How it works
An eSIM's QR code: what it is, why it works once, and what to do if you lose it
Inside that square there's a server address and a key. What they mean, why it can't be reused, and how to install without it.
Bea Nogales 6 min Photo by Joshua Ang on Unsplash When you buy an eSIM you get a QR code, and what's inside it isn't the line: it's an address and a key. Understanding that explains almost every question that comes afterwards in one go.
What's inside the square
A short piece of text with three parts: the operator's server where your profile lives, an activation code identifying which one is yours, and sometimes a password. That's all.
When you scan it, your phone connects to that server, asks for that particular profile and downloads it into its chip. The QR code is the note with the address, not the parcel.
Why it only works once
Because once downloaded, the profile is assigned to that chip and the server marks it as delivered. Scan the same code on another phone and there's nothing left to deliver.
It isn't a commercial restriction: it's how the system works, and it's the same thing that stops a physical card being in two handsets at once.
Manual installation, which is the rescue
If the QR code won't scan, because of a cracked screen, a dirty camera or because it's on the very phone you need to install it on, you can type it in by hand. The details are the same ones the code carries inside.
- The server address, usually called SM-DP+ or activation address.
- The activation code, which is a long string.
- The password, only if your provider uses one.
On your phone that option appears as entering the details manually, inside the same add eSIM menu.
What the EID is, since you're sometimes asked for it
The EID is the number identifying your phone's eSIM chip, the way the IMEI identifies the handset. It's in Settings, under device information, and some providers ask for it in order to issue a specific profile.
It isn't a secret the way a password is, but there's no need to go handing it around either.
If you lose the email with the code
- Check your bin and your spam folder before anything else.
- See whether your provider has an account area where your orders are listed.
- Message support with your order reference and the email address you bought with.
- If you'd already installed it and it's still on the phone, you don't need the code at all.
What to check if it's installed and still won't browse is in what to do when the eSIM isn't working.
Frequently asked questions
What's inside an eSIM's QR code?
The operator's server address, an activation code identifying your profile and, sometimes, a password. The line itself is downloaded afterwards.
Can I use the same QR code twice?
No. Once installed, the profile is assigned to that chip and the server marks it as delivered.
Can an eSIM be installed without scanning the QR code?
Yes, by typing the server address and activation code into the enter details manually option.
What is the EID?
The number identifying your phone's eSIM chip. It's in Settings, under device information, and some providers ask for it.
What if I lose the email with the code?
Check your bin and spam folder, look in your provider's account area and, if it doesn't turn up, message support with your order reference.
