eSIM Help Center

Install your eSIM on iPhone

Six steps, under two minutes — straight from your iPhone’s camera, no app needed

Before you start

✓Connect to Wi‑Fi (or your home network).
✓Have your QR code on a second screen or printed — you can’t scan it from the same phone.
✓You’ll need an iPhone XS or newer, carrier‑unlocked.
✓Install any time before your trip — your plan only starts when the eSIM first connects in Europe.
Mobile Plan Detected Tap to install your eSIM now .5 1× 3 CINEMATIC VIDEO PHOTO PORTRAIT PANO
1 Scan the QR code. Open the Camera app and point it at the QR code from your confirmation email — shown on another screen or printed. When the yellow frame locks on, tap the “Mobile Plan Detected” banner.
iThe QR can’t be scanned from the phone it’s displayed on — use a laptop screen, a second phone or paper. Only have this phone? See installing without a QR code below.
9:41 5G Activate eSIM Your new plan is ready to be set up on this iPhone. Activation may take a few minutes — stay connected to Wi‑Fi. Continue
2 Tap Continue. Your iPhone opens the Activate eSIM screen. Stay connected to Wi‑Fi — activation usually takes under a minute, occasionally a few.
iDon’t close Settings or restart your phone while it’s activating.
9:41 5G Back SIM Label CHOOSE A LABEL FOR YOUR NEW eSIM Primary Secondary Travel Business Personal Custom Label Labels help you tell your SIMs apart — for example “Travel” for this eSIM and “Primary” for your home SIM. You can change this any time.
3 Label your new eSIM. Pick Travel — your home SIM stays Primary, so you can always tell them apart. You can change labels any time in Settings.
9:41 5G Back Mobile Data USE FOR MOBILE DATA Primary Your home SIM Travel Europe Number eSIM Your iPhone will use “Travel” for mobile data. Allow Mobile Data Switching Data Roaming Data Roaming must stay ON for your travel eSIM to connect abroad. It does not cost extra on your Europe Number plan.
4 Set it as your data line. Choose Travel for mobile data, and keep your home SIM as the default voice line so you don’t miss calls or texts.
★ Pro tip: leave Data Roaming ON — it doesn’t cost extra. Travel eSIMs connect to European networks as roaming partners, so switching it off is the number one reason an eSIM “doesn’t work” on arrival.
9:41 5G Settings Mobile Service Mobile Data Travel Default Voice Line Primary Personal Hotspot On SIMS Primary +61 4XX XXX XXX On Travel (Europe Number) +33 X XX XX XX XX On You’re connected Your +33 French number is live.
5 You’re connected. Open Settings → Mobile Service and your French number — +33 X XX XX XX XX — is already showing under Travel (Europe Number), with two sets of signal bars at the top.
★ Pro tip: keep an eye on your messages — a welcome SMS from Bouygues Telecom will confirm your +33 number is active. That text is your proof everything worked.
9:41 5G Back Primary Turn On This Line While this line is off, you won’t receive calls, texts or verification codes on your home number — and it can’t charge you roaming fees. My Number +61 4XX XXX XXX Network Selection Off You can turn the line back on at any time. While it’s on abroad, your home carrier’s roaming charges may apply.
6 Optional — switch off your Primary SIM. Best done before you board the plane, but right now — with your eSIM confirmed working — is also perfect. Tap Primary, then turn off Turn On This Line. While it’s off, your home carrier can’t charge you roaming.
i Know what you’re giving up: no calls, texts or voicemail on your home number while the line is off — including bank verification codes sent by SMS. And whenever the line is on abroad, your carrier’s roaming charges can apply — some bill a daily fee the moment it connects. Check your carrier’s roaming terms.

Trouble installing?

Problem Fix
Camera won’t detect the QR Add more light, hold the phone steady about 20–30 cm away, and make sure the code isn’t displayed on the phone you’re scanning with. Still stuck? Install manually below.
“Plan Cannot Be Added” Each QR code installs once. If the eSIM was already added (check Settings → Mobile Service), don’t re-scan — contact us and we’ll sort it out.
No signal after installing Normal if you’re not in Europe yet. Already there? Flip Airplane Mode on and off, check the Travel line is turned On, then restart your iPhone.
Connected but no data Settings → Mobile Service: set Mobile Data to Travel and check Data Roaming is ON (step 4).
“eSIM Not Supported” Your iPhone needs to be XS/XR or newer and unlocked. Phones bought on a carrier plan may be locked — your carrier can unlock it, usually free.

Installing without a QR code

iOnly have one phone with you? Go to Settings → Mobile Service → Add eSIM → Use QR Code → Enter Details Manually and type in the SM‑DP+ address and activation code from your confirmation email — it’s the same eSIM, just installed by hand. From there, continue from step 2 above.