How to get a Lyca Mobile eSIM and activate it

You’re not limited to the UK’s four major networks for an eSIM, you can also get one with Lyca Mobile, and the process is actually surprisingly slicker than on some big name networks.

Below, we’ll explain exactly how to get set up with an eSIM on Lyca Mobile, whether you’re just joining the network or you’re an existing customer.

But if you’re not sure what an eSIM is or why you should want one, in short it’s an embedded SIM card that’s built into many modern phones, so if you ever change network you just rewrite the data on it, rather than physically changing to a new card. It’s much more modern than removable SIM cards, and it’s likely to become the most common kind eventually.

How do I get a Lyca Mobile eSIM?

Lyca Mobile lets all customers access eSIM, whether they choose a SIM Only plan or Pay As You Go. Most networks don’t offer eSIMs on Pay As You Go, so that’s notable.

It’s also extremely easy to get an eSIM on Lyca Mobile, especially for new customers, as all plans are handily labelled as supporting eSIM, so you don’t need to be in doubt that the plan you’re selecting allows for it. Plus, you can request an eSIM during checkout.

New customers

The process then for new Lyca Mobile customers is simply as follows:

Step 1.

Sign up for any Lyca Mobile plan and select eSIM during checkout.

Step 2.

Use your phone’s camera to scan the QR code that’s sent to your email.

Step 3.

Follow the simple steps displayed on your phone to activate the eSIM.

Existing customers

However, the process is a bit more involved if you’re an existing Lyca Mobile customer and want to switch to an eSIM. To do this, you should:

Step 1.

rder a free eSIM from Lyca Mobile’s site.

Step 2.

Scan the QR code you receive to install the eSIM on your phone.

Step 3.

Log in to your Lyca Mobile account, head to the Account Manager section, and select ‘SIM Swap’ on the navigation panel on the left.

Step 4.

Select the option to switch from a physical SIM card to an eSIM.

In all cases you do of course also need a device that supports eSIMs, more information on which can be found below.

Which devices support eSIMs on Lyca Mobile?

All iPhones from the iPhone XS onwards support eSIM, including recent models like the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, and iPhone SE (2022).

As for Android phones, you’ll find an eSIM in the Samsung Galaxy S23, Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, Google Pixel 7, Google Pixel 7 Pro, Sony Xperia 1 IV, and Sony Xperia 10 IV,  among numerous others. Some smartwatches and tablets also have an eSIM.

To find out more about which devices work with eSIM, take a look at our main eSIM guide.

How do I set up an eSIM on my phone?

Once you’ve requested an eSIM on Lyca Mobile – either during checkout if you’re a new customer, or using the SIM Swap process detailed above if you’re an existing customer – you’ll get a QR code which you need to scan with your phone.

In most cases, you can simply scan this directly with your phone’s camera app, then tap on the text that appears.

Alternatively, you can activate the eSIM from your phone’s settings screen. The exact process for this varies depending on your handset, but look for ‘add eSIM,’ ‘add mobile plan,’ or a similar option. For more detailed information on setting up an eSIM on various brands of phone, check out Lyca Mobile’s eSIM support page.

Frequently Asked Questions