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How to delete an eSIM on iOS

Step-by-step guide to deleting an eSIM from your iPhone and what to do if it doesn’t work.

Luke avatar
Written by Luke
Updated this week

🔔 This guide is for eSIMs only

Before you begin 📍

Sometimes you’ll need to remove an eSIM from your iPhone. Maybe you’re switching to a new phone, moving to a different network, or just tidying up old plans you don’t use anymore. This guide walks you through how to delete an eSIM safely so your iPhone is only set up with the SIMs you actually need.

Deleting an eSIM will remove it from your iPhone and disconnect it from your network. You’ll need:

  • Your iPhone with the eSIM you want to remove

  • A few minutes to complete the steps


Deleting your eSIM 📵

This removes the eSIM profile from your iPhone.

  1. Open Settings

  2. Tap Mobile Data (or Cellular)

  3. Tap the eSIM you want to delete

  4. Tap Remove Mobile Data Plan (or Delete eSIM)

  5. Confirm when prompted

Your iPhone will delete the eSIM and disconnect it from the network.


Restarting your iPhone

Sometimes it helps to restart your iPhone after deleting an eSIM to make sure the changes are applied.

  1. Hold down the side button and either volume button

  2. Slide to power off

  3. Wait a few seconds, then turn your iPhone back on


Checking it’s gone

You can double-check that the eSIM has been deleted.

  1. Open Settings

  2. Tap Mobile Data (or Cellular)

  3. Make sure the eSIM no longer appears in the list


Basic troubleshooting

If you’re having trouble deleting your eSIM:

  • Make sure iOS is up to date

  • Restart your iPhone and try again

  • If the option is greyed out, check that the SIM isn’t restricted by a profile from your network.

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