How to delete an eSIM (and when you should not)
Key facts
- Deleting an eSIM is permanent — most QR codes install only once and cannot be scanned again.
- On iPhone: Settings > Cellular > tap the line > Delete eSIM. On Android: Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Erase.
- If you just want to pause the line, switch it off instead of deleting it — that also stops VoaSim days from starting early.
- Before deleting because of no signal, turn on data roaming for the travel eSIM and run the free eSIM Rescue tool at voasim.com/sos.
- VoaSim charges one price per duration for all destinations, from USD 18.90 for 5 days to USD 106.90 for 60 days, with truly unlimited data.
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Deleting an eSIM takes about 30 seconds. Getting it back does not. Unlike a plastic SIM you can pop out and slot back in, a deleted eSIM profile is usually gone for good, and most QR codes only install once.
This guide shows the exact steps on iPhone and Android, plus the checks you should run before you tap delete, especially if the reason is "no signal".
Delete an eSIM on iPhone (step by step)
On iOS the eSIM lives inside the Cellular menu, next to your physical line.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Cellular (or Mobile Data / Mobile Service, depending on your region).
- Under SIMs, tap the eSIM line you want to remove. It may be labelled Travel, Secondary, or by the provider name.
- Scroll down and tap Delete eSIM.
- Confirm on the pop-up.
Two notes. First, if you only want to stop the line from using data or counting days, do not delete it: tap the line and switch Turn On This Line to off. That keeps the profile on the phone. Second, iOS lets you rename lines. If you carry more than one travel eSIM, rename them before a trip so you never delete the wrong one. If you are removing it because it shows "No Service", run the free eSIM Rescue check first — it works with an eSIM of any brand.
Delete an eSIM on Android
Android menu names vary by brand, but the path is close to the same.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Network & internet (Samsung: Connections).
- Tap SIMs or SIM manager.
- Select the downloaded eSIM profile.
- Tap Erase, Delete SIM or Remove, then confirm.
On Google Pixel the wording is usually "Erase eSIM". On Samsung Galaxy you may find the eSIM under SIM manager with a small trash or "Remove" option inside the profile settings.
If you only want to pause it, turn the profile off instead of erasing. This matters for VoaSim: the plan days start counting at the first connection to a network at the destination, so on Android you should install the eSIM at home and leave its data switched off until you land. Turning it off is not the same as deleting it, and it is the safer move.
When you should not delete an eSIM
Most deletions we see are panic deletions. Here is when to keep the profile:
- No signal on arrival. Nine times out of ten this is a setting, not a broken profile. Deleting removes your only path back online.
- You have not landed yet. Data that has not been used is still there. Switch the line off, do not erase it.
- You are switching phones. Not every profile can be transferred. Ask support before you wipe the old handset.
- Slow speeds. A VoaSim eSIM has no data cap and no throttling, so slowness is usually network selection or congestion, not the profile.
Delete when the trip is over and the plan has expired, when your phone storage of eSIM slots is full, or when support tells you to so they can issue a replacement. Read the guarantee and support terms before you do it on your own.
No signal? Run these checks in order first
Work down the list. Stop as soon as you get bars.
- Toggle Airplane mode on for 15 seconds, then off.
- Confirm the eSIM line is on and set as the data line.
- Turn Data Roaming ON for the travel eSIM. This is the single most common fix. It is required for the eSIM to reach local networks.
- Turn data roaming OFF on your home carrier line so you are not billed by them.
- Check APN settings if your provider gave you one.
- Set network selection to Automatic, then try picking a local network manually.
- Restart the phone.
Still nothing? Use the free eSIM Rescue tool, which diagnoses eSIMs from any brand, or write to hola@voasim.com. VoaSim support is human, and if an eSIM will not connect and support cannot fix it, you get a 100% refund.
Deleted it by mistake? What happens next
A deleted profile cannot normally be reinstalled from the original QR code — most codes are single-use. That is not a VoaSim quirk, it is how the GSMA eSIM standard works across brands.
What to do: contact support with your order details and explain what happened. Whether a new profile can be issued depends on the plan status. Do not keep scanning the old QR code, and do not factory reset the phone hoping it comes back.
To avoid it next time: install the eSIM at home, before you fly, and keep the line off until you land. Save the QR code email in a folder you can find offline, and screenshot the install confirmation. Your physical SIM and your phone number keep working the whole trip, so WhatsApp stays on your usual number — you only turn off your home carrier's data roaming.
VoaSim pricing if you need a fresh eSIM
One price per duration, the same for all 170 destinations covered, including Brazil and the 50-country Europe plan. Truly unlimited data: no cap, no throttling, no hidden fair-use clause.
| Plan | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days | USD 18.90 | USD 3.78 |
| 7 days | USD 23.90 | USD 3.41 |
| 10 days | USD 30.90 | USD 3.09 |
| 15 days | USD 42.90 | USD 2.86 |
| 30 days | USD 61.90 | USD 2.06 |
| 60 days | USD 106.90 | USD 1.78 |
Trips of 1–4 days use the 5-day package. Maximum 90 days per eSIM. A second eSIM in the same order gets 10% extra off. Payment is by international card in USD via Stripe, and the QR code arrives by email within minutes. Check your exact price or browse all destinations.
Why trust VoaSim?
Registered company with an invoice on every purchase, USD payment via Stripe with no hidden fees, human support and a guarantee: if the eSIM will not connect and support cannot fix it, you get 100% back.