Simple Steps to Fix an eSIM Stuck on Activating in iPhone

If your eSIM is stuck on “Activating…” on your iPhone, it usually means your device is having trouble connecting to the carrier network or completing the activation process. This can happen because of network issues, incorrect carrier settings, software bugs, or carrier lock restrictions.

Why Does This Happen?

An eSIM can get stuck on activating due to various reasons, such as network congestion, incorrect carrier settings, software glitches, or issues with Apple’s activation servers.

You can also check how long eSIM activation normally takes to see if the delay is still considered normal.

Another common cause is when your iPhone is still tied to a specific carrier. If your device is carrier-locked, the eSIM may fail to activate properly.

Sometimes, outdated iOS versions or improper eSIM installation can also cause delays in activation. You have to update to the latest iOS version to ensure compatibility and fix any known bugs that might be causing the issue.

1. Toggle Airplane Mode

A quick network refresh can often resolve the activation issue:

• Open the Control Center:
  • On newer iPhones, swipe down from the top-right corner.
  • On older models, swipe up from the bottom.
• Tap the Airplane Mode icon to turn it on.
• Wait 10-15 seconds, then tap again to turn it off.

2. Turn Off WiFi and Mobile Data

Sometimes, completely disconnecting from the internet for a moment can help reset the activation process. Try this:

• Go to Settings → Wi-Fi and turn WiFi off.
• Go to Settings → Cellular and turn Mobile Data off.
• Leave both WiFi and mobile data off for a few minutes.
• Check if the activation progresses.

3. Force Restart Your iPhone

If Airplane Mode doesn’t work, try force restarting your iPhone:

• Hold the Power button and Volume Up/Down together.
• Slide to Power Off.
• Turn your iPhone back on after a few seconds.

4. Remove All eSIMs (Last Resort Fix)

One Reddit user found that removing all eSIMs completely fixed the issue:

• Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Remove All eSIMs.
• Restart your iPhone.
• Re-add your eSIM following your carrier’s instructions.

Don’t Delete the eSIM Too Quickly

One of the most common mistakes users make is deleting the eSIM immediately when it shows “Activating…” for too long.

If you are using a travel eSIM, especially for another country, this is often completely normal before arrival. Many travel eSIMs only fully activate once your phone connects to a supported local network in the destination country.

For example, if you install your Bali or Indonesia eSIM while still in Europe, the United States, or another country, your iPhone may continue showing:

“Activating…”
“No Service”
“Unable to Activate”

This does not always mean the eSIM is broken.

In many cases, the eSIM simply cannot complete network registration until you physically arrive in the destination country and connect to a local partner network.

Deleting the eSIM too early can create unnecessary problems because some QR codes are single-use only. Once deleted, you may not be able to reinstall the same eSIM again without contacting your carrier for a replacement QR code.

If you are traveling soon, it is usually better to wait until arrival before assuming the activation failed.

Use a Stable Wi-Fi Connection During Activation

A strong and stable Wi-Fi connection is extremely important during the eSIM activation process.

When your iPhone activates an eSIM, it needs to communicate with:

• Apple’s activation servers
• Your carrier’s network servers
• Carrier profile systems

If your internet connection is weak, unstable, or constantly switching between networks, the activation process may freeze or fail midway.

For the best results:

• Use a reliable home, hotel, or airport Wi-Fi connection.
• Avoid public Wi-Fi networks with poor signal quality.
• Stay connected to Wi-Fi until the activation fully completes.
• Avoid switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data repeatedly.

It is also recommended to temporarily disable VPN apps during activation, since some VPN configurations may interfere with carrier communication.

Even if your physical SIM still has data service, using stable Wi-Fi is generally more reliable for completing eSIM setup.

Remove Old or Unused eSIM Profiles

Having too many inactive or unused eSIMs stored on your iPhone can sometimes create conflicts with the activation process.

This is especially common for travelers who frequently install multiple travel eSIMs from different providers.

Older eSIM profiles may still contain:

• outdated carrier settings
• inactive network registrations
• unused APN configurations
• conflicting cellular plans

These can occasionally confuse the iPhone’s network management system and slow down activation for a newly installed eSIM.

To reduce potential conflicts:

• Go to Settings → Cellular.
• Review your installed SIMs and eSIM profiles.
• Remove eSIMs you no longer use.
• Keep only the active or necessary plans installed.

Before deleting anything, make sure the old eSIM is no longer needed, since some carriers do not allow reinstallation without issuing a new QR code.

Deleting and Re-Adding the eSIM

If all troubleshooting steps fail, the final option is usually to delete the eSIM and reinstall it using the original QR code or activation details provided by your carrier.

However, this should only be done as a last resort.

Before deleting the eSIM:

• Confirm your QR code is still valid.
• Make sure the carrier allows reinstallation.
• Save all activation details first.
• Contact your provider if you are unsure whether the QR code can be reused.

After deleting the eSIM:

• Restart your iPhone.
• Connect to stable Wi-Fi.
• Scan the QR code again.
• Follow the carrier installation steps carefully.
• Wait several minutes for activation to complete.

In many cases, reinstalling the eSIM resolves corrupted installation files or incomplete carrier profile setups that may have caused the activation issue initially.

Canceling activating eSIM on my iPhone

If your eSIM is stuck on “Activating…” and you want to cancel it on your iPhone, you can either turn it off temporarily or delete it completely.

Turn Off the eSIM (Recommended)

This stops the activation process without deleting the eSIM:

• Go to Settings
• Tap Cellular or Mobile Data
• Select the eSIM
• Turn off Turn On This Line

This is safer if you still plan to use the eSIM later.

Delete the eSIM Completely

If you no longer want to use it:

• Go to Settings
• Tap Cellular or Mobile Data
• Select the eSIM
• Tap Delete eSIM

Important: Some eSIM QR codes can only be used once, so make sure you still have your activation details before deleting it.

Conclusion

These quick fixes should help resolve your eSIM activation issue. If none of these solutions work,  your phone might be carrier-locked, reach out to your carrier for further assistance. Let us know in the comments which method worked for you!