How to Find and Install Your Switchboard eSIM on iPhone, Pixel, Samsung, and Other Android Devices

When we activate an eSIM on your account, your phone normally displays a push notification within a few minutes inviting you to install it. That notification is the primary way your eSIM gets installed, and tapping it is all most customers ever need to do. Sometimes it never arrives, though. This can happen if your phone was off, in Airplane Mode, out of coverage, or simply because some devices are inconsistent about showing it.

Don't worry, your eSIM is still active on our side and ready to install. There are three ways to install it, and we recommend trying them in this order:

1. The push notification. A few simple steps can often coax it into appearing.
2. The "Add eSIM" search in your phone's settings. Your phone searches for the eSIM waiting for it. Requires Wi-Fi.
3. Scanning a QR code. The reliable fallback when the first two don't work.

In this article

• Before you begin
• Method 1: Install from the push notification
• Method 2: Add the eSIM from your phone's settings
• Method 3: Install with a QR code
• After the eSIM is installed
• Troubleshooting

Before you begin

• Confirm your phone supports eSIM. iPhone XS, XR, and newer support eSIM. Most Google Pixel phones from the Pixel 3 onward, Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, and many other recent Android phones support eSIM. If you are unsure, check your manufacturer's specifications or ask us.
• Make sure your phone is carrier unlocked. A phone locked to another carrier may refuse to install or activate the eSIM.
• Connect to Wi-Fi. Your phone needs an internet connection to find and download the eSIM profile. Methods 1 and 2 below depend on it, and it makes Method 3 more reliable too.
• Charge your phone or keep it plugged in. An interrupted download can invalidate the eSIM.
• Do not delete the eSIM once installed. An installed eSIM can typically only be downloaded once. If you delete the eSIM from your phone, contact us so we can issue a new one.

Method 1: Install from the push notification

This is the normal way your eSIM gets installed. When we activate your line, your phone receives a notification that a cellular plan or eSIM is ready to be installed. On iPhone it reads something like "Cellular Plan Ready to Be Installed"; on Android it will mention a new SIM, eSIM, or mobile plan from your carrier.

If the notification hasn't appeared yet, it often just needs a nudge:

1. Connect to Wi-Fi and wait a minute or two. Phones frequently discover the waiting eSIM as soon as they are online.
2. Take your phone off Airplane Mode if it is on.
3. Restart your phone and leave it on Wi-Fi for a few minutes.
4. Check your notification shade and Settings app. The prompt sometimes appears as a banner inside Settings rather than a pop-up. On iPhone, look in Settings > Cellular for a plan listed as ready to be installed or a "Finish Setting Up Cellular" banner.

When the notification or banner appears, tap it, follow the on-screen prompts, and skip to After the eSIM is installed. If it still won't appear after a few minutes on Wi-Fi, move on to Method 2.

Method 2: Add the eSIM from your phone's settings

If the notification never shows up, you can make your phone search for the eSIM waiting for it. Your phone must be connected to Wi-Fi for this to work. Find your device below and follow the steps.

iPhone

These steps are written for iOS 16 and later. On older versions of iOS, menu names differ slightly: Add eSIM appears as Add Cellular Plan, and Cellular may appear as Mobile Data or Mobile Service depending on your region.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Cellular (or Mobile Service).
3. If you see a banner like "Finish Setting Up Cellular" or a plan listed as ready to be installed, tap it and follow the prompts. That is your eSIM.
4. Otherwise, tap Add eSIM (or Add Cellular Plan). If your iPhone finds the plan waiting for it, it will appear on this screen. Select it and follow the prompts.
5. During setup, iOS will offer a few configuration screens: give the line a recognizable label such as Switchboard, then choose which line to use for cellular data. If this eSIM is your primary data plan, select it for Cellular Data.

For more information on eSIMs and multiple eSIMs on a device, see Apple's help article.

Google Pixel

Exact wording varies slightly between Android versions.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Network & internet.
3. Tap SIMs, then tap + Add SIM (on some versions this is a + button next to SIMs).
4. Choose Set up an eSIM (on older versions, Download a SIM instead?) and tap Next.
5. Your Pixel will search for the eSIM assigned to it. When your plan is found, tap Download and wait for confirmation, then tap Settings done or Done.
6. Back in Settings > Network & internet > SIMs, tap the new line and switch Use SIM on. If you have more than one line, choose which SIM to use for mobile data, calls, and texts.

Samsung Galaxy

These steps are written for Samsung One UI 5 and later. On older versions, menu names differ slightly, for example SIM card manager instead of SIM manager.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Connections.
3. Tap SIM manager.
4. Tap Add eSIM. Your phone will search for eSIMs registered to it.
5. When your plan appears in the list, select it and tap Add. Wait for the download and activation to finish.
6. Back in SIM manager, make sure the new line is toggled on under eSIMs, then scroll to Preferred SIMs and choose which line to use for calls, texts, and mobile data.

