What is SM-DP+?
SM-DP+ is the subscription manager that prepares and delivers SIM profiles. When installing manually you enter this address together with the activation code.
Anyone who has installed an eSIM by scanning a QR code may never have noticed the term SM-DP+ even once, since the whole process sits hidden behind a single scan. But the moment manual installation is needed instead of scanning, this term appears as a field that has to be understood properly, before it gets entered wrong and the installation fails.
This page explains what SM-DP+ is, what role it plays in the eSIM installation process, and why it matters particularly when entering it manually. The focus is on what an everyday user genuinely encounters on their own device screen, not the deep technical detail of the system behind it that has no bearing on day-to-day use.
What SM-DP+ is and what it does
SM-DP+ stands for the subscription manager that prepares and delivers SIM profiles. It functions as a server that holds an eSIM profile waiting for a phone to contact it and download it. When a plan is purchased, the provider prepares the profile on this server, and the phone needs to know that server's address before it can download the profile at all.
When a QR code is scanned to install an eSIM, what that code actually encodes is the SM-DP+ address together with that specific profile's activation code. The device reads both from the QR and contacts the server at that address automatically. The whole process happens within seconds, without the everyday user ever needing to see the term SM-DP+ at all.
Why this term matters during manual installation
The issue arises when scanning a QR code is not possible — the QR is on another device not nearby, say, or the screen showing it is damaged. In that case, the provider supplies information for manual entry instead, made up of the SM-DP+ address and the activation code. These two have to be entered separately into the fields the device's operating system provides.
Manual entry has more room for error than scanning, since it involves typing letters and numbers one at a time rather than having a camera read everything at once. The SM-DP+ address is usually formatted with dots separating parts, similar to a website address. Even a single mistyped character means the device cannot reach the server and the profile download fails.
How the SM-DP+ address differs from the activation code
The SM-DP+ address tells the device which server to contact, much like a home address tells a courier where to deliver a parcel. The activation code is like a specific reference number that tells that server which exact profile to hand over to the device making contact. The two always have to be used together; missing either one means the installation will not succeed.
Some providers combine both into a single string entered into one field; others separate them into two distinct fields. The exact format depends on the provider and the device's operating system, so it is worth reading the instructions the provider sent in full before starting to type, rather than guessing which field takes what.
Providers deliver SM-DP+ details in different formats
The way each provider delivers the SM-DP+ address and activation code is not identical either. Some send it as text in an email with a QR image attached for when scanning is possible; others keep it on an account page that can be opened at any time. It is worth keeping a copy of whichever message or screen carries these details before travelling, in case there is no internet signal when it is actually needed.
If the message from the provider has been lost or cannot be found before installation time, message us on LINE at https://lin.ee/skDPoNx or by email at esimonline.asia@gmail.com to have the same details sent again, rather than trying to recall or guess the characters from memory, since an SM-DP+ address is usually long and carries characters that are easy to mix up.
Why the internet connection during installation must be stable
Whether installing via QR or entering manually, the final step is always the same: the device has to connect to the SM-DP+ server over the internet to download the profile. If the internet drops during that download, the process can fail partway through and need starting over entirely, and in some cases a fresh address and activation code may need requesting from the provider.
For this reason, it is worth installing a profile somewhere with a stable Wi-Fi connection or a working mobile data connection from an existing SIM, rather than attempting it while signal is weak or while travelling somewhere with unpredictable reception, since the risk of the download breaking off partway through is higher than usual.
Steps for manual installation via SM-DP+
The steps below are a general sequence for manual installation when scanning a QR code is not possible. The exact fields may differ slightly by operating system and device version, but the overall principle stays the same.
- 1Open the eSIM-related settings menu on the deviceThe menu location varies by manufacturer and operating system version. Look for an option about adding a mobile data plan or adding an eSIM profile.
- 2Choose the manual entry method instead of scanningMost devices offer an option to enter details manually when scanning is not possible, located on the same screen as the scanning option.
- 3Enter the SM-DP+ address exactly as sent by the provider, character for characterDouble-check before confirming, particularly the dots separating parts and similar-looking characters, since even one mistyped character will make it fail to reach the server.
- 4Enter the activation code in the next fieldSome devices combine both fields into one; others keep them separate. Read the provider's instructions in full before entering anything.
- 5Let the device download the profile over a stable connectionDo not turn off the screen or switch apps partway through the download, and stay somewhere with stable Wi-Fi or mobile data throughout this step.
