How to Get Verizon eSIM in 2023

Getting a Verizon eSIM is a great new feature that stores your mobile account on the phone’s embedded SIM card rather than an insertable SIM card from Verizon. This is a great way to switch accounts and activate a new Verizon line, but the process to get a Verizon eSIM card varies by device and can become a hassle. 

Most of the time, activating a Verizon eSIM card is as easy as powering up your phone and following onscreen prompts to download and activate your eSIM card. Alas, sometimes the standard process gets messed up in some way or another, and this article will guide you through Verizon eSIM activation even when your phone is being a bit fussy, as well as discuss the differences between physical SIMs and eSIMs, and how to choose which is the right card for you. 

How to Get Verizon eSIM

Activating a Verizon eSIM varies depending on the phone manufacturer and if you are activating a new line or setting up an eSIM on an existing line. This section will cover all you need to know about getting Verizon eSIM set up on your device and some starter troubleshooting techniques if your phone is giving you grief. If you exhaust all these possibilities, you can contact Verizon customer service. They can help solve issues specific to your account or device. 

How to Get Verizon eSIM When Activating a New Account

The eSIM activation should be simple if you are switching to Verizon. You can use the My Verizon App to enable the eSIM device on your new line. Once you install the app, it will provide directions on completing the activation process. 

You can also use the My Verizon website. Its bring your own device portal should lead you to eSIM installation on your new device. 

How to Get Verizon eSIM When Adding a Line to an Existing Verizon Account

When activating a Verizon eSIM on a new line of an existing account, you can use the add a line page, set up your eSIM from there, or go through the My Verizon app. 

Your Verizon device must be unlocked or purchased directly from the Verizon store to activate. Some carriers do not automatically unlock their phones. If you aren’t sure, you can request a phone unlock from your carrier. The main item that locks your phone is if you are still paying it off. 

How to Get Verizon eSIM on Apple iPhone

Step one in any eSIM activation is to find a stable WiFi connection. From there, follow these steps: 

• Enter Settings
• Tap “Finish Setting up Cellular” 
• Tap Cellular
• Tap “Set up Cellular” or “Add eSIM” (depending on iPhone model)
• Tap “Install Cellular Plan” (Appears on iPhone 12 and newer models, including iPhone SE 3rd Gen)

You can also activate a Verizon eSIM on your iPhone through a QR code. When scanning the code, you should see a “Cellular Plan Detected” notification arise, which will bring you to the standard cell phone plan activation path. Once it’s done, your plan should be up and running on your device! Verizon sends QR codes via email. 

If you continue encountering problems, proceed to Verizon’s customer service to continue the troubleshooting process. 

How to Get Verizon eSIM on Apple iPad

New iPad models also have eSIM compatibility, meaning you can add a cellular plan to your Apple tablet. On WiFi, you can follow the same steps as iPhone activation here: 

• Enter Settings
• Tap “Finish Setting up Cellular” 
• Tap Continue

If that is unavailable, you may see “Verizon Cellular Plan Ready to be Installed.” Once you hit continue, eSIM activation begins, and in a few moments, your device should be connected to Verizon’s mobile network. If you cannot find any of these options, you can contact Verizon customer support to reserve an eSIM profile for your device. 

If you continue encountering problems, proceed to Verizon’s customer service to continue the troubleshooting process. 

How to Get Verizon eSIM on Samsung Smartphone

Samsung users can navigate to settings and follow these steps to get Verizon eSIM on their Samsung smartphone:

• Open Settings
• Connections
• SIM card manager
• Add eSIM
• Follow the prompts to activate your device! 

If your device does not have this option, which happens for non-Verizon branded devices, then you can scan the Verizon eSIM activation QR code to activate your new Verizon device. This activation may take a few minutes, but you are good to go once it is complete and you see the mobile network bars on the top of your screen. 

If you continue encountering problems, proceed to Verizon’s customer service to continue the troubleshooting process. 

