How do I install by entering the details manually?
On the phone's add-eSIM screen choose manual entry, then type the server address and activation code exactly as given in your order.
- Copy and paste rather than typing, to avoid mistakes
- Watch for stray spaces when pasting, which make the value invalid
- Field names differ by brand and model, but the values are the same
An activation code that has to be typed in by hand looks fiddlier than scanning a QR code to anyone who has never done it before, but it really is just typing the same information in directly instead of having the camera read an image. The real challenge is not the process itself but typing accuracy, since a single mistyped character can be enough to make installation fail. This page works through why manual entry is sometimes needed, where to find the information, and how to type it without slipping up.
This page is written for anyone whose QR code will not scan for whatever reason, anyone who opened the order email on the very same phone meant to install it and cannot scan a QR code shown within their own email, and anyone who wants to know in advance what to prepare before choosing manual entry. We work through finding the required information all the way to confirming installation genuinely succeeded.
Why a manual-entry option exists at all
Scanning a QR code needs a camera reading an image from a separate screen, which is not always possible — for example, if the order email is opened on the very phone meant to install it, that phone's camera cannot scan an image displayed on its own screen, or a device under a company policy restricting certain camera functions. Manual entry exists as a fallback that uses the exact same information without relying on a camera at all.
Some older phones or certain operating system versions also may not offer a QR-scan option for eSIM at all, providing only manual entry. This is a normal manufacturer-specific limitation, not any restriction from the plan itself.
Where to find the server address and activation code
The information needed for manual entry lives in the order confirmation email or the order page on our site, usually shown as two clearly separate parts: the SM-DP+ server address and the activation code or confirmation number. Sometimes both parts arrive on a single line separated by a punctuation mark — read the labelling in the email carefully to work out which part is which before starting to type.
If the email cannot be found, try checking the spam folder or searching by our sender name first. If it still cannot be located, message us on LINE or by email with the name or email address used for the order, and we can resend the correct details.
Steps to enter the details manually on the phone
- 1Open the add-mobile-plan or add-eSIM screenGo into the phone's mobile network settings and look for the add-plan or add-eSIM option. Its exact location varies by brand and OS version.
- 2Choose the enter-details-manually optionInstead of choosing to scan a QR code, look for a link or button usually worded along the lines of enter details manually, or similar wording.
- 3Type the SM-DP+ server address exactly, character for characterCopy it from the email if possible rather than typing it out by hand, to reduce the chance of a mistake. If typing is unavoidable, read it back character by character before continuing.
- 4Type the activation code into the next fieldCheck there is no accidental extra space and that upper- and lower-case letters match exactly what was given, since some systems are case-sensitive.
- 5Confirm and wait for the phone to install the profileAfter confirming, the phone needs internet to reach the server just entered — stay somewhere with stable Wi-Fi during this step.
Typing accuracy matters more than it seems
Unlike scanning a QR code, where the camera reads everything at once, manual entry relies entirely on human typing, which opens far more room for mistakes. Characters that look alike, such as the digit zero versus the letter O, or the digit one versus the letter l, are the most common spots for a typo. Read everything back carefully before confirming each time.
Turning off autocorrect or auto-capitalisation temporarily in the keyboard settings also helps a great deal, since these functions can quietly change letters or numbers being typed, especially when a code mixes letters and digits together.
Common typing mistakes
The most common mistake is an accidental extra space at the start or end of the text, which often happens when copying and pasting from an email that already carries its own formatting. Another common one is swapping the server address and the activation code into the wrong fields, since the two fields usually sit close together on the same screen.
Another type of mistake is typing from a blurry screenshot, misreading a character without realising it, such as taking a letter O for a zero. It is worth always opening the original email directly rather than reading from a screenshot.
Input fields and the common mistakes tied to each
| Field | Common mistake |
|---|---|
| SM-DP+ server address | An extra space at the start or end |
| Activation code | Case does not match the original exactly |
| Both fields | Server address and activation code entered into the wrong field |
| Both fields | Reading from a blurry screenshot instead of the original email |
If the phone rejects the details entered
If confirming produces an error saying the details are invalid, go back to the original email and compare it character by character against what was typed before trying again. Do not retype from memory — the same mistake tends to repeat if it is not checked against the actual original.
