You buy an eSIM on your phone, the email arrives with the QR code… and the QR code is on the very screen that’s supposed to scan it. It’s the most common snag when installing an eSIM, and you can fix it without borrowing another phone.
Short answer: you have three options, fastest first:
- Direct install link: tap a button and your phone opens the eSIM install screen. Works on iPhone with iOS 17.4 or later and on many Android 10+ phones.
- Manual activation code: copy a code and paste it into your phone’s settings. Works on any eSIM-compatible phone.
- Another screen: open the email on a computer or tablet and scan the QR code with your phone.
Option 1: the direct install link
Since iOS 17.4, Apple lets you install an eSIM by tapping a link, with nothing to scan. Android offers an equivalent from Android 10 onwards, as long as the phone has up-to-date Google services and SIM manager.
On iPhone (iOS 17.4 or later):
- Open your eSIM email on the iPhone itself.
- Tap the iPhone install button.
- The “Add eSIM” screen opens directly. Follow the steps and confirm.
To check your version: Settings → General → About → iOS Version.
On Android (10 or later):
- Open the email on the phone itself.
- Tap the Android install button.
- Confirm the eSIM download on the screen that appears.
On Android, behaviour depends on the manufacturer. Samsung, Google Pixel and OPPO usually work smoothly; on other models the link may not open. If nothing happens when you tap it, use option 2.
Option 2: the manual activation code
Every eSIM email includes, besides the QR code, the details to install it by hand: an SM-DP+ address and an activation code (sometimes combined into a single “LPA code”).
On iPhone:
- Settings → Mobile Data (on recent versions, “Mobile Service”) → Add eSIM.
- Choose “Use QR Code” and, on that screen, tap “Enter Details Manually”.
- Paste the SM-DP+ address and the activation code.
On Android (names vary by manufacturer):
- Settings → Connections or Network & Internet → SIM manager → Add eSIM.
- When it asks you to scan a QR code, look for the option to enter the code manually.
- Paste the code.
Tip: copy the code from the email with a long press rather than typing it. A single wrong character makes it fail.
Option 3: another screen
If you have a computer, a tablet or someone else’s phone to hand, open the email there and scan the QR code with your phone (Settings → Mobile Data → Add eSIM → Use QR Code). It’s the classic method and always works, but it’s the only one that needs a second device.
Three mistakes to avoid
Installing the same eSIM twice. With most eSIMs, ours included, the QR code and activation code work for a single installation. If you delete the eSIM after installing it, you usually can’t reinstall it with the same code.
Installing without a connection. Installation downloads the eSIM profile, so you need Wi-Fi or data at that moment. Ideally, do it at home before you travel.
Forgetting data roaming when you land. With the eSIM installed, you need to turn on data roaming for that line when you arrive. It’s the most common reason an eSIM “has no internet”. We explain it step by step in why your eSIM has no internet even with roaming on.
How MolaHop does it
Every MolaHop order email includes all three options together: quick-install buttons for iPhone (iOS 17.4+) and Android (10+), the QR code and the manual activation code. Your order page shows the same. If you buy on your phone, tap the button for your system; if it doesn’t open, use the manual code.
FAQ
Can I scan the QR code from a screenshot? Some phones can read a QR code from a photo, but it depends on the model and isn’t reliable for installing an eSIM. The direct link and the manual code don’t depend on it.
What if my iPhone is older than iOS 17.4? The direct install button won’t work. Use the manual code (option 2), which works on any eSIM-compatible iPhone, or update iOS before installing.
I tapped the link on Android and nothing happened. Have I lost the eSIM? No. If the link doesn’t open the installation, the eSIM hasn’t been downloaded and the code is still valid. Install it with the manual code.
When should I install the eSIM? Before you travel, on Wi-Fi, then activate it on arrival by turning on data roaming for that line.
