The QR code will not scan — what now?

Repeated attempts to scan until it succeeds do not damage the code, as long as the profile has not actually installed yet. The issue only arises once the profile has installed successfully once, and the same QR is then tried again on the same or another phone — a different situation from scanning failing outright.

Even with the identical model, variables such as the brightness of the screen showing the QR at that moment, ambient lighting, the angle and distance the camera is held at, and which app is used to scan can all differ — even between two identical phone models.

Most eSIM QR scans use the back camera by default when opened through the add-plan menu. But if opened through a general camera app and it happens to be set to the front camera, switch back to the back one first, since the back camera is usually higher resolution and focuses better for reading a code.

Reading the code itself does not need an internet connection, but the step right after a successful scan, where the system downloads the eSIM profile, does need working Wi-Fi. Without a connection, installation will stall or report an error after the scan has already gone through.

That means that model does not support eSIM, regardless of how the QR is scanned or the code typed manually. The options are using a different, supported phone instead, or asking the team about an alternative specific to that model.