How To Activate & Set Up eSIM On Your iPhone, by Trevor Nace on YouTube. 2 min 46 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 46 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Connect your iPhone to Wi-Fi and turn on Bluetooth. Both help the phone find a nearby iPhone for a transfer and finish activation.
Open Settings and tap Cellular. This is where every eSIM route starts on iOS 27.
Tap Add eSIM. The screen offers the ways to add a line: transfer from a nearby iPhone, transfer from Android, scan a QR code, or enter details manually.
To move a line from an old iPhone, choose the transfer option and keep both phones close with Bluetooth on. Follow the prompts on each screen.
Coming from Android, pick Transfer from Android and scan the QR code shown. The eSIM moves to your iPhone.
If your carrier gave you a QR code, choose the scan option and point the camera at the code. Keep the code flat and well lit.
With no QR code, choose the manual option and type the SM-DP+ address and activation code your carrier sent you. Check each character before tapping next.
Wait while the iPhone activates the line. Keep the phone on Wi-Fi and don't close Settings until it finishes.
Open the new line's settings to set Wi-Fi Calling, confirm your phone number and add a SIM PIN if you want one.
Tips and common mistakes
Ask your carrier for the SM-DP+ address and activation code before you start, in case the QR code fails.
Keep both phones close and unlocked during a transfer so the eSIM can move.
Don't delete the eSIM from your old phone until the new line shows as active.
A SIM PIN locks the line, so write it down somewhere safe.
Questions
Do I need a QR code to add an eSIM?
No. You can transfer from a nearby iPhone or Android phone, or type the SM-DP+ address and activation code by hand.
Will my old phone still work after the transfer?
The eSIM moves to the new iPhone, so the old phone loses that line. Keep it until you confirm the new line is active.
Where do I change Wi-Fi Calling on the new line?
Open the line's settings under Cellular after activation. Wi-Fi Calling, your phone number and the SIM PIN live there.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
