Your eSIM, working before you land.
Scan the QR code we emailed you, tell your phone to use the eSIM for data, then switch on roaming when you arrive. That is the whole thing. New to eSIMs and want the background first? Read how eSIM works.
You are on Wi-Fi
The profile downloads over the internet, so no connection means no install.
Your phone takes eSIMs
iPhone XR and newer, plus most Android flagships since 2019. Check your model.
Your phone is unlocked
A handset locked to your home carrier will reject any other network.
Seven steps, whichever phone you carry.
Pick your device below. Do steps one to six at home on Wi-Fi, and leave the last one until you have landed.
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1
Connect to Wi-Fi
Your phone downloads the eSIM profile from the internet, so do this before anything else. Skipping it is the reason most installs fail.
Hotel Wi-Fi, home Wi-Fi or a friend's connection all work.
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2
Open Settings, then Cellular
On some iPhones this is called Mobile Data or Mobile Service. If you have never added a second line, you will only see your normal SIM, and that is expected.
The wording changes by country but the screen is the same one.
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3
Tap Add eSIM
Older iOS versions call it Add Cellular Plan or Add Data Plan. Ignore Transfer From Nearby iPhone, because that is for moving your own number rather than adding a travel plan.
If you cannot find it, search your Settings app for the word eSIM.
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4
Scan the QR code from your email
Choose Use QR Code and point the camera at it. Reading this on the same phone you are installing to? Tap Enter Details Manually and paste the SM-DP+ address and activation code instead.
You cannot scan a code shown on the same screen you are scanning with.
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5
Name the plan something obvious
Travel or Spain Data works well. You will be switching between two lines, so a clear name saves confusion later.
You can rename it any time in Settings, so do not overthink it.
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6
Use your normal number for calls, the eSIM for data
Your phone asks which line handles calls, iMessage and cellular data. Friends still reach you on your usual number, while data comes from the cheaper travel plan.
This is the setup almost every traveller wants.
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7
Turn on Data Roaming when you land
Settings, then Cellular, then your MegaEsim line, then Data Roaming on. It is safe and costs nothing extra, because a travel eSIM roams on a local network.
Leave Data Roaming off on your home SIM so it never runs up a bill.
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1
Connect to Wi-Fi
Android downloads the eSIM profile over the internet. Without a connection the install simply fails, and this is the most common reason it does not work.
Do this first and you avoid most problems entirely.
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2
Open your SIM settings
Most phones: Settings, then Network and internet, then SIMs. Samsung: Settings, then Connections, then SIM manager.
On Xiaomi, Oppo or OnePlus, searching Settings for eSIM usually finds it in one tap.
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3
Tap Add eSIM or the plus button
Samsung shows Add eSIM under SIM manager. Pixel says Download a SIM. Some phones label it Add mobile plan.
Look for a small plus icon next to your existing SIM.
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4
Scan the QR code from your email
If your phone offers Need help or Enter it manually, that is where you paste the activation code.
A screen lock PIN prompt here is normal security, not an error.
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5
Let the profile download, then switch it on
Usually under a minute on decent Wi-Fi. A few phones need a restart before the new line appears properly.
If it looks stuck, restart before assuming something went wrong.
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6
Set the eSIM as your mobile data line
Leave calls and SMS on your normal number so bank codes still arrive, and let data come from the travel plan.
This keeps your usual number reachable the whole trip.
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7
Turn on Roaming when you land
SIM settings, then the MegaEsim line, then Roaming on. On Samsung: Connections, then Mobile networks, then Data roaming.
Leave your home SIM roaming off so it never runs up a bill.
Install early, activate late.
Install any time before your trip, but only switch on Data Roaming once you have landed. That is the moment your plan starts running, so turning it on early quietly burns days you paid for.
Six fixes that solve almost everything.
These cover nearly every message our support team receives. Work down them in order and you will very likely be online before the end of the list.
The QR code will not scan
Nine times out of ten you are scanning a code shown on the same phone you are installing to, which is physically impossible. Open the email on a laptop or second phone, or use manual entry and paste the SM-DP+ address and activation code.
It says the eSIM cannot be added
Either you are offline, or the profile is already installed somewhere. Check Wi-Fi first. Most profiles install only once, so if it is on another device, contact us and we will reissue it.
Installed fine but there is no signal
Almost always Data Roaming. Confirm it is on for the eSIM line. If it is, select the network manually instead of automatically and give it two or three minutes to register.
Data works but it is very slow
You may be on a weaker partner network. Turn airplane mode on for ten seconds, then off, to force a fresh search. On unlimited plans, check whether you have passed the daily full speed allowance.
My phone is using the wrong line for data
Check which line is set as the mobile data line. It is easy to install the eSIM correctly but leave your home SIM on data, which means you are still paying your home carrier roaming rates.
I cannot receive my bank verification codes
Those arrive by SMS on your home number, so keep your home SIM switched on for calls and texts with its roaming off, and use the eSIM only for data.
Small things that save trips.
- Install before you fly. Airport Wi-Fi abroad is not something to rely on.
- Keep your home SIM for calls and texts, and use the eSIM only for data.
- Do not delete the eSIM to reinstall later, because most profiles install once only.
- Save the activation email. It is the only copy of your code.
- A carrier locked phone will refuse a travel eSIM.
- Support answers around the clock if a step does not match your screen.
Everything else people ask.
Can I install the eSIM without Wi-Fi?
No. Your phone downloads the profile over the internet, so you need Wi-Fi or working mobile data at the moment you install. Install at home before you travel.
What if the QR code does not work?
Use manual entry. Your order email has an SM-DP+ address and activation code. On iPhone tap Enter Details Manually, on Android look for Enter it manually or Need help.
Can I delete the eSIM and install it again?
Usually not, because most profiles install once, so deleting normally means losing the plan. If you need it on a different phone, contact support before deleting anything.
Do I need to remove my physical SIM?
No. The eSIM runs alongside it. You keep your usual number for calls and texts and use the eSIM for data, which is the whole point of a travel eSIM.
When does my plan start counting down?
When the eSIM connects to a network at your destination, not when you install it. So you can install a week early and switch on Data Roaming after you land.
Will Data Roaming cost me money?
Not on your MegaEsim line, because it roams onto a local partner network, so the switch has to be on. Do keep Data Roaming off for your home SIM, because that one charges roaming rates.
Can I use the eSIM for a personal hotspot?
Yes, you can share with a laptop or travel companion. Hotspot use eats data noticeably faster than browsing on your phone.
Will WhatsApp and iMessage still work?
Yes, because they run over data. Your WhatsApp account stays tied to your usual number, so nobody needs a new contact for you.
My phone is eSIM only, with no SIM tray. Does that change anything?
Not really. Newer iPhones sold in the United States have no tray and handle travel eSIMs fine. You just end up with two eSIM profiles instead of one SIM and one eSIM.
What if I am still stuck?
Message support with your order number and tell us exactly what your screen says. Real people answer day and night, and most problems are solved in minutes.
Still stuck? Talk to a person.
Our team answers around the clock, wherever you are and whatever time it is where you landed.