How to set up an eSIM on iPhone (iOS 18 and later)
iPhone eSIM setup is genuinely quick — four taps and a QR scan. The step most people get wrong isn't installing the plan, it's the handful of settings right after. That's why you'll see a phone showing full bars with no internet.
Use a Samsung, Pixel or Xiaomi? Use our Android setup guide instead.
Before you start: three checks
These take a minute and head off most failures.
- Does your iPhone have an EID? Settings → General → About → look for EID. No EID means no eSIM hardware. Worth knowing: iPhones sold in mainland China don't support eSIM at all, even though the same model elsewhere does.
- Is it carrier-unlocked? Settings → General → About → Carrier Lock. It should read “No SIM restrictions”. A locked iPhone will download the profile and then refuse to register abroad.
- Are you on Wi-Fi? The profile downloads over the internet, so install before you leave home or the hotel — never in a taxi on mobile data.
Step by step: installing the eSIM
Your QR code arrives by email, usually within 5–10 minutes of payment. Open it on a laptop or another phone — you can't scan it from the same screen you're setting up.
- Open Settings → Cellular (called “Mobile Data” in some regions).
- Tap Add eSIM (on older iOS versions: “Add Data Plan”).
- Choose Use QR Code and scan the code from your email. If the code won't scan, tap Enter Details Manually and type in the SM-DP+ address and activation code from the email.
- When asked to label the plan, name it Travel — you'll be picking between lines later and “Secondary” tells you nothing.
After it installs: five settings that decide if it works
| Setting | Where | What it should be |
|---|---|---|
| Cellular data | Cellular → Cellular Data | Set to the Travel line |
| Data roaming | Cellular → the Travel line | On. Travel eSIMs register as roaming even when the plan is local. Off means no data, bars or no bars |
| Allow Cellular Data Switching | Cellular → Cellular Data | Off. Leave it on and iPhone quietly hops back to your home SIM whenever travel coverage dips — that's how people come home to a roaming bill |
| APN | Cellular → Travel line → Cellular Data Network | Usually filled in automatically. If it's empty, enter the APN exactly as shown in your order email |
| Default voice line | Cellular → Default Voice Line | Keep your home number, so iMessage, FaceTime and 2FA texts stay on the number people know |
One timing note before you panic: the plan starts when the eSIM first attaches to a supported network at your destination, not when you scan the code. Installing at home a week early costs nothing — but deleting the profile does, because the QR can't be reused.
When it installs but won't connect
| Symptom | Most likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| “Add Data Plan” doesn't appear after scanning | Download interrupted | Reconnect to Wi-Fi, scan the original code (not a compressed screenshot), retry |
| Full bars, no internet | Data roaming off on that line, or empty APN | Roaming on → check APN → restart once |
| “Cannot add cellular plan” / carrier lock message | iPhone is locked to a carrier | Check Carrier Lock; if restricted, unlock before travelling |
| “eSIM has already been installed” | QR is single-use, tied to one handset | Email tonggl@uhuibao.com with order number and ICCID |
| Hotspot on but tethered device has no internet | Some iOS builds restrict tethering on eSIM | Turn off VPN, set Travel as default data line, restart, retry |
To find your ICCID on iPhone: Settings → General → About, then scroll until you see the eSIM entry. It's the long number starting with 89 — support needs it to pull up your order.
FAQ
Which iPhones support eSIM?
iPhone XS, XS Max and XR or later. One catch: iPhones bought in mainland China don't have eSIM hardware, so if that's where you got yours, no eSIM profile will ever install.
How do I check whether my iPhone is unlocked?
Settings → General → About → Carrier Lock. “No SIM restrictions” means you're fine. Anything else and your iPhone will refuse to register on a foreign network.
Where is the option to add an eSIM?
Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM. Depending on your region the menu is called “Mobile Data” instead, and on older iOS versions the button says “Add Data Plan”. Same place either way.
Should I install it before I fly or after I land?
Before. The plan only starts counting once it connects to a network at your destination, so installing early is free upside — you're online the moment you land instead of hunting for airport Wi-Fi.
Can I move the eSIM to a new iPhone?
Not by scanning the same QR code — it can't be reused. On iOS 16 and later use Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM → Transfer from Another iPhone. Some carriers can also reissue the profile; email tonggl@uhuibao.com with your order number and ICCID.
Will I still receive iMessage and bank codes on my home number?
Yes, as long as you keep your home line enabled and set it as the default voice line. Set the eSIM for data only and your home number keeps receiving SMS normally.
Why does it show full bars but no internet?
Almost always one of three things: data roaming off on that specific line, an empty APN, or the plan hasn't activated because you haven't reached your destination yet. Check in that order.
Does hotspot work with an eSIM?
Usually, but some iOS builds restrict tethering on eSIM lines. If the tethered device has no internet, turn off any VPN, make the travel line your default for cellular data, restart and try again.