How To Activate And Setup Your iPhone’s eSIM – A Guide

With the introduction of the iPhone XS, XS Max, and iPhone XR – in September 2018 – Apple officially introduced the world of dual sims in iPhones. Though it may not be the pinnacle of Apple’s prowess in the last decade, it is somewhat important in the evolution of smartphones and now we’re at a point where the top queries are all related to ‘how to activate an eSIM on iPhone?’ or ‘what is eSIM in an iPhone?’ and we’re here to answer precisely that – so stay tuned and get all the information you’ll probably need in setting up and activating your iPhone’s eSIM. Follow these FAQs and understand how an eSIM works.

Source: HT Tech

What is eSIM ? Definition and Functioning

An eSIM (short for Embedded SIM) is a digital SIM card that is embedded in a device such as an iPhone. It is a smaller and more compact alternative to the physical SIM cards that we are used to inserting in our phones in the last decade. An eSIM in an iPhone was first seen in September 2018, though the first use of eSIM by Apple can be traced back to 2017 when the eSIM support was introduced in the Apple Watch Series 3.

Source: Gadget Arena

With an eSIM, you can activate cellular service without needing to physically insert a SIM card. Instead, you can download the eSIM profile from your service provider and activate it on your device. This can be convenient if you need to switch between different service providers or plans, as you can do so without needing to swap out physical SIM cards.

In iPhones, the eSIM is typically used as a secondary SIM alongside the physical SIM card. This allows users to have two different phone numbers and plans on their device. However, not all service providers support eSIMs, so you will need to check with your provider, whether Jio, Airtel, Vodafone or any other telecom company, to see if it is an option for you. Now that we know what an eSIM is in an iPhone, let’s move on and learn about ‘eSIM activation in iPhones’.

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How to Activate eSIM In An iPhone in India – Steps By Step Guide

To activate eSIM on an iPhone in India, follow these steps:

1. Check for service provider Support: Not all providers in India support eSIMs, so you’ll need to check with your telecom company to see if it’s an option for you.
2. Get your eSIM activation code: If your service provider supports eSIM, they will provide you with an eSIM activation code. You can get this code by contacting your provider directly or checking their website.
3. Update to the latest version of iOS: Make sure your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS. You can check for updates by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
4. Open Settings: On your iPhone, go to Settings. Select ‘Mobile Data’, scroll down until you see the ‘Mobile Data’ option and select it.
5. Select ‘Add Data Plan’: Under the ‘Mobile Data’ option, select ‘Add Data Plan.’
6. Scan the QR code or enter the activation code: If your service provider provided you with a QR code, use your iPhone’s camera to scan it. If not, enter the eSIM activation code manually.
7. Follow the prompts: Your iPhone will guide you through the process of activating the eSIM. This typically involves confirming the plan details and assigning the eSIM to a specific line on your device.
8. Set the default line: If you have both a physical SIM and an eSIM activated on your iPhone, you can set the default line for making calls, sending texts, and using cellular data. Go to Settings > Mobile Data > Primary and select the line you want to use as your default.

Source: B2Y

It may be up to the specific model in some cases that will decide how eSIM works on an iPhone but iPhone 11 and above can easily function with a physical sim along with an eSIM.

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How To Deactivate eSIM In iPhone?

If you’re facing errors you can follow the instructions mentioned below and find out how to deactivate eSIM in an iPhone in a few simple steps:

To deactivate eSIM in an iPhone in India, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on ‘Mobile Data’.
3. Select the eSIM you want to deactivate.
4. Tap on “Turn Off This Line”.

Source: India Today

If you have multiple eSIMs on your iPhone, repeat the above steps for each eSIM you want to deactivate.

Note: Deactivating an eSIM will remove the cellular plan associated with that eSIM from your iPhone. If you want to reactivate the eSIM later, you’ll need to add the plan back to your iPhone using the QR code or confirmation number provided by your service provider. You can check the iPhone SIM settings to get the official information from Apple before changing any major setting or deactivating your eSIM.

Things to Remember – eSIM Activation in iPhone

Source: All Things How

Before activating/deactivating your eSIM or before you’re thinking of using one, here are a few basic things that you must remember.

1. Only select models of iPhones support eSIMs in India, including the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max. The iPhone 13 series and iPhone 14 series are the latest additions to this list, being one of the newest models to be rolled-out by Apple.
2. You can activate eSIMs in India with select service providers, including Airtel and Jio. Other providers may also support eSIMs in the future.
3. You can add an eSIM to your iPhone by scanning a QR code provided by your service provider or entering a confirmation code.
4. You can have both a physical SIM and an eSIM active at the same time on your iPhone, allowing you to use two different phone numbers on the same device.
5. Deactivating an eSIM will remove the cellular plan associated with that eSIM from your iPhone. If you want to reactivate the eSIM later, you’ll need to add the plan back to your iPhone using the QR code or confirmation number provided by your service provider.
6. In case you lose your iPhone or it gets stolen, you should contact your provider to deactivate the eSIM immediately to prevent unauthorised use of your number.

If you have any query regarding any physical damage or technical fault, you can call the experts to help you at the earliest.

Important note: With the launch of the iPhone 14 Pro series, Apple has stopped giving the physical SIM slot and the future of Apple iPhones is going to be completely based on eSIMs only.

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