Help & setup
Check whether your phone supports eSIM, walk through activation step by step, and find answers to the questions we hear most.
Before you buy
Does your phone support eSIM?
Most phones sold in the last few years do, but carrier-locked phones (especially ones bought on a US carrier contract) sometimes have eSIM switched off even though the hardware supports it. It's worth a 30-second check before you buy.
iPhone
Open Settings → General → About, then scroll down. If you see an entry called “Digital SIM” with an EID number underneath it, your iPhone supports eSIM. No entry usually means either the model doesn’t support it, or your carrier has it locked — check with them if you’re not sure which.
iPhone XS/XR and later support eSIM in most markets, with the usual exception of some carrier-locked US models.
Android
Open Settings → Network & internet → SIMs (path varies by manufacturer — Samsung uses Connections → SIM manager). If there’s an option to “Add eSIM” or “Download a SIM instead,” your phone supports it.
Support varies a lot across Android manufacturers and even between regional versions of the same model — if in doubt, search “[your exact model] eSIM support” rather than assuming from the brand alone.
Setup guide
Installing your eSIM
After checkout you'll get a QR code and activation details on your order page. Here's what the install flow looks like.
- 1
Connect to Wi-Fi
Do this before you leave, not after you land — see the note below.
- 2
Open Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM
On some iOS versions this reads “Add Data Plan” instead of “Add eSIM.” Same screen.
- 3
Scan the QR code, or enter it manually
Tap “Use QR Code” and point your camera at the code from your order page. If it won’t scan, tap “Enter Details Manually” and type in the SM-DP+ address and activation code shown alongside it.
- 4
Label the plan and set it for data
iOS will ask you to label the new line (e.g. “Travel”) and choose which line handles cellular data. Pick the new eSIM for data, and keep your regular SIM for calls and texts if you want to stay reachable on your usual number.
- 5
Turn on data roaming for the eSIM line
Settings → Cellular → [your eSIM label] → Data Roaming. Some carriers disable this by default on a secondary line, which silently blocks data even though the eSIM installed fine.
Install before you leave, on Wi-Fi
Installing an eSIM needs a working internet connection, so do it at home or at the airport on Wi-Fi rather than after landing with no connectivity yet. On many plans the validity countdown only starts once you actually connect to a network at your destination, not at the moment you install the profile — but this varies by plan, so treat installing early as free insurance against a bad moment to troubleshoot, not a guarantee either way.
QR code, or manual entry
Scanning is the fast path, but every order page also shows the SM-DP+ address and activation code as text, plus a direct install link that opens your phone’s eSIM screen pre-filled. If the camera won’t pick up the code — screen glare, a cracked lens, scanning from another device — manual entry works identically.
One eSIM, one destination
You can install more than one eSIM on most phones (subject to the device’s own limit, often around 8, though only 1–2 can be active for data at a time). Your physical SIM or another eSIM can stay active for calls and texts on your usual number the whole time.
FAQ
Common questions
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital SIM card built into modern phones — there’s no physical card to insert or swap. Instead of a chip a shop hands you, you install a mobile data plan by scanning a QR code or entering an activation code, and it’s ready in a couple of minutes.
Will it work alongside my regular SIM?
Yes. Almost every eSIM-capable phone supports dual SIM, meaning you can keep your regular physical SIM (or another eSIM) active for calls and texts on your usual number, while the new eSIM handles mobile data at your destination. You choose which SIM does what in your phone’s settings after installing.
What happens when my data runs out?
Once you’ve used the full data allowance, that eSIM stops passing data until its validity period ends — it won’t overcharge you or fail silently mid-download. Today, the simplest way to add more data before your trip ends is to buy a second eSIM for the same destination; it installs alongside the first in a couple of minutes without removing anything.
Can I reuse the same eSIM on a future trip?
No — a plan is tied to the data allowance and validity window you bought it with, and can’t be topped up or reactivated once that window closes. For your next trip, buy a new plan for wherever you’re headed.
The QR code won't scan — now what?
Manual entry works exactly as well as scanning. Your order page shows the SM-DP+ address and activation code as plain text underneath the QR code, plus a direct install link for iOS and Android that opens your phone’s eSIM setup screen with the details pre-filled. See the setup guide above for exactly where to enter it on iOS versus Android.
What if I need help, or something goes wrong?
Reply to your order confirmation email, or use the contact link in the footer — either reaches the same inbox. This is a small, one-person operation, so there’s no live chat or phone line and no round-the-clock coverage, but we read and answer every message, usually within a day or two regardless of time zone.
Refunds and cancellations
Because each eSIM is provisioned specifically for your order the moment you buy it, we can’t refund a plan once it’s been activated or its validity window has started — this is standard across eSIM providers, not specific to us. If the QR code fails, the order doesn’t arrive, or you were charged incorrectly, contact us before activating and we’ll sort it out.
Still stuck? Reply to your order confirmation email and we’ll help you get connected.