EID eSIM 2026 — where to find it on iPhone and Android

The EID (Embedded Identity Document) is the unique serial number of your eSIM chip — without it, you cannot activate travel data plans. Every time you buy an eSIM for Mexico, Spain, Japan, or any other destination, the provider asks for your EID to link the profile to your device.

In this article we show you where to find the EID on iPhone and Android, what to do if it doesn't appear in settings, and why it's different from the IMEI and ICCID. If you're about to travel and need to activate your eSIM Ahora eSIM, start by locating your EID — it takes less than 30 seconds.

What is the EID and what is it for

The EID is a 32-digit identifier etched into the eSIM chip in your phone, tablet, or smartwatch. It works like the serial number of a physical SIM card, but doesn't change even if you delete all data profiles.

Key differences:

When you buy a travel eSIM — for example, a 3 GB plan for Japan or unlimited data with FUP for Thailand — the provider generates a QR code or an activation link tied to your EID. If you install that profile on another device with a different EID, activation fails.

At eSIM Ahora we generate QR codes in less than 30 seconds after receiving your EID and verifying your device is compatible. Our plans cover more than 120 countries, using networks like Telcel in Mexico (99% coverage on paved roads), Personal in Argentina, Movistar in Spain, and TrueMove in Thailand.

Where to find the EID on iPhone (iOS 18 and earlier)

Method 1: Settings → General → About

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Tap About.
4. Scroll down to the EID section.

The number appears as a row labeled EID followed by 32 digits. On iOS 18, the path is identical — Apple hasn't changed the location.

Screenshot note: on iPhones with dual eSIM (iPhone 13 and later), you'll see two entries: EID and EID 2. Some single-eSIM models show only one line. Note the EID that corresponds to the slot you want to use for your travel plan.

Method 2: Dial *#06#

This method works on any iPhone with eSIM:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Dial *#06# (as if making a call).
3. A popup window appears with IMEI, IMEI2 (if your model has dual physical SIM + eSIM or dual eSIM) and EID.

The EID is the row that starts with 32 digits. Press Copy to paste it into the eSIM Ahora purchase form or send it by email.

Method 3: iTunes / Finder (Mac)

If your iPhone screen is cracked or won't start, connect the device to a Mac with a Lightning or USB-C cable:

1. Open Finder (macOS Catalina and later) or iTunes (macOS Mojave and earlier).
2. Select your iPhone in the sidebar.
3. Click the phone number that appears below the device name — the window alternates between IMEI, ICCID (from the active SIM) and EID.

On Windows with iTunes, the process is identical: click the serial number several times until the EID appears.

Where to find the EID on Android (stock, Samsung, Xiaomi)

Android stock (Google Pixel, Motorola, Nokia)

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap About phone.
3. Tap IMEI (or SIM status).
4. Look for the row labeled EID.

On Pixel with Android 15, Google changed the menu: you now need to tap Device information before IMEI. The EID appears as the last row in the eSIM section.

Samsung Galaxy (One UI 6.1)

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap About phone.
3. Tap Status or SIM information.
4. Scroll to EID.

On models with dual eSIM (Galaxy S24, S23, Z Flip6), One UI shows two lines: EID 1 and EID 2. If you only plan to use one data profile, note the EID from slot 1.

Alternative method for Samsung: dial *#06# from the Phone app — an information screen appears with IMEI and EID. This method works even if you've disabled all eSIM profiles.

Xiaomi (MIUI 14 / HyperOS)

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap About phone.
3. Tap Detailed specs and specifications.
4. Look for EID in the list.

On some models with Chinese ROM, the EID doesn't appear in settings — Xiaomi hides it by default. Solution: dial *#06# to force the popup window with all identifiers.

Oppo, Vivo, Realme

The path varies depending on ColorOS / FuntouchOS version:

• Oppo (ColorOS 14): Settings → About device → Status → EID.
• Vivo (FuntouchOS 14): Settings → More settings → About phone → Status → EID.
• Realme (Realme UI 5): Settings → About phone → Status → EID.

In all three cases, *#06# works as a universal shortcut.

What to do if the EID doesn't appear

1. Verify your device supports eSIM

Not all Android phones have an eSIM chip — even 2025 models from Chinese brands (Xiaomi, Oppo) sold in LATAM may lack physical eSIM. Check the device compatibility list on the manufacturer's site:

• Apple: all iPhones from the XR (2018) have eSIM, except models sold in mainland China and Hong Kong before 2023.
• Samsung: Galaxy S series from S20, Z Fold/Flip series from the first generation, and Galaxy A from A54 (2023).
• Google Pixel: from Pixel 3 (only models sold outside Japan and India in older versions).

If you bought your phone in a country where carriers don't offer eSIM (example: many Xiaomi models from India), your unit likely doesn't have the eSIM chip soldered on even if the official spec lists eSIM as compatible.

