How to Scan a QR Code for Your eSIM iPhone and Android

An eSIM QR code is a strange little thing: one quick scan and your phone downloads an entire mobile plan out of thin air no plastic chip, no shop counter, no waiting. On a compatible phone the whole job takes about two minutes, and most of the people who get stuck aren't stuck on the scan itself. They're tripped up by a code sitting on the same phone they're installing to, or a camera that won't focus, or the quiet business of actually switching the thing on afterward. This guide covers all of it the clean iPhone and Android walkthroughs first, then the awkward real-world cases: same-phone installs, manual entry, and what to do when it just won't take.

Before you start

Two minutes of prep here saves most of the headaches people run into later. Three things to have ready:

• An eSIM compatible, unlocked phone. Most iPhones from the XS on, and most recent Android flagships, handle eSIM but confirm yours rather than assume, especially on a mid-range or older handset. Here's how to [check if your device supports eSIM  And a phone still locked to another carrier won't accept a new eSIM at all, so sort that first.
• Wi-Fi. Installing an eSIM means downloading its profile over the internet, and you don't have mobile data yet so you'll need Wi-Fi to get it onto the phone. This is also why it's worth installing before you fly, not after you land.
• Your QR code. You'll get this after buying an eSIM, usually by email or in your account. The smoothest setup is to have it open on a second screen a laptop or another phone so you can point your camera at it. Only have it on the phone you're setting up? That's the single most common snag, and there's a same-phone method below for exactly that.

First time with any of this? Here's a quick primer on what an eSIM is.

How to scan your eSIM QR code on iPhone (iOS)

With the code open on a second screen, here's the iPhone path.

1. Open Settings and tap Cellular (labelled Mobile Data or Mobile Service in some regions).
2. Tap Add eSIM (or Add Cellular Plan).
3. Choose Use QR Code.
4. Point your iPhone's camera at the code so the whole thing sits inside the frame.
5. When the plan is detected, tap Continue and follow the prompts to add it.
6. Give the plan a label you'll recognize "Travel" does the job and choose which line to use for data.

Done the eSIM is installed. Jump to After you scan to switch it on for your trip.

How to scan your eSIM QR code on Android / Samsung

Android wording shifts a little between manufacturers, but the logic doesn't. Here are the two common paths:

On most Android phones (Google Pixel and similar):

1. Open Settings → Network & internet → SIMs (some phones say Mobile network).
2. Tap Add SIM, then Set up an eSIM (or the + beside eSIM).
3. Tap Next and scan the code with your camera.
4. Follow the prompts to download and install, then switch the eSIM on.

On Samsung Galaxy phones:

1. Open Settings → Connections → SIM manager (older devices call it SIM card manager).
2. Tap Add eSIM.
3. Tap Scan QR code from the service provider and line up the camera.
4. Follow the prompts to add and enable the plan.

How to scan when the QR code is on the same phone

This is the one that catches almost everyone out: the QR code is sitting on the same phone you're installing to, so there's no second screen to aim the camera at. The trick is to turn the code into an image first, then feed it in from your gallery.

1. Screenshot the QR code (or save the image straight from your email).
2. Head to the Add eSIM screen using the same paths as above.
3. When it prompts you to scan, look for Scan from photo, Open photos, or a small gallery icon on the scan screen tap that and pick your screenshot.
4. Follow the prompts to install.

This method needs iOS 17.4 or later, or a recent Android version on older devices, the "scan from photo" option isn't there at all. No "scan from photo" option on your device? Use manual entry instead.

Install without scanning: manual entry

Sometimes the camera just won't cooperate, or the code's been squashed by a screenshot and won't read. In that case you can install the eSIM by typing its details in by hand. Your confirmation includes an SM-DP+ address and an activation code the same information the QR code carries, only in plain text.

