How to Activate eSIM on iPhone 14

You can activate an eSIM on iPhone 14 in mainly five different ways, eSIM Carrier activation, eSIM Quick transfer, converting a physical SIM to eSIM, QR code activation, and entering details manually. You can use Carrier activation mainly in the U.S or if you purchased your device using a carrier plan. Quick transfer is ideal for users that already own an iPhone that’s currently using an eSIM. Conversion of a physical SIM to an eSIM is an option for users that are currently using a physical SIM on their older iPhone. If your carrier supports it, you can convert it to an eSIM and subsequently use the Quick transfer option to move it to your iPhone 14. QR code activation is an option for users that have already set up their devices. Additionally, some carriers might require QR code activation in addition to one of the methods above, depending on your region. Lastly, if you’re facing issues, you can choose to contact your carrier and enter your eSIM details manually. Follow either of the sections below, depending on your preferences, to activate your eSIM on iPhone 14.

1. Activate eSIM using Carrier activation

This is the easiest way to set up your eSIM. Ensure that Carrier activation has been enabled for your account and provide your necessary cellular plan details to your carrier beforehand if necessary. Once your device has been enrolled for activation, turn on your device and follow the on-screen instructions. Once you complete the initial OOBE on the iPhone 14, your eSIM will automatically be activated once you can access the home screen. In case you’re moving over from a physical SIM or an Android device, you will need to get in touch with your carrier and get a QR code. The procedure to get a QR code can differ from carrier to carrier, and we recommend you contact your carrier’s support team for more information. In such cases, once activation is enabled for your device, you will be automatically prompted to scan a QR code when setting up your device. Simply scan the code you received, and you will have activated your eSIM once you complete the OOBE. The third scenario arises when you’ve already set up your new iPhone 14 and have later contacted your service provider for a carrier activation. In such cases, you can follow the steps below to help set up eSIM on your device.

  1. Once your carrier initiates carrier activation, you will receive a notification that reads Carrier Cellular Plan Ready to Be Installed. Tap on the same to start setting up your eSIM.
  2. You will now be redirected to the Settings app. Tap Carrier Cellular Plan Ready to Be Installed again.
  3. Tap Continue/Add Cellular Plan at the bottom.
  4. The eSIM should now be installed on your device. Try making a call again. If everything works, then you have activated your eSIM. If, however, you’re unable to make calls, we recommend you contact your carrier and check for any issues. You will now have used carrier activation to set up your eSIM. You should now restart your device to iron out bugs and refresh services for a seamless experience.

2. Activate eSIM using Quick transfer

Quick transfer is Apple’s in-built utility that can help you transfer an eSIM from one iPhone to another. This is ideal if you were using an eSIM on your previous iPhone. Follow the steps below to help you along with the process.

  1. Open the Settings app and tap Cellular.
  2. Tap Add Cellular Plan/Add eSIM depending on your current region.
  3. Tap Transfer from Nearby iPhone.
  4. Now place your older iPhone near your iPhone 14 with BT turned on for both devices. Once it appears on your iPhone 14, tap and select the same.
  5. Go back to your older iPhone, and you will now be prompted to transfer the eSIM. Tap Transfer.
  6. If you’re asked for a verification code, type in the one displayed on your iPhone 14.
  7. Once you enter the code, your older device will transfer the eSIM to your iPhone 14.
  8. Once the process completes, you will receive a notification on your iPhone 14 that reads Finish Setting Up Your Carrier’s Cellular Plan. Tap on the same, and you will be redirected to your carrier’s website. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish setting up the eSIM on your new iPhone 14. You will now have transferred your eSIM using quick transfer on your new device.

3.Convert Your Physical SIM to eSIM

Some carriers allow you to convert your physical SIM to eSIM. You can use this feature in conjunction with Quick transfer to get an eSIM working on your new iPhone 14. Some iPhone 14 models released in certain regions will indeed feature a physical SIM slot. If you have one such model, you can convert and activate the eSIM on the same device. Follow the steps below to help you get started.

