Manual eSIM activation with the LPA / activation code (when the QR will not scan)
Key facts
- The eSIM activation code is the LPA text string behind the QR — you can paste it manually instead of scanning.
- On iPhone tap "Enter Details Manually"; on Android choose "Enter it manually" on the scan screen.
- A profile normally installs only once, so never delete a working eSIM to troubleshoot.
- VoaSim days start at the first connection abroad, so installing at home costs nothing.
- VoaSim charges one price per duration for all destinations, from USD 18.90 for 5 days to USD 106.90 for 60 days.
Want us to confirm it for your case?
Every eSIM QR code is just a picture of a text string. That string is the activation code, and you can type or paste it instead of scanning. This is the fix when your camera will not focus, when the QR is on the same phone you are installing on, or when the screen is cracked.
Below is the manual install path for iPhone and Android, plus what each error message actually means.
What an eSIM activation code looks like
The code is a single line of text, normally shaped like this:
- LPA:1 — tells the phone this is an eSIM profile.
- $ SM-DP+ address — the server that holds your profile (a web-style address).
- $ Matching ID — a long unique code that identifies your specific plan.
Some profiles also carry a confirmation code (a short PIN). Your phone will ask for it only if the profile requires one.
On iPhone and Android, the fields are often split into two boxes: SM-DP+ Address and Activation Code. In that case, put everything before the last dollar sign (without the LPA:1$ prefix) in the address box, and the Matching ID in the activation code box. If there is only one box, paste the whole LPA string exactly as it is.
With VoaSim, the email with your QR also contains this text version, so you never depend on a camera. Copy and paste it — one typo in the Matching ID and the install fails.
Manual install on iPhone (iOS)
- Connect to Wi-Fi or your home data. Installing a profile needs internet.
- Open Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Service).
- Tap Add eSIM, then Use QR Code.
- On the camera screen, tap Enter Details Manually at the bottom.
- Paste the SM-DP+ address and the activation code from your email.
- Tap Next and wait. The profile downloads in under a minute on a normal connection.
- Label the line something obvious, like "Travel".
- Keep your home number as the default line for calls and iMessage.
After installing, leave the travel line turned off until you land. VoaSim days start counting at the first connection to a network at the destination, so installing early costs you nothing.
When you arrive, switch the VoaSim line on, set it as the line for cellular data, enable Data Roaming on that line only, and turn off data roaming on your home carrier so it cannot bill you.
Manual install on Android (Samsung, Pixel and others)
Menu names vary by brand, but the path is the same:
- Settings > Connections > SIM manager (Samsung) or Settings > Network & internet > SIMs (Pixel).
- Tap Add eSIM / Download a SIM instead?.
- On the scan screen, choose Enter it manually or Need help? > enter code.
- Paste the full LPA string, including the LPA:1$ prefix if there is a single field.
- Confirm the download and name the line.
One Android-specific warning: after the profile downloads, do not switch on mobile data for that eSIM before your trip. Some Android builds connect to a network as soon as data is enabled, which can start the clock on your plan days early. Keep the line disabled, or at least keep its data off.
If your phone has no "Add eSIM" option at all, dial *#06#. If an EID number appears, the phone supports eSIM. If not, the device cannot use one, and VoaSim does not sell physical SIM cards.
Common error messages and what they mean
| What you see | Usual cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Invalid QR code / cannot add plan | Typo in the Matching ID or a missing character | Copy and paste from the email instead of typing |
| Unable to complete cellular plan change | No internet, or the phone is carrier-locked | Switch Wi-Fi network; check the lock with your home carrier |
| This code is no longer valid | The profile was already installed on another device | An eSIM profile installs once; contact support |
| Installed but no signal at destination | Line off, data roaming off, or wrong data line | Enable the line, turn on Data Roaming for it |
An eSIM profile can normally only be downloaded one time. If you delete it, you cannot reinstall with the same code. Do not delete the profile mid-trip to "reset" it — restart the phone instead.
Still stuck? The free eSIM Rescue tool walks you through the checks in order and works with any brand of eSIM, not just VoaSim.
Order of checks when there is still no signal
- Airplane mode on, wait 15 seconds, off. Forces a fresh network search.
- Restart the phone. Solves a surprising share of cases after landing.
- Check the line is enabled in SIM settings and selected for mobile data.
- Turn Data Roaming on for the travel line. A travel eSIM roams by design; without this, nothing connects.
- Turn Data Roaming off on your home SIM so it does not bill you.
- Select the network manually. In network settings, switch from Automatic and pick a local operator from the list.
- Check APN if support asks for it.
VoaSim connects automatically to local networks on 4G and, where available, 5G, so step 6 is rarely needed — but it is the fastest fix when one local operator is congested at an airport.
If none of this works and support cannot solve it, VoaSim refunds 100%. More on how that works on the trust page.
What you are activating: VoaSim plans and prices
The activation code installs a data-only plan with truly unlimited data — no cap, no throttling, no hidden fair-use clause. There is no phone number attached, so WhatsApp, app calls and maps run over data on your own number, which stays on your physical SIM.
One price per duration, the same for all 170 destinations covered, with today's 15% promo:
| Duration | 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 to 4 days pay the 5-day package. Maximum 90 days per eSIM. A second eSIM in the same order gets 10% extra off. The Europe plan covers 50 countries with a single profile, including the UK, Switzerland, Turkey, Norway and Iceland.
Run your dates in the price simulator to see the exact total.
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.