When the device reports it cannot reach the server
If the device reports it cannot reach the server after manually entering the SM-DP+ address, the first thing to check is whether that address was typed correctly, character for character, since this is the most common cause. Next, check whether the device's internet connection is genuinely working at that moment — not just showing as connected to Wi-Fi while carrying no actual internet signal.
If both checks still do not resolve it, contact the team on LINE at https://lin.ee/skDPoNx or by email at esimonline.asia@gmail.com, stating the exact error message shown and the device model in use, so the team can check whether the SM-DP+ address or activation code sent was correct.
SM-DP+ and profile security
The fact that an eSIM profile must be downloaded through the SM-DP+ server together with a specific activation code is a mechanism that helps ensure only the device holding the correct address and code can successfully download that particular profile — not anyone who merely knows the server address alone can pull down someone else's profile.
For this reason, an activation code or QR code for a profile not yet installed should not be shared or shown to anyone else, since if someone else installs it on their device first, the profile binds to that device immediately and can no longer be installed again on the intended one.
Holding several profiles from different SM-DP+ servers on one device
Most newer devices support installing more than one eSIM profile at once, and each one may come from a different SM-DP+ server, since each comes from a different provider. Holding several profiles does not create any confusion in how the device connects, since each profile is bound to its own separate server address and code entirely independently from the moment it is installed.
What still needs managing is choosing which profile is active at a given time, handled through the device's own settings menu, no longer related to SM-DP+ directly once installation is complete. The download step through SM-DP+ only happens once during installation, while switching between profiles already installed is a separate step handled directly on the device.
Comparing QR installation with manual entry
| Installation method | What differs |
|---|---|
| Scanning a QR code | The device reads the SM-DP+ address and activation code automatically, with less room for typing errors |
| Manual entry | The SM-DP+ address and activation code must be typed manually, requiring a character-by-character check |
When changing devices, is a fresh SM-DP+ address needed?
This question tends to come up alongside a device change, since the original profile is already bound to the first device it was installed on. Using it on a new device therefore usually needs provider confirmation first, whether that means reusing the same SM-DP+ address or being issued a fresh one instead. The definite answer depends directly on that provider's own transfer policy.
Common mistakes around SM-DP+
The table below summarises common misunderstandings when installing manually via SM-DP+, along with what to understand instead, to reduce the chance of a failed installation.
| Common misunderstanding | What to understand instead |
|---|---|
| The SM-DP+ address and the activation code are the same thing | They are two separate parts that must always be used together; missing either one fails the installation |
| A weak but still-connected Wi-Fi signal is fine for installation | A genuinely stable connection is needed, since a download breaking off partway through may require requesting a new code |
| Sharing the QR or activation code with someone else before installing is harmless | If someone else installs it first, the profile binds to their device immediately and can no longer be used on the intended one |
| The error message seen is the same on every device | Messages differ by manufacturer and operating system version; always report the exact message to the team |
A checklist before manual installation via SM-DP+
- Be somewhere with stable Wi-Fi or working mobile data before starting the installation
- Have the provider's message with the SM-DP+ address and activation code open and ready
- Check the SM-DP+ address matches exactly, character for character, before confirming
- Do not turn off the screen or switch apps while the profile is downloading
- Message the team on LINE or by email straight away if the device reports an error
Vanliga frågor
What exactly is SM-DP+?+
SM-DP+ is a server that holds an eSIM profile waiting for a phone to contact and download it. It is the subscription manager that prepares and delivers SIM profiles, used by providers in every installation, whether via QR scan or manual entry.
Why does the SM-DP+ address sometimes need entering manually?+
When scanning a QR code is not possible — it is on another device, or the screen is damaged — the provider supplies the SM-DP+ address and activation code for manual entry instead.
What happens if the SM-DP+ address is entered incorrectly?+
The device will fail to reach the server and the profile download will not succeed. Check it matches exactly, character for character, before confirming, especially the dots and any similar-looking characters.
Why does the internet connection need to be stable during installation?+
Because the final step is downloading the profile from the SM-DP+ server over the internet. If the connection drops partway through, the download can fail and may need starting over or requesting a fresh activation code.
What should be done next if manual installation fails?+
First check the SM-DP+ address was typed correctly and the internet connection is stable. If it still fails, contact the provider on LINE at https://lin.ee/skDPoNx or by email at esimonline.asia@gmail.com, stating the exact error message shown.