Welcome back!
You left some items in your basket.
Go to Basket
What is an eSIM and how does it work?
An eSIM is a digital SIM activated via QR code – replacing a traditional physical SIM and reducing plastic waste.
You use an eSIM just like a physical SIM. But as it’s digital, you don’t have to put it in your phone – it’s already inside it. You just need to activate it via QR code.
Connect to Wi-Fi
On your new phone
Scan your QR code
Using your phone camera or a QR code scanner app
Follow the on-screen steps
To activate your eSIM
What are the benefits of eSIM?
Reducing plastic waste.
An eSIM has less impact on the environment than a physical SIM, as it produces lower CO2 emissions. It also reduces plastic waste, as it’s a digital SIM – not a physical SIM. To find out more click here.
- You can have multiple numbers on an eSIM-compatible phone. So, for example, you can have a work number and a personal number on the same phone
- An eSIM takes up less space within a phone than a physical SIM, meaning the phone manufacturer has more space for other things, like a bigger battery and extra features
- An eSIM is more secure than a physical SIM, as it can’t be removed if your phone is lost or stolen
Getting started with your eSIM
It’s easy to get set up, as soon as you receive your eSIM pack, you can scan the QR code and follow the instructions.
If you need a replacement eSIM, you can get in touch with us or you can pick one up in your local Tesco Mobile phone shop – you’ll be able to keep your number too.
Getting started is easy. You just need to follow these steps:
- Connect to Wi-Fi
- Scan the QR code using your phone camera or a QR code scanner app, and follow the link
- Follow the on-screen steps
If you need further support please go to device help.
All done. Depending on your phone, you’ll now either see phone signal bars, or TESCO shown as your network name on-screen
To uninstall your eSIM on an iPhone, just go to Settings > Mobile data > SIMs select the eSim you want to uninstall > Delete eSIM. It’s the same as taking a physical SIM out of a phone.
If you need further support please go to device help.
A QR code looks a bit like a barcode, and you need to scan it to use it. You can scan it using your phone camera or a QR code scanner app – this is how you activate your eSIM on your phone.
If you use your phone camera, a link will pop up on your screen. You’ll just need to follow this link, then follow the on-screen steps. If your phone camera doesn’t automatically support QR codes, you can download a QR code scanner app from your phone’s app store, then follow the instructions provided in the app to scan the QR code.
Who can use eSIM?
Your eSIM will work in any country or place where a physical SIM would work. For more info on using your phone abroad, head to our roaming help page.
We don’t currently support eSIM with smartwatches. We'll keep you posted here on any future changes which we make.
Get help with your eSIM
Set up support
You can get in touch with us to get a replacement eSIM, or you can pick one up in your local Tesco Mobile phone shop – you’ll be able to keep your number too.
If your QR code appears damaged, you may be able to install your eSIM manually by entering the 64-digit code printed below your QR code if visible and undamaged.
Please be aware, you can use your QR code to activate your eSIM up to 3 times on the same phone (only successful activations count). So, if you’ve used up your 3 activations, or if you’ve got a new phone, you’ll need to get a replacement eSIM.
Once you’ve used your QR code to activate your eSIM on your phone, you won’t be able to activate it on a different phone. So, if you get a new phone, you’ll need to get a replacement eSIM. You can get in touch with us to get a replacement eSIM, or you can pick one up in your local Tesco Mobile phone shop – you’ll be able to keep your number too.
eSIM is a new technology we’re currently testing, so we can understand and learn what works for our customers.
You can activate your eSIM up to 3 times on the same phone (only successful activations count), so keep hold of your QR code. If you use up your 3 activations, or if you get a new phone, you’ll need to get a replacement eSIM. You can get in touch with us to get a replacement eSIM, or you can pick one up in your local Tesco Mobile phone shop – you’ll be able to keep your number too.
You’ll need to get a replacement eSIM. You can get in touch with us to get a replacement eSIM, or you can pick one up in your local Tesco Mobile phone shop – you’ll be able to keep your number too.
