topic Re: eSIM Compatibility with Public Mobile in Announcements

eSIM Compatibility with Public Mobile

J_PM — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 18:35:39 GMT

Hi Community,

We're excited about the interest in eSIM and thought it would be helpful to share some easy tips before you begin your new eSIM journey!

Looking to activate?
Simply download the Public Mobile App to get started. When you purchase your subscription in the app, we actually check your eSIM compatibility for you, ensuring that you get the right SIM for your device.

Checkout our latest eSIM blog post for more information on the benefits of using eSIM.

Not sure if your phone is eSIM compatible?
You can easily use the IMEI checker to confirm if your device is eSIM compatible ahead of time. If you purchase your subscription through our website, the checker will be available within the activation steps.

If you're unsure how to find your phone’s IMEI visit this help article for instructions.

Can you find out if your phone us eSIM compatible online?

Absolutely. Most manufacturers have compatible devices noted on their support websites. Third-party sites also offer insight into which devices accept eSIM in Canada. Be sure to check your device’s specific make and model. For example, Canadian models of the Samsung S20 do not support eSIM, while other international models do.

Note: Here’s a list of common device manufacturers, with steps to access your settings to confirm eSIM compatibility. Steps may vary depending on your phone model.

Samsung Devices:

Open the “Settings” app.
Tap “Connections.”
Select “SIM card manager.”
Look for the “Add Mobile plan” option. If it’s available, it indicates that your device supports eSIMs.

IOS Devices

Open the “Settings” app.
Tap “Cellular.”
Select “Add a New Plan.”
If an option to scan a QR code appears, then your device supports eSIM.

Pixel Devices:

Open the “Settings” app.
Tap “Network & Internet.”
Select the “+” sign next to SIMs.
Check if the “Connect to Mobile network” page includes a “Download a SIM instead?” option. If it does, then your device is eSIM capable.

We’ve heard your questions about eSIM compatibility, and want you to know that we’re using your feedback to make it easier to access these tools before you activate.

- Public Mobile Team

Re: eSIM Compatibility with Public Mobile

Dunkman — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 14:01:47 GMT

For those customers who already purchased eSIM and find out that the phone is incompatible:

If your eSIM is not compatible with your device, check here https://publicmobile.ca/en/on/pick-up-SIM for locations near you to purchase a physical SIM. After you set up your new SIM, you can submit your receipt for a refund by reaching out to PM Customer Support Team.

Amazon website also offers Prime shipping and sometimes sales on SIM cards. Also, can order directly from Public mobile website, but the shipping times can take up to 10 business days.

Re: eSIM Compatibility with Public Mobile

hairbag1 — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 14:44:47 GMT

@Dunkman

esims are gratis...so no refund due.

Re: eSIM Compatibility with Public Mobile

Dunkman — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 17:43:35 GMT

@hairbag1 wrote:
@Dunkman
esims are gratis...so no refund due.

@hairbag1

True, but Public mobile will reimburse the cost of the physical SIM card in these cases.

Re: eSIM Compatibility with Public Mobile

Tammypri — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 15:20:20 GMT

eSim is a joke and according to this company my phone was compatible, went through the process and in the end my phone number is lost in cyber space somewhere. I have no access to my calls or texts. I cannot log into the app to solve all of my problems because they have to send a code to authenticate my phone. Oh but guess what, my number doesn’t exist so they can’t send me the code. So they took my money and totally screwed me for conducting my daily business and life. Fantastic company.

Re: eSIM Compatibility with Public Mobile

Ac561 — Sat, 23 Sep 2023 17:23:19 GMT

Need help getting payment history

Re: eSIM Compatibility with Public Mobile

Obsession0525 — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 18:50:47 GMT

eSiM is great. Transferred from Lucky to PM all within 30mins and the process was pretty smooth.

Re: eSIM Compatibility with Public Mobile

Starstock — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 21:11:15 GMT

Ridiculous happened to me too. Said it was compatible then after purchasing magically isn’t compatible anymore. The customer service is the most frustrating thing

Re: eSIM Compatibility with Public Mobile

kalamari — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 22:14:31 GMT

Don't bother with public Mobile eSIM. I installed eSIM but half of the time, my phone has no network with ESIM. I had network with the manual sim card. All other carriers over free ESIM. Public Mobile charges $5.60. I am going to go back to manual esim and request that they refund $5. If I have difficulty, I am moving to another company. I have really had it with public mobile poor services and difficulty accessing customer support.