How to Get Verizon eSIM on Galaxy Book Go 5G

Like Apple, Samsung tablets are upgrading to cellular capabilities through eSIM phone plans. From the home screen, follow these steps to activate a Verizon eSIM on your Galaxy Book:

• Go to the “Mobile Plans app”
• Navigate through Verizon, Get Connected, Continue

• Sign into My Verizon to make sure your eSIM activation is starting. You can also add a new service line for your device from here. 

• After a few moments, you should see a “your device is activated” screen; from there, you are good to go. 

If you continue encountering problems, proceed to Verizon’s customer service to continue the troubleshooting process. 

How to Get Verizon eSIM on Google Smartphones

Google smartphones activate through QR code scans. When you order a Verizon eSIM phone plan, you should receive an eSIM activation QR code via email. Once you have that, you can follow these steps to activate your Verizon eSIM on Google Pixel:

• Connect to WiFi 
• Open Settings
• Choose Network & Internet
• Select the plus sign by Mobile network
• Select Download a SIM
• Follow the prompts to scan the QR code on your eSIM activation card 

If you continue encountering problems, proceed to Verizon’s customer service to continue the troubleshooting process. 

How to Get Verizon eSIM on Motorola Razr

Some phones have specific instructions that differ from others in their category, and Motorola Razr is one of those devices. Once your Razr is connected to WiFi, follow these steps to get Verizon eSIM on your device. 

• Navigate through Settings — Network & Internet — Mobile Network

• If you don’t have an eSIM profile, look for the “Download your SIM” prompt
• If you have an eSIM profile already and are preparing to add a second account to the device, tap the Add icon to add a second eSIM

• Tap “Next”
• Scan the QR code provided by Verizon through the activation window

• Note: The phone’s camera or another scanning app will not work. It has to be a part of this activation process

• Tap “Activate”

From here, you should be good! You should see a “Verizon is active” screen and find your phone connecting to Verizon’s mobile network. 

If you continue encountering problems, proceed to Verizon’s customer service to continue the troubleshooting process. 

How to Activate Verizon eSIM on a Compatible Windows Laptop

Several Windows devices have eSIM compatibility and can connect to Verizon’s mobile network just like your smartphone. Follow these steps to activate Verizon eSIM on a Windows laptop: 

• Power on the laptop and complete the basic setup
• Connect to a stable WiFi network
• Select the “Network” icon on the taskbar at the bottom right-hand of the screen
• Find the “Get Connected” option under Cellular and select “Connect with a data plan.” 

• This will open the Windows Mobile Plans Application

• Select Verizon from the carrier list. If you don’t see Verizon on the list, your laptop is likely incompatible with the Verizon network. 

• Find devices and laptops compatible with Verizon eSIM

• Choose New or Existing customers from the options and sign in from that screen. 
• Follow provided instructions on your laptop to activate the Verizon eSIM on your device
• Your mobile profile will download and install after a successful activation
• Once you see “Your Device Activated,” you are all set and good to go. 

If you continue encountering problems, proceed to Verizon’s customer service to continue the troubleshooting process. 

Physical SIM vs. eSIM: Which is Right for You?

There are not too many differences between physical SIMs and eSIMs in your mobile phone, but there is a gradual shift away from physical SIMs in mobile phones and wireless providers. Likely not in the next five to ten years, but physical SIMs are in the process of phasing out. Both Apple and Samsung’s new phone lines feature eSIM-only phones. 

If you have a physical SIM in your device and do not want to switch to eSIM, rest assured that you won’t have to any time soon. If you are on the fence, this section will cover everything you need to know about eSIMs and what they bring to your mobile phone. 

eSIMs in Mobile Phones

Embedded SIM cards are a moderately new addition to mobile phones, and they come with a few nice bonuses for people interested in making the switch. Every major wireless provider and almost every MVNO in the United States offers eSIM mobile plans. Switching carriers with an eSIM plan is more convenient than switching physical SIMs in your device. That being said, once active, both physical SIM and eSIM do the same processes within your device. If you have a phone that supports physical SIM cards and eSIM cards, then there is not too much of a difference when you go one or the other. 

