How to solve iPhone stuck on “Activating…” & “Unable to Activate eSIM” error

This is most common when you are not yet arrived at your destination and there is no supported network for your eSIM to activate with.

You may wait approximately 10 minutes for the ‘Unable to Activate eSIM’ message to appear, or restart your phone to expedite the process.

Afterward, turn off the eSIM. Once you arrive at your destination, turning the eSIM back on will restart the activation process.

This is due to delays from the carrier or unsupported networks, an installed eSIM may display “Activating…”.

This is part of the iPhone’s eSIM activation process. Once installed, the phone will immediately attempt to activate the eSIM and connect to a network. If it cannot connect, it will display “Activating” for about 10 minutes before showing “Unable to Activate eSIM”.

If you receive a notification saying that activation or enabling failed, you can try disabling other SIM cards on your phone, leaving only the newly installed eSIM active. This usually resolves the issue more quickly.