Summary
- Setting up a physical SIM card involves ejecting the SIM card slot and inserting physical SIM card into it.
- You can also set up eSIM by scanning the QR code provided by the carrier or converting physical SIM to eSIM.
- You can also transfer eSIM from one iPhone to another or from Android to iPhone using the Setup Assistant in settings.
Setting up an iPhone is usually a seamless and quick process, that is, until you get to the SIM activation setup and are bombarded by SIM Not Valid or Waiting for Activation screens. Whether you just bought a new iPhone or are trying to activate the iPhone X that was sitting in your cupboard, this guide covers everything from standard physical SIM setup to the newer iPhone eSIM activation.
iPhone SIM activation: How to activate using a SIM card
If you're using an iPhone that still comes with a SIM card slot which uses a nano-SIM, the process of activating the SIM card is extremely simple. Considering your SIM card is active and working, here's how to set up a physical SIM card on iPhone:
- Locate the SIM tray on the left side of your iPhone and insert a SIM ejector tool or a safety pin to pop out the SIM card tray.
- Place your SIM card and align it with the cutout so that it's sitting flush, and slide the tray back into the iPhoneiPh
- During the setup process, the iPhone SIM activation screen should appear automatically. Connect your device to Wi-Fi, and the iPhone should communicate with your carrier's servers to verify the SIM.
If you see a "No Service" status instead, enable and disable the Airplane mode option to force the SIM activation for iPhone to retry.
iPhone SIM Activation: How to activate an eSIM
With the iPhone 14 series and newer, especially US models, Apple has done away with the physical SIM tray, making eSIMs the only option. Although most older iPhones support eSIM, they are generally considered faster than physical SIM cards.
There are three ways to go about adding an eSIM to an iPhone – Adding a new eSIM, transferring an existing one or converting an existing physical SIM to eSIM.
Add a new eSIM to iPhone
When buying a new SIM card, most Indian carriers give you a QR code at the store or via email to add a new eSIM. If you have that QR, here's how to use it.
- Go to Settings > Cellular and tap on Add eSIM.
- Select Use QR code and scan the code provided by your carrier.
- Follow the on-screen instructions and go through the usual setup process.
SIM card activation usually takes a few minutes to a couple of hours. If you don't have the QR code for your existing SIM card, head over to the respective carrier centres to add your eSIM.
Convert a physical SIM to eSIM
Most carriers like Jio and Airtel make it easier to set up an eSIM or convert a physical SIM to eSIM via their respective apps. Importing an eSIM from your previous smartphone to an iPhone is also pretty easy.
To get started, you will need to send a request to your carrier first with your EID and IMEI number, which can be found in Settings > General > About.
- Jio: Send GETESIM <EID> <IMEI> to 199 or tap Switch to eSIM on the My Jio app.
- Airtel: Send eSIM <Your email ID> to 121 and reply with 1 to confirm to get a QR code at your email address. Or go to Shortcuts > Upgrade to eSIM on the Airtel Thanks app.
- Vi: Send eSIM <EID> <Device type> <Email ID> to 199 and reply ESIMY to the confirmation SMS to receive the QR code via email.
Transfer an eSIM to iPhone from another device
Lastly, if you're moving from an old iPhone to a newer one, Apple offers a feature called eSIM Quick Transfer. This can be used during the setup when all you need to do is use the Transfer from Nearby iPhone option.
If you're using an Android smartphone and want to transfer the eSIM to an iPhone, all you need to do is get the QR code using the methods explained above, and scan it via your iPhone to transfer the eSIM.
However, one of the things to be mindful of is that once you successfully activate the eSIM, calls and messages, both incoming and outgoing, will be blocked for 24 hours.
Whether you are inserting a new SIM or activating an iPhone eSIM on the latest model, getting connected is usually pretty seamless once you know the right steps.
