When setting up your eSIM on an iPhone, you might see the following message (or something similar):
"Unable to Activate eSIM. You can try again, or contact your carrier for assistance."
This can happen for a few reasons — some are simple to fix, and others may need a quick check of your settings.
Check if the eSIM is already installed
Even if the error appears, your eSIM may have already been installed in the device.
You can check if your eSIM is installed by doing the following:
1. Open Settings.
2. Select Cellular or Mobile Data.
3. Select Cellular Data and select your eSIM.
4. Go to Cellular and select your eSIM — it may be named Personal, Travel, or Secondary.
5. Make sure Turn On This Line is enabled.
6. If necessary, make sure Data Roaming is turned on.
If you find the eSIM and these settings are correct, you're good to go! Your eSIM will connect once you're at your destination.
Make sure your device is connected to the internet
If you can’t confirm that the eSIM is installed and you still see the error message, make sure your device is connected to the internet — a stable internet connection is required to validate and activate the eSIM.
Once your device is connected to the internet, try to install the eSIM again.
Restart your device
A simple restart can often clear out small system glitches that may block the activation process.
Restart your device then check if the eSIM appears in the settings.
Update your device
Older iOS versions can sometimes cause compatibility issues with eSIM activation. Keeping your software up to date helps ensure the system can properly install and manage eSIMs.
Before updating, we recommend backing up your iPhone using iCloud or a computer, just in case.
1. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
2. Download and install any available updates.
3. After restarting, try installing and activating the eSIM again.
Check if your iPhone is unlocked
If your phone is carrier or network-locked, it may block activation of eSIMs from other providers.
1. Go to Settings > General > About.
2. Go to Carrier Lock.
3. Check for “No SIM restrictions.”
If you don’t see “No SIM restrictions,” you may need to contact your primary mobile provider for assistance.
Disable VPNs or device profiles
VPNs or mobile device management (MDM) profiles may interfere with eSIM installation — you can try to turn off any VPNs to complete the installation.
Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management and remove any profiles you don't recognize or need.
If you've followed the steps above and the issue persists, our support team is here for you. We're available 24/7 and happy to help.