QR code won't scan: what to check

You don't need the QR code if you have the app: My plans > your device > Add a plan adds the plan with nothing to scan. If you'd rather scan, a code that won't read is almost always a resized copy, glare, or the wrong scanner, and the same details can be typed in instead.

Check first

Open the KnowRoaming app, go to My plans, select your device, and tap Add a plan. This is the fix for most scan problems. If you bought on the website, sign in to the app with the same email and the plan is there.

Causes, in order

You're scanning a screenshot or a forwarded copy

Saved, forwarded, and resized images lose the detail a scanner needs. Open the original confirmation email or your order page on a laptop or tablet, at full size, and scan from that screen.

Glare, low brightness, or a small screen

Turn the brightness up on the screen showing the code, tilt it out of direct light, and hold the phone still about 20 cm away. A printed copy can blur; scan from a screen instead of paper.

You're using the wrong scanner

Use the eSIM scanner in Settings, not the camera app or a third-party reader. iPhone: Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM > Use QR Code. Samsung: Settings > Connections > SIM manager > Add eSIM > Scan QR code. Other Android phones: Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Add eSIM > Scan QR code.

The code has already been used

Each QR code adds one eSIM to one device, once. If a first attempt looked like it failed, check your SIM list for a KnowRoaming line before scanning again. See "This code has already been used" error.

Nothing reads it

Type the details instead. The SM-DP+ address and activation code are in the same email, on your order page, and on the plan in the app. See Enter your activation details by hand.

Still not working?

Still not working? Message us on WhatsApp at +1-888-357-7347 and include four things: your ICCID, your order number, your phone model and OS version, and what you've already tried.

Domande frequenti

How to use an eSIM while backpacking is surprisingly simple. First, ensure your phone is unlocked and eSIM-compatible. Then, download the provider's app (like KnowRoaming's). You can choose your plan and add the eSIM digitally through the app, often by scanning a QR code. Once added, just enable data roaming for your eSIM, and you're ready to go, no physical cards or airport kiosks needed.

No swapping SIM cards, no kiosk queues at the airport, set it up once and it's ready every time after.

With KnowRoaming, setup takes less than five minutes. Using the automatic setup in the KnowRoaming app, you can download and add your eSIM in just a few taps. This makes it one of the fastest and most reliable ways to get connected before your trip.

Simply add the eSIM profile on your unlocked, eSIM-compatible device before you travel. Once you arrive in a supported country, turn on your eSIM, and you'll be connected!