If you cannot scan your eSIM QR code, for example because the code is on the same phone you are setting up or the camera will not focus, you can add the eSIM by typing the details in by hand. You need two things from your mobile provider:

SM-DP+ address: the address of the provider's eSIM server, for example smdp.io or a longer address ending in the provider's or eSIM platform's domain
Activation code: a long string of letters and numbers that identifies your eSIM profile (sometimes called the matching ID)

A few providers also issue a confirmation code. Only enter one if your provider gave you one.

Where to find your SM-DP+ address and activation code

Every provider, including smaller networks such as spusu, issues these details to the account holder. Look in these places:

Your eSIM activation or order email. Most providers print the SM-DP+ address and activation code under the QR code, often under a heading such as "Install manually" or "Can't scan the QR code?".
Your provider's app or online account. Look for an eSIM, SIM or device section. Many apps show the manual details next to the QR code.
Inside the QR code itself. The QR code contains the same information as one line of text. Scanning it with a QR reader on another device shows a string that starts with LPA:1$.
Your provider's customer support. If none of the above shows the details, ask the provider to send them, or to issue a new eSIM if the old code has been used.

We cannot look up an SM-DP+ address or activation code for you. They are unique to your eSIM profile and only your provider can issue them.

How to split an LPA:1$ string

If you were given a single line of text, it follows this pattern:

LPA:1$SM-DP+ address$activation code

The part between the first and second $ is the SM-DP+ address
The part after the second $ is the activation code

For example, in LPA:1$smdp.example.com$ABCD-1234-EFGH-5678 (an illustrative string, not a real code), the SM-DP+ address is smdp.example.com and the activation code is ABCD-1234-EFGH-5678. Do not include the $ signs when you paste each part into a separate field.

Samsung and Pixel phones usually accept the whole LPA:1$ string in a single field. iPhone asks for the two parts separately.

Enter the details manually on iPhone

Connect to Wi-Fi.
Go to Settings > Mobile Service (called Mobile Data on older iOS versions) and tap Add eSIM.
Tap Use QR Code.
Tap Enter Details Manually at the bottom of the screen.
Enter the SM-DP+ Address in the first field and the Activation Code in the second. Leave Confirmation Code blank unless your provider gave you one.
Tap Next and follow the prompts to add the plan, then choose how to label the line and which line to use for calls and data.
If the line does not connect straight away, turn Airplane Mode on and off.

Enter the details manually on Samsung Galaxy

Connect to Wi-Fi.
Go to Settings > Connections > SIM manager and tap Add eSIM.
Tap Scan QR code from service provider.
Tap Enter activation code.
Paste the full LPA:1$ string, or type it in that format using your SM-DP+ address and activation code.
Tap Connect and wait for the eSIM to download, then switch the new line on in SIM manager.

Menu names vary slightly between One UI versions. If you cannot find SIM manager, search Settings for "eSIM".

Enter the details manually on Google Pixel

Connect to Wi-Fi.
Go to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs and tap Add SIM (or +).
Choose to download an eSIM, then tap Need help? or Enter it manually on the scanning screen.
Enter the activation code, usually the whole LPA:1$ string, and follow the prompts.

Common problems

"Code no longer valid" or "eSIM cannot be added". Most activation codes are single use. If the eSIM was installed before, even on another phone, or the download was interrupted, the code may already be spent. Ask your provider for a new eSIM.

Typing errors. Copy and paste the details rather than retyping them. Check for spaces at the start or end, and for letters that look like numbers, such as O and 0.

Phone locked to another network. A network-locked phone cannot add an eSIM from a different provider. Ask the original provider to unlock it.

Downloaded but no signal. Check the new line is switched on, set it as the line for mobile data, and turn Airplane Mode on and off. If it still has no signal, restart the phone and contact your provider.

Keep your activation code private

Your SM-DP+ address and activation code work like a key to your eSIM profile. Do not post them online, paste them into a search engine or share screenshots of them. Anyone who uses the code first can install your eSIM.

Frequently asked questions

What is an SM-DP+ address?

SM-DP+ stands for Subscription Manager Data Preparation. It is the server your phone contacts to download the eSIM profile. Your provider tells you which address to use.

Is the activation code the same as the confirmation code?

No. The activation code identifies your eSIM profile and is always needed. A confirmation code is an extra security code that only some providers use. Leave it blank unless you were given one.

Can I reuse an eSIM activation code on a new phone?

Usually not. Most codes stop working once the eSIM has been installed. To move a line to a new phone, use your phone's eSIM transfer feature if your provider supports it, or ask the provider for a new eSIM.

Where is the SM-DP+ address in my QR code?

Scan the QR code with a QR reader on another device. The text starts with LPA:1$. The SM-DP+ address is the part between the first and second $ sign.

Setting up eSIMs for a business?

If you manage phones for a team, business eSIM lines can be issued and moved between devices without posting physical SIMs. We compare business eSIM deals across EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three.

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How to Activate an eSIM Manually: SM-DP+ Address and Activation Code