If it matches exactly character by character but still will not work, the internet connection at that moment may not have been stable enough for the phone to reach the server. Try switching Wi-Fi networks or waiting a moment before trying again. If it genuinely still does not work, message us with the exact error message shown.
Confirming installation genuinely succeeded after entering the details
After confirming and the phone reports success, open the eSIM management menu again to see the new line genuinely appears on the list, rather than trusting the success message alone — some phones can show a success message even when the profile is not fully complete, in the less common cases.
If the new line appears on the list but is not yet switched on, leave it that way until reaching the destination, as recommended in our installation guide. Manual entry does not change the rules about when to enable the line.
Travelling as a group and needing manual entry for several people at once
If travelling as a group where several people each bought a plan separately, each person receives their own server address and activation code specific to their own order, not a single set shared across the whole group. Swapping someone else's code into your own phone will make installation fail, or if it does succeed, it may tie the profile to the wrong person's device entirely. Before starting to type, confirm the order email being opened matches both the buyer's name and the phone actually being installed.
A way to reduce confusion when installing on several phones at once is finishing one person completely before starting the next, rather than opening everyone's email at the same time and switching between them. The more emails open on one screen at once, the higher the risk of typing one person's details into another person's phone without noticing. If unsure which order belongs to whom, compare the buyer's name or order number in the email against the receipt before typing each time.
Comparing the two installation methods
| Aspect | Scanning QR | Manual entry |
|---|---|---|
| Relies on a camera reading an image | Yes, required | Not needed |
| Requires typing information by hand | Not needed | Yes, must match every character |
| Works when the email is opened on the very phone installing it | Not possible — the camera cannot scan its own screen | Works normally |
| Risk of a mistake | Low, since the camera reads everything | Slightly higher, depending on typing accuracy |
When to switch back to the QR code if it is still possible
If another device is available that can open the email, such as a computer or a tablet, displaying the QR code there and scanning it with the camera of the phone being installed is usually easier and less error-prone than entering everything manually, since it removes the typing step that is the main source of mistakes.
Manual entry remains a perfectly workable option that achieves the same result — it just calls for patience and checking every character in full. If no other device is available at all, there is no need to worry, since the same information works either way.
Using a company-managed phone with restricted installation policies
Some company-issued phones carry a device-management policy controlling how network profiles can be installed, which can block both QR scanning and manual entry at the same time. If neither option even shows the add-eSIM menu at all, or it shows but cannot be tapped, suspect an organisational policy restriction rather than a problem with the code or the phone itself. Check with that organisation's IT department before concluding it is an issue on our side.
If possible, try installing on a personal phone not under that organisation's policy to test whether the problem goes away. If it installs successfully on the personal phone but not on the company one, that clearly confirms the restriction sits on the organisation's side, not with the activation code or the plan purchased. In this case we can help check the code, but we cannot unlock another organisation's own policy on its behalf.
Checklist before starting to type
- Open the original email, not a screenshot
- Turn off autocorrect and auto-capitalisation temporarily
- Copy and paste the text instead of typing it out if the phone allows it
- Check there is no extra space at the start or end
- Connect to stable Wi-Fi before confirming
- Open the eSIM menu again after installing to confirm the new line genuinely appears
ຄຳຖາມທີ່ພົບເລື້ອຍ
Why can't I scan the QR code even though the image looks clear?+
If the email is opened on the very phone meant to install it, that phone's camera cannot scan an image on its own screen. Switch to manual entry, or open the email on a different device.
What happens if I mistype just one character?+
Installation usually fails, with the phone showing an invalid-details message. Go back and compare character by character against the original email before trying again.
Is copying and pasting safer than typing it out?+
Considerably safer if the phone allows it, since it removes almost all chance of mistyping look-alike characters such as the digit zero and the letter O sitting side by side in a long code.
If I have tried entering the details several times and it still fails, what next?+
Stop retrying and message us on LINE or by email with the exact error message and the phone model in use. We can check whether the profile is still usable.
Does manual entry take longer than scanning a QR code?+
It takes a little longer since it requires typing, but the final result is exactly the same once entered correctly and in full.
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