Set Up eSIM with a Manual Code (SM-DP+ Address) When QR Won't Work

If you cannot scan a QR code to install an eSIM, manual code entry is the alternative defined in the GSMA SGP.22 specification. You enter two pieces of text — an SM-DP+ address and an activation code — directly into your device’s Settings, and the eSIM profile downloads exactly as it would from a QR code scan. The result is identical; only the input method differs.

This guide covers when manual entry is needed, what information you require, how to get it, and the exact steps for iPhone and Android.

When Manual Code Entry Is Needed

Manual entry is the correct approach in three specific situations:

Camera failure or hardware issue. If the camera on the device you are setting up is broken or unavailable, QR scanning is not possible. Manual entry is the only path that does not require a second device.

QR code scan fails repeatedly. A damaged QR code, low-resolution printout, or persistent scan errors can make QR-based setup unreliable. If the QR code is present but will not scan cleanly, entering the underlying code strings manually is faster than continuing to troubleshoot the scan.

QR code is on the same device you are setting up. When you buy an eSIM and the QR code is sent to the same device you intend to configure, you cannot use that device’s camera to scan a code on its own screen. On iOS 17.4 and later, you can long-press the QR code image to trigger eSIM setup directly — see How to Set Up eSIM on iPhone via QR Code for that method. On Google Pixel, you can use the “Use photo instead” option — see How to Set Up eSIM on Android via QR Code. If neither of those workarounds applies to your situation, manual entry resolves the problem without requiring a second device.

What You Need

Before starting, gather the following from your carrier or eSIM provider:

SM-DP+ Address (also called the activation server address or RSP server address) A domain name such as rsp.example.com or consumer.globalplatform.com. This is the address of the server that holds your eSIM profile. Without it, your device does not know where to connect.

Activation Code (also called Matching ID or Confirmation Code Token) A string of characters — typically alphanumeric — that identifies your specific eSIM profile on the SM-DP+ server. It functions as a one-time access token.

Confirmation Code (optional — carrier-dependent) Some carriers require a secondary verification code at the point of installation. If yours does, the code is usually delivered by email or SMS at the time you initiate the setup. Not all providers use this.

EID (sometimes required before issuance) The EID (eUICC Identifier) is a permanent 32-digit serial number identifying your device’s eUICC chip. Some carriers ask you to submit your EID before they issue an activation code, so they can bind the profile to your specific hardware. To find your EID:

iPhone: Settings > General > About — scroll to “EID”
Android (Pixel): Settings > About phone > SIM status — or Settings > About phone and search for “EID”
Android (Samsung): Settings > About phone > Status information > EID

How to Get the SM-DP+ Address and Activation Code

From Your Carrier or eSIM Provider

The most direct route: check the confirmation email from your carrier or eSIM provider. Most providers include the SM-DP+ address and activation code as plain text alongside the QR code image, specifically to enable manual entry.

If not in email, log in to your carrier’s app or member portal and look for an option labeled SIM Management, eSIM Settings, Add eSIM, or Manage Plans. The SM-DP+ address and activation code are often displayed there once a plan is provisioned.

If you cannot locate them in either place, contact the carrier’s support and ask for the activation code and SM-DP+ server address for your plan. Every carrier that issues eSIM profiles via QR code must have these values available.

By Decoding the QR Code

If you have the QR code but cannot scan it with the device you are configuring, you can decode it using another device to read the text it contains. The QR code for eSIM encodes a text string in the LPA activation code format (described in the Understanding the LPA Activation Code Format section below). Decoding gives you the SM-DP+ address and activation code as readable text that you can then type in manually.

On a second smartphone: Open the camera app and point it at the QR code. Instead of tapping “Add eSIM”, tap the text that appears in the camera view to copy the full string. The SM-DP+ address and activation code are the second and third segments of that string, separated by $ characters.

On a computer: Use any QR code reader app or an online QR code decoder (search for “QR code decoder” in your browser). Paste or photograph the QR code to reveal the encoded text.

Manual Entry on iPhone

Apple documents manual eSIM entry as a standard option on all eSIM-capable iPhones. The menu path differs slightly between iOS versions.

