Can I reinstall the same eSIM after resetting my phone?

A QR code generally installs only once, and wiping a phone without properly removing the profile can leave it uninstallable. If you must reset, contact us first with the order number and we will check with the supplier what is possible. We cannot promise in advance that a replacement profile can be issued.

A phone freezing, hanging often, or about to be sold — resetting it back to factory settings is a common, ordinary move. But if that phone has an eSIM installed, resetting it carelessly can leave the data line you paid for unusable afterward. That is because a QR code or set of installation details is generally designed to install only once — it is not a file kept in backup that can simply be recalled and reused the way a normal app can.

This page is written for anyone about to reset a phone that has an eSIM installed, anyone who already reset and found the internet no longer works, and anyone wanting to plan ahead before selling or switching devices so a plan that has not expired is not lost for nothing. We explain why resetting affects an eSIM differently from a physical SIM, the steps to take before every reset, and what can be done if a reset already happened without enough care.

Why an eSIM differs from a physical SIM when resetting

A physical SIM is a separate piece of hardware. No matter how many times a phone is reset to factory settings, the SIM stays in its tray, and pulling it out to put in another phone works right away. An eSIM, though, is stored as a digital profile inside the device's own chip. Resetting the phone to factory settings without first removing the eSIM profile properly can leave that profile stuck in an unusable state, or wiped along with the rest of the device's data, with no easy way to pull it back the way a physical SIM can simply be swapped.

This is why the advice for an eSIM differs entirely from a physical SIM. A physical SIM needs almost no preparation before resetting a phone, but an eSIM always needs a preparation step first — whether removing the profile properly through the device's own settings menu, or contacting the provider in advance if unsure how.

Why a QR code generally installs only once

By the nature of most eSIM systems, a QR code or set of installation details is tied to the first successful installation only. Once the profile is installed on a device, the supplier's system typically marks that QR code as already used. Scanning it again afterward generally fails, whether on the same phone or a different one.

This limitation is not something we or any particular supplier chose deliberately — it is a general characteristic of how eSIM systems work across the industry, and it helps prevent the same profile being reused across several devices at once without authorisation. The side effect, though, is that if you accidentally delete the profile, or reset the phone without enough care, reinstalling with the same QR code can likewise fail.

What to do before every reset when an eSIM is installed

1. 1Check first whether the eSIM plan has not expired and is still neededIf the plan has expired or the data is already used up, resetting affects nothing of remaining value. If it is still usable, take extra care.
2. 2Open that device model's network or eSIM settings menu directlyLook for the option to properly remove or disable the eSIM profile. The menu's location differs by brand and operating system version.
3. 3If unsure whether the removal steps are correct, contact us before resettingProvide the order number along with the device brand and model so we can help check what should be done before proceeding.
4. 4Back up the phone's other data as usual before resettingThe eSIM is not the only thing to be careful about before resetting — photos, contacts, and app data should be backed up through the phone's usual process too.
5. 5Reset the phone only after confirming the eSIM profile has been handled properlyOnce the profile has been confirmed as properly removed or transferred, or confirmation has been received from us, proceed with the reset.

What to do if you already reset without enough care

If you already reset the phone without properly removing the eSIM profile first, the first thing is to stay calm and not repeatedly try scanning the same QR code again and again. Retrying without knowing the real cause may not help, and in some cases can make checking the actual status harder. Contact us right away with the order number.

Once notified, we check with the supplier what options exist, such as issuing a replacement profile in some cases. We cannot promise in advance that this is always possible, since it depends on each supplier's own policy, and in some cases the system may not support issuing a replacement at all once the original profile has already been used once. What we can guarantee is checking and reporting back honestly what the outcome is.

Summary table: common situations and what to do

Why we check with the supplier rather than deciding on our own instantly

Many people wonder why we cannot issue a replacement profile the instant we hear a reset went wrong. The reason is that an eSIM profile is not created or stored in our own system — it comes from the supplier we work with. Once the original profile has already been used, issuing a new one has to go through a check on the supplier's side first to see whether their own terms allow it; it is not a decision we can make unilaterally.

How long the check takes also varies by supplier, and we cannot give an instant answer in some cases because we have to wait for a response from that side first. What we can guarantee is submitting the check request the moment we hear from you, and reporting back as quickly as possible based on the actual information received.

Before selling or passing the phone on

If selling or passing a phone on to someone else with an eSIM still in use, always remove the profile first — not just to prevent the new owner from unintentionally using your data line, but also as good practice for your own privacy, since an eSIM profile may be tied to an account or number linked to you.

The correct removal steps usually sit in that model's network settings menu. If unsure whether removal was complete, the safest approach is resetting the phone to factory settings again after removing the profile, to confirm nothing remains before handing it to the new owner.

Check whether your new device supports eSIM

The difference between resetting and transferring an eSIM to a new device

Resetting a phone to factory settings and transferring an eSIM to a new device are two things often confused with each other. Resetting wipes all data on the same device back to its starting state. Transferring means installing the eSIM freshly onto a different device altogether. Both carry the same risk of the original QR code becoming unusable if the correct steps are not followed.

If planning to switch to an entirely new device rather than just resetting the current one, always contact us in advance before proceeding. Some suppliers support transferring a profile to a new device under certain conditions, while others do not support it at all. We will help check based on your specific order, rather than guessing whether it is possible.

A general device backup does not back up the eSIM along with it

Many people assume that once a device backup has gone up to the cloud before resetting, everything including the eSIM is preserved and can be recalled when data is restored. In reality, a general device backup usually covers photos, contacts, app settings, and similar data, but not the eSIM profile, which is tied specifically to that device's hardware chip — it is not a file a general backup system can pull out and store.

This is why restoring data after a reset or a new device does not bring the eSIM back automatically, even when every other piece of data returns intact. If the eSIM needs to keep working on a new device or after a reset, it has to be handled separately through the steps described above, rather than relying on a general backup restore to do that job for it.

Common mistakes when handling a phone with an eSIM

Another common mistake is thinking a simple power-off and restart is the same as a light reset. In reality, an ordinary restart does not affect an eSIM at all. Only a factory reset or directly removing the profile has that effect. If just trying to fix a phone that has frozen, try an ordinary restart first — a full factory reset is not always necessary.

Checklist before resetting a phone with an eSIM

• Check whether the eSIM plan has not expired and is still needed
• Try an ordinary restart first if only fixing a frozen phone; a full factory reset is not always necessary
• Open that model's network or eSIM settings menu to remove the profile properly
• Contact us first if unsure of the steps, or if planning to switch to an entirely new device
• Back up the phone's other data through the usual process before resetting
• If already reset by accident, do not retry the same QR repeatedly; contact us right away

Talk to us on LINE before resetting a phone with an eSIM