1. On the Add eSIM screen, choose Enter Details Manually (iOS) or Add Manually / Enter Details Manually (Android wording varies by manufacturer; Samsung shows "Add Manually," stock Android/Pixel shows "Enter Details Manually").
2. Type the SM-DP+ address and activation code exactly as they appear in your confirmation these are case- and character-sensitive, so copy carefully.
3. Confirm, then follow the prompts to install.

Install directly in the Airhub app (no QR needed)

If Airhub supports direct in-app installation with no QR scan at all, add the exact step-by-step here it's a first-party shortcut that carriers and generic guides simply can't offer, so it's well worth featuring. Draft structure to confirm: open the Airhub app go to My eSIMs → select your plan → tap Install eSIM → follow the on-screen steps. Confirm the real menu names and flow before publishing.

After you scan: finishing setup

Installing the eSIM is only half the job here's how to actually get online, which matters most with a travel plan.

• Set the eSIM as your data line. In Settings → Cellular/SIMs, turn the eSIM on and pick it for mobile data.
• Turn on data roaming for that line. This one surprises people: travel eSIMs usually connect through partner networks, so data roaming has to be switched on for the eSIM line or you'll sit there with no signal. Airhub's own setup guide confirms this step explicitly, and also recommends turning off your primary line's data while abroad that's what avoids your home carrier's roaming charges, not the eSIM itself (the eSIM plan is prepaid, so there's no surprise billing on that side).
• Check the APN only if data doesn't appear after a few minutes. Most eSIMs configure this automatically, but the odd device needs it set by hand. Airhub confirms this varies by plan if your specific eSIM needs one, the APN details are listed on the Manual or QR Installation page in your Airhub account (not a single fixed APN for all plans).
• Give it a moment. Registering on a local network especially right after you land can take a minute or two, so don't panic if it's not instant.

Planning ahead for a trip? Browse Airhub eSIM plans and install before you go.

Troubleshooting: QR code won't scan

The usual culprits, and how to clear them:

• The camera won't read it. Better light, a wipe of the lens, and a little distance so the whole code fits the frame will fix most cases. If the code's on the same phone, switch to the same-phone method or manual entry.
• "This code is no longer valid," or it won't scan a second time. An eSIM QR code is single-use once it's installed, it's spent, and re-scanning won't do anything. Per Airhub's own terms, an eSIM cannot be re-issued once obtained, so treat your QR code as a one-shot install and avoid triggering it on the wrong device.
• It is installed, but there's no service. Check the eSIM line is on, set for data, and on a travel plan has data roaming enabled. Confirm you're inside the plan's coverage, then give it a few minutes to latch onto a network.
• Resist the urge to delete it and start over. This one really matters: AirHub's FAQ states that once an eSIM is deleted, it can't be reactivated so don't remove an installed profile hoping to reinstall it, unless you're prepared to buy a fresh plan.

Still stuck? The Airhub team is at support@airhubapp.com.

FAQ

1. How do I scan a QR code for my eSIM?

On iPhone: Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM → Use QR Code, then point the camera at the code. On Android: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs (or Connections → SIM manager on Samsung) → Add eSIM → scan. 

2. Can I scan the QR code on the same phone I'm installing to? 

Yes. Screenshot the code first, then on the Add eSIM screen choose "Scan from photo" (or the gallery icon) and pick that screenshot. If your device doesn't offer it, enter the SM-DP+ address and activation code by hand instead.

3. What if my eSIM QR code won't scan?

 Improve the lighting, clean the lens, and fit the whole code in frame. If it still won't read, install by manual entry using the SM-DP+ address and activation code from your confirmation.

4. Do I need Wifi to install my eSIM?

 Yes, downloading the eSIM profile needs an internet connection, and you won't have mobile data yet, so get on Wi-Fi first. Ideally do the whole thing before you travel.

5. Can I reuse an eSIM QR code? 

Usually they're typically single-use. Delete the eSIM or switch phones and you'll likely need a new code.

6. Which phones can scan a QR code to install an eSIM? 

Most iPhones from the XS onward, and most recent Android flagships Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer, and the like.