How It Works
Installing a Metric Aero Core eSIM takes about two minutes on Wi-Fi. You receive a QR code by email within minutes of ordering. Scan it once, label the line, and switch it on when you land — the plan does not start until it first connects to a network at your destination.
Before you start
| Your phone | Must support eSIM. Check with the method on our compatibility page — two minutes, no model list needed. |
| Carrier lock | A locked phone will install the profile and then refuse to connect. Unlock it with your carrier before you travel. |
| Connection | Install on Wi-Fi at home. Do not wait until you land. |
| Your QR code | Sent to the email address on the order within minutes. If it has not arrived in 10 minutes, check spam before contacting us. |
iPhone: install in five steps
- Open Settings → Cellular.
- Tap Add eSIM (on older iOS versions: Add Cellular Plan).
- Choose Use QR Code and point the camera at the code in your order email. If you are reading the email on the same phone, tap Use QR Code then Enter Details Manually and type the activation string instead.
- Give the plan a label — for example China travel — so you can tell it apart from your home line later.
- When asked which line should be used for mobile data, choose the travel eSIM. Keep your home line for calls and messages.
Android: install in five steps
Menu names differ between manufacturers. The path is the same idea everywhere — find SIMs, then add:
- Open Settings → Network & internet → SIMs (Samsung: Connections → SIM manager).
- Tap Add eSIM or the + next to SIMs.
- Choose Scan QR code from the carrier, and scan the code in your order email.
- Name the profile so you recognise it later.
- Set the travel eSIM as the line for mobile data; leave calls and SMS on your home SIM.
Turn it on when you land
Installing does not consume anything. Two switches do the work:
- Turn the travel eSIM line on.
- Enable Data Roaming on that line. This is the step people skip, and it is the one that stops the plan attaching to a local network.
Leave mobile data on your home line switched off so you are not billed by your own carrier. Your usual number still receives calls and SMS while the eSIM carries the data.
When does my plan start?
The validity period begins on first connection to a network at your destination — not when you buy, and not when you install. You can order a week early, install at home, and still get the full period from the day you land.
If something does not work
| What you see | What to try |
|---|---|
| No QR code email | Wait 10 minutes, then check spam and promotions. Still nothing: email us the order number and we resend it manually. |
| "Unable to add plan" or scan fails | Most often the code was already scanned once, or the phone is carrier-locked. Install manually using the activation string in the same email. |
| Installed, but no internet at the destination | Check three things in order: the travel line is on; mobile data is pointed at the travel line; Data Roaming is enabled on it. |
| Signal shows, pages do not load | Turn the line off and on to force a re-attach. Then restart the phone. If it persists, tell us the destination city and the time — that is what we need to check with the carrier. |
| Two lines, confusing which is which | Rename them in settings: home line = phone number, travel line = destination. You can also turn the home line off entirely and rely on Wi-Fi calling. |
| Phone says it is not compatible | Check the compatibility page before buying anything else — a carrier lock is fixable, missing eSIM hardware is not. |
Frequently asked questions
Can I install the eSIM before I travel?
Yes, and you should. Install on Wi-Fi at home; nothing is consumed until the plan connects to a network at your destination.
Can I use the same eSIM on a second phone?
No. An eSIM profile installs once, on one phone. If you change phones mid-trip, ask us for a reissue before you wipe the old device.
Do I need to remove my physical SIM?
No. Keep it in the phone. Set the eSIM as the mobile-data line and your own SIM stays available for calls and verification codes.
Why is Data Roaming required?
A travel eSIM is a visiting profile on a local network. Without roaming enabled the phone will not attach to it, so the plan never starts.
What happens if I delete the eSIM by mistake?
A deleted profile cannot be reinstalled from the same QR code. Contact us with your order number — depending on the plan, we can reissue it.
Does installing use up my data?
No. Installation is a profile download on Wi-Fi; the data allowance only starts counting once the plan connects at your destination.
Next: check your phone on the eSIM compatibility page, or pick a destination from the plan list.
Steps checked against iOS 18 and Android 14 menu paths. Last reviewed: 2026-10-23.