To install an eSIM on iPhone, connect to Wi-Fi, then either tap Install in your provider's app, scan the QR code from SettingsCellularAdd eSIM, or type the SM-DP+ address and activation code by hand. The whole process takes a few minutes. Activation happens later: when you arrive, you pick the new line for cellular data and turn on Data Roaming for it.
Key takeaways
- Any iPhone from the XS, XS Max and XR (2018) onward supports eSIM. iPhone 13 and later can run two eSIM lines at once.
- Your phone must be unlocked, and Apple says you need Wi-Fi or a hotspot to install a travel eSIM.
- Installing from the provider's app is the quickest method. QR code and manual entry are the fallbacks.
- On arrival, set the travel line as your data line and turn on Data Roaming for it, while leaving roaming off on your home line.
- Most travel providers let you top up an installed eSIM, so you rarely need to install a second one for the same trip.
Before you start: a quick checklist
Most failed installs come down to the model, a carrier lock, the connection or timing. Check these before you buy.
- Compatible model. iPhone XS, XS Max, XR or newer. iPhone X and older have no eSIM. To confirm, open SettingsGeneralAbout and look for an EID number, or check that SettingsCellular shows an Add eSIM option. Our list of iPhones that support eSIM covers regional exceptions.
- Unlocked phone. Go to SettingsGeneralAbout and find the Carrier Lock line. "No SIM restrictions" means you can add an eSIM from any provider.
- Wi-Fi or hotspot. The phone downloads the eSIM profile over the internet, so connect to a stable network first.
- The right moment. Install at home, a day or two before you fly, while you still have reliable Wi-Fi. Most travel plans only start counting validity once the line connects to a network at your destination, but read your plan card to be sure.
Check regional models
In mainland China, only iPhone 17e and iPhone Air support eSIM, and some Hong Kong and Macao models use two nano-SIM cards instead. If you bought your iPhone in one of these markets, confirm support before paying for a plan.
Method 1: install the eSIM from the provider's app
This is the quickest method. The app hands the profile straight to iOS, so there is nothing to scan or type.
Download the provider's app
Get it from the App Store and sign in. Stay on Wi-Fi until setup is done.
Choose and pay for a plan
Pick a destination and package. Local plans cover one country, regional and global plans cover several.
Tap Install
iOS opens its eSIM setup sheet. Tap Continue and wait for the download.
Name the line
iOS asks you to label the new plan. Choose Travel or type the country name so it is easy to spot later.
Set your defaults
For now, keep your home line as the default for calls and data. You will switch data to the travel line when you land.
Other providers such as Airalo and Nomad also support in-app installation on iPhone, and Nomad advertises guided iOS setup.
Method 2: install the eSIM with a QR code
Use this when you bought on a website or the app install fails. The code arrives by email or sits in your account.
Show the code on another screen
You cannot scan a code displayed on the same iPhone's camera, so open it on a laptop, tablet or a printout.
Open Add eSIM
Go to SettingsCellularAdd eSIMUse QR Code.
Scan and confirm
Point the camera at the code, then tap Continue. Wait until iOS confirms the cellular plan is added.
Label the line
Label it and keep your home line as default.
Tip
If the code only lives on your phone, take a screenshot. In the QR scanning screen, iOS offers an option to open a photo from your library. TonMobile also lets you send an eSIM's QR code to another device from its app, which is handy when installing on a family member's iPhone.
Set Up Cellular
Position the QR code from your provider in the frame.
Method 3: enter the SM-DP+ address and activation code manually
Manual entry is the fallback when the app and camera both fail. You need two strings from the order details: the SM-DP+ address (the server holding your profile) and an activation code.
Find the details
Copy both values exactly from the app, account page or order email.
Open manual entry
Go to SettingsCellularAdd eSIMUse QR CodeEnter Details Manually.
Paste both values
Paste the SM-DP+ address and the activation code into their fields. Leave the confirmation code blank unless you were given one.
Finish setup
Tap Next, then label the line.
Which method should you use?
| Method | What you need | Second screen | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider's app | App, account, Wi-Fi | No | Most travelers |
| QR code | Code from email or account, Wi-Fi | Partial | Plans bought on a website |
| Manual entry | SM-DP+ address, activation code, Wi-Fi | No | When scanning or the app fails |
What to do when you land
Installing only adds the profile. Activation means telling iOS to use the travel line for data once you arrive.
Switch the data line
Open SettingsCellularCellular Data and select your travel line.
