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Cannot add eSIM on XS Max - help please

N

naeemmer

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 30, 2018
4
1
I have been with Apple Support for countless hours now and have met with the Genius Bar folks 3 times already.

I originally bought a HK version XS Max (physical dual SIMs). That one stopped working and I got it replaced at the Apple service centre in the UAE. As it was the UAE, they gave me one with an eSIM. However, I do not have the "Add Cellular Plan" option to add the eSIM. After many many hours with all kinds of Apple representatives, it seems the issue is that my profile is setup for a physical dual SIM while the phone I currently have is eSIM enabled. Therefore, I cannot use a dual SIM either way. I am way beyond frustrated at this point as Apple does not have a solution and will not give me a refund because I bought from another retailer.

Does anyone have a fix to this? Or know anyplace I can escalate to?
 
You mentioned Apple and a profile, so I assume we are talking iCloud.

Pardon me for suggesting the obvious, please, but did you delete the old iPhone from your profile, and then try to set up your current XS Max as a new device?

Please excuse me for asking the obvious, but you never know.

Did Apple Support mention why they could not help with this?

Who is your provider, and in what country?
 
Gamer-Dad said:
Why would your Apple profile have anything to do with why you cannot active eSim? Doesn't make sense...
Click to expand...

You're right.

The only thing I could think is that he's tried to restore a backup from an A2104 that isn't working properly with his new A1921.

If that's the case, I hope he is in a position to report it as a bug because that should happen.

But if that *is* the case, then the next logical (desperate) step is to delete the A2104 from his list of devices for his Apple ID, and then start the A1921 as a new device.
 
George Knighton said:
You're right.

The only thing I could think is that he's tried to restore a backup from an A2104 that isn't working properly with his new A1921.

If that's the case, I hope he is in a position to report it as a bug because that should happen.

But if that *is* the case, then the next logical (desperate) step is to delete the A2104 from his list of devices for his Apple ID, and then start the A1921 as a new device.
Click to expand...
[doublepost=1546289110][/doublepost]I’ve tried resetting to a new phone multiple times now but it just doesn’t work. Apple has told me to get it in to the store for a hardware check. I will try that in a week to see if it works.
 
General>About> Tap on the Model number and what does the 5-digit model number? AXXXX?

Then at the bottom, how many IMEI numbers do you see? If you have dual SIM capable device, for example, US model A1921 will have a physical IMEI number (1st slot)and an eSIM IMEI number (2nd slot). If you only see one IMEI number, you may need to update to iOS 12.1. Is your device up to date and on iOS 12.1.2?

To activate an eSIM, you must have an active internet connection for the device to verify and add the plan.
 
Last edited:
Banglazed said:
General>About> Tap on the Model number and what does the 5-digit model number? AXXXX?

Then at the bottom, how many IMEI numbers do you see? If you have dual SIM capable device, for example, US model A1921 will have a physical IMEI number (1st slot)and an eSIM IMEI number (2nd slot). If you only see one IMEI number, you may need to update to iOS 12.1. Is your device up to date and on iOS 12.1.2?

To activate an eSIM, you must have an active internet connection for the device to verify and add the plan.
Click to expand...
I have an IMEI number and then a Back SIM IMEI which is for a second physical SIM. This is the problem. The phone I currently have is not capable of a second physical SIM.
 
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naeemmer said:
[doublepost=1546289110][/doublepost]
I’ve tried resetting to a new phone multiple times now but it just doesn’t work. Apple has told me to get it in to the store for a hardware check. I will try that in a week to see if it works.
Click to expand...


What happened after you visited apple store?
I am also facing similar issue. I bought a phone from turkey, I restored it from my iPhone X backup and I can't find "add cellular data" option in mobile data and in about I am getting IMEI for primary and other IMEI for back sim (Same as yours) and I got single sim tray with phone, which means my phone has one nano sim and one esim option but I don't understand how can I add esim when there is no option available.

I also searched alot about this issue on internet but I couldn't find any information regarding this issue.
 
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Switched my primary number to e-sim last week via AT&T (USA).
After the nano sim gave up its id to the e-sim, things did not work.
When a second nano sim or phone number was added to the phone, the e-sim worked fine.
I have a second number in a different device and I wanted to keep it that way, so I used my 2nd number in the e-sim device for an hour and then removed the nano sim and put it back it its home device.
The primary e-sim phone continues to work fine as the primary number.
The second number with empty sim card bay simply advises the second number and " no sim installed'.

