The QR Code Won't Scan — What Now?

QR install is usually the smoothest path, but sometimes the camera just won't grab it. Almost always a fix — here are the moves in order.

First: try these quick adjustments

The QR scanner needs a clear, bright, in-focus view of the QR code. A few things commonly get in the way:

• Lighting. Move to a brighter room or turn the screen brightness up on the device showing the QR.
• Screen size. A QR on a tiny phone screen is hard for another phone to read. Open the activation email on a laptop or tablet instead — the larger display makes scanning easy.
• Glare. A glossy screen reflecting overhead light can confuse the camera. Tilt slightly.
• Distance. Hold the camera 15–25 cm from the QR. Too close and it can't focus; too far and the QR is too small.
• Camera lens dirty. Wipe it with a cloth. Genuinely fixes more cases than you'd expect.

Re-open the email after each adjustment so the QR is the freshly-rendered version.

If the QR still won't scan: install manually

Every activation email includes two strings underneath the QR:

• SM-DP+ address (looks like lpa.something.com or similar).
• Activation code (a longer alphanumeric string).

You can install the eSIM by typing these in directly. The QR is just a shortcut to those two values.

iPhone — manual install

1. Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM.
2. Tap "Use QR Code" then "Enter Details Manually" at the bottom.
3. Paste the SM-DP+ address into the first field.
4. Paste the activation code into the second.
5. Tap Next. iOS will fetch the eSIM and ask you to confirm.

Android (Pixel) — manual install

1. Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Download a SIM instead?
2. Tap "Need help?" or "Enter manually" depending on Android version.
3. Paste the SM-DP+ address and activation code.
4. Tap Continue.

Android (Samsung) — manual install

1. Settings → Connections → SIM card manager → Add eSIM.
2. Tap Scan QR code from service provider → Enter activation code.
3. Paste the activation code (which usually includes the SM-DP+ address with it — paste the whole string from the email).
4. Tap Connect.

If manual install also fails

Less common, but it happens. A few causes:

• No internet on the phone during install. Installing an eSIM requires downloading the profile from the provider. Connect to wifi first.
• The phone is carrier-locked. Even though install seems to start, it can fail at the last step. See Carrier unlocked vs locked.
• The activation code was already used. If you installed the eSIM previously and deleted it, some providers won't let you re-install. See Deleted eSIM by accident.
• Network error on the provider's side. Rare. Try again in 30 minutes.

What to send support if you're still stuck

Email support@esimple.ai with:

• Your phone model and operating system version.
• The order reference (in the activation email).
• A screenshot of the error message on your phone.
• Whether you're trying to install over wifi or mobile data.

Most install issues are fixable in one back-and-forth. We can reissue a fresh QR + activation code if the original got burned.