Wireless Support

eSIM Activation Instructions and FAQs

An eSIM is a digital SIM that eliminates the need for a physical SIM card. With eSIM, you can quickly and easily transfer an existing cellular plan or get a new cellular plan, all digitally.
eSIM Activation Instructions for your device
Click the manufacturer's name for device-specific activation instructions.
iOS

Steps to activate your iOS device with an eSIM

  1. Go to cspire.com/activate on another device.
  2. Enter your order number or insurance claim number.
  3. Select the device you want to activate. You can only activate one eSIM device at a time.
  4. Provide the requested information along with the last four digits of the account holder’s SSN, Tax ID or account PIN.
  5. Power on your new device, then set up and enable Wi-Fi.
  6. You will get a notification on your phone to activate your cellular plan. Click on that notification. If you miss it, go to Settings > Cellular > Activate Cellular Plan.
  7. When prompted, tap the Add Cellular Plan button on your new device.
  8. Swipe up to return to the device's home screen.
  9. Please allow up to five minutes for over-the-air activation of your device to complete. You'll know your device activated successfully when you see the following message on your screen: UICC Card Activation Successful. You can also check for successful device activation by going to Settings > Phone > My Number. If you see your phone number next to My Number, activation was a success.

If you missed the notification to activate your cellular plan:

If the notification went away before you could see it, pull down from the top of your home screen to access it. You can also go to Settings > Cellular > Activate Cellular Plan.

If your screen reads Activation Failed and is asking for an EID:

No worries. The EID is another secure way that we can help you activate your new phone. Just go to Settings > General > About on your phone and scroll down until you see EID. You're looking for a 32-digit number. You can press and hold down on the number to copy it to your device's clipboard. Once you find it, you'll enter your EID to continue activating your new phone. If you're still having trouble, chat with us.

Samsung

Steps to activate your Samsung device with an eSIM

Some steps may differ slightly based on the model being activated.

  1. Go to cspire.com/activate on another device.
  2. Enter your order number or insurance claim number.
  3. Select the device you want to activate. You can only activate one eSIM device at a time.
  4. Provide the requested information along with the last four digits of the account holder's SSN, Tax ID or account PIN.
  5. Power on your new device, then set up and enable WiFi.
  6. If you see a popup or notification on your device telling you your eSIM is ready to add, tap Add eSIM. If you do not see this popup, go to Settings > Connections > SIM manager and then tap Add eSIM.
  7. Your device will now search for the C Spire Network. Once the device has found the C Spire Network, tap Add. This will connect your device to our network.
  8. Your device settings will now begin to download.
  9. Once your device settings have downloaded, you'll return to the SIM manager screen and you'll see that your C Spire eSIM is on your device.
  10. Tap Restart. Once your device restarts, it may take a few minutes to complete activation on the C Spire Network.
  11. Please allow up to five minutes for over-the-air activation of your device to complete. You'll know your device activated successfully when you see the following message on your screen: UICC Card Activation Successful. You can also check for successful device activation by going to Settings > About Phone. If you see your phone number next to the Phone Number field, activation was a success.

If your activation fails and you need the device's EID:

No worries. The EID is another secure way that we can help you activate your new phone. Swipe up on the home screen to open the menu. Go to the Settings menu. Scroll down and tap About phone. Tap Status information. Look for the EID number. You can press and hold down on the number to copy it to your device's clipboard. Once you find it, you'll enter your EID into our online activation flow to continue activating your new phone. If you're still having trouble, chat with us.

Google

Steps to activate your Google device with an eSIM Some steps may differ slightly based on the model being activated.