Re: eSIM Compatibility with Public Mobile

Gibbs — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 15:30:14 GMT

I checked the phone compatibility with an esim. All good. Picked a 90 day subscription plan, paid the funds, and got to the last step where it says activate. That is where it all fell apart. PM now says the phone is not compatible. As my subscription was with an esim that id not work in my phone I then bought a physical sim. Phone did not work with the physical sim and after numerous chat sessions with PM they finally got the phone working with the physical sim. That took 2 days. The agony did not stop there. Upon checking my CC I saw I was debited twice for the service. Now the challenge is to try and get a refund. The CS at PM I contacted really did nothing and told me only one payment went through. I then did a screen capture and sent it to PM. Still denial of over payment by PM. Finally on day 3 a CS initiated an investigation with the finance dept. Now it is day 4 and still the refund is pending and not approved as of yet. If in the next 10 days I don't see a refund to my CC I will initiate a small claims action against PM. It may be the only way to get a refund.

Re: eSIM Compatibility with Public Mobile

kalamari — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 21:17:24 GMT

This had been a very frustrating problem with public mobile and it's unfriendly horrible ever-safe ID software system. The solution would be select that you did not get the code. Then it would offer you the option of sending the 2-factor code by email. You would think that Eversafe should offer the option to choose alternative 2-factor verification in the initial screen just like google, facebook etc. But oh noo, poor ergonomic design by eversafe, it offers importation options under sub menus... A very illogical software design.

Re: eSIM Compatibility with Public Mobile

kalamari — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 21:20:26 GMT

Esims are NOT free on public mobile. You are charged $5.60 to install esimm. The only time It s free is for brand new customers to public Mobile. Most other providers over esimm for free except public mobile and kudoo. Koodo charges $20 for esim. That is nuts!

Re: eSIM Compatibility with Public Mobile

mellowheart — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 13:18:05 GMT

The eSIM checking software is buggy.

Example: Try a Samsung S20FE IMEI in that tool. It will report that the phone is eSIM compatible. Thats just wrong information that misleads everyone.

I am stuck with a "esim" subscription but no service because my S20FE will not do eSIM, so Public Mobile's eSIM checking tool is just plain lies.

Re: eSIM Compatibility with Public Mobile

Korth_ — Sat, 07 Oct 2023 20:00:50 GMT

I was under the impression that eSIMs are still "new" (officially introduced circa-2016, have only been in the consumer domain for some 2-4 years now). Which means they ALL use the same formats and protocols, they're ALL fully intercompatible. They'll probably stay that way until some sort of unscheduled but unavoidable (and not back-compatible) eUICC hardware revision is necessary in the next decade or so. (There's already criticism about eSIM vulnerability vs various kinds of technical attacks, and such talk can only get more heated with more passionate calls to action as the years pass by and eSIM incidents/victims gradually accumulate.)

So if your phone has an eSIM then it should already be 100% compatible, no?

Unless the eSIM has been deactivated or blacklisted - because the owner reported the phone as lost/stolen/hacked/etc.

Unless the device is intended for foreign regions/markets - it won't work in Canada if it's incompatible with (or carrier-locked out of) CA/US/NA cellular radio/telephony systems.

Re: eSIM Compatibility with Public Mobile

TomKnez — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 17:13:49 GMT

I just purchased a new plan and eSim. The eSim will not install from the Public Mobile app. HELP PLEASE! What do I do next?

Re: eSIM Compatibility with Public Mobile

sk133 — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 20:47:13 GMT

Exact same thing happened to me. My number transferred over but eSim does not work. No service at all

Re: eSIM Compatibility with Public Mobile

kalamari — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 21:52:07 GMT

If your eSim is not compatible with public mobile. Contact the public mobile CS at: CS_Agent and then request that refund you the $5 for Esim costs and the $10 for buying a new manual sim. They are reasonable and considerate and often will give you a refund. Take note that after converting to eSim, your previous manual simm card is no longer good and cant be re-activated, you will have to buy a new sim. My strong suggestion and experience is that you are better off NOT using the public mobile app. It has too many glitches and sometimes gets frozen and hanged up in the process. Use your laptop or desktop instead to set up your esim.

Re: eSIM Compatibility with Public Mobile

TomKnez — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 18:29:44 GMT

Hi sk133. Did you resolve your problem?

Re: eSIM Compatibility with Public Mobile

TomKnez — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 18:30:28 GMT

Hello. I recently signed up for a Public Mobile plan and eSim (the eSim was free). The eSim would not install on my phone so I purchased a Public Mobile SIM card and installed it in my phone. My account is activated but when I use the Public Mobile app it keeps looking for an eSim. How do I get the app to stop looking for an eSim and use the Public Mobile SIM card that is in my phone? I also cannot log in to my Public Mobile account using a computer because Public Mobile sends a code to my phone (which of course is not working) so I cannot enter the code to prove it is me. Any help/suggestions would be appreciated thanks!

Re: eSIM Compatibility with Public Mobile

J_PM — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 19:07:20 GMT

@kalamari We had a new version released today! Check out this post for live updates in app

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Announcements/Live-Changes-and-Improvements-to-the-Public-Mobile-App/td-p/1008519