What happens if I delete eSIM?

eSIMs have revolutionized the way we approach mobile communication. Unlike traditional SIM cards, eSIMs are embedded into devices, offering a more flexible approach to managing your connectivity. If you’re new to the eSIM world, it can be easy to accidentally misconfigure something, leaving you disconnected.

In this post, we’ll answer the question ‘What happens if I delete my eSIM?’ so you know what steps to take to get reconnected.

Introduction to eSIM technology

An eSIM, short for “embedded SIM,” is a SIM card seamlessly integrated into your smartphone or devices. eSIMs work just like a traditional SIM card does, except it does not have a physical card and can be reprogrammed remotely.

Understanding eSIMs: basics and functionality

eSIMs are already embedded in your device but they need to be activated and used with a data and credit plan. Users can easily download and activate a mobile plan from a supporting carrier all online. The absence of a physical card means no swapping when changing carriers or plans, and eSIMs offer complete remote management capabilities.

Up to 10 eSIMs can be installed on one phone, allowing you to connect to different service providers on the go, without needing to worry about keeping track of several physical SIM cards.

The immediate impact of deleting an eSIM

When we talk about deleting an eSIM, we don’t really mean deleting the embedded chip that is in your device. We’re referring to the deletion of your eSIM profile.

When you install an eSIM, your device downloads the necessary information, such as the SIM 0card details and network settings, from the cellular network. This information is securely stored on your device’s internal memory. When you delete an eSIM, this stored data is erased, and your device will no longer be able to connect to a network using that specific eSIM.

Loss of network access and mobile services

Deleting an eSIM leads to an immediate loss of network access and mobile services. Because your device loses its link to the carrier, you won’t be able to make calls, send texts, or use mobile data. It doesn’t affect any other aspects of your device, such as your apps, contacts, or other settings though.

Retaining your cellular plan post eSIM deletion

You’ll be pleased to hear that as a TravelSim customer, should you delete your eSIM you can scan your QR code once again to retain your cellular plan. You can find your QR code under My Account on our website, or on the email you received when you purchased your eSIM.

Erasing eSIMs: steps and considerations

Here are some things you should consider before erasing your eSIM:

• Backup important data: Including account information, network settings, and any specific configurations related to the eSIM.

• Standby SIM card: Deleting your eSIM means that you will lose all ability to make phone calls, send SMS, and use the mobile data on your SIM card. If you want to continue to use your mobile plan, you will need a standby SIM card ready to replace the eSIM.

• If you’re selling your phone: You can easily delete your eSIM from the smartphone or device if you have to sell it, trade it in or give it to someone else.

How to erase an eSIM from your iPhone

If you want to delete your eSIM from your iPhone, you can follow the steps below:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on the option that says Mobile Service.
3. Click on the plan or eSIM connection that you want to erase from your smartphone.
4. Press “delete eSIM”.

Recovering a deleted eSIM: is it possible?

Whether you can recover a deleted eSIM will depend on the device, carrier and specific circumstances. Here are some things to consider:

• Act quickly: If you’ve accidentally deleted your eSIM, act quickly to prevent losing your profiles. Check your device settings to see if there is an option to undo or revert the deletion. Some devices may have a short grace period during which you can undo recent changes.

• Contact your carrier: As a TravelSIM customer, you can find the original QR code you received when you originally purchased your eSIM. You can find your QR code under My Account via our website.

• Device backup: If you regularly back up your device, you may be able to restore a previous backup that includes the eSIM configuration. Check your device’s backup settings and restore a backup from a time before the eSIM deletion.

• Device manufacturer support: Reach out to the manufacturer of your device for support. They may have additional tools or recommendations for recovering deleted eSIM profiles.

Impact of factory resetting on eSIMs

A factory reset can be a great troubleshooting method when dealing with software issues, but it
will restore your smartphone to its original settings. This means all the data and customized settings you’ve built up on the device will be erased.

If you need to factory reset your device, you will be asked if you want to retain your eSIM profiles. If you choose to keep your eSIMs, then your eSIM profiles will be retained after the factory reset, while all the other data in your device would be removed.

If you are doing a factory reset so that you can sell your phone or hand it on to someone else, you would want to remove all your personal information from the device — so it is recommended that you also delete your eSIM profile.

Managing your eSIMs wisely

If you need to delete or deactivate your eSIM, make sure you back up any important data or settings and that you know how to reactivate it if necessary. It’s a good idea to check with your mobile network and device manufacturer to see if they have any specific recommendation or guidance around deleting or deactivating your eSIM.

Consider naming your eSIM profiles clearly, so that you will know which eSIM you need to delete and avoid getting rid of the wrong one. Try to regularly clean up the list of unused eSIM profiles so that you don’t end up having too many profiles to manage.

Looking for a new eSIM plan? Configure your data plan here.