iPhone eSIM Installation

[CannonSt]

I have a bit of an unusal question. There's a bit of a long-winded explanation required, I'm afrraid.

I have an Android phone which is NOT eSIM compatible. I have also bought an "eSIM Adapter" which seems to work fine.  I've successfully loaded an overseas eSIM via a QR Code for an upcoming trip.  Therefore, I know that the combination of my phone and adapter works for eSIM.

I'd like to leave the adapter permanently installed in my phone and switch back and forth through eSIM profiles through the app provided bt the adapter provider.

Public Mobile tells me that the only way to get an eSIM is to buy it through the PM app.  The app tells me that my phone is incompatible...yes, I know.

What I'd like to do, is purchase the sim through the PM app which I've loaded on my work iPhone (not on PM).  Of course, I DON'T want the eSIM actually installed on my work phone.  It's my understanding that when you purchase an eSIM, PM sends an email with either a QR Code, or the details of the eSIM.  That email SHOULD allow me to install the eSIM on my Android via the adapter.

Can anyone tell me what the process was for you when installing an eSIM on your iPhone?  Is there a prompt to install after you click "Buy", or is it a one-click process?

Alternatively, could I click on "Buy", then immediately go into airplane mode?  I really don't want my PM account transferred onto my work phone.

Any first-hand experiences or opinions are appreciated.

[CannonSt · Accepted solution]

Confirmed working!  I'm using the eSIM adapter from JMP.  I signed into my account via the PM app on my non-PM work iPhone.  I clicked "Buy an eSIM". It downloaded the eSim and gave me the option to install later.  When I logged onto my PM account page, the installation QR code was there waiting for me.  I scanned it with the JMP app and it was working 30 seconds later.

[softech]

@CannonSt 

if people had success with 5ber, I don't see any difference with iPhone.  Why not go ahead and try it?  Of course, this is an "unsupported" feature for PM 🙂

[CannonSt]

Now we're getting somewhere! :).

I just need to hear from someone who's actually updated an iPhone from physical to eSIM.

[softech]

HI @CannonSt 

esim adapter might work.  We had a successful report :
https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Get-Support/Can-I-use-eSim-me-for-public-mobile/m-p/1...

[hTideGnow]

HI @CannonSt 

 I think the app would try to install the esim for you, you have to stop before it does so , it might ask you the permission, decline it

I am not sure if you will get the QR code in email if you are existing subscribers buying esim.   I know they will send QR code to new subscribers via Welcome email, just not sure if the same is true for existing subscribers, but let us know how it goes

[CannonSt]

I'm one of those people who never really accepts that "It can't be done".  To me, it's worth investing the $5 to see if I can make it work.  I'm just trying to find the right way to do it. 🙂

[hTideGnow]

hi @CannonSt 

sorry, some people asked about eSim adapter before.  It is not something that works with PM esim

[CannonSt]

Thanks eddieO.  I wish they'd let me purchase one through the website.  That may have been true once, but now, it's only through the app.  I'd still ilke to hear from someone with an iPhone who switched to eSim via the app.

I've been a PM customer for years, so I have a perfectly good physical SIM.  I travel a fair bit, so I'd like to go all eSIM to save fiddling. 

[eddieO]

@CannonSt, I have an iPhone 13 and I have an eSIM. My experience was as you mentioned, I purchased the eSIM through the Public Mobile website I believe and they emailed me a QR code, nothing was installed until I scanned the code from the email. So it sounds to me like if you do the same thing it should in theory work as you have the eSIM adapter but as I have never heard of this being done before I can't say 100% that it will. If you have any issues where the eSIM will just not install on the phone you want then contact a CS agent and I'm sure they will reimburse you so that you can purchase a physical SIM