Step-by-Step Guide on How to Install eSIM on Your iPhone / iPad

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This guide covers all three ways to install an eSIMno eSIM on your iPhone or iPad — one-tap Quick Install, QR code scan with the Camera app, and manual SM-DP+ / Activation Code entry. Your codes also arrive in your order confirmation email, so you can install straight from there too. Pick the method that fits your setup. To confirm that your model supports eSIM, see our device compatibility list.

In a hurry? The 3-step version.

Install the eSIMno line at home on Wi-Fi (one tap from your order email, or from Profile > My eSIMs > Install).
When you land, turn Data Roaming ON for the eSIMno line (this does not affect your home line).
Set Cellular Data to the eSIMno line. That's it — you're online.

Want every detail and screenshots? Keep reading.

Updated for iOS 26 (released 15 September 2025). The steps below cover iOS 26, iOS 18, iOS 17, iOS 16 and iOS 15. The same flow applies to iPad — see the iPad notes below for the small differences. Upgrading to a new iPhone? You can also use the QR-less Transfer From Nearby iPhone flow to move your existing eSIMno line from the old device to the new one.

A note on region labels: depending on your iPhone's region, Settings > Cellular may be called Mobile Data (UK, Europe, Australia), and Add eSIM may be labelled Add Cellular Plan. They are the same options — we use the Cellular / Add eSIM wording throughout this guide.

iPad differences: the install flow is identical, but iPad does not ask for a "Default Line" / iMessage / FaceTime line because it has no phone-call functionality. iPad will only ask you to choose the line for Cellular Data — pick the eSIMno line there. Wi-Fi-only iPad models do not support eSIM at all.

Apple Watch note: Apple Watch Cellular models can share a cellular plan with the paired iPhone via Apple's Number Sharing feature, but this requires carrier support and is typically not available for travel eSIMs like eSIMno. Your eSIMno line will be active on your iPhone only — the Apple Watch falls back to Bluetooth / Wi-Fi connection through your iPhone when you travel.

Already have other eSIMs on your iPhone? You can keep them — iPhone (iPhone 13 and later) supports 8 or more stored eSIMs, with 2 active at any time. Add the eSIMno line as usual; while you travel, pick the eSIMno line as your Cellular Data, then switch back to your home line in Settings > Cellular when you return.

💡 Best practice — install your eSIMno line at home before you travel. eSIM installation needs a stable internet connection so your phone can talk to Apple servers. Installing at home on Wi-Fi is fast and stress-free; the eSIM only starts using data when you land in your destination country, so there's no waste. See when to set up your eSIM for the full timing guidance.

⚠️ Heads-up — eSIM install codes are one-time-use. If you delete the eSIM from your phone, or factory-reset the device after installing, the original QR code and SM-DP+ codes will not work again — this is a hardware-level GSMA security rule, not specific to eSIMno. Please install carefully and make sure your phone has a stable internet connection before you tap install.

I. OPEN THE INSTALLER

Fastest route — your order email already has everything. Your order confirmation email shows, for each eSIM, a one-tap Install on iPhone link, the QR code and the SM-DP+ / Activation codes — so you can jump straight to a method below. The email's Install eSIM button opens the same installer on esimno.com.
Or open it from your account: sign in at esimno.com from any browser (computer, tablet or another phone — the codes are the same), open Profile > My eSIMs, find the eSIM you just bought (status "Ready to install") and tap Install (or Details > Install — both open the same installer).

In the Quick Install pop-up, set Operating System to iOS (iPhone / iPad) and Device Brand / Version to your iOS version. eSIMno auto-detects this from your browser, but you can override it (for example, when the device you will install on is not the one you are browsing from).

II. CHOOSE YOUR INSTALL METHOD

The pop-up has two tabs: Easy Install (a one-tap button + a QR code on the same screen — Methods A and B) and Manual Install (the SM-DP+ Address and Activation Code to type by hand — Method C).

Which method to use depends on where you opened esimno.com (or your order email):

On the actual iPhone you want to install on → start with Method A (Quick Install), one tap. If the deep link is blocked, fall back to Method C (Manual). Method B (QR) won't work here — a phone can't scan its own screen.
On a different screen — a computer, tablet or another phone showing the QR → use Method B (QR Code) and scan it with the camera of the iPhone you're setting up (never another phone, or the eSIM installs on that phone).
Prefer paper? Tap Print QR Code in the pop-up, print it at normal size, then scan it with the iPhone you're setting up whenever it suits you — same as Method B. Treat the printout like a password: anyone who scans it before you could install your eSIM on their own phone. Keep it private, don't photograph it, and discard it after installing.

