Turning off and deleting are different
This guide shows you how to stop an eSIM from using data and then remove it from your phone without losing the plan you bought. Turning data off keeps the eSIM profile on your phone, so it can be switched on again later. Deleting the profile removes it from the phone, and most profiles can be installed only once, so treat deletion as permanent. Whether a provider will reissue a deleted profile depends on the provider, so check the provider's own terms for the rules that apply to your plan.
Before you start
- Check the data and validity period the plan still has left.
- Keep the activation details and the order confirmation, since the provider will ask for them if you need help with the profile.
- Make sure you have another way online, such as Wi-Fi or a second SIM, because data will be off during the steps.
Turning off data on the eSIM line
Turning data off first stops the plan from using anything while you work. If your phone also has a physical SIM, the eSIM is often the second line, so read the line names carefully. If you plan to keep the eSIM, you can leave data off on that line until your next trip.
- Open the settings and find the mobile data or cellular section.
- Select the eSIM line that holds the plan, not your main SIM.
- Switch off the mobile data option for that line.
- If data roaming is on for that line, switch it off as well.
- Look at the status bar and confirm that the eSIM line no longer shows a data connection.
Deleting the eSIM once you are finished
Only delete the profile when the plan is used up or you no longer need it. Removing it early usually means losing the rest of the plan.
- Open the same mobile data or cellular section and select the eSIM line.
- Choose the option to remove or delete the eSIM profile. The wording varies by phone.
- Confirm the removal when the phone asks you to.
- Check the list of lines and make sure the profile is gone.
Once the profile is removed, any remaining data or validity may still exist on the provider's side, but you cannot use it unless the provider reissues the profile. Contact the provider with your activation details if that happens.
What to check before deleting
Read the cancellation terms for the plan before you remove anything. Some providers treat a removed profile differently from an unused one, so the rules matter.
Check these points first:
- The remaining validity period, and whether it ends before or after your next trip.
- Whether the eSIM is set as the primary line or the data line on your phone.
- Whether the provider can reissue the profile if you need it again.
If the remove option is missing
- If the remove option is dimmed or missing, check whether the eSIM is still the primary line or the data line. Move those jobs to another line, then try again.
- If the profile still shows after you remove it, restart the phone and check the list of lines once more.
- If you deleted the profile too early, ask the provider whether it can reissue it. The eSIM setup steps cover installing a reissued profile.
Reissue rules differ between providers
Providers differ on whether a deleted profile can be reissued, how they treat unused time, and how their terms read. The differences matter more than the steps when you compare options, so read the terms in full before you buy.
Compare the terms on each eSIM plan you consider, and browse the eSIM guides for more detail.