To check if your eSIM is activated on iPhone, open Settings and tap Cellular (called Mobile Service or Mobile Data in some countries). If your eSIM is listed there and the line is turned on, then shows signal bars and lets you use data or make a call, it's activated. This guide walks you through 4 quick checks, explains what each status means, like "Activating", "No Service" or "SIM Not Supported", and shows you what to do if your eSIM isn't active yet.
How to check if your eSIM is activated on iPhone
The steps are the same on every iPhone with eSIM, from the iPhone XS and XR to the iPhone 14, 15, 16 and later. Only the menu name changes with your region.
1. Find your eSIM in Settings
Open Settings and tap Cellular (or Mobile Service or Mobile Data). Under eSIMs (or SIMs), you'll see one line for each eSIM, with the label you gave it, like "Primary", "Travel" or the carrier's name. If your eSIM isn't in the list at all, it was never installed or it was deleted. See how to find your eSIM on iPhone.
2. Check that the line is turned on
Tap your eSIM line and make sure Turn On This Line is on. This is how Apple says to verify an eSIM is activated: the new line must be turned on in Settings > Cellular (Apple: Set up cellular service on iPhone).
3. Look for signal bars in Control Center
Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to open Control Center. You should see your carrier's name and signal bars. With two lines turned on, you see two sets of signal bars, one for each carrier (Apple: Using Dual SIM with an eSIM). Apple uses the same check when an eSIM won't set up: if your carrier shows in Control Center, the eSIM is connected (Apple: If you can't set up an eSIM).
4. Test it: make a call or load a page
Apple suggests making a call to check your new eSIM's connection (Apple: Set up eSIM on iPhone). With a data-only travel eSIM, there's no number to call from. Turn off Wi-Fi instead, go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data, choose your eSIM, and open a web page. If it loads, your eSIM works.
What your eSIM status means
What you see in Settings and in the status bar tells you where your eSIM stands:
- Carrier name and signal bars: your eSIM is activated and connected.
- "Activating": your iPhone has the eSIM, but your carrier hasn't finished switching the line on. A few minutes is normal. A number transfer can take longer. See how long eSIM activation should take.
- "No Service" or "Searching": your iPhone isn't connected to a cellular network (Apple: If you see SOS, No Service or Searching). The line may be off, you may be outside coverage, or Data Roaming may be off for a travel eSIM. With two lines, Apple says that while one line is in use, the other can show No Service. That's normal.
- "SOS" or "SOS only": you're not connected to your carrier, but you can still make emergency calls in some countries, like the US, Canada and Australia (Apple).
- "SIM Not Supported": this usually means your iPhone is locked to another carrier. Go to Settings > General > About and look at Carrier Lock. "No SIM restrictions" means your iPhone is unlocked. If you see anything else, only your carrier can unlock it (Apple: Unlock your iPhone for a different carrier). More on what a carrier-locked phone means.
- Line shows "Off": the eSIM is installed but switched off. Tap it and turn on Turn On This Line.
How to check if your iPhone has an eSIM
Not sure your iPhone can use an eSIM at all? Go to Settings > General > About and scroll down. If you see an EID number, your iPhone has an eSIM chip. You can also dial *#06# and look for the EID.
- eSIM works on the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and later (Apple).
- On iPhone 14 and later, some models only use eSIM and have no SIM tray, like iPhone 14 and later models sold in the US.
- iPhones sold in mainland China only support eSIM on a few recent models.
- iPhone 13 models and later can have two eSIMs active at the same time (Apple).
More ways to check eSIM compatibility.
How to check a travel eSIM is working abroad
A travel eSIM can show "No Service" at home. Some only connect once you arrive in a country your plan covers, so check your plan details before you worry. When you land:
- Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data and choose your travel eSIM.
- Tap your travel eSIM line, then Cellular Data Options, and turn on Data Roaming (Apple).
- Turn off Data Roaming on your home line if you want to avoid roaming charges.
- Turn off Wi-Fi and open a web page to test the connection.
With iOS 26 and later, your iPhone can show a Turn On Travel eSIM notification when you arrive. Tap it, then choose Travel eSIM Only or Travel eSIM and Current eSIM (Apple: Use eSIM while traveling internationally). To see how much data you've used, check the usage list in Settings > Cellular.
Don't have a travel eSIM yet? You install these plans from a QR code by email. Set yours up on Wi-Fi shortly before you leave, then run the checks above when you land.
Europe, USA and Asia plans shown · Travel Basic+ includes a French +33 number for calls and texts, the others are data-only · Find the eSIM for your destination
eSIM not activated? What to do
If your eSIM isn't active after a few minutes, try these steps in order. After each one, check Control Center for your carrier's name (Apple):
- Connect to Wi-Fi or a hotspot.
- Turn Airplane Mode on for at least 15 seconds, then turn it off.
- Turn the eSIM line off and on in Settings > Cellular.
- Restart your iPhone.
- Update iOS and your carrier settings. Go to Settings > General > About. In the eSIM section, tap the version number next to Carrier to check for an update.
- Check Carrier Lock in Settings > General > About.
- Run Apple's diagnostics. On iOS 18 or later, the Apple Support app can run extra checks.
Don't delete your eSIM to start over. Apple says that if you erase an eSIM, you need to contact your carrier to get a new one (Apple: Erase an eSIM).
"Unable to activate eSIM" on iPhone
If you see an error while you add the eSIM, it hasn't been installed yet, so the checks above won't help. Our guide on how to fix an eSIM that won't activate explains each error message and the fix. If your eSIM is active but you still can't get online, read eSIM not working? How to fix it. For when a travel eSIM's validity starts and whether to activate before you fly, see eSIM activation explained.
Still stuck? Contact your carrier or eSIM provider. Have the error message, your phone number or order number, and your iPhone's IMEI or EID ready. You find them in Settings > General > About.
FAQs
How do I know if my eSIM is activated?
Go to Settings > Cellular and tap your eSIM line. If Turn On This Line is on and you see your carrier's name and signal bars in Control Center, it's activated. To be sure, turn off Wi-Fi and make a call or open a web page.
How do I check my eSIM in iPhone settings?
Open Settings and tap Cellular, or Mobile Service or Mobile Data depending on your country. Every eSIM on your iPhone shows up there as a line. Tap a line to see its label, its number if it has one, and its settings.
How long does it take for an eSIM to activate on iPhone?
Usually a few minutes once it's downloaded. A SimOptions eSIM activates right after the activation request. Moving your number from another carrier can take longer.
Why does my eSIM say No Service?
Your iPhone isn't connected to a network on that line. Check that the line is on, toggle Airplane Mode and restart. For a travel eSIM, check that you're in a country your plan covers, choose it for Cellular Data, and turn on Data Roaming for it.
Is my travel eSIM active before I travel?
It can be installed and still show No Service at home. That's often normal, because some travel eSIMs only connect once you arrive in a country the plan covers. Check your plan details, and run the checks above when you land.
Do all iPhones have eSIM?
No. eSIM works on the iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later. iPhones sold in mainland China only support eSIM on a few recent models.
Can I have two eSIMs active on my iPhone?
Yes, on iPhone 13 models and later. Your iPhone can store more eSIMs than that, but only two lines can be on at the same time, and only one line uses mobile data at a time.