On iOS 17.4 and Later

Open Settings
Tap Cellular
Tap Add eSIM (or Add Cellular Plan)
Tap Use QR Code (this intermediate screen may appear on some iOS versions)
At the bottom of the screen, tap Enter Details Manually
Enter the SM-DP+ Address in the first field
Enter the Activation Code in the second field
Tap Next — the download begins
If prompted for a Confirmation Code, enter it and tap Next
Tap Done when the profile is installed

On iOS 17.3 and Earlier

The path to manual entry is slightly different on older iOS versions:

Open Settings
Tap Cellular (or Mobile Data)
Tap Add Cellular Plan
Tap Enter Details Manually (this option may appear directly without the “Use QR Code” intermediate screen)
Enter the SM-DP+ Address and Activation Code, then proceed

After Installation

iOS will prompt you to label the new line (for example, “Travel” or “Work”) and configure dual-SIM settings. If you are using the eSIM for travel, go to Settings > Cellular and make sure Cellular Data is set to the new eSIM line. If the eSIM is from a carrier in another country, also enable Data Roaming for that line.

If installation succeeds but data does not work, see eSIM Activation Failed: Troubleshooting for a step-by-step diagnosis.

Manual Entry on Android

Google Pixel

Open Settings
Tap Network & internet
Tap SIMs
Tap Add SIM or the + icon
On the “Download a SIM instead?” screen, tap Next
On the QR scan screen, look for Need help? and tap Enter it manually (label may appear as Enter code manually on older Android versions)
Enter the activation code in the format LPA:1$<SM-DP+ address>$<activation code> — or enter the SM-DP+ address and activation code in separate fields if the screen provides them separately
Tap Download and wait for the profile to install

If a Confirmation Code is required, a prompt appears after step 8.

Samsung Galaxy (One UI)

Open Settings
Tap Connections
Tap SIM card manager or SIM manager (label depends on model, region, and One UI version)
Tap Add mobile plan or Add eSIM
Tap Enter activation code (Samsung’s official label; some builds or carrier versions may show Add manually)
Enter the SM-DP+ address and activation code as prompted
Tap Add or Download to proceed

After installation, Samsung may prompt a device restart. Once restarted, go to Settings > Connections > SIM card manager to assign mobile data, calls, and SMS to the correct SIM.

Other Android Phones

The manual entry option follows the same pattern on other Android brands (OnePlus, Motorola, Xiaomi, and others). Navigate to your SIM or eSIM settings, initiate “Add eSIM” or “Download SIM”, and look for an option to enter a code manually rather than scan a QR code. The entry fields and the activation process are the same regardless of manufacturer.

Understanding the LPA Activation Code Format

When a carrier generates an eSIM QR code, the QR code encodes a text string following the LPA (Local Profile Assistant) activation code format defined in GSMA SGP.22. Understanding this format explains how the SM-DP+ address and activation code relate to each other and to the QR code.

The format is:

LPA:1$<SM-DP+ address>$<activation code>[$<confirmation code>]

Each segment is separated by a $ character. The optional confirmation code segment appears in brackets — it is present only when the carrier requires a secondary verification step.

Example:

LPA:1$rsp.example.com$ABCD-EFGH-1234-5678

In this example:

LPA:1 — indicates this is a version 1 LPA activation string (defined in SGP.22)
rsp.example.com — is the SM-DP+ address (enter this in the “server address” field)
ABCD-EFGH-1234-5678 — is the activation code / Matching ID (enter this in the “activation code” field)

When you scan a QR code, your device decodes this string automatically and populates the fields. Manual entry bypasses the scan step and puts the same values in directly.

This specification is defined in GSMA SGP.22 (RSP Technical Specification for Consumer Devices). For background on how SM-DP+ servers and eUICC chips work in the broader eSIM architecture, see What Is an eSIM?.

Troubleshooting Manual Code Issues

”Invalid Activation Code” or “Invalid Code” Error

Most likely cause: A typo in the SM-DP+ address or activation code. These strings are case-sensitive on some systems and must be entered exactly as provided.

What to check:

Re-read the code character by character. Common typos include confusing 0 (zero) with O (letter O), 1 (one) with I (letter I) or l (lowercase L), and $ separators with spaces
If you copied the code from an email, make sure you did not include a trailing space or line break
Confirm with your carrier that the activation code is still valid — expiration windows vary widely by provider, from a few hours for some traditional carriers to 30+ days or longer for most travel eSIM providers

If the code is correct but still rejected: Contact your carrier and confirm that the eSIM profile has been provisioned on the SM-DP+ server for your account. Occasionally a profile is created on the carrier’s system but not yet pushed to the server.

