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Install & Activate Your eSIM on iPhone

A visual, step-by-step guide — install before you fly, then connect the moment you land

마지막 업데이트: 2026-06-19

Installing an eSIM on your iPhone takes about two minutes. The most important thing to understand up front: you install the eSIM at home before your trip, but it only connects once you arrive at your destination. This guide walks you through both — with screenshots of every screen — and the exact settings to check so your data works the moment you land.

Install before you fly — over Wi-Fi.

Set up your eSIM before you leave home, while you have a stable Wi-Fi or internet connection. Downloading the eSIM profile requires internet, and you may not have any the moment you land. Installing early does not start your plan — the validity countdown only begins when the eSIM connects to a network at your destination.

What you'll need

An eSIM-compatible iPhone (iPhone XR / 2018 or newer)
Your iPhone is carrier-unlocked
The latest iOS (Settings → General → Software Update)
A stable Wi-Fi connection for the install
Your eSIM QR code — emailed after purchase
It's also always on your profile page

Install in 4 steps

1

Open eSIM settings

Go to Settings → Cellular (called Mobile Data in some regions), then tap Add eSIM.

On older iOS versions this may read Add Cellular Plan.

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Settings
Cellular
Cellular Data
Off
Personal Hotspot
Off
SIMs
Primary+1 (555) 010-2293
Add eSIM
2

Scan your QR code

Choose Use QR Code and point your camera at the QR code from your email or profile page.

Only have one phone? If the QR code is on the same iPhone, tap the activation link in your eSIM email instead, or choose Enter Details Manually and paste the SM-DP+ address and activation code.

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Add Cellular Plan
Scan your QR code
Position the QR code from eSIM-Now inside the frame
3

Add & label the plan

Tap Continue, then Add Cellular Plan. Give it a label you'll recognise, like “eSIM-Now Travel.”

When asked, keep your Primary line as your default for calls and texts — you'll set the data line in the next section.

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Cancel
Cellular Plan
eS
eSIM-Now Travel
Primary
Business
Choose a label so you can tell your lines apart. You can change it later.
4

Confirm the profile installed

Go back to Settings → Cellular. Your eSIM-Now plan should now appear as a second line under SIMs.

If you can see it listed, the eSIM profile is installed correctly. You're ready for the important settings below.

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Settings
Cellular
SIMs
PrimaryVoice & Text
eS
eSIM-NowTravel Data
Your eSIM-Now line is listed — the profile installed correctly.
Don't skip this

Now set it up correctly

This is the part most people miss — and the reason an eSIM "doesn't work" even though it installed fine. Once your profile is installed, set these:

Turn Data Roaming ON for your eSIM-Now line. Travel eSIMs connect through local partner networks, which counts as roaming — without this, you'll get no data.
Turn Data Roaming OFF on your home/primary line. Otherwise your iPhone keeps trying to use your old SIM for data abroad — which means surprise charges and a connection that won't switch over.
Set Cellular Data to eSIM-Now. Settings → Cellular → Cellular Data → select eSIM-Now.
Turn OFF "Allow Cellular Data Switching." This stops your iPhone from quietly falling back to your home SIM.
Keep your Primary line for calls & texts. Settings → Cellular → Default Voice Line → your home SIM.
ROAMING ON

Travel eSIMs need Data Roaming ON to connect abroad.

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Cellular
eSIM-Now
Turn On This Line
Data Roaming
Your eSIM-Now line
ROAMING OFF

Turn this OFF so your phone stops using your home SIM for data.

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Cellular
Primary
Turn On This Line
Data Roaming
Your home line

Before you arrive, "No Service" or "Searching…" is completely normal.

Your eSIM connects to its local network at your destination — usually within a few minutes of landing and turning off Airplane Mode. Don't worry if it shows no signal while you're still at home, and never delete the eSIM to "retry" — most travel eSIMs can't be reinstalled once removed.

Your eSIM-Now plan is data-only.

It gives you fast mobile internet — but no phone number, so it can't make regular calls or receive SMS / one-time verification (OTP) codes. Keep your home SIM active for calls and texts, and use WhatsApp, FaceTime, Telegram or Signal to call and message over data.

Still no data after you arrive?

Work through these in order — they fix the large majority of cases (or jump to the full iPhone eSIM troubleshooting guide for manual network selection and common error messages):

  1. Toggle Airplane Mode on, wait 10 seconds, then off
  2. Restart your iPhone
  3. Re-check the settings above: Data Roaming ON for eSIM-Now, and it's selected under Cellular Data
  4. Make sure you're in an area with coverage and give it a few minutes
  5. Still stuck? Your QR code and details are always on your profile page — or reach our team and we'll help

Manual setup (if you can't scan)

If you only have one device, enter the details by hand:

  1. Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM → Use QR Code
  2. Tap Enter Details Manually at the bottom
  3. Enter the SM-DP+ address and Activation Code from your eSIM email
  4. Tap Next, then label and configure the line as above

Managing multiple eSIMs

Your iPhone can store up to 8 eSIM profiles and keep 2 lines active at once — ideal for keeping your home number for calls while a travel eSIM handles data. To switch: Settings → Cellular, tap a plan, then Turn On This Line. Only delete a travel eSIM after your trip — most cannot be reinstalled once removed.

Ready for your trip? Browse plans for 140+ countries, get your QR code instantly, and follow this guide to be online the moment you land.

Frequently asked questions

When should I install my eSIM — now or when I land?

Install it before you fly, over Wi-Fi, while you have a stable connection. It won't start your plan; the validity countdown only begins when the eSIM connects to a network at your destination.

Will I get a phone number with my eSIM?

No. eSIM-Now plans are data-only — fast internet with no phone number. They can't make regular calls or receive SMS/OTP codes. Keep your home SIM for calls and texts, and use apps like WhatsApp or FaceTime over data.

My iPhone shows "No Service" after installing — is the eSIM broken?

Almost never. Travel eSIMs connect at the destination, so "No Service" before you arrive is expected. Once you land, turn off Airplane Mode and give it a few minutes. If you still have no data abroad, check that Data Roaming is ON for your eSIM-Now line.

Can I keep my own number for calls and texts?

Yes. Modern iPhones run two lines at once. Keep your home SIM as the default voice line for calls and texts, and use eSIM-Now as your data line.

I deleted the eSIM by mistake — can I reinstall it?

Most travel eSIMs can only be installed once and cannot be re-added after deletion. Don't delete the eSIM to troubleshoot. If it was removed, contact our team via your profile page and we'll check your options.