  1. Open the Settings app and tap Cellular.
  2. Tap and select Convert to eSIM. If this option is unavailable to you, then your carrier does not support on-device conversion. In such cases, we recommend you contact your carrier and use one of the suggested methods in this guide to activate your eSIM instead.
  3. Tap Convert Cellular Plan.
  4. Tap Convert to eSIM on the next page.
  5. The conversion process will now begin. This can take some time, depending on your carrier. Once done, remove your physical SIM and restart your device. You will now have converted your physical SIM to an eSIM. If you did this on your older device, you could now use the Quick Transfer method above to transfer your eSIM to iPhone 14.

4. Activate Your eSIM Using a QR Code

QR code activation is one of the most popular ways to set up and activate an eSIM. This process mainly involves two major steps, getting a QR code from your carrier and then scanning it on your iPhone 14. Follow the steps below to help you with the process.

Generate an e-SIM QR code

You will need to get in touch with your carrier to generate your QR code. Some carriers do this using official apps, while others choose to send the QR code over encrypted emails. Contact your carrier’s support team and provide the necessary details to verify your identity once prompted. The support team will then guide you to generate your QR code. Once you have your QR code, you can use the next section to set it up on your device.

Scan Your QR code and Activate Your eSIM

  1. If you haven’t set up your iPhone 14 yet, turn it on and follow the on-screen instructions till you get to the Set up Cellular screen. Once there, tap Use QR Code.
  2. Now scan the QR Code your received and follow the on-screen instructions to add it to your device.
  3. Once you scan the code, the eSIM will be automatically added and activated on your device. Complete the initial device setup, and your eSIM should be active once you get to the home screen.
  4. If, however, you’ve already activated your device, then you can use these steps to set up and activate your eSIM using a QR code. Let’s get started.
  5. Open the Settings app and tap Cellular.
  6. Tap Add eSIM.
  7. Now tap and select Use QR Code.
  8. Scan the QR Code you received from your carrier and follow the on-screen instructions to set up and add your eSIM. You will now have set up eSIM on your device using a QR code.

5. Enter your eSIM details manually

Some devices or carriers can face issues where an eSIM can not be installed and activated automatically on your device. In such cases, you can choose to set up your eSIM manually. Follow the steps below to help you along with the process.

  1. Start by contacting your carrier to get all the eSIM details for your number that you will need to enter manually.
  2. Once you have the details at hand, open the Settings app and tap Cellular.
  3. Tap Add Cellular Plan/Add eSIM.
  4. Now tap Enter Details Manually at the bottom of your screen.
  5. Enter all the necessary details your carrier provides for your eSIM setup. Once you’ve entered your details, iOS will set up and install your new eSIM based on the provided configuration. We recommend you restart your device just to be safe once your eSIM has been activated.

How to know if eSIM has been activated on device?

You go to Settings > Cellular to check for an eSIM on your device. eSIMs will have the option to Turn off this line at the top. If this option is unavailable to you, then you’re using a physical SIM instead.

Do you need to activate eSIM after adding it to your device?

Yes, in some cases, you might need to activate your eSIM once it has been added to your device. You can get in touch with your cellular provider to activate the same. However, in most cases, your eSIM should be activated automatically once it has been added to your device.

Final Words

Adding an eSIM is a complicated process that can vary a lot depending on your carrier. We hope the steps above helped you easily add an eSIM on your new iPhone 14 without any major issues.

Δ

How to Setup eSIM on iPhone 14 - 39How to Setup eSIM on iPhone 14 - 55How to Setup eSIM on iPhone 14 - 91How to Setup eSIM on iPhone 14 - 96How to Setup eSIM on iPhone 14 - 27How to Setup eSIM on iPhone 14 - 14How to Setup eSIM on iPhone 14 - 83How to Setup eSIM on iPhone 14 - 42How to Setup eSIM on iPhone 14 - 92How to Setup eSIM on iPhone 14 - 95How to Setup eSIM on iPhone 14 - 48How to Setup eSIM on iPhone 14 - 42How to Setup eSIM on iPhone 14 - 50How to Setup eSIM on iPhone 14 - 72