”Cannot Connect to SM-DP+ Server” or Timeout

Most likely cause: A network connectivity issue, or the SM-DP+ address was entered incorrectly.

What to check:

Confirm you have a working internet connection — open a browser and load a webpage
Re-enter the SM-DP+ address carefully. It should be a domain name (e.g., rsp.example.com) — not a URL path (do not include https:// or / characters)
Try a different Wi-Fi network. Some hotel or corporate networks block the ports used by eSIM provisioning servers
Restart the device and try again — the device’s LPA client may have cached a failed state
Wait 15–30 minutes and retry. SM-DP+ servers occasionally have brief downtime

For more network-related troubleshooting, including APN settings and roaming configuration, see eSIM Activation Failed: Troubleshooting.

Confirmation Code Required (Unexpected Prompt)

If a Confirmation Code prompt appears and you were not provided with one, the carrier requires secondary verification that was not communicated to you.

What to do: Check your email (including spam/junk) for a message from your carrier sent at the moment you initiated the manual entry. The Confirmation Code is often sent in real time as a separate email or SMS when the device contacts the SM-DP+ server.

If you do not receive it, contact your carrier and ask them to resend the Confirmation Code for your pending eSIM installation request.

Profile Installs but No Data Connection

Manual code entry and QR code scanning produce the same installed profile — so if data does not work after successful manual entry, the cause is the same as in any other eSIM setup: data routing, data roaming, or APN configuration.

Work through the full diagnosis in eSIM Activation Failed: Troubleshooting, starting from Symptom D.

FAQ

What is an SM-DP+ address?

SM-DP+ (Subscription Manager Data Preparation) is the server that stores and delivers eSIM profiles. The SM-DP+ address is the server’s domain name — for example, rsp.yourcarrier.com. It tells your device where to connect to download the eSIM profile. This server is defined in the GSMA SGP.22 specification.

Where do I find my SM-DP+ address and activation code?

Your carrier or eSIM provider supplies both pieces of information. Check the confirmation email you received after purchase, your carrier’s app under “SIM Management” or “eSIM Settings”, or the carrier’s member portal. If you have a QR code but cannot scan it, you can decode the QR code to extract the SM-DP+ address and activation code as text.

Can I use the same activation code more than once?

No. An activation code is single-use. Once the eSIM profile has been downloaded using that code, the code is invalidated on the SM-DP+ server. If you need to reinstall the eSIM on the same or a different device, contact your carrier or provider to issue a new code.

My iPhone asks for a Confirmation Code during manual setup. What is it?

A Confirmation Code is an optional secondary security check defined in GSMA SGP.22. Not all carriers require it. If yours does, it is typically a short numeric code sent to your email or phone number at the time of eSIM setup. Check your inbox or SMS for a message from your carrier at that moment.

What is the difference between an activation code and an EID?

An activation code (also called Matching ID) authenticates the download request to the SM-DP+ server. An EID (eUICC Identifier) is a permanent serial number identifying your device’s eUICC chip — analogous to an IMEI for the eSIM hardware. Some carriers ask for your EID to pre-register the device before issuing an activation code.

Can I use manual code entry on any Android phone, not just Pixel and Samsung?

The manual entry option is available on any Android device that supports eSIM. The exact menu path varies by manufacturer. Look for “Enter code manually”, “Manual activation”, or a similar option on your device’s Add eSIM screen. If the manual entry option is not present, check your manufacturer’s support page for the correct path.

This guide covers the manual code entry path specifically. For the QR code path, see the setup guides for your device:

How to Set Up eSIM on iPhone via QR Code — ES-01: standard iPhone setup via camera scan, including the iOS 17.4 long-press workaround
How to Set Up eSIM on Android via QR Code — ES-02: Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy QR setup, including the Pixel “Use photo instead” option
What Is an eSIM? — how eUICC chips, SM-DP+ servers, and the SGP.22 specification fit together
eSIM Activation Failed: Troubleshooting — FE-01: diagnosis and fixes for every common activation error, regardless of whether you used a QR code or manual entry
Your First Travel eSIM: Complete Guide — TE-02: end-to-end walkthrough for purchasing and using a travel eSIM abroad

To compare eSIM plans for your destination, use SimFinder Travel →

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