2. Update the operating system

In some cases, the EID doesn't appear in settings until you install a firmware update:

• iPhone: iOS 12.1 or later (EID has existed since iOS 12.1; earlier versions don't show it in About).
• Android: minimum Android 9 Pie with security patch from 2019 or later.

Go to Settings → System update and download the latest available version. Restart the device after installing.

3. Reset network settings (only if you've installed eSIM profiles before)

If you ever activated an eSIM on your device but now the EID doesn't appear:

• iPhone: Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset Network Settings. This erases Wi-Fi passwords and VPN settings, but does not delete installed eSIM profiles.
• Android: Settings → System → Reset options → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile data and Bluetooth. The menu name varies by manufacturer.

Restart and check the device information section again.

4. Contact the manufacturer or verify the IMEI in their database

If your model should have eSIM according to official specs but the EID still doesn't appear, your unit may be a regional variant without the chip. Examples:

• iPhone 14/15 purchased in mainland China: until September 2023, Apple sold models with dual physical nano-SIM and no eSIM. Since iPhone 15 (September 2023), China units have eSIM + nano-SIM.
• Samsung Galaxy sold in South Korea: some older models (S20, Note 20) from Korea have eSIM disabled by software due to local regulations.

Call the manufacturer's support line with your IMEI in hand (dial *#06# to see it) — they can confirm whether your specific unit has eSIM.

Differences between EID, ICCID, and IMEI — why they matter for travel

EID identifies the eSIM chip (hardware). ICCID identifies each data profile installed (software). IMEI identifies the phone as a mobile device to cellular networks.

When you buy an eSIM Ahora plan for the United States, Turkey, Morocco, or United Arab Emirates, our system asks for your EID. We generate a QR code tied to that EID, and when you scan it, your phone downloads an eSIM profile with its own ICCID.

Practical example:

• You have an iPhone 15 Pro. The EID is 89049032012345678901234567890123 (32 digits, never changes).
• You buy a 5 GB plan for Mexico. That profile's ICCID is 8952071234567890123 (20 digits, unique to that plan).
• You travel to Cancún, use the 5 GB, and delete the profile. The ICCID disappears, but the EID stays the same.
• You buy a new 10 GB plan for Colombia. New ICCID: 8957001234567890456.

If you try to install the Mexico QR code on a second iPhone with a different EID, the carrier rejects activation — our system detects that the EID doesn't match the one you registered at purchase.

IMEI and network locks: some carriers (Verizon in the US, Vodafone in Europe) lock by IMEI if the device was reported lost or stolen. The lock affects both physical SIM and eSIM — if your iPhone has the IMEI blacklisted, no eSIM will work on networks in the country that applied the lock. Check IMEI status at GSMA Device Check before traveling.

How to use the EID to activate your travel eSIM

Once you have your EID noted:

1. Buy your plan on the eSIM Ahora page for your destination country — example: plans for Thailand or plans for Greece.
2. Enter the EID in the required field of the form (some providers auto-detect it if you use our app, but the manual field always works).
3. Receive the QR code by email in less than 30 seconds (if you bought outside office hours, maximum time is 4 hours).
4. Scan the QR from Settings → Mobile Data → Add Data Plan (iPhone) or Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Add (Android).
5. Activate the profile when you land in your destination country — data connection takes 10 to 60 seconds.

At eSIM Ahora we don't apply FUP throttling on our base plans up to 10 GB — if you buy 5 GB, you get 5 GB at full local network speed (4G/LTE or 5G depending on coverage). Plans over 10 GB may have fair-use policies depending on the country — check terms on each destination's purchase page.

FAQ

Is the EID the same as the ICCID?

No. The EID identifies the physical eSIM chip (32 digits, doesn't change). The ICCID identifies each data profile installed on that chip (19-20 digits, changes with each new plan). When you delete an eSIM profile, the ICCID disappears but the EID remains.

Can I change my phone's EID?

No. The EID is etched into the eSIM chip during device manufacturing — there's no way to modify it via software. If you need a different EID, you'd have to change phones.

What do I do if my Android doesn't show the EID in settings?

First, dial *#06# from the Phone app — on many Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo models, the EID only appears in that popup. If it still doesn't show, verify your model and region support eSIM (check the manufacturer's specs page with your exact model number). Some phones sold in India, China, and Japan lack an eSIM chip even though the global model includes one.

Does the EID change when I update iOS or Android?

No. Operating system updates don't affect the EID — it's a hardware serial number. You can update from iOS 17 to iOS 18 or from Android 14 to Android 15 without the EID changing.

Do I need the EID to use eSIM on an iPad or Apple Watch?

Yes. Tablets with eSIM (iPad Pro, iPad Air from 2019, iPad mini 2021) and cellular watches (Apple Watch Series 3 and later, Galaxy Watch from Series 4) have their own EID. Find it in Settings → General → About on iPad, or in the Watch app on your iPhone (My Watch tab → General → About → EID) for Apple Watch.