So i deleted my old esim card as i no longer was using it and wanted to add my new one. After deleting old esim the option to add new is gone. Anyone know what might be the solution for this?
iPhone 12 mini, iOS 17
Here is another method from the UK kb article which is not expecting the Add eSIM tag…
To activate your eSIM after setting up your iPhone, contact your network provider to get a QR code, and follow these steps: [we get that when purchasing a plan]
Jeff Donald wrote:
On an iPhone, certain eSIM settings and parameters are strictly controlled by the carrier and cannot be modified by the user. These carrier-managed settings are provisioned through encrypted carrier bundles and eSIM profiles that Apple allows operators to configure directly via their eSIM servers (known as SM-DP+ servers).
So maybe this is a carrier locked/controlled phone? They are illegal in my country so I don’t know how that works.
No, it’s how SIM cards work. The OP deleted his eSIMs and now a carrier must Provision one again. Apple can’t do it and neither can the user. Entering the QR code just establishes a plan for the device using the eSIM information.
Some how when he deleted the old eSIM, the eSIM profile was deleted. The first step in provisioning is a Profile Creation using the IMEI number and/or EID. Then the information is stored on the SM-DP+ server.
The next step is activation which can be done via QR code, OTA, SMS link etc. This step won’t work, because step one, Profile Generation/Creation was lost.
It could be hardware, but more likely something happened when eSIM was deleted by user.
seeqey wrote:
So esim i deleted was no longer active, I just bought new one with different number, also this phone can have 8 different esims at the same time so i don’t think it is the problem.
I think your phone may have a hardware problem. Where are you based?
The “12” can indeed store “at least” 8 eSIMs. (As can ALL “eSIM-capable” iPhones)
The difference is that “Pre-13” iPhones can only actively use one of those stored eSIMs at a time …
… while “13” and later can actively use two of the stored eSIMs.
Jeff Donald wrote:
No, it’s how SIM cards work. The OP deleted his eSIMs and now a carrier must Provision one again. Apple can’t do it and neither can the user. Entering the QR code just establishes a plan for the device using the eSIM information.
He days he bought one. I just did the same. We get a QR and add it, just like that.
So i contacted carrier of my previous esim card and found out that the card was already canceled as i didn’t use it for over 180days, so that’s not the problem. I also tried using camera app to scan the QR code like you said but that didn't work also, it says “no data found here” or something like that, u need to specifically use option to scan QR code in “add new esim” setting that is still missing. Ehh.. I think my last only option is to have a call with apple customer support.
Yeah i restated my phone like milion times by now and still nothing, resetting the options also didn’t work. At this point idk what to do anymore
I have my new esim ready to go but i don’t have this blue button to add it, it just disappeared after deleting old esim.
So esim i deleted was no longer active, I just bought new one with different number, also this phone can have 8 different esims at the same time so i don’t think it is the problem.
An iPhone can have up to 8 eSIMs but only 1 can be active at a time.
Yeah it says no restrictions, i will contact carrier tomorrow and see if they can do something. I hope i don’t have to factory reset my phone.
Hey seeqey make sure you update us on your resolution, I am doing the same move tomorrow!
It may be a USA/Europe different approach as to how much power is surrendered to cell providers.
Option to add new esim card is gone
