Your iPhone eSIM Disappeared After an Update – What to Do
After installing an iOS update, some users have opened their Settings app only to find their eSIM profile missing or no longer listed under Cellular. The phone may show “No Service,” or the cellular plan may appear but be inactive. This can be alarming, especially if the eSIM is your primary line or you are traveling without a physical backup SIM.
The good news is that in most cases the eSIM has not been permanently deleted, and it can be restored without contacting your carrier. Below are the steps to try, starting with the most common fix and moving to more involved solutions.
Check What You Are Seeing
First, confirm what is actually happening. Go to Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data on some models).
- If you see “Add Cellular Plan” as the only option, the eSIM profile is currently missing from the device.
- If you see your plan listed but toggled off, tap the plan name and turn “Turn On This Line” on.
- If you see a plan that appears inactive or says “No Service,” the profile may be present but not properly connected to the network.
Knowing which state you are in helps you choose the right fix.
Restart Your iPhone
A simple restart is the first thing to try. iOS updates can sometimes leave the baseband or modem in an inconsistent state. Restarting forces the device to reinitialize the cellular radio and reload stored profiles.
- Press and hold either volume button and the side button until the power-off slider appears.
- Drag the slider and wait for the phone to turn off completely.
- After 30 seconds, press and hold the side button again until you see the Apple logo.
After the restart, check Settings > Cellular to see if your eSIM plan has reappeared. If not, proceed to the next step.
Toggle Airplane Mode
Temporarily re-registering the iPhone on the network can sometimes revive a missing eSIM.
- Open Control Center (swipe down from the top-right corner on Face ID models or up from the bottom on models with a Home button).
- Tap the Airplane Mode icon to enable it.
- Wait about 10 seconds, then tap it again to disable Airplane Mode.
- Wait up to a minute for the phone to reconnect to your carrier.
Check if your eSIM plan is now visible and active. This does not restore a deleted profile, but it may wake up a plan that became dormant during the update.
Verify Carrier Settings Update
Carriers occasionally release carrier settings updates after an iOS release. These updates do not install a full iOS version, but they can fix connectivity issues and eSIM provisioning.
- Ensure your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi.
- Open Settings > General > About.
- Wait on the About screen for about 15 seconds. If a carrier settings update is available, a pop-up will appear prompting you to update.
- Tap Update and follow the prompts.
If you see no pop-up, you are already using the latest carrier settings for your current iOS version.
Reinstall the eSIM Profile
If the eSIM profile is truly missing — that is, the plan no longer appears under Cellular and cannot be turned on — you will need to reinstall it. The eSIM itself is stored on the device through a digital profile provided by your carrier. An iOS update may have corrupted or removed that profile, but the line on your carrier’s side remains active. You do not need a new SIM card or a new plan.
How to reinstall the eSIM
The method depends on how your carrier originally delivered the eSIM. Most carriers offer one of the following options:
- QR code: You received a physical card or an email with a QR code during initial setup. If you still have that code, go to Settings > Cellular > Add Cellular Plan and scan it again.
- Carrier app: Some carriers provide an app (for example, where you manage your account) that can push a new eSIM profile directly. Open the app and look for an option such as “Reinstall eSIM” or “Repair Cellular Plan.”
- Carrier website or account portal: Log into your carrier’s website or customer portal, find your device’s line, and request a new eSIM QR code or manual activation code.
If you no longer have the original QR code and your carrier does not have an app, you will need to contact them. Explain that your eSIM disappeared after an iOS update and ask them to reissue the profile. Most carriers can do this immediately over the phone or through online chat, providing a new QR code or a confirmation code to enter manually.
Reset Network Settings
This should be attempted only after trying the solutions above, because it clears stored Wi-Fi networks, passwords, Bluetooth pairings, and VPN settings. However, it can resolve deeper configuration issues left behind by an update.
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone (or simply Reset on some iOS versions).
- Tap Reset.
- Choose Reset Network Settings.
- Enter your passcode and confirm.
After the iPhone restarts, set up your Wi-Fi connections again. Then go to Settings > Cellular and check whether your eSIM profile has returned. If the profile was still on the device but not functioning, this reset often clears whatever was blocking it.
Update to the Latest iOS Version
If the problem appeared after a specific update, the same update may have contained a bug that was later fixed. Apple regularly releases point updates (for example, going from iOS 18.1 to 18.1.1) that address such issues.
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- If an update is available, tap Update Now and follow the instructions.
- After the update completes, check your cellular settings again.
When to Contact Apple Support
If you have tried the steps above and your eSIM still does not appear, and reinstalling the profile from the carrier has not worked, the issue may be hardware-related or caused by a deeper software corruption that requires a full device restore. Before doing a full erase, contact Apple Support to run remote diagnostics. They can check whether the eSIM hardware (the embedded chip) is being detected by iOS. If the chip has failed, the iPhone will need service. This is very rare after a software update, but it is possible.
Apple Support can also verify whether the profile removal was caused by a restore error that a simple profile reinstall cannot fix.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my eSIM permanently if I restart my iPhone?
No. Restarting does not delete eSIM profiles. The profile is stored on the device’s secure element. A restart will not remove it unless the profile was already corrupted.
Do I need to pay my carrier for a new eSIM?
Generally, no. If your line is still active, the carrier will reissue the profile at no charge. Some carriers may try to charge a small fee for a new QR code, but you can request that they waive it since the problem was caused by a software update, not by lost hardware or a change of device.
Can I back up my eSIM?
iCloud backups and computer backups do not back up the eSIM profile itself. They back up the settings for that line, such as whether it is enabled and which data line is set as default. The actual eSIM credential must be downloaded from the carrier. This is why you need the carrier to reissue it if the profile is deleted.
Does factory resetting the iPhone remove the eSIM?
Yes. Erasing all content and settings will also remove any eSIM profiles stored on the device. Before performing a factory reset, make sure you have a way to get a new eSIM profile from your carrier after the reset is complete.
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