  1. Go to cspire.com/activate on another device.
  2. Enter your order number or insurance claim number.
  3. Select the device you want to activate. You can only activate one eSIM device at a time.
  4. Provide the requested information along with the last four digits of the account holder's SSN, Tax ID or account PIN.
  5. Power on your new device, then set up and enable WiFi.
  6. If you see a popup or notification on your device telling you your eSIM is ready to add, tap Add eSIM. If you do not see this popup, go to Settings > Connections > SIM manager and then tap Add eSIM.
  7. To begin activation, tap Download a SIM instead? Your device will now attempt to locate the C Spire Network.
  8. When you see the message Use C Spire?, tap Next at the bottom of the screen. C Spire Network settings will now begin to download. Please do not leave the screen while the download is in progress. This may take several minutes.
  9. Once the download is complete, select Settings to return to the Settings page.
  10. Enable the Use SIM toggle to turn on the eSIM. At the Turn on C Spire? popup, tap Yes. It may take a few minutes to complete activation on the C  Spire Network.
  11. Please allow up to five minutes for over-the-air activation of your device to complete. You'll know your device activated successfully when you see the following message on your screen: UICC Card Activation Successful. You can also check for successful device activation by going to Settings > About Phone. If you see your phone number next to the Phone Number field, activation was a success.

If your activation fails and you need the device's EID:

No worries. The EID is another secure way that we can help you activate your new phone. Swipe up on the home screen to open the menu. Go to the Settings menu. Scroll down and tap About phone. Tap SIM status. Look for the EID number. You can press and hold down on the number to copy it to your device's clipboard. Once you find it, you'll enter your EID into our online activation flow to continue activating your new phone. If you're still having trouble, chat with us.

Windows

Steps to activate your Windows device with an eSIM

Some steps may differ slightly based on the model being activated.

  1. Go to cspire.com/activate on another device.
  2. Enter your order number or insurance claim number.
  3. Select the device you want to activate. You can only activate one eSIM device at a time.
  4. Provide the requested information along with the last four digits of the account holder's SSN, Tax ID or account PIN.
  5. Power on your new device, then set up and enable WiFi.
  6. On the Network & Internet page, select Cellular. Then scroll down and select eSIM profiles > Add a new profile.
  7. At the popup message, choose Search for available profiles, then Next. Your Windows device will begin looking for eSIM profiles.
  8. Once the C Spire profile is found, you'll get another popup message asking you to download the profile. Confirm that C Spire is in the profile name and select Yes. The eSIM profile will begin downloading to your device. This may take a few minutes.
  9. Select Close when you see a message stating the new profile is ready.
  10. Back on the eSIM profiles page, the new C Spire profile will be in the device's list of eSIM profiles. Select Yes to connect to C Spire's service. At the confirmation message, select Yes to continue with the eSIM process.
  11. Please allow up to five minutes for over-the-air activation of your device to complete. You'll know your device activated successfully when you see a Connected message and C Spire next to your cellular service.

If your activation fails and you need the device's EID:

No worries. The EID is another secure way that we can help you activate your new phone. In your device's Settings menu, select Network & Internet. While on the Network & Internet page, select Cellular. Then, scroll down and select eSIM profiles. In the More eSIM settings section, expand eSIM properties and you'll see the EID number for the device. You can press and hold down on the number to copy it to your device's clipboard. Once you find it, you'll enter your EID into our online activation flow to continue activating your new phone. If you're still having trouble, chat with us.

eSIM FAQs:
What is an Embedded SIM (eSIM)?

An eSIM is a digital SIM that eliminates the need for a physical SIM card. With eSIM, you can quickly and easily transfer an existing cellular plan or get a new cellular plan, all digitally. You can even store multiple eSIMs on the same device and use two phone numbers at the same time. And it's more secure - someone can't remove the physical SIM card if your device is lost or stolen. In just a few simple steps, you are ready to make calls, send messages, and browse the web.

Which phones are compatible with an eSIM?

Currently, C Spire supports an eSIM on the following models:

IOS: iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and later. If you purchased an iPhone 14 or later model, your iPhone does not have a physical SIM tray, and will only activate with an eSIM.

Android: Samsung Galaxy S22 and S23 series devices, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 and Fold4, Google Pixel 6a, Google Pixel 7/7 Pro series and Windows 10 and 11 devices. This list of eSIM devices will continue to grow as we offer new Android models.

Note: If your phone is locked to another carrier, you will not be able to activate it on C Spire with either a physical SIM card or an eSIM.

How do I activate a C Spire eSIM on my device?

