account:

  • SM-DP+ address
  • Activation Code
  • APN

iPhone / iPad

  1. Open: Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM.
  2. Select Use QR Code.
  3. Click Enter Data Manually.
  4. Enter SM-DP+ address.
  5. Enter Activation Code.
  6. If prompted for a Confirmation Code, enter it only if it is separately specified in the email. If there is no separate code, leave the field blank.
  7. Confirm the installation.

Android

General path:
Settings → Network & internet → SIM cards → Add eSIM → Enter code manually

Samsung:
Settings → Connections → SIM card manager → Add eSIM → Scan QR code → Enter activation code

Enter:

  • SM-DP+ address
  • Activation Code

If the device asks for a Confirmation Code, leave the field blank if a separate confirmation code is not specified in the email.

5. When the eSIM validity period starts

The eSIM has two different events:

eSIM Installation - the profile is downloaded to the phone. An internet connection is required for installation.

Activation / first connection - eSIM connects to the mobile network in the coverage area.

For most tourist eSIMs, the validity period starts after the first connection to the local network in the coverage area. Therefore, eSIM can usually be installed at home before departure and used after arrival.

However, there are exceptions: for some tariffs, the validity period may start after the eSIM is installed on the device. If the tariff states Billing Start: First Installation, install the eSIM closer to your trip.

6. What to check and enable after installation

After installing eSIM, check the settings:

  1. eSIM is selected for mobile data.
  2. Data roaming is enabled for eSIM.
  3. The primary SIM is left for calls and SMS if you need to receive banking SMS and regular calls.
  4. APN matches the APN from the email or eSIM personal account.
  5. VPN, proxy, and data saver mode are disabled if the internet is not working.

iPhone:
Settings → Cellular → Cellular Data → select eSIM

Android:
Settings → Network & internet → SIM cards → Mobile data → select eSIM

Roaming on iPhone:
Settings → Cellular → your eSIM → Data Roaming

Roaming on Android:
Settings → Network & internet → SIM cards → your eSIM → Roaming

7. APN: when to enter manually

APN is usually set automatically. However, on some Android devices or in certain countries, the APN may need to be entered manually.

The APN is specified:

  • in the email with eSIM;
  • in the Data tab of the eSIM personal account.

Example APN:
isp

Path on Android:
Settings → Network & internet → SIM cards → your eSIM → Access Point Names / APN

Path on iPhone:
Settings → Cellular → your eSIM → Cellular Data Network

If the login and password fields are not specified, leave them blank.

8. eSIM Personal Account: status, traffic balance, and installation data

The email contains a button Open eSIM Personal Account. You can also log in using the IMSI from the email.

In the eSIM personal account, the following sections are available:

Monitoring

Here you can check:

  • eSIM status;
  • whether eSIM is connected to the network;
  • traffic balance;
  • used traffic;
  • remaining package time;
  • technical statuses for support.

If it shows Not Connected before the trip, this is usually normal. The eSIM has not yet connected to the network in the coverage area.

Installation

Here you can find:

  • QR code;
  • Install on iPhone button;
  • Install on Android button;
  • data for manual installation.

Use this section if you lost the email or want to open the QR code from another device.

Data

Here are the technical parameters of the eSIM:

  • SM-DP+ address;
  • Activation Code;
  • APN;
  • tariff;
  • traffic volume;
  • validity period;
  • country or region of coverage;
  • ICCID;
  • IMSI;
  • LPA string;
  • technical statuses.

To contact support, you usually need ICCID, IMSI, phone model, and a screenshot of the error.

Top Up

If top-up packages are available for your eSIM, they can be purchased in this section.

If it says that top-up packages are not found, it means that top-up is currently unavailable for this eSIM or the purchase currency.

Top-Up History

Here you can see previously purchased top-ups for this eSIM.

9. What the data in the email means

QR code - the primary method for installing eSIM.

Install on iPhone - quick installation on iPhone/iPad with iOS/iPadOS 17.4+.

Install on Android - quick installation on supported Android devices.

SM-DP+ - the address of the server from which the phone downloads the eSIM profile.

Activation Code - the activation code for eSIM.

APN - the access point configuration for mobile internet.

ICCID - the identifier of the eSIM profile.

IMSI - the subscriber identifier in the mobile network. It can be used to log into the eSIM personal account.

LPA - the technical installation string of the form:
LPA:1$SM-DP+$ActivationCode

10. If the internet does not appear

Check in order:

  1. You are in the country or region of the tariff coverage.
  2. eSIM is selected for mobile data.
  3. Data roaming is enabled for eSIM.
  4. The phone has a network signal.
  5. APN matches the APN from the email or eSIM personal account.
  6. VPN, proxy, and data saver mode are disabled.
  7. The phone has been restarted after installing eSIM.
  8. You have tried toggling airplane mode.

The first connection may sometimes take a few minutes.

11. If eSIM does not install

Possible reasons:

  • the phone does not support eSIM;
  • the phone is locked by the operator;
  • there is no stable internet during installation;
  • the QR code has already been used on another device;
  • the installation is opened on the wrong phone;
  • corporate restrictions on the phone prevent adding eSIM;
  • the email application or browser does not open the installation link.

What to do:

  1. Try another installation method: button, QR code, manual entry.
  2. Connect to a stable Wi-Fi.
  3. Restart the phone.
  4. Check for EID via *#06#.
  5. Check that the phone is not locked by the operator.
  6. Contact support and provide the phone model, ICCID/IMSI, and a screenshot of the error.

12. What to send to support

To resolve the issue faster, send:

  1. The country and city you are in.
  2. The installation method you tried: button, QR code, or manual entry, description or screenshot of the error.
  3. A screenshot of the phone settings:
    Path on iPhone: Settings → General → About.
    Path on Android: Settings → About phone.
  4. A screenshot of the SIM cards:
    Path on iPhone: Settings → Cellular → your eSIM
    Path on Android: Settings → Network & internet / Mobile networks → SIM cards
  5. A screenshot of your eSIM:
    Path on iPhone: Settings → Cellular → Cellular Data → select eSIM
    Path on Android: Settings → Network & internet / Mobile networks → select eSIM
  6. A screenshot of the APN of your eSIM:
    Path on iPhone: Settings → Cellular → your eSIM → Cellular Data Network
    Path on Android: Settings → Network & internet / Mobile networks → your eSIM → Access Point Names / APN.

Support: support@esim.bar

FAQ on eSIM Installation

Answers to your frequently asked questions.