I Deleted the eSIM by Accident — Can I Reinstall?

Maybe. Depends on whether the plan is still within its validity window and whether the eSIM was used recently.

The short answer

• Plan still has data and time left? You can usually reinstall.
• Plan already expired? Usually not — once a plan closes out, the profile can't be reissued.

Here's how to check and what to do.

How to reinstall an active plan

1. Go to esimple.ai/account on the phone you want to install on.
2. Tap the order in your list.
3. Look for an "Install eSIM" or "Show QR" button.
4. If it's there: tap, follow the install steps (same as the original setup — see iPhone or Android).
5. If it's not there: the eSIM has either expired or the provider doesn't allow re-issue. Skip to "When reinstall isn't possible" below.

You can also re-use the original activation email if you still have it. The QR and activation code in that email remain valid as long as the plan does. (This is why we suggest screenshotting the QR before you travel — see Pre-trip checklist.)

A note on second installs

Some networks limit each eSIM profile to one install at a time. If you delete and reinstall, the new install replaces the deleted one — that works. But you can't have the same plan installed on two phones simultaneously.

If the second install fails with an "already activated" or "profile in use" error, the provider's system still thinks the original install is active. Email us — we can usually reset the profile on our side so the install works.

When reinstall isn't possible

• The plan has expired. Once the validity window closes, most providers retire the profile. Reinstall won't work.
• All data has been used and the plan can't be topped up. Some plans go dormant once both data and time are exhausted.
• The provider locked the profile after too many install attempts. Rare, but multiple failed installs in a short window can trigger a temporary block.

In any of these cases, the practical fix is to buy a fresh plan. The new eSIM is a separate profile, installs cleanly, and starts a new validity timer when you connect.

How to avoid this in future

• Don't delete the eSIM at the end of a trip if there's still time/data on it — you might use it for a return trip or top it up later.
• Photograph the QR code from your activation email before you fly. If anything goes wrong, you can scan the photo again.
• Save the SM-DP+ address and activation code somewhere offline. With those two strings you can install manually even if the QR image is gone.

Common gotchas

• The eSIM "disappeared" after a phone update. Some major iOS / Android updates have, historically, dropped eSIM profiles. They're usually recoverable via the install flow above. Update your phone before travel, not during.
• Switched to a new phone and lost the eSIM. eSIMs don't always transfer between phones. Apple's quick-transfer works for some carrier eSIMs but not for all travel eSIMs. Treat it as a reinstall on the new device.

If reinstall isn't working and you're sure the plan should still be valid, email support@esimple.ai with your order reference and your phone model. We can reset the profile or reissue a fresh one in most cases.