All three methods finish with the same short set of Apple prompts — see "Finishing the Apple prompts" right after Method C.

A. QUICK INSTALL (ONE-TAP) — iOS 17.4 OR LATER

On the iPhone you want to install on, open the Easy Install tab and tap the large dark Install on this iPhone button (or the Install on iPhone link in your order email). iOS opens Apple's native installer with the codes pre-filled. Then complete the Apple prompts — see "Finishing the Apple prompts" below.

Not working? The one-tap deep link needs iOS 17.4 or later. On iOS 17.3 or earlier, use Method B (QR Code) or Method C (Manual).

B. QR CODE INSTALL — USE YOUR CAMERA

On iOS 15 or later (every eSIM-capable iPhone), the Camera app handles it — no need to open Settings:

Open the Camera app on the iPhone you want to install on.
Point it at the QR code shown in the eSIMno pop-up (or your order email) on the other screen.
Tap the yellow "Cellular Plan Detected" banner, then complete the Apple prompts — see "Finishing the Apple prompts" below.

Camera didn't detect the QR? Open Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM and scan from inside that screen instead.

C. MANUAL ENTRY

Use this if the camera won't detect the QR. Switch to the Manual Install tab — it shows copy-to-clipboard fields and a numbered step list for the device you selected:

Tap the SM-DP+ ADDRESS row to copy it.
Tap the ACTIVATION CODE row to copy it. (If your phone asks for one combined string, copy the FULL LPA STRING row instead.)
Follow the numbered steps in the pop-up to paste these into your iPhone's Settings, then complete the Apple prompts — see "Finishing the Apple prompts" below.

⚠️ Apple quirk — to reach the manual form, you go *through* the QR scanner. On the iPhone: Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM. If a Set Up Cellular screen appears, tap Use QR Code (some iOS builds skip this). Apple opens the QR scanner — don't scan anything; tap Enter Details Manually at the very bottom, then paste the SM-DP+ Address and Activation Code.

Images: iPhone Settings → Cellular (Add eSIM) → Use QR Code → scanner (Enter Details Manually) → paste form.

FINISHING THE APPLE PROMPTS (same for all three methods)

After the codes are accepted, Apple walks you through a few quick prompts. Tap Continue on each one (usually 2, occasionally 3 depending on iOS version) and wait 30–90 seconds for activation (occasionally up to 3 minutes), then:

Label — name the new line (the preset Secondary is fine, or type eSIMno / Travel).
Default Line (and iMessage & FaceTime) — keep your existing home line for both.
Cellular Data — pick the eSIMno line.

Your eSIM profile is now installed. Continue below to switch on data and roaming.

III. ACCESS DATA & ROAMING

⚠️ Critical — Data Roaming must be ON for the eSIMno line. Your phone treats every eSIMno eSIM as a "roaming" network even when you are in the destination country. Without this toggle the eSIM installs correctly but shows no internet. This does NOT trigger roaming charges on your home line — the toggle only affects the eSIMno line you just installed.

Go to Settings > Cellular > [your eSIMno line] and make sure Turn On This Line is enabled.

Enable Data Roaming for the eSIMno line. (Again — this does NOT affect your home line.)
Make sure Cellular Data is set to your eSIMno line.

If your eSIMno line connected to the wrong carrier, open Settings > Cellular > [your eSIMno line] > Network Selection, disable Automatic and pick the supported network manually from your eSIMno coverage list.

Your eSIMno line should now be active and providing data. APN settings are auto-configured inside the eSIM profile — you don't need to set them manually.

IV. QUICK TROUBLESHOOTING

If your eSIM does not work after install, try these in order:

Toggle Airplane Mode for 10 seconds — the fastest fix for "no service" right after install.
Check Data Roaming is ON for the eSIMno line — by far the most common cause of "installed but no internet". See section III.
Confirm you are in the destination country — eSIMno eSIMs only connect to networks in the countries the plan covers, not in your home country.
Check the carrier — Settings > Cellular > [your eSIMno line] > Network Selection, disable Automatic, pick a supported carrier manually.
Still no data? Contact support with your order number, iPhone / iPad model, iOS version and destination country, and we'll diagnose it.

Upgrading to a new iPhone? See iOS 26 eSIM Transfer feature for the QR-less Transfer From Nearby iPhone flow — both iPhones need iOS 16 or later, and the eSIMno line moves with the transfer. Already on the target iPhone and want the fastest method? See how the one-click Quick Install link works.

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