How to install an eSIM on iPhone

Installing a Stealthsim eSIM on an iPhone takes about two minutes. The flow is the same whether you bought the eSIM five minutes ago or five months ago — the QR remains valid until first install. You should ideally do this on Wi-Fi, before your trip: the data plan only starts when the eSIM first connects to a mobile network in the destination country.

Step-by-step install

1. Open Settings → Cellular. On iPhone, go to Settings, then Cellular (Mobile Data in some regions). Tap 'Add eSIM' or 'Add Cellular Plan'.
2. Scan the QR code. Choose 'Use QR Code'. Point the camera at the QR delivered by Stealthsim. The iPhone reads it and downloads the carrier profile in 5–10 seconds.
3. Label the plan. Give the eSIM a label (e.g. 'Travel' or the country name). This helps when you have multiple eSIMs installed.
4. Choose default line. If you have a primary line, choose which to use for calls, iMessage, and cellular data. For travel, set the new eSIM as the data line.
5. Enable Data Roaming. Tap the new eSIM in Cellular settings, then enable Data Roaming. Without this, the eSIM will not connect to the local carrier abroad.

Switching data lines abroad

Once your plane lands, open Settings → Cellular and confirm that Cellular Data points to the Stealthsim eSIM. If you forget, your iPhone will try to roam on your home line at the destination carrier's standard rates — which is exactly what you bought the eSIM to avoid.

You can also enable Allow Cellular Data Switching for automatic fallback, but on a trip you typically want to lock data to the travel eSIM.

Troubleshooting

The QR doesn't scan

Brighten the source screen, increase contrast, and move the camera further back. iPhones struggle with very dim or very small QR codes. If it still fails, tap Enter Details Manually and paste the activation code from the email — this is the underlying string the QR encodes.

The eSIM downloads but doesn't connect

Confirm that Data Roaming is enabled on the new eSIM (not just on your primary line). Also check that you are physically in the destination country — the eSIM will not provision data on a network outside the supported region.

The eSIM disappears after installing

On rare iOS releases, the eSIM is installed but not shown until you restart the phone. A full reboot (not just lock/unlock) resolves this in almost every case.

Storage and limits

Apple supports up to 8 installed eSIMs per device, with two active at any given time. Frequent travelers who buy several country-specific Stealthsim plans should remove unused ones after each trip to keep room for new installs.

Privacy note

The eSIM profile is stored locally in your iPhone's secure element. Stealthsim doesn't track installation events; the underlying carrier sees a generic foreign eSIM connecting, not your identity. Combined with crypto payment from a non-custodial wallet, the chain of attribution is severed at every layer.