Edit...unlocked Xs USA market Ymmv
 
Last edited:
ZaidButt said:
What happened after you visited apple store?
I am also facing similar issue. I bought a phone from turkey, I restored it from my iPhone X backup and I can't find "add cellular data" option in mobile data and in about I am getting IMEI for primary and other IMEI for back sim (Same as yours) and I got single sim tray with phone, which means my phone has one nano sim and one esim option but I don't understand how can I add esim when there is no option available.

I also searched alot about this issue on internet but I couldn't find any information regarding this issue.
Click to expand...
[doublepost=1559798654][/doublepost]Apple gave me another new phone. When the phone was activated, I could see the esim option but as soon as I restored my backup, the esim stopped working again. I could not find a solution and have been living with it now.
 
naeemmer said:
[doublepost=1559798654][/doublepost]
Apple gave me another new phone. When the phone was activated, I could see the esim option but as soon as I restored my backup, the esim stopped working again. I could not find a solution and have been living with it now.
Click to expand...

Well your case is different, I think if you factory reset your phone and set up as new iPhone, you will get esim option back.
Then dont restore your backup from itunes, restore backup from icloud. I am sure you will be able to use both sims (Esim and nano sim).
The reason why I think this will work is icloud doesn't restore settings, it just restore the data. In your case the problem is you are getting old settings which is making esim unavailable for you, because it was not available in your old phone.

My case is different, I am not getting add data plan option since I purchased the phone, I tried factory reset but it didn't work. The problem is with my phone.
 
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ZaidButt said:
Well your case is different, I think if you factory reset your phone and set up as new iPhone, you will get esim option back.
Then dont restore your backup from itunes, restore backup from icloud. I am sure you will be able to use both sims (Esim and nano sim).
The reason why I think this will work is icloud doesn't restore settings, it just restore the data. In your case the problem is you are getting old settings which is making esim unavailable for you, because it was not available in your old phone.

My case is different, I am not getting add data plan option since I purchased the phone, I tried factory reset but it didn't work. The problem is with my phone.
Click to expand...

I am now facing the same problem. This seems like the most logical reason. However, my iCloud backup takes forever and I don’t want to wait that long unless this is the only solution. Have anyone tried this? What happened with @naeemmer
 
Please help.
I'm having the same problem.
I can't find the option for Add cellular data plan on my iPhone 11.
It is replacement after my HK iphone stopped working.
Please help.
Thanks in advance.
 
I bought iphone xs in Turkey and dont have add cellular plan menu. I want to go another country that eSim is allowed. But it seems that even in this case it is not possible to use eSim. How could this be possible? What is the workaround? Any plist tweak you may know of?
 
Maydanoz98 said:
I bought iphone xs in Turkey and dont have add cellular plan menu. I want to go another country that eSim is allowed. But it seems that even in this case it is not possible to use eSim. How could this be possible? What is the workaround? Any plist tweak you may know of?
Click to expand...

We are in the same boat.
I think this is a hardware problem. We have to escalate the problem to Apple. They must refund us or send a replacement.
 
Restore from iCloud won’t fix this.

You need to do a DFU restore and setup as a new phone.

That will fix the OP or anybody else’s problem.
 
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aakshey said:
Have you restored from a backup? If yes, that’s the reason for your problem.
Click to expand...
Actually I can't remember if I restored from a backup or set it up as a new phone.
[automerge]1590944709[/automerge]
As I can't remember, what do you recommend me to do now to resolove this problem?
Should I reset my phone and start as a new phone?
 
englishseeker said:
Actually I can't remember if I restored from a backup or set it up as a new phone.
[automerge]1590944709[/automerge]
As I can't remember, what do you recommend me to do now to resolove this problem?
Should I reset my phone and start as a new phone?
Click to expand...

Reset All Settings may not be enough.

If you have an option to Reset eSim/Sim, do that.

And.

Yes. I’m 90% sure.

If it doesn’t, Apple will have to replace your phone.

Make a backup to iCloud.

Do DFU + clean install without backup.

If your problem isn’t fixed, feel free to restore from backup.

If you problem is fixed, delete your iCloud backup. Create a new backup.
 
I am sorry to tell you that nothing helped.
I did a DFU, and set up as a new phone, but still can’t see ADD CELLULAR PLAN.
F34B46C2-2612-4918-8E3D-861DBF7CE501.png
 
Apple doesn’t always know the answer to each problem.

In case of the OP it was software. His phone was fine till restored from backup. His new iPhone behaved the same way after restore.

In your case it is hardware.
 
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