The three largest telecom operators in India, Jio, Vodafone Idea (Vi) and Airtel, provide eSIM functionality for compatible devices. eSIM or Integrated Subscriber Identity Module, as the name suggests, is integrated directly into your smartphone or any device or with your physical SIM card. Not only does this save space on a device, as manufacturers do not have to add a tray or slot to a physical SIM and can use that space for something else, but it also allows remote SIM provisioning for any mobile device. Enables Therefore, in case of any change when the SIM may need to be removed or replaced when moved in a different circle, the mobile operator may remotely change telecommunications or other operators.

Jio, Vi and Airtel also provide the possibility to convert your physical SIM to eSIM which supports it. An eSIM can only be downloaded on a supported smartphone and now only Apple, Samsung, Google and Motorola offer phones that support eSIM functionality in India. So if you want to use eSIM with any of these three telecom operators, this step by step guide is for you. But you need to make sure you shold be connected to Wi-Fi during the eSIM activation process.

Compatible eSIM Devices List

iPhone Devices

iPhone Xs, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE 92nd generation), iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max

Samsung Devices

Galaxy z Flip, Galaxy Fold, Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G, Galaxy Note 20, Galaxy Z Fold 2, Galaxy S21 5G, Galaxy S21+ 5G, Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G

Motorola Devices

Motorola Razr and Motorola Next GenRzr 5G

Google Pixel Devices

Google Pixel 3, Google Pixel 3XL, Google Pixel 3A, Google Pixel 3A XL, Google Pixel 4A

How to activate Vi eSIM?

Vi Customer Care Number

All Vi Postpaid customers, new or existing with eligible devices, can receive eSIM.

1. Firstly, send a SMS by typing eSIM< space >registered email id and send to 199
2. You will get a confirmation SMS on your email id
3. Please reply to SMS containing ESIMY to confirm
4. You will receive an SMS of 199 to agree on a call
5. After giving your approval, a final SMS with the QR code will be sent to your registered email ID.

For iPhone users:

1. Make sure you should be connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data
2. Go to Settings and tap on Mobile Data
3. Tap Add Data Plan
4. Now scan the QR code that is received at your mail and follow the instructions

For Samsung Users:

1. Go to settings and tap on connection
2. Tap SIM Card Manager and choose Add Mobile Plan
3. Tap add using QR code
4. Now you need to scan the QR code received on mail and follow the instructions.

For Google Pixel Users

1. Tap Settings and go to Network and Internet
2. Tap mobile network and then download a sim instead
3. Next tap and scan the QR code received by mail
4. Follow the prompts on the screen

For Motorola Razr Users

1. Head to setting and tap network and internet
2. Select mobile network and tap Next
3. Scan the QR code received by mail and follow the on screen instructions

How to activate Airtel eSIM?

Airtel Customer Care Number

1. To start the process, SMS eSIM registered the email id to 121
2. If your email ID is valid, you will receive an SMS from 121, which confirms the commencement of the process.
3. Reply to this SMS with “1”
4. You will receive another SMS from 121 to confirm on to the call.
5. After confirming, you will receive the final 121 SMS regarding the QR code which has been sent to your registered email ID.

For iPhone users

1. Make sure you should be connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data
2. Go to Settings and tap on Mobile Data
3. Tap Add Data Plan
4. Now scan the QR code that is received at your mail and follow the instructions
5. Then tap on the eSIM label under the label for your new plan

For Samsung Users

1. Go to settings and tap on connection
2. Tap SIM Card Manager and choose Add Mobile Plan
3. Tap add using QR code
4. Now scan the QR code received that is received on mail and follow the instructions.
5. Then, tap in Add new mobile plan option.

For Pixel Users

1. Go to Settings and choose Network and Internet
2. Select mobile network and tap Advanced
3. Touch the carrier and then add the carrier
4. Scan QR Code Received By Mail
5. After scanning, tap download and then Done

For Motorola Razr Users

1. Go to Settings and choose Network and Internet
2. Touch the mobile network and then the provider, followed by the ad operator
3. Scan the QR code received in the mail and upon completion, tap on download
4. Selected and your eSIM will be activated

How to activate Jio eSIM?

