What are eSIM cards?
eSIM is a small chip that is embedded into your smartphone. Its principle of operation can be compared to that of the NFC chip: when you put the gadget to the terminal at the checkout, the money is debited from the card, but there is no physical bank card in the phone. The smartphone has no physical card, just saves the data about the virtual one.
On the plus side, you can safely highlight a few points:
- You won’t lose your SIM card. And if you lose the phone – access to the card will be blocked by the default settings of your smartphone
- There is no need to change SIM cards. Often smartphones do not have two sim card slots, which causes inconvenience. This can be useful when you travel or leave your country for a long time.
- All interaction is reduced to an installation of a virtual phone number to receive sms, which simplifies the process of changing numbers. The new number is activated using a QR code or a regular code, which you can get from your mobile operator.
In comparison (eSIM vs physical SIM) the digital card is suitable in most cases only for iOS operating systems. It’s easy to use, but before applying check this function via smartphone. Today eSIM is maintained by all of Apple’s latest iPhones (XS, Max, XR) and etc.
Apple and eSIM: The Reasons
Back to the latest news: the Apple company in the versions of the iPhone 14 has completely abandoned the physical SIM card, allowing the new technology to manifest itself. Today eSIM supports almost all current models of the Apple Watch, iPhone, and iPad. That’s why using the sim is an ulterior method, which will soon become a common way of interaction for every iPhone user.
Most mobile operators have the ability to bind eSIM to a dedicated owner iPhone, so that such a device is activated immediately with it. In that way, the digital SIM card will need to be set up manually or transferred from another iPhone to a new one.
It is important to understand that transferring eSIM from another iPhone when activating a new Apple smartphone only works if both devices are running iOS 16 or a newer version of the operating system. If an earlier version is installed, you need to upgrade or use another method. So, before the installation, make sure your device supports eSIM and you have the right operating system version of your smartphone.
How can I use eSIM on my iPhone?
How do you use eSIMs on iPhone?
The answer is quite easy. It does not take long to install and set up the sim, because this function is already automatically built into your smartphone. Follow the instructions below.
Step 1: Get a QR-code from mobile operator or install the dedicated application
The first step is to get the eSIM service from your mobile operator. The main point is to save the email letter with the PDF file which should be attached. It stores the necessary QR code to activate eSIM. Please, save the file until you activate the card. This process may be different from operator to operator, but the issue has the same meaning.
Step 2: Open the settings on your iPhone
Open the settings on your smartphone and follow the next path. The text of the instruction may be different in some faiths, but the essence is the same. The main flow:
- Open the Settings on your Smartphone
- Now select “Settings” > “Cellular”
- Then tap on “Configure Cellular Data” or “Add eSIM”
Please, specify that you should select the main number for calls and it is especially important to specify the right number to use iMessage and FaceTime. By the right number, we mean the number that you use attached to iCloud.
Of course, change it in the settings of iCloud, if necessary. By the way, regardless of mobile numbers, when using two iPhones, you can choose to call FaceTime and receive messages on iMessage on both smartphones, because they are not tied to numbers, but to an iCloud account. And now back to the eSIM setup.
Step 3: Open the Camera, scan the QR-code
After receiving a QR code on your smartphone, you need to open the application “Camera” and point to the code. Then a notification will pop up, on which you need to tap. On it, in fact, it says “Tap to view this cellular tariff”.
After a few seconds the eSIM is ready to work: receives calls, and SMS and allows access to the Internet. To switch between eSIMs, go to “Settings” -> “Cellular data”. Under Cellular data, you change the active card from which Internet traffic will be primarily taken.
If you need to “delete” eSIM or transfer to another smartphone, in the cellular data settings after selecting this tariff plan at the very bottom there is an item “Delete cellular tariff”. Then there will be a few questions that will notify you that the tariff plan itself will still work and to restore it you will need to reconnect it according to the instructions above to completely disable the tariff you will need to contact the operator. By the way, you can add up to five eSIM operators on the iPhone, but only one can work at a time.
We wish this article had given you a clear and precise answer to the question “How do you use eSIMs on iPhone?”. Good luck with that!