eSIMratInstalling and activating an eSIM
by RonyInstalling an eSIM means downloading the carrier profile into the phone, via a QR code or manual entry: five minutes, a good wifi connection, that is all. Activating it means making the line operational on the network. The nuance matters: at many providers, the plan's validity starts at activation or first connection, not at installation.
Why it matters when travelling
Best practice: install BEFORE leaving, calmly on wifi at home, and activate ON ARRIVAL. You land connected, with no need for airport wifi to download a profile. Just check the provider's activation deadline: some plans must be activated within 30 to 90 days of purchase.
On the day, three settings do 90% of the work: enable the eSIM line, set it as the mobile data line, and turn data roaming on FOR THAT LINE (a travel eSIM needs it, this is normal and costs nothing extra: the plan is designed for it).
The misconception
“Turning roaming on for my travel eSIM will cost me a fortune.”
No, the opposite: data roaming must be ON for the travel eSIM line for it to work (technically you are roaming on its partner network, at the rate the plan provides). What you must switch off is roaming on your home line. Two lines, two opposite settings.
In practice, device by device
On iPhone
- Settings, Mobile Data, Add eSIM, then Use QR code (or enter the details manually).
- Label the line (“Japan trip”), pick it for mobile data, keep your main line for calls and texts.
- On arrival: enable the eSIM line and its data roaming. Restart if the network is slow to latch on.
On Android
- Settings, Network & internet (or Connections), SIM, Add eSIM: scan the QR code or type the supplied codes.
- Enable the line, pick it for mobile data, and turn on its data roaming.
- If nothing works on arrival: check the APN given by the provider, then airplane mode on/off.
What it changes when you compare
Install friction really does vary between providers: a QR straight by email, or a mandatory app, an account to create, activation across several screens. The esimrat comparisons rate this ease of installation: at equal price, a plan installed in three minutes with no app beats a friction-heavy path.
Compare eSIM plans by destination
The rat's tip: Screenshot the QR code and the activation codes as soon as they arrive, and keep them offline. If you have to reinstall abroad with your email out of reach, that screenshot is worth gold. And NEVER tap “delete eSIM” to fix a fault: most profiles cannot be reinstalled.
See also
Frequently asked questions
When should I install my travel eSIM?
A few days before departure, on wifi: you check everything works and leave with peace of mind. Only activate it (or switch data to it) on arrival if the plan's validity starts at activation; the detail is in the provider's email.
Can an eSIM be installed without a QR code?
Yes, by manual entry: the provider gives an SM-DP+ address and an activation code to type into the settings. Handy when you only have one device to hand and the QR code shows... on the screen of the very phone meant to scan it.
Why will my installed eSIM not connect?
Checklist in order: eSIM line enabled, selected for data, data roaming on for that line, APN matching the provider's instructions, then airplane mode on/off or a restart. Those five steps solve the vast majority of first-day faults.