Setup eSIM 📲
⚡ Quick eSIM Setup Guide
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Check Your Device 1st ✅ |
➡️ Ensure your phone supports eSIM technology and is not network-locked. 🔓 ➡️ Contact your provider (e.g., Telstra, Optus, Vodafone) or phone's settings to verify network lock status - if unsure. ➡️ Purchase the AirSims data eSIM plan you need. 🛒 |
| 2. Get Your QR Code 📧 | ➡️ After purchasing your eSIM, you’ll receive an automated email containing the QR code. (Also check spam/Junk mail) 📨 |
| 3. (Optional - But Recommended) - Print 🖨️ 📸 | ➡️ Take a picture or print a copy of the QR code before traveling as a backup. |
| 4. Set Up Your eSIM on Your Device 📲 | ➡️ Scan the QR code ☑️ then Follow the instructions provided to set up the eSIM on your device or follow the phone's prompts (recommend before leaving your home country) 🏁 |
| 5. 🛬 When you reach your destination |
➡️ Turn "on" the AirSim eSIM 🔛 ➡️ Turn "on" data roaming for the AirSim eSIM. 🔛 |
⏬ Detailed instructions for Apple and Android below
---
For Apple Devices
Before leaving your home country
- Open the "Settings" app on your phone.
- Tap “Cellular” or “Mobile Data.” (Refer to picture below)
- Tap “Add Cellular Plan” or “Add eSIM.” (Refer to picture below)
- Choose “Use QR Code.”
- Scan the QR code from (Step 2) from your email (sample below) and follow the steps.
- Default label will be called "Travel" or generic term "Cellular Data" (Given automatically by the Apple Device - but can be changed to whatever name you wish - for simplicity we will use the default "Travel" label)
- Set “Travel” as your main line and tap “Continue.”
- Set “Travel” for Mobile Data.
🛬 When You Arrive at Your Destination
- Make sure you are in a country where your eSIM works.
- Open “Settings” again.
- Tap “Cellular” or “Mobile Data"
- Select “Travel” under the SIMs section
- Turn on “Turn on this Line” 🔛 and make sure “Data Roaming” is on. 🔛
- Make sure “Travel” is chosen for Mobile Data
- “Mobile Data Switching” is off.
- Restart your phone.
---
For Android Devices
- Open the “Settings” app.
- Go to “Connections” or “Network & Internet.”
- Tap on “SIM manager.”
- Tap “Add eSIM”
- Choose “Scan QR code from service provider.”
- Scan the QR code from your email (sample below) or take a screenshot if needed.
- Name your eSIM whatever you like - but for example simplicity we will use the name “Travel”
- You can turn off the eSIM if you’re not ready to use it yet.
🛬 When You Arrive at Your Destination:
- Make sure you are in a country where your eSIM works.
- Open “Settings” again.
- Go to “Connections” or “Network & Internet.”
- Tap “SIM manager.”
- Choose “Mobile data” and select “Travel”
- Turn off “Data switching and backup calling.”
- Go to “Mobile networks.”
- Tap “Data roaming” and select “All networks.”
- Tap “OK.”
- Restart your phone.
---
🆘 TROUBLESHOOTING
"Unable to Activate eSIM" or "Activation Failure" iPhone/iPad (iOS) error message
When outside of destination country or region.
➡️ 🖨️Printable/single page version here
Sometimes, an eSIM can or might get stuck when activating on an iOS device. This usually happens if you've installed the eSIM but haven't yet arrived in your destination country or region.
This error message can be confusing, as it says "Unable to Activate eSIM"
All eSIM setup works in 2 phases:
- The install (the scanning of the QR code or clicking the iOS link in the email)
- The activation (behind the scenes stuff that connects the eSIM to the destination network/s)
Cause: Apple made a change during iOS 16.4 (and onwards), where it no longer requires eSIM customers to manually toggle Data Roaming "ON" for their eSIM in order to connect to supported networks. Basically newer Apple iOS attempts to install and activate the eSIM in one go, which causes the confusing message.
🫂 Don’t worry—the eSIM is already installed, even if it shows "Unable to activate eSIM.". Your eSIM will activate once you reach your destination and are within the network coverage area.
🛠️ Here’s what to do:
- (Optional step) Restart your phone and leave the AirSim eSIM line OFF until you’re in the destination country.
- (Must do) Once you arrive in a destination country or region that supports the AirSims eSIM - verify the eSIM is "ON" and roaming for the eSIM is "ON" and your device is in the network area, the eSIM should activate.
- If the eSIM fails to activate, ensure you have cellular signal and reboot the iPhone/iPad. If it is still failing to activate - try connect to a public Wi-Fi as a last resort to finalise the activation. If it still doesn't work contact AirSims support via airsims.com.au or via Facebook Messenger
---
🛠️ Setting networks MANUALLY if networks fail to auto connect/detect
(ANY COUNTRY)
✨ Apple iOS
✨ Android (2 different versions)
---
🇯🇵 eSIM not working/connecting OR hotspot greyed out in JAPAN
This issue is rare, it is typically caused by a combination of carrier and phone firmware bugs. Usually on Android phones but also known to happen on Apple devices.
The issue prevents your phone or tablet from connecting to the network in Japan properly.
Steps below to help
⏩ Short version:
1. Manually set the APN (Access Point Name) on your eSIM to "vmobile.jp" (without quotes)
2. Turn off/disable automatic network detection 📴
3. Select NTT Docomo or IIJ ✔️
4. (Optional) reboot your phone/tablet. 🔄️
🤓 Detailed version (Android):
1. Go to Settings
2. Tap Mobile Networks
3. Tap Access Point Names
4. Select your eSIM (purchased from airsims)
5. Type "vmobile.jp" (without quotes) in the APN field.
6. Leave the other fields blank
🤓 Detailed version (Apple iOS):
1. Go to Settings
2. Tap Cellular or Mobile
2. Tap your travel eSIM (purchased from airsims)
3. Tap Cellular or Mobile Data Network
4. Type "vmobile.jp" (without quotes) in the APN fields
5. Leave the other fields blank
If the APN is set automatically, tap Reset Settings
