Having trouble setting up an eSIM on iPhone 16? Here's what you need to know

Plenty of users who’ve just upgraded to the latest iPhone 16 models are running into a frustrating problem trying to set up eSIMs. From failed transfers to phones stuck in SOS mode, the setup process isn’t as smooth as users with the latest and greatest from Apple would hope. But don’t worry, after dividing into multiple discussions on Reddit and Apple’s support forums, I’ve highlighted several tips to help you get past these common setup snags in this article.

According to numerous reports online, people are facing issues when trying to transfer their eSIM from an old iPhone to the new iPhone 16. One recurring issue is eSIM transfer errors, where the eSIM doesn’t move over, even when Apple’s instructions are followed. In these cases, the phone might display an error or simply fail to activate. Another big problem is phones staying in “SOS only” mode, which means they aren’t connecting to the network. This often happens when the eSIM activation doesn’t go through as expected. Additionally, for carriers like Verizon, users might need an active device on the network to verify the new eSIM, which poses a problem if the new phone isn’t connecting properly.

The first thing you should try is to scan the QR code to set up the eSIM, which you can obtain through the carrier’s app or customer support. Scanning the code in the “Cellular” section of your settings can help activate the eSIM when regular transfer methods don’t work. If these steps aren’t successful, tech support may need to “push” the activation on their end.

Verizon users, for example, have found that calling *611 and requesting eSIM activation help, especially with a specialist, can sometimes resolve the issue. Additionally, some users suggest temporarily turning off “Find My iPhone” in the settings should help you get the eSIM activated. Once the setup is complete, you can turn it back on.

If none of the above solutions work, a trip to a carrier store might be your best option. Some Verizon users on Reddit reported success when they took their iPhone 16 to a corporate Verizon store, where the staff could manually activate the eSIM. As one user put it, “If you are having esim issues, save yourself the headache and go into a Verizon store.”

When heading to the store, be sure to bring your old phone if possible, as it can help staff verify details or work around network authentication issues. Some users also mention that even at the store, they had to call Verizon customer service to complete the setup, so be prepared for that possibility. The store staff can usually handle most of the activation process, but having customer support on the line might speed things up if any complications arise.

One Google Fi user also suggested a fix that seems to have helped a few users. Here’s what they say:

Basically what I did is disabled the line on the old iPhone (not delete the sim). Then on the new phone deleted the FI app (because I copied the old phone to the new one), and then added the esim via https://fi.google.com/ios/quicksetup?pli=1 . Then downloaded the Fi app again and logged in. It did its thing. Updated cellular settings to h2g2 and restarted. It got the number and transferred the sim. You gotta do a clean first-run of the Fi app after you install the esim.

An EE Mobile subscriber also mentioned doing something similar:

I activated it first online; it took about 10 minutes to become active. Next Log into the EE app to download the QR eSIM code, and scan this into my new iPhone. Next, click on the EE app and locate Manage > Device and SIM > Scroll down to Activate my SIM/eSIM to activate eSIM. Followed by a 6-digit PIN once that was done, my eSIM became active, but the physical SIM is disconnected.

With all this, one thing’s for sure, if you don’t consider yourself tech-savvy, the best thing to do would be to visit you’re carrier’s store to sort out the problem. If you’re not in a position to visit a physical store, try the suggestions mentioned above. Hopefully, both Apple and the carriers will work to resolve these issues soon, especially because in the US, buyers have only eSIM iPhones.