How to set up an eSIM on iPhone in Under 1 Minute (Step-by-Step Guide)

If you're using an iPhone, chances are your phone is eSIM-compatible.

In fact, every iPhone from the XS and XR onward supports eSIM, and if you're on an iPhone 14 or newer in the U.S., it's the only way your phone connects to cellular networks.

The only step left is setup. With GigSky, once your eSIM is installed, it stays on your phone. You're not repeating this process for every trip.

Future travel is simple: open the app, add a data plan, and you're connected, whether you're flying abroad, boarding a cruise, or hopping on a ferry.

This guide shows you how to set up eSIM on iPhone, so it works smoothly now and continues to work on every trip after this one.

Before you begin, there are a couple of quick checks worth making. They take minutes and make everything else effortless. Let's get started.

Is Your Phone eSIM-Compatible?

Open your phone and dial *#06#. If you see an EID number, your phone supports eSIM.

No EID? Go to Settings > General > About. Look for "eSIM" or "EID" anywhere on that screen. If you don't see it, feel free to double-check here:

Is Your Phone Unlocked?

Still in Settings, tap General > About and scroll to "Carrier Lock."

If it says "No SIM Restrictions," your phone is unlocked. Anything else means you'll need to contact your carrier first.

This takes two minutes now. It saves you from buying a plan you can't use later.

Step-by-Step: How to set up eSIM on iPhone

Here's what the eSIM setup iPhone process looks like from start to finish.

1. Download the GigSky App and Choose Your Plan

Open the App Store, download GigSky, and enter your destination.

Check if you're eligible for free data (Visa cardholders can get up to 3GB). Then choose your data amount and tap "Buy Plan."

2. Name Your eSIM Device

Select "New eSIM Device" and give it a name like "Anne's iPhone."

Why this matters: If you're buying data for travel companions, naming the eSIM lets you see who each plan belongs to and avoid using the wrong one.

3. Start the Installation

Tap "Get Started." The app will take you to "My Plans."

Tap "Install eSIM," then "Install on This Device." This begins the eSIM installation iPhone workflow.

4. Activate eSIM on iPhone

Tap "Get Started," then "Activate Your eSIM," then "Continue."

Your phone will walk you through the rest. This is where iOS asks for permission to add eSIM to iPhone. Go ahead and allow it.

5. Select the GigSky eSIM As Your Data Line

This setting controls which SIM is used for cellular data.

If Cellular Data is set to Off, your phone won't use mobile data at all.

This is where you select the GigSky eSIM as your data line and make sure Allow Cellular Data Switching is turned off.

Why this matters: If you leave your home line active for data, you could get roaming charges. Your carrier doesn't distinguish between your eSIM and their service. They'll still bill you for data that routes through them.

Getting the Timing Right

You can install eSIM on iPhone as soon as you buy it. But there's a better approach.

Here's what happens when you install too early:

Let's say you bought a 7-day plan with 1GB. You install it eight days before your trip because you want to be prepared. By the time you travel, you've already used up a validity day. You land with six days left instead of seven.

Or you buy a 15-day plan weeks in advance because there's a promotion. You install it right away. By the time you board, it's already expired.

When to Install eSIM on iPhone (Based on How You're Traveling)

If you're flying: Install the day before departure. Do it before your flight while you still have stable Wi-Fi at home. When you land, your phone will connect automatically.

If you're on a cruise: Install the same day your cruise starts. Turn off GigSky data after installing, then turn it back on a few minutes before you board.

If you're taking a ferry: Same approach as a cruise. Install day-of, keep it off until you're actually boarding.

This approach prevents you from wasting validity days while you're still at home.

Yes, You Need Wi-Fi to Activate

The eSIM activation on iPhone process won't complete without an internet connection. That's how this technology works.

Most airports offer free Wi-Fi, but it can be unreliable. Installing at home makes more sense, you have stable internet and time to work through any issues if they come up.

If you wait until you land and the airport Wi-Fi isn't cooperating, you'll be waiting longer than you'd like.

What Happens to Your Regular Phone Plan?

Nothing changes with your regular plan. Your physical SIM stays in your phone. You can keep it active if you want to receive phone calls or send and receive SMS text messages, but you may get roaming charges for these while you are abroad.

To avoid surprise bills, go to Settings and turn off your primary phone number completely. Leave only GigSky on while you're abroad.

You Won't Get SMS Verification Codes

GigSky is data-only. You'll receive messages from WhatsApp, Telegram, anything that uses the internet. But you won't get traditional SMS texts or verification codes.

If you need two-factor authentication while traveling, you'll want to use an authenticator app instead.

Troubleshooting Common eSIM setup iPhone Issues

No data after landing: iPhone uses either your primary line or GigSky for cellular data.

Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data and make sure GigSky is selected. Your primary line can stay on, but it should not be selected for cellular data.

"Searching..." but never connecting: Try restarting your phone. Sometimes iOS needs a fresh start to recognize the new network after you activate eSIM on iPhone.

eSIM installed but showing "No Plan": You might have installed it too early and the validity window already closed. Check the app under "My Plans" to see your plan status.

Can't install because "Cellular Plan Not Added": Your phone might still be carrier-locked. Go back to Settings > General > About > Carrier Lock and verify it says "No SIM Restrictions."

Questions Travelers Have After install eSIM on iPhone

Will This Work for Maps and Uber?

Yes. Most travelers use GigSky primarily for Google Maps, ride-sharing apps, and WhatsApp. You'll usually get 5G speeds, though that depends on your location. Remote areas will naturally be slower. Road trips through Europe? You'll stay well connected.

Will Video Calls Work?

Yes, but the quality of your call depends on your location. If you're on a cruise or ferry, connectivity is typically best in shared areas rather than inside your cabin.

What travelers appreciate about GigSky is that it works in places where other eSIMs struggle. It works in Cuba, where internet connectivity is challenging. GigSky connects to the strongest available network wherever you are.

What If I Run Out of Data?

Go to "My Plans" in the app and tap "Top Up." It's a quick process. The app will also send you a notification when you've used 80% of your data, so you're never caught off-guard.

Can I Delete It Without Affecting My Main SIM?

Yes. Your physical SIM won't be affected at all. While you're traveling, you simply turn it off in settings. When you get home, turn it back on. It'll work exactly like it always has.

What If It Doesn't Work and I'm Already Abroad?

GigSky has customer support, but response times can vary depending on your time zone. If something goes wrong at 2am local time, you might need to wait for business hours.

That's another reason why knowing how to set up eSIM on iPhone before you leave is helpful. You can catch and fix problems while you still have your regular internet connection.

The Complete Process to Install eSIM on iPhone: You Only Do This Once

Here's what makes this process worthwhile: after you how to set up eSIM on iPhone once, you don't need to do it again.

The same eSIM works on your next trip. Europe, Asia, another cruise, it doesn't matter. You just buy a new data plan in the app. The eSIM itself stays installed on your phone.

You're not setting up connectivity every time you travel. When you add eSIM to iPhone using the eSIM setup iPhone method outlined here, you're setting it up one time, then reusing it each trip. 

The eSIM installation iPhone stays permanent, and future trips require nothing more than selecting a new data plan in the GigSky app.

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