- Using your old network SIM, text PAC to 65075 to get your PAC code
- Once your Tesco Mobile eSIM is activated (see the ‘Activation’ section above), use it to text PORT to 23424
- Follow the on-screen steps
Swapping SIMs
First, you’ll need to activate your eSIM on your phone (see the ‘Activation’ section above). Once you’ve done this, just follow the steps below:
- Using your physical SIM, text SWAP to 23424
- Follow the on-screen steps (your eSIM's serial number is on the back of the pack)
- Once your eSIM is up and running, please dispose of your physical SIM as electrical waste
If you need a physical SIM, you can get in touch with us, or you can pick one up in your local Tesco Mobile phone shop. It’ll be a Tri-SIM, which contains all 3 physical SIM sizes. You’ll need to pop out the right sized one and put it in your phone. Then, to activate it, you’ll just need to make a call to any number. Once you’ve done this, follow the steps below:
- Using your eSIM, text SWAP to 23424
- Follow the on-screen steps (your eSIM's serial number is on the back of the pack)
Your eSIM’s serial number is on the back of the pack. See more device guide help
Replacement eSIMs
You can get in touch with us to get a replacement eSIM, or you can pick one up in your local Tesco Mobile phone shop – you’ll be able to keep your number too.
We’ll send you your replacement eSIM in the post via Royal Mail.
Your number will be transferred onto your replacement eSIM. You may lose service while this is happening, but don’t worry – once you activate your replacement eSIM, your service should return.
If you have any bundles or allowances left, these will be transferred over to your replacement eSIM.
It’s a good idea to back up your data, where possible, before activating your replacement eSIM.
Repairs
Depending on the phone you’re going to use, you’ll need to either get a replacement eSIM or a physical SIM by getting in touch with us, or by popping to your local Tesco Mobile phone shop.
To uninstall your eSIM please follow the menu options on your phone. If you can’t uninstall your eSIM, please get in touch with us.
You need to make sure you remove all personal data from your phone before sending it in for repair. If you can’t do this because your phone is damaged, please get in touch with us. For more info on what you need to do before sending your phone in for repair, head to our repairs help page.
If you still have your QR code for your eSIM, keep hold of it. If your phone can be repaired, you’ll be able to reactivate your eSIM on it by using your QR code (if you haven’t already used up your 3 activations).
If you still have your QR code for your eSIM, you can reactivate your eSIM on your repaired phone by using your QR code (if you haven’t already used up your 3 activations). See the ‘Activation’ section above.
If you’re having trouble reactivating your eSIM on your repaired phone, it could be due to one of these reasons:
- You may have already used up your 3 activations
- Your QR code may be damaged
In these cases, you’ll need to get a replacement eSIM. You can get in touch with us to get a replacement eSIM, or you can pick one up in your local Tesco Mobile phone shop – you’ll be able to keep your number too.
Another reason why you’re having trouble reactivating your eSIM on your repaired phone could be because you may not have a data connection. If this is the case, make sure you connect to Wi-Fi.
Exchanges, returns, replacement phones and lost/stolen phones
Once you’ve activated your eSIM on your phone, you can’t activate it on a different phone. So, as you’ve got a replacement phone, you also need a replacement eSIM. You may have already been given a replacement eSIM with your replacement phone. If not, you can get in touch with us to get one, or you can pick one up in your local Tesco Mobile phone shop – you’ll be able to keep your number too.
Once you’ve activated your eSIM on your phone, you can’t activate it on a different phone. So, depending on your old phone, you’ll need to either get a replacement eSIM or a physical SIM by getting in touch with us, or by popping to your local Tesco Mobile phone shop – you’ll be able to keep your number too.
If you haven’t already, please get in touch with us, so we can block your phone and stop anyone else from using it. We can also help you transfer your number onto another phone. For more info, head to our lost or stolen help page.