eSIM QR Code: How to Scan It, Where to Find It and What to Do If It Fails

Your eSIM QR code is the part of your purchase you actually scan: point your phone at it and the travel eSIM installs as a second line, usually within a minute or two on good Wi-Fi. This guide covers where to find the code, how to scan it on iPhone and Android, how to install without a QR code and what to do if a scan fails.

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What Is an eSIM QR Code?

An eSIM QR code is your eSIM activation code in picture form: it holds the address of the secure server where your eSIM profile waits (the SM-DP+ address) plus a unique code that tells that server which profile to download to your phone.

It isn't the eSIM itself but a claim ticket. Your phone scans it, fetches the profile and installs it as a new line next to your home SIM; after that, the ticket has done its job, and on many plans it can't be used again. The same details also exist as text, for installing without a scan.

Where to Find Your eSIM QR Code After Purchase

After payment, LimitSim sends your eSIM to two places:

• Your email: the QR code, the activation code as text and short eSIM instructions. Check the spam folder if it's not in your inbox.
• Your LimitSim account and app: open My eSIMs to see the QR code. The eSIM's details also list the SM-DP+ address and activation code, ready to copy.

Open the code on a second screen or print it, because a phone can't scan a QR code shown on its own display. A later top-up (available on most plans) adds data to the same eSIM, so there's no new code to scan.

Can You Scan an eSIM QR Code Twice?

Usually not. Once the profile has downloaded, the code is normally used up, and a second scan brings an error such as "This code is no longer valid". Some plans can be reinstalled with the same QR code and others can't, so treat yours as single-use.

So scan only on the phone you'll travel with, and never delete the installed eSIM to "fix" something; turn the line off instead. If it's already gone, read what to do after deleting an eSIM profile. New phone? See moving your eSIM to a new phone, and contact LimitSim support before buying a new plan: where possible, the eSIM can be restored or a new activation code issued.

How to Scan an eSIM QR Code on iPhone and Android

Scan at home over Wi-Fi a day or two before you leave, on an unlocked, eSIM-compatible phone, and follow the eSIM instructions for your model:

• iPhone: Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM > Use QR Code. Scan, tap Continue and choose the new line for Cellular Data.
• Samsung Galaxy: Settings > Connections > SIM manager > Add eSIM > Scan QR code from service provider.
• Google Pixel: Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Add SIM (then Download a SIM instead if asked), and scan.
• Other Android phones: search Settings for "eSIM"; menu names vary by brand.

Installing isn't the last step: when you land, turn on the eSIM line and its data roaming, or it won't connect. Our guide on how to activate eSIM covers that part, and screen-by-screen help is in the iPhone eSIM installation guide and the Android eSIM installation guide.

Still choosing a destination? Every LimitSim plan installs the same way.

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eSIM Manual Activation Without a QR Code

eSIM manual activation means typing the same details the QR code contains: you open your phone's eSIM settings, choose the manual option, paste in the SM-DP+ address and activation code from your LimitSim email or account, and the profile downloads exactly as it would after a scan.

Use it when you only have one device or the camera won't read the code. The manual option sits on the scanning screen: Enter Details Manually on iPhone, Enter activation code on Samsung, Need help? > Enter it manually on Pixel. Stay on Wi-Fi, since the profile still downloads over the internet.

Using Your eSIM Activation Code (SM-DP+ Address)

Your eSIM activation code is one line of text, usually starting with LPA:1$, then the SM-DP+ address (it looks like a web address), another $ sign and a long string of letters and numbers that identifies your eSIM. Phones take it in two ways:

• iPhone asks for the parts separately: the address goes in SM-DP+ Address and the long string after it (without the $ sign) in Activation Code.
• Most Android phones take the whole activation code in one field.

Copy and paste rather than typing, because one wrong character gets the code rejected. Your LimitSim account also shows the SM-DP+ address on its own line. If your iPhone shows a Confirmation Code field, leave it empty unless your eSIM details include one.

eSIM QR Code Not Working: Quick Fixes

Most failed scans have a simple cause:

• The camera won't read it: raise the screen brightness, fit the whole code in the frame and scan from a second screen or printout, or enter the eSIM activation code manually.
• "Cellular Plan Cannot Be Added": switch to stable Wi-Fi and try again. No Add eSIM option at all? The phone may not support eSIM or may be carrier-locked.
• "This code is no longer valid": the code was already used. Check Settings for a second line first; the eSIM may already be installed.
• Installed, but no internet: not a QR problem. At your destination, turn on the eSIM line and its data roaming, and choose it for mobile data.

Don't delete the eSIM and scan again: on many plans the code won't work a second time. Our eSIM not working guide covers other cases; if nothing helps, send LimitSim support your order number, phone model and a screenshot.

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eSIM QR Code FAQ

In short: your eSIM QR code is emailed after payment and saved in your LimitSim account; scan it once, over Wi-Fi, on the phone you travel with, type the codes in manually when scanning isn't possible, and never delete the installed eSIM to fix a problem.

Do I need a second device to scan the QR code?

Not necessarily. A phone can't scan a code shown on its own screen, so with one device, use manual activation: copy the SM-DP+ address and activation code from your LimitSim email or account and paste them into your eSIM settings. To scan instead, open the code on a laptop or tablet, or print it.

Can I save the QR code for later?

Yes. It stays in your email and under My eSIMs in your LimitSim account and app, and you can keep a printout too. Treat it like a ticket and don't share it publicly: anyone who scans an unused code could install your eSIM on their phone. Install a day or two before you travel, and check the plan details for when validity starts.

What happens if I delete the eSIM?

Deleting removes the eSIM profile from your phone, and with some plans the same QR code can't install it again; if a reinstall works, you keep only the data you hadn't used. Contact LimitSim support before buying a new plan: where possible, the eSIM can be restored or a new activation code issued. Turn the line off instead of deleting it, keep your eSIM QR code off the phone, and one scan is all your trip needs.

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