eSIM QR Code: How to Scan, Install and Keep Am Safe

Di QR code na di only part of eSIM wey you dey really hold, even if na only for screen. E look like any oda QR code, but e dey behave more like key: na for one-time use, by one phone, and anybody wey get am fit try use am before you.

See wetin dey inside dat square, how to scan am smooth, wetin to do when na only one device you get, and how to keep am away from wrong hands.

Wetin eSIM QR code really carry

Di QR code no carry your data plan. E dey hold instructions wey dey tell your phone where to download am from. Specifically, e dey carry two tins:

• Di SM-DP+ address: di address of di secure server wey dey hold your eSIM profile.
• Di activation code: unique code wey dey identify your own eSIM for dat server.

When you scan, your phone go contact di server, show di code and download di eSIM profile. Na why you need internet connection, better make e be Wi-Fi, while you dey install, and na why you fit type di same two pieces of information by hand instead of to scan.

Where your HelloSIM QR code dey come from

Afta you pay, dem go send di QR code by email sharp sharp to di address wey you use for checkout. You fit checkout as guest wit only email address, so make sure say na email wey you fit open dat same time.

Dem also dey keep di same QR code inside your HelloSIM account and di HelloSIM app, so you no go depend on finding di email again. If di message no show for your inbox, look your spam or promotions folder before anytin else.

Di email also get di SM-DP+ address and di activation code as plain text for manual installation.

Scanning: how to beat di one-screen wahala

Your phone camera no fit scan code wey dey show for im own screen, so plan ahead:

1. 1Use second screen. Open di email or your account for laptop, tablet or anoda pesin phone. Dis one na di easiest option.
2. 2Print am. Printout dey work di same way, as long as e stay for private place.
3. 3Start di scan from Settings. For iPhone, go Settings → Mobile Service → Add eSIM → Use QR Code. For Android, open your SIM settings, for example Network & internet → SIMs or Connections → SIM manager, and choose to add eSIM.
4. 4Frame am well. Make di code fill most of di camera view, avoid glare from light wey dey up, and increase di screen brightness if you dey scan from laptop.
5. 5Confirm and wait. Stay on Wi-Fi wit di screen on until di download finish.

Do dis one for house before your trip. Validity go only start when di eSIM first connect to network for where you dey go, so to install early no cost anytin and e go give you time to solve any wahala.

Manual installation when you no fit scan

If na only your phone dey wit you, or di code just no gree scan, use di details from di email:

• iPhone: for di QR camera screen, tap Enter Details Manually, then fill di SM-DP+ address and di activation code.
• Android: for di scanning screen, look for option to type di code by yourself. Some phones dey ask for di two details for separate boxes; oda ones dey give one box for combined code, wey dey normally start wit LPA:1$ and join di server address and di activation code wit anoda $ sign.

Copy and paste anywhere wey you fit. Only one wrong or missing character fit make di installation fail, and spaces wey you copy by mistake for di start or end na common cause.

Install once, and tink twice before you delete

See your eSIM QR code as one-time use. Once e don install di eSIM for one phone, e don do im work, and to scan am again no go usually install second copy. Dem dey install one eSIM for one phone.

Dat one get two practical results:

• No delete di eSIM to "start again" if sometin look wrong. eSIM wey you don delete no dey usually come back from di same code. Contact support first.
• Install am for di phone wey you go travel wit. If you dey change phone before di trip, reach support before you install.

Afta installation, you no need di QR code to use di eSIM, or to top am up. Dem dey add extra data to di same eSIM from di Check / Top up page, your account or di HelloSIM app, without to scan anytin again.

Keep your QR code private

Becos di code fit install your eSIM for any compatible phone, treat am like ticket wey get your name:

• No post am for social media or inside group chats, even as "see wetin I buy" screenshot.
• Take care wit screenshots wey dey sync to shared photo albums.
• No forward di email unless you want make di pesin install am.
• Tear or throw away printouts once di eSIM don install.

If you tink say anoda pesin don see your code before you install am, contact support sharp sharp.

When di QR code no gree work

Most failures get simple causes:

• No internet during installation: connect to Wi-Fi and try again.
• Image no clear or e dey glare: increase screen brightness, tilt am to remove reflection, or print di code.
• Dem don already use di code: check if di eSIM don already dey listed for your mobile settings; e fit don install for di first try.
• Dem lock di phone to network: locked phone go refuse eSIMs from oda providers. Ask your network make dem unlock am.
• Di phone no support eSIM: if no option dey to add eSIM for Settings, di phone, or dat regional version, no dey compatible.

If none of dis one fit your case, email [email protected] or use di live chat inside di HelloSIM app. Dem dey answer emails within 24 hours, so sort out di installation for house instead of for arrival hall.