How to Install a Kenya eSIM on iPhone (2026 Step-by-Step)

Installing a Kenya eSIM on iPhone takes under five minutes and can be done before you even leave home. Here's the exact process, from checking compatibility to enabling data.

Check your iPhone supports eSIM

Go to Settings > General > About. If you see an "EID" listed near the bottom, your iPhone supports eSIM. In practice, this means iPhone XR, XS, or any model released since 2018.

Get your QR code

After buying a Kenya eSIM plan, your provider emails a QR code, usually within minutes. Keep it accessible — you'll scan it from the same phone you're installing it on, or from a second device or printout if your provider requires that.

Install the eSIM

1. Go to Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM.
2. Tap "Use QR Code".
3. Scan the code from your provider's email.
4. Confirm "Add Cellular Plan" when prompted.
5. Label the plan something recognizable, like "Kenya Data".

Set up your two lines

When asked which line to use for what, set your home SIM as the default for iMessage, FaceTime, and voice calls, and set the new Kenya eSIM as your default for cellular data. This keeps you reachable on your normal number while browsing on Kenyan data.

Turn on data roaming

Go to Settings > Cellular, tap your Kenya eSIM line, and make sure Data Roaming is switched on. This step trips up more travelers than any other — without it, the eSIM shows full signal but zero data.

If it's still not working

Toggle Airplane Mode on and off to force a network refresh. Confirm the Kenya eSIM, not your home SIM, is selected as the active data line under Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data. If the QR code fails to scan, ask your provider for a fresh one — most codes are single-use.