C Spire supports eSIM Carrier Activation, where C Spire assigns an eSIM to your device digitally at the time of purchase or if you call for an eSIM. Simply follow the set-up instructions on your screen and at cspire.com/activate.

C Spire also supports eSIM Quick Transfer, where you can transfer your phone number from your previous iPhone to your new iPhone. You can even convert your physical SIM to an eSIM when you transfer your number.

Learn more about eSIM on iPhone here.

Are all C Spire customers able to use an eSIM on their device?

C Spire provides the best technology we have to offer to all of our customers. If your phone is capable of supporting eSIM, C Spire will support you on that phone regardless of the type of plan or service you subscribe to.

How do I get a C Spire eSIM if I am not purchasing my device from C Spire?

Easy, chat with us or visit a C Spire store.

How do I know if my iPhone is unlocked?

Go to Settings > General > About. Under Carrier Lock, you should see a message that reads "No SIM restrictions." If you don't see that message, chat with us.

Will activating an eSIM lock my device to C Spire?

Your device's lock status is not impacted by the use of an eSIM. Learn more about unlocking your phone.

Can I still use my C Spire eSIM if I travel internationally?

Learn more about about C Spire's International Roaming Options.

If I am traveling to the USA from abroad, can I download a local eSIM on C Spire's network?

Sure, just sign up for service at cspire.com or visit a store and we will be happy to help you.

What is the benefit of using eSIM technology?

eSIM does the same things as a physical SIM card, but with the enhancement digital technology creates—providing a convenient way to switch providers and activate service without a physical SIM. When you bring your own eSIM-capable device, you are up and running the same day. If you have your own eSIM-capable device, start here.

Will I experience differences in service when using an eSIM instead of a traditional physical SIM card?

No, all services—voice, text, and data—should work exactly the same regardless what type of SIM is used. Will an eSIM work with prepaid service? Absolutely. We provide the same powerful network experience to all of our wireless customers. No deprioritization holding your data back like with other carriers. Check out our latest prepaid deals.

Will an eSIM work with prepaid service?

Absolutely. We provide the same powerful network experience to all of our wireless customers. No deprioritization holding your data back like with other carriers. Check out our latest prepaid deals.

Are there different plans available with an eSIM?

Our wireless plans are available on any compatible device, regardless of what technology your phone uses to connect to the C Spire network. Check out our plans.

I am buying a new device on my existing C Spire account. Do I need a new eSIM?

We have you covered. If your new C Spire device is eSIM compatible, one of our store reps can get you set up quickly. We recommend you back up your device while on Wi-Fi before coming to the store. If you order an eSIM-compatible device online, look for the instruction card that will come in the box with your new device.

Can I switch from a physical SIM to an eSIM on a compatible C Spire eSIM device? My phone reads "convert to eSIM."

Since the service experience is exactly the same, we don't recommend converting to eSIM unless you just want to try out new technology. If you do convert to eSIM, just be careful not to delete it. Activating eSIM will deactivate your physical SIM. If you delete your eSIM, you'll lose voice and text connectivity and will need help to get reconnected.

If I accidentally delete my eSIM (referred to as Remove Cellular Plan in Settings), how do I get it back?

No problem. At C Spire, we're always ready for these situations so we can get you back up and running quickly and easily. Since you deleted your eSIM, you won't be able to make any calls or send texts right now, but you can connect to WiFi to chat with one of our reps at cspire.com for help getting reconnected.

What does it mean when a device has a Dual SIM with an eSIM? Can I bring an eSIM/Dual SIM device from another wireless company?

Each eSIM device has dual SIM capability, which allows your phone to connect to two networks simultaneously. This means you can have two different SIMs from two different carriers in your device at once or two different numbers (e.g., a personal and business) from the same carrier. This means you can experience the C Spire difference right away. Please note if you still owe money to your other carrier on your device, they will not allow you to experience the C Spire difference. Also, if the SIM you are using with your old carrier is an older-technology physical SIM, your eSIM experience on our network might not be optimal. The best way to experience the C Spire difference is to port your number. Check out our latest deals.

You can also learn more about Dual SIM with an eSIM on an iPhone.

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