Install with a QR code
Per Apple’s support page: after setup, point the Camera at the provider’s QR code and tap the Cellular Plan Detected notice. On iOS 17.4 or later you can also press and hold a QR code you received by email or in a browser and choose Add eSIM. Tap Continue, then Add Cellular Plan, and enter the confirmation code if the provider gave one.
Enter the details by hand
Open Settings, tap Cellular or Mobile Data, then Add Cellular Plan. At the bottom of the screen choose Enter Details Manually and type the details the provider sent you.
Check before you scan
- Your iPhone supports eSIM and is carrier unlocked.
- You have Wi-Fi or a hotspot during the install.
- You know when the plan’s validity starts: some start on install, others on first connection.
- The QR code is for one phone only. Providers such as Yesim state this.
A phone bought in mainland China
Apple’s page says that in mainland China only specific models support eSIM, and lists them. If your iPhone was bought there, read that list before you buy a plan. Phones bought elsewhere follow the general rules.
After you land
Label the eSIM so you can tell it apart, then choose it for mobile data. Keep the line from home on for calls and verification codes. If data does not connect, the page on what to check lists the usual causes.
Questions before you go
Do I need Wi-Fi to install the eSIM?
Yes, or a hotspot. Apple notes that some eSIM-only models in certain countries can activate without Wi-Fi.
Can I scan the QR code on the same phone?
On iOS 17.4 or later you can press and hold a QR code in an email or browser and add it from there.
Sources & review notes
- Apple Support: set up an eSIM on iPhone ↗ · Reviewed
- Yesim China plans ↗ · Reviewed
Product prices use their own dates. Provider statements are not independent connection tests. Recheck time-sensitive details before booking.