"eSIM not supported" or "cannot be added": is your phone locked?

"eSIM not supported" usually means your phone is locked to your home carrier, or that the model does not support eSIM. On iPhone you may see "Cellular plans from this carrier cannot be added". On Samsung you may see "Incompatible mobile plan". Only your home carrier can remove the lock.

eSIM not supported? Check your phone model first

Find your exact model in the list of compatible devices. Some versions of a model sold in certain countries or regions do not support eSIM, even if other versions do.

Check the carrier lock on iPhone

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General, then About.
3. Look at Carrier Lock. "No SIM restrictions" means the iPhone is unlocked. Anything else means it is locked.

Check the carrier lock on Android

Android phones do not have one standard screen that shows the lock, and menu names vary by brand. The most reliable ways to check are:

• Ask your carrier whether the phone is unlocked.
• Try a SIM from a different carrier. If the phone rejects it, it is probably locked.

Phones bought on a contract or payment plan from a carrier are more often locked.

What to do if your phone is locked

1. Contact the carrier the phone is locked to and ask for an unlock. It can take a few days, so do it well before you travel.
2. After the carrier confirms the unlock, check the Carrier Lock line again on iPhone, then install the eSIM.
3. If the phone cannot be unlocked in time, install the eSIM on another compatible, unlocked phone instead. Do this only if the eSIM has never been installed.

Do not keep scanning the code while the phone is locked. If you are not sure whether the code has been used, contact us before trying another phone.

Quick answers

Can eSIMCircle unlock my phone?

No. Only the carrier your phone is locked to can unlock it. Contact that carrier before your trip, because an unlock can take a few days.

Still not working?

Send a screenshot of the error and, on iPhone, of the Carrier Lock line. Reply to your order email or write to us through the contact page (support@esimcircle.com). To get a fast answer, include your order number, the eSIM's ICCID, the country and network name your phone shows, and screenshots of the error and of the eSIM's cellular settings. See what to send support for where to find each item.