How to Install an eSIM Manually on iPhone and Android

Installing an eSIM manually means adding it without scanning a QR code: you type or paste the install details straight into your phone's settings. On iPhone you fill in two separate fields, the SM-DP+ address and the activation code. On Android you usually paste one field, the full code that starts with LPA:1$. The whole thing takes about two minutes and needs an internet connection.

When do you need to install an eSIM manually?

A manual install downloads exactly the same profile as a QR scan. Only the way the details reach your phone is different. It's the easiest route when:

• The QR code is on the same phone, and there's no second screen to scan it from.
• Scanning fails because of lighting, a cracked screen or a camera that won't focus.
• You're already abroad with no computer or printer, only the email on your phone.
• You're setting up a family member's phone remotely and sending them the details in a message.

What do you need before you start?

• An eSIM-compatible, carrier-unlocked phone. Not sure? Check your model here.
• An internet connection, ideally stable Wi-Fi. Without it the phone can't download the profile.
• Your install details, from the email you got after buying, or from your account.
• Don't delete the eSIM once it's installed. A deleted profile usually can't be installed again with the same details.

Where do you find the SM-DP+ address and activation code?

In our install email, under the QR code, you'll find the full code for manual installation. It looks roughly like this (the example below is made up):

LPA:1$rsp.example.com$K2-ABCD1-EFGH23

The code has three parts, separated by $:

The easy way: in your account on our site, we split the code for you. Sign in with your email, and each eSIM shows the SM-DP+ address and activation code separately, each with a copy button, plus the full code for Android.

How do you install an eSIM manually on iPhone?

1. Open Settings → Cellular (Mobile Data in some regions).
2. Tap Add eSIM or Add Cellular Plan (the name depends on your iOS version).
3. If you're asked where to transfer the line from, choose Use QR Code.
4. On the scanning screen, tap Enter Details Manually at the bottom.
5. In SM-DP+ Address, paste only the address, without LPA:1$ and without any $ signs.
6. In Activation Code, paste only the last part of the code.
7. Leave Confirmation Code empty unless we specifically sent you one.
8. Tap Next and wait while the iPhone downloads the profile. It usually takes under a minute.

The most common iPhone mistake is pasting the whole LPA:1$... string into one field. The iPhone asks for the two parts separately, so the safest move is to copy them from your account, where they're already split.

Got the QR code on the same iPhone?

On iOS 17.4 and later there's a shortcut: press and hold the QR image in the email and tap Add eSIM. If that option doesn't appear, use the manual install above.

How do you install an eSIM manually on Android?

On Android, a manual install is simpler: on most phones you paste the full code, including LPA:1$, into a single field. Menu names vary a little between manufacturers and versions, but the idea is the same: go to add an eSIM, and on the scanning screen choose to enter a code instead.

Samsung Galaxy

1. Settings → Connections → SIM manager.
2. Tap Add eSIM.
3. Choose Scan QR code from service provider.
4. On the scanning screen, tap Enter activation code.
5. Paste the full code (LPA:1$...) and tap Connect.

Google Pixel

1. Settings → Network & internet → SIMs.
2. Tap Add SIM (or +), then Download a SIM instead? if you're asked.
3. On the scanning screen, tap Need help? → Enter it manually.
4. Paste the full code and tap Continue.

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO

1. Settings → SIM cards & mobile networks → Manage eSIM.
2. Tap Add eSIM.
3. On the scanning screen, choose the option to enter an activation code manually.
4. Paste the full code and confirm.

Another brand (OnePlus, Oppo, Motorola)? Search your settings for eSIM. The menu almost always leads to a scanning screen with a small link for manual entry.

iPhone vs Android: what goes where?

What should you check right after installing?

The install is done when the eSIM shows up in your list of lines. Before your flight, check three settings:

• Line name. Call it "Travel" or "FlySim" so you don't mix it up with your home SIM.
• Cellular data line. Abroad, the eSIM should be the line that handles data. Your home SIM can stay on for calls and texts.
• Data roaming. Turn on Data Roaming for the eSIM line only. Without it you won't get data, even if the install worked. Keep it off on your home SIM so you don't pay roaming charges.

When exactly should you install, and when should you activate? We covered that in a separate guide.

Manual install failed: what should you check?

Most manual install failures come from an inaccurate copy, not a problem with the profile. Go through this list in order:

1. Extra spaces. Copying from an email sometimes adds a space at the start or end. Delete it.
2. Wrong field on iPhone. Make sure the SM-DP+ field holds only the address, and the activation code field has no $.
3. Typing instead of pasting. It's easy to confuse O with 0, or l with 1. Copy and paste instead.
4. No internet. Connect to stable Wi-Fi and try again.
5. The code was already used. Each code is for one install. If the eSIM was installed once, even on a different phone, you'll need a new code.

Still stuck? Message us and we'll help. There's also a full guide to install problems.

FAQ

What's the difference between a manual install and scanning a QR code?

The result is the same. The QR code is just a picture of the same activation code. When you scan, the camera reads it. When you install manually, you enter it yourself.

What is an SM-DP+ address?

The SM-DP+ address is the address of the server your phone downloads the eSIM profile from. It's part of the full activation code, between the first and second $ sign.

Can you install an eSIM manually without internet?

No. Your phone needs an internet connection to download the profile. Hotel or airport Wi-Fi is enough.

Can you use the same activation code twice?

No. Each activation code is for one install. Once the eSIM is installed, don't delete it from your phone.

Why does iPhone have two fields and Android one?

It's a difference in how each manufacturer built the screen. The iPhone asks for the address and the code separately. Most Android phones take the full string and split it themselves.

When should you install the eSIM, at home or abroad?

It's easiest at home, a day or two before your flight, when you have stable Wi-Fi. You only switch on data when you land.

Haven't bought an eSIM yet? Pick your destination and your install details will arrive by email within minutes. For the regular install guide with a QR scan, go here.