SIM cards have never completed too many tasks within mobile phones. They broadcast your phone to the network, allowing it to use data and track your usage. That does not take much processing power, especially considering how incredibly powerful smartphones are today. A major difference between a physical SIM card and an eSIM is that eSIMs are no longer a chip you insert into your device. They are a part of the hardware. 

The process of activating an eSIM account and switching carriers is all done online with eSIM phone plans, where physical SIMs activate your phone when you add the new card. eSIM cards make it easier to switch networks and to hold multiple accounts on your device, and it saves space within the device itself, opening up the potential for smaller, sleeker devices. 

There remains time for you to choose between physical SIM cards and eSIM cards, depending on your personal preference. Importantly — both provide the same benefits to your device. If you are comfortable with your current setup, you will not need to switch to an eSIM immediately. 

Activating Dual SIM on Your Verizon Phone

eSIM cards can hold multiple accounts at once, opening up the possibility for a dual-SIM device. Dual SIM phones are common amongst travelers and people with a work number. Travelers can use the second SIM slot to purchase a local plan abroad, and business people can store their work and personal cell numbers on the same device, eliminating the need to carry around multiple phones. 

If you want to house multiple accounts on your device, look at how to set up dual SIM on Apple and Android phones. 

How to Set up a Dual SIM Apple Phone

All of the newer models of Apple devices are dual SIM compatible. You can use physical SIM cards and eSIM cards or solely eSIM cards to set up a dual SIM. From there, make sure to label your plans. These are the tags labeled in the Apple settings: 

• Business
• Cellular Data
• Personal 
• Primary
• Secondary
• Travel

You can choose which category works best for the number and change it whenever in your settings! You can set a primary and secondary number and configure the settings to use your cellular data best, and decide which of your numbers send the message when you are contacting someone not already in your contacts list. When configuring your contact list, you can choose your preferred cellular plan when sending messages to specific contacts. That is a great way to lessen the flip-flopping between multiple numbers, as you can use cellular data on one number while sending calls and texts on another!

How to Set up a Dual SIM Android Phone

Like Apple phones, most dual SIM-compatible Android phones can use physical SIM and eSIM to create a dual SIM device. Some also have a hybrid tray, where one of the slots can hold a SIM card and a micro SD card that you can insert to increase phone memory (as long as you don’t need it for a second SIM card.)

Once you activate both cards, you can choose from categories similar to Apple's. A few extra categories are available, like text messages, heart, and home. Once you set up the SIM card, you have an extra option when making calls, texts, and data. In the drop-down menu and when you are sending a text or making a call, you can change the SIM card, and in your setting, you can decide which ones are the default for certain activities. 

Key Takeaways

Activating your Verizon eSIM phone plan is, hopefully, an easy process. Once everything is set up, you will hopefully not have to think about it until you decide to switch cell phone plans again if you’ve already got your phone up and running — great! If not, here are some key takeaways from how to get Verizon eSIM in 2023. 

• There is a slightly different process to activate eSIM cards on different phones
• Many of these processes involve a QR code sent from Verizon. Make sure to follow the activation instructions and use the right QR reader. 
• There are a few differences between physical SIM cards and eSIM cards. For now, choose the one that you are most comfortable with. 
• Businesspeople and travelers are the main users of dual SIM phones, and all eSIM-compatible phones are also dual SIM compatible. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can eSIM and physical SIM work together? 

Yes! All phones that support eSIM also support multiple active SIM cards. That lets you activate dual SIM mode on your phone and juggle two phone numbers on one device. 

How do I activate cellular eSIM?

This will vary slightly on your carrier, but activating your cellular eSIM can be done through an activation QR code, an app, or the carrier itself. 

Why isn’t my eSIM activating? 

First, ensure your phone supports eSIM and is up to date on its software. If your device continues to have issues, contact your carrier’s customer service for assistance activating your new device.