You have purchased your RoamFree eSIM and received your QR code and manual activation credentials via order email. This step-by-step guide walks you through installation and activation for iPhone.
Special Tips: We recommend installing your eSIM on your travel day.
Each RoamFree eSIM data plan has a fixed service period. To avoid accidentally starting your plan early, it’s best not to install your eSIM too far in advance.
You have two options for installation:
- Install on your travel day before departure (at home). You will need a stable Wi‑Fi connection to download the eSIM profile.
- Install after you arrive at your destination airport. Airport Wi‑Fi will be required to finish setup.
⚠️ Critical rule:
Do NOT turn on Data Roaming for your RoamFree eSIM until you arrive at your travel destination.
Your plan will start counting down once Data Roaming is enabled and your phone connects to the local mobile network. Once started, the plan cannot be paused.
🚨 Critical Pre-Trip Warnings (Read First)
- We recommend installing your eSIM on your travel day. Avoid installing weeks before your trip, to reduce the risk of accidental early activation.
- Do NOT enable Data Roaming for your RoamFree eSIM while in your home country. Your plan countdown starts when Data Roaming is turned on and your phone connects to the local mobile network at your destination. Once activated, your plan cannot be paused.
- Your iPhone must be factory unlocked. Carrier-locked iPhones cannot download or use RoamFree eSIM profiles.
- Use stable Wi‑Fi during the full eSIM profile download. If Wi‑Fi drops mid-download, installation will fail and you must restart the process.
- Each eSIM order has its own unique QR code. If buying multiple plans, install them one at a time.
You will find your unique QR code inside your order confirmation email, alongside manual activation credentials for iPhone.
✅ Option 1 (Recommended): Display QR on a second screen (PC, tablet or second phone)
Open your order email on a separate device, then scan the QR code using your iPhone. This is the simplest and most reliable method.
✅ Option 2: Only one iPhone available (no second device or computer)
If you only have this iPhone, you can still install it by screenshotting the QR code and importing the image into your iPhone’s QR scanner.
- Open your RoamFree order email on your computer, tablet, or second phone. Ensure the full QR code is visible on screen.
- On your iPhone, navigate to Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM > Use QR Code.
- Point your iPhone camera toward the QR code on your second screen.
- Follow on-screen prompts and wait for the eSIM profile to fully download.
- Name your new eSIM profile (example:
RoamFree USA). - Set your default lines:
- Primary physical SIM: Default for Voice, SMS and iMessage
- RoamFree eSIM: Default for Mobile Data
- Turn off Allow Cellular Data Switching to prevent accidental roaming charges on your primary SIM.
- Leave Data Roaming OFF. Enable Data Roaming only after you land at your travel destination.
- Open your RoamFree order email directly on this iPhone.
- Press and hold the QR code image in the email.
- Tap Add eSIM in the pop-up menu.
Note: This feature works for Apple Mail. Some third-party mail apps may not support this shortcut.
- Follow prompts to finish downloading the eSIM profile.
- Rename your profile and configure default lines, following the setup rules above.
- Keep Data Roaming disabled until arrival at your destination.
- Open your order email and take a screenshot of the QR code. Make sure all four corners of the QR code are fully visible, not cropped. Save screenshot to Photos.
- Go to Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM > Use QR Code.
- Tap the Photos / image icon at the bottom of the QR scanning camera screen.
- Select the QR code screenshot you just saved. iPhone will automatically read the QR code.
- Complete download, rename profile and set your default lines.
- Keep Data Roaming off until arrival.
- Go to Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM.
- Tap Enter Details Manually.
- Input the SM-DP+ Address and Activation Code provided in the iOS section of your order email.
- Complete installation following on-screen instructions.
-
QR code will not scan
- Check screenshot: all four corners of QR must be visible, no blur or cropping
- If you are scanning from a screen, increase screen brightness
- If QR still fails, use manual activation method with SM-DP+ / Activation Code
-
Installation failed during download
- Confirm iPhone is factory unlocked and supports eSIM
- Check stable Wi‑Fi connection; do not switch Wi‑Fi mid-download
- Reboot phone and retry installation
-
eSIM installed, but no data abroad
- Verify Data Roaming is enabled only on the RoamFree eSIM profile
- Confirm RoamFree eSIM is selected as your mobile data line
- Reboot your iPhone after landing
-
Error: Cannot add eSIM / plan cannot be added
- This usually means your iPhone is carrier locked or the eSIM profile has already been used on another device. Contact RoamFree support with your order number.
Tick each box before your trip:
- iPhone is factory unlocked and supports eSIM
- Received QR code + manual activation codes in order email
- eSIM profile downloaded over Wi‑Fi
- Primary SIM set for calls / SMS; RoamFree eSIM set for mobile data
- Allow Cellular Data Switching disabled
- Data Roaming for RoamFree eSIM remains OFF
- You will enable Data Roaming only after arriving at your travel destination
RoamFree eSIM installation on iPhone is straightforward once you follow these steps. We recommend installing your eSIM on the day of travel to reduce the risk of accidental early activation. Remember to activate Data Roaming only once you arrive in your travel country.
If you encounter any problems, please contact RoamFree support with your order number and a description of your issue.