Samsung Settings > Connections > SIM manager screen with the Add eSIM option.

Other Android devices

Menu layouts vary by manufacturer and Android version, but the flow is the same: find the SIM settings, choose to add an eSIM, and let the phone search. On most Android devices the SIM settings live under Settings > Network & internet > Mobile Network (or SIMs).

Common paths by manufacturer:

• Motorola: Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Add SIM > Download a SIM instead?
• OnePlus: Settings > Mobile network > Add eSIM (or SIM & network settings).
• Xiaomi: Settings > SIM cards & mobile networks > Manage eSIM > Add eSIM.
• Others: Look under Network & internet, Connections, or Mobile network for an option named Add SIM, Add eSIM, Add mobile plan, or Download a SIM.

Let the phone search for available eSIMs. When your plan is found, follow the prompts to download it, then turn the new line on and set your preferences for data, calls, and texts.

If the search comes up empty on any device, don't repeat it more than once or twice. Move on to Method 3.

Method 3: Install with a QR code

If the notification never arrived and the settings search can't find your plan, a QR code will get it installed. Your Llama Networks service runs on one of our partner networks. Your activation email tells you which network your plan uses. Scan the matching QR code below with your phone's eSIM setup screen (steps for each device follow the codes).

T-Mobile network plans

Verizon network plans

How to scan on each device

• iPhone: Go to Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM, tap Use QR Code, and point the camera at the code. Tap Continue when the plan is detected, then Add Cellular Plan, and follow the setup screens.
• Google Pixel: Go to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > + Add SIM > Set up an eSIM. When the search offers it, choose the option to scan a QR code, scan the code, then tap Download.
• Samsung Galaxy: Go to Settings > Connections > SIM manager > Add eSIM, tap Scan QR code (it may read Scan QR code from service provider), scan the code, then tap Add.
• Other Android: Find the Add eSIM option as described in Method 2, then choose the scan or QR option and scan the code.

Can't scan at all? Every device also accepts manual entry. On iPhone, tap Enter Details Manually at the bottom of the QR scanning screen. On Android, look for Need help?, Enter activation code, or Enter code manually on the scan screen. You will need the SM-DP+ address and activation code from your activation email; type them exactly as written. If you don't have them, contact us and we will send them over.

After the eSIM is installed

1. Confirm the line is on. The new line should appear in your SIM settings with a toggle switched on, and you should see signal bars for it within a couple of minutes.
2. Set it as your data line if this eSIM is your primary data plan.
3. Restart your phone. A restart resolves most first-connection issues and forces the phone to register on the network.
4. Test it. Turn off Wi-Fi briefly and load a webpage to confirm mobile data works.
5. Traveling or in a fringe coverage area? If your plan uses roaming partners, make sure Data Roaming is enabled for the Llama Networks line. Check your plan details or ask us if you are unsure.

Troubleshooting

I don't see an "Add eSIM" option at all

Your phone may not support eSIM, or it may be locked to another carrier. Verify eSIM support with your phone's manufacturer, and contact your previous carrier about unlocking if needed.

The settings search (Method 2) can't find my plan

• Confirm you are connected to Wi-Fi; the search will not work without an internet connection.
• Restart the phone and try the search once more.
• If it still comes up empty, go straight to the QR code in Method 3. Some devices and networks simply don't support the automatic search.

The QR code won't scan

• Increase the screen brightness on the device displaying the code, or print it out.
• Clean your camera lens and hold the phone 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) from the code.
• Make sure the entire code is inside the scanning frame.
• If it still won't scan, use the manual entry option described at the end of Method 3.

I get an error like "This code is no longer valid" or "Plan cannot be added"

An eSIM can usually be downloaded only once. If the eSIM was previously installed on this or another device, or the download was interrupted, it may need to be reissued. A SIM protection or SIM lock feature on your device or previous carrier account can also block installation, so check that it is disabled. If neither applies, contact us and we will issue a fresh eSIM.

The eSIM installed but shows "No Service" or activation never finishes

• Stay connected to Wi-Fi and give it up to 10 minutes; first-time registration can be slow.
• Toggle Airplane Mode on for 30 seconds, then off.
• Restart the phone.
• Check that the line is toggled on in your SIM settings.
• iPhone: go to Settings > General > About and install a carrier settings update if one is offered.
• Android: go to your SIM settings, select the new line, and try choosing the network manually under Network operators if automatic selection fails.

Data doesn't work even though I have signal

Confirm the new line is selected as your mobile data line and that mobile data is turned on. If data still fails, the APN may need to be set manually. Contact us and we will walk you through the correct APN settings for your plan and network.

Still stuck? We're happy to help

If you have worked through the steps above and your eSIM still isn't up and running, reach out and we will get you connected:

• Submit a request from your account: llamaswitchboard.com/dashboard/support

When you contact us, please include your device make and model, which of the three methods you tried, the exact error message if there is one, and a note that your eSIM was already activated but no installation notification arrived. That helps us pick up right where this article leaves off.