Turn on Data Roaming for the travel line
Tap the travel line under SettingsCellular and switch on Data Roaming. Travel eSIMs connect through partner networks abroad, so without roaming enabled the line will not get data.
Turn off Data Roaming on your home line
Open your home line in the same menu and make sure Data Roaming is off. This keeps your home carrier from charging roaming fees.
Check the signal
Give it a minute to join a local network. If nothing happens, toggle Airplane Mode.
Keep the home line switched on
Leave your home SIM active so you still receive bank SMS and one-time codes. With data roaming off on that line, incoming texts usually still arrive, but check your home carrier's roaming terms for incoming SMS.
To save data on a smaller plan, turn on Low Data Mode for the travel line under SettingsCellular[travel line]Data Mode. Not sure what package size to buy? See how much data you need for travel.
Travel eSIM
Line labels, default lines and iMessage
With two lines active, iOS needs to know which one handles calls, texts and data.
Rename a line
Open SettingsCellular, tap the line, then Cellular Plan Label. Pick a preset such as Travel or type a name like "Japan".
Set the default voice line
Most travel eSIMs are data-only, with no phone number or SMS. TonMobile lines, for example, carry data only. So keep your home line as the default voice line under SettingsCellularDefault Voice Line.
iMessage and FaceTime
Apple confirms that if you use only the travel eSIM for data, iMessage and FaceTime keep working with your home number. Check SettingsAppsMessagesiMessage and make sure your home number stays selected.
Tip
Under SettingsCellularCellular Data there is an Allow Cellular Data Switching toggle. Leave it off abroad, otherwise iOS may fall back to your home line and trigger roaming charges when the travel signal drops.
Cellular
SIMs
Travel eSIM
Switching between several eSIMs on a multi-country trip
An iPhone can store several eSIM profiles, but only two lines are active at once. That gives you two ways to handle a trip across several countries.
One regional or global eSIM
- Install once, before you leave
- No switching at borders
- Covers every country on the plan's list
One local eSIM per country
- Install all of them at home on Wi-Fi
- Switch lines when you cross a border
- Lets you pick a plan per destination
Switching takes seconds. In SettingsCellular, turn off the line for the country you left, turn on the line for the new country, and select it under Cellular Data. Then enable Data Roaming on it. TonMobile lets you buy several eSIMs at once, which makes it easy to install all of them before departure.
Topping up vs installing a new eSIM
Running out of data does not mean starting over. In the same country or region, a top-up adds data to the eSIM already installed, keeping the line and your settings.
Install a new eSIM only when you move to a destination your current plan does not cover, or when the provider does not offer top-ups for that package. TonMobile, Airalo and several other providers support top-ups on an existing eSIM. To compare which providers do what, see our eSIM provider rating, built from published features, terms and store listings.
Common installation errors
- "Cellular plan cannot be added": usually a carrier lock, a lost connection mid-download, or a QR code already used. Check the Carrier Lock line and your Wi-Fi.
- "This code is no longer valid": the profile was already installed or deleted. Contact the provider for a new one.
- Installed but no data: Data Roaming is off on the travel line, or it is not selected under Cellular Data.
For step-by-step fixes, read our guide on what to do when an eSIM is not working on iPhone.
FAQ
Can I install an eSIM on iPhone without Wi-Fi?
Apple says you need Wi-Fi or a hotspot to install a travel eSIM, because the phone downloads the profile over the internet. Some eSIM-only models in certain regions are an exception. The safest plan is to install at home before you travel.
When should I install a travel eSIM?
Install it a day or two before departure, while you have reliable Wi-Fi. Then switch data to the travel line and turn on Data Roaming for it after you land. Check your plan card for when validity starts.
Can I scan an eSIM QR code on the same iPhone?
The camera cannot scan a code shown on its own screen. Display the code on another device, or save it as a screenshot and open it from your photo library in the QR scanning screen. Installing through the provider's app avoids the QR code altogether.
How many eSIMs can an iPhone hold?
An iPhone can store several eSIM profiles, but only two lines can be active at the same time. iPhone 13 and later, plus iPhone SE 3rd generation, can run two eSIM lines at once.
Will my home number still work with a travel eSIM?
Yes. Keep your home line on and set it as the default voice line. Apple confirms iMessage and FaceTime keep working on the home line while the travel eSIM handles data.
Can I transfer a travel eSIM to a new iPhone?
It depends on the provider. Many travel eSIM profiles are tied to the device they were first installed on, so ask support before deleting anything. Some apps, including TonMobile, let you send a QR code to another device before installation.