Jio Customer Care Number

1. Tap Settings and then call about EID and IMEI number
2. Send SMS GETESIM <32 digits EID> <15 digits IMEI> from iPhone model to 199 where you have to active Jio SIM
3. Then, you will get a 19 digit eSIM number and the eSIM profile configuration details
4. SMS SIMCHG <19 digit eSIM number> to 199
5. After that, You will receive the update after two hours on eSIM processing
6. Once you receive the message, confirm by sending “1” to 183
7. After that you will then receive an call to your Jio number that will be asking you to share the 19-digit eSIM number.
8. The activation of your new eSIM will be confirmed via SMS.
9. Now eSIM profile needs to be set on your iPhone, so go to Mobile Data in Settings
10. Tap on Add data plan and then manually enter the details at the bottom
11. In the SM-DP + Address column, enter smdprd.jio.com
12. In the Activation Code section, you need to enter the activation code obtained in step 4
13. After entering the activation code, tap Next in the top right
14. Tap Add Data Plan
15. Choose the data plan label based on your preference and choose Continue
16. Your Jio eSIM is activated now.

For Samsung phones

1. Tap Settings and then check about EID and IMEI number
2. Send SMS GETESIM <32 digits EID> <15 digits IMEI> from iPhone model to 199 where you have to active Jio SIM
3. Then, you will get a 19 digit eSIM number and the eSIM profile configuration details
4. SMS SIMCHG <19 digit eSIM number> to 199
5. After that, You will receive the update after two hours on eSIM processing
6. Once you receive the message, confirm by sending “1” to 183
7. After that you will then receive an call to your Jio number that will be asking you to share the 19-digit eSIM number.
8. Go to settings and tap on connection
9. Tap on sim card manager
10. Tap Add Mobile Plan
11. Select scan operator QR code
12. Tap enter code instead
13. Enter the activation code in this format – LPA:1$smdprd.jio.com$ followed by a 32-digit activation code received by SMS / email that is linked to space and tap.
14. Your Jio eSIM is activated now.

For Google Phone

1. Tap Settings and then check about EID and IMEI number
2. Send SMS GETESIM <32 digits EID> <15 digits IMEI> from iPhone model to 199 where you have to active Jio SIM
3. Then, you will get a 19 digit eSIM number and the eSIM profile configuration details
4. SMS SIMCHG <19 digit eSIM number> to 199
5. After that, You will receive the update after two hours on eSIM processing
6. Once you receive the message, confirm by sending “1” to 183
7. After that you will then receive an call to your Jio number that will be asking you to share the 19-digit eSIM number.
8. Go to settings and tap on connection
9. Select mobile network and then tap download a sim instead
10. Touch Next and enter the activation code manually with the help of the requirement?
11. Tap enter it manually
12. Enter activation code in this format – LPA: 1 $ smdprd.jio.com $ followed by 32-digit activation received by SMS
13. Select Activate and then tap Done
14. Your Jio eSIM is activated now.

For Motorola phones

1. Tap Settings and then check about EID and IMEI number
2. Send SMS GETESIM <32 digits EID> <15 digits IMEI> from iPhone model to 199 where you have to active Jio SIM
3. Then, you will get a 19 digit eSIM number and the eSIM profile configuration details
4. SMS SIMCHG <19 digit eSIM number> to 199
5. After that, You will receive the update after two hours on eSIM processing
6. Once you receive the message, confirm by sending “1” to 183
7. After that you will then receive an call to your Jio number that will be asking you to share the 19-digit eSIM number.
8. For Motorola Razr 5G, you need to go to Settings and then, select Network and Internet
9. Select Mobile Network and Next (for Motorola Razr, after tapping Mobile Network, select Advanced, tap Operator, tap Add Operator, and then choose Next).

I hope, you got an idea on how you can covert you phone sim to eSIM. Comment down below, if you have any query.