Use an eSIM to get a cellular data connection on your Windows PC
Applies To
An eSIM lets you connect to the internet using a cellular data network without a physical SIM card. With an eSIM, you can switch between mobile operators and data plans by using different profiles.
For example, you might use one cellular data plan for work and another for personal use. When traveling, you can also connect more easily by adding a local data plan from a supported mobile operator.
What you need
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A PC that supports cellular connectivity:Â To check whether your PC supports cellular networks:
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Select Start > Settings > Network & internet.
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Look for a Cellular page. If Cellular is listed, your PC supports cellular connectivity.
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A PC with an eSIM selected:Â To check whether your PC has an eSIM:
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Select Start > Settings > Network & internet.
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Look for Use this SIM for cellular data.
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Select the drop-down list and check for eSIM, SIM2, or a similar option. Select eSIM to use it for cellular data.
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An eSIM profile: An eSIM profile connects your PC to a mobile network. To check whether a profile is already installed:
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Select Start > Settings > Network & internet > Cellular > eSIM profiles.
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​​​​​​​If you see a profile from your mobile operator or organization, you’re ready to connect. If not, add a profile using one of the methods below.
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Adding an eSIM profile
You can add an eSIM profile in several ways. The available options depend on your device, Windows version, and mobile operator.
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You can download a profile from a supported mobile operator website.
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Your organization or mobile operator may have already added a profile.
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You can manually add a profile by entering an activation code or scanning a QR code.
If you’re running Windows version later than 2602, you can download eSIM profiles from supported mobile operators. If your operator doesn’t support profile downloads, use one of the other methods described below.
Note: For the list of operators that support downloading eSIM profiles, see Add your Windows PC to your mobile account to get online.
To download a profile:
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Go to your mobile operator’s website and find the section for activating eSIMs on Windows.
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During activation, you may be asked to share cellular identifiers such as EID and IMEI.
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Only share this information with websites you trust.
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When prompted, confirm the download in Windows Settings.
Windows downloads and installs the eSIM profile and connects your device to the mobile network.
To confirm the profile was installed:
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Select Start > Settings > Network & internet > Cellular > eSIM profiles.
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Verify that the new profile appears in the list.
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Select the Start > Settings > Network & internet > Cellular > eSIM profiles.
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Under Add an eSIM profile from your mobile operator, select Add profile.
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Select Search for available profiles, then select Next.
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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​When a profile is found, select Download.
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​​​​​​​If prompted, enter the confirmation code from your mobile operator, then select Download.
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Select Continue to search for additional profiles, or select Close when finished.
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Select the Start > Settings > Network & internet > Cellular > eSIM profiles.
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Under Add an eSIM profile from your mobile operator, select Add profile.
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Select Let me enter an activation code I have from my mobile operator > Next.
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Scan the QR code using your devices camera or enter the activation code manually.
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The activation code should appear in the corresponding Activation code box. Select Next.
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For the dialog box that asks Do you want to download this profile?, enter the confirmation code from your mobile operator into the corresponding box, and then select Download.
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Select Close.
Connecting and managing eSIMÂ
Once you have an eSIM profile, these instructions will help you connect and manage the network. Â
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Select the Start > Settings > Network & internet > Cellular. If you see Insert SIM, select your eSIM under Use this SIM for cellular data.
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Select eSIM profiles, choose the profile you want, and then select Use.
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Select Yes to This will use cellular data from your data plan and may incur charges. Do you want to continue?
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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​You’ll be connected to a cellular data network and ready to go.
If you have more than one profile installed on your PC, you can switch between profiles to use a different mobile operator and data plan.
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Select the Start > Settings > Network & internet > Cellular > eSIM profiles.
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Under Profiles for cellular data, select the profile you want to stop using, and then select Stop using.
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Select Yes for You'll be disconnected from this cellular network. Continue?
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Select the other profile you want to use, then select Use.
Delete a profile only if you no longer need it. If you delete a profile, you may need to contact your mobile operator to add it again later.
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Select the Start > Settings > Network & internet > Cellular > eSIM profiles.
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Under Profiles for cellular data, select the profile.
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Select Delete, then select Yes to confirm.
Note:Â If your PC is managed by your organization, you may not be able to delete eSIM profiles due to organizational policies.
Related topics
Support for Windows 10 has ended on October 14, 2025
After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
An eSIM lets you connect to the Internet over a cellular data connection. With an eSIM, you don't need to get a SIM card from your mobile operator, and you can quickly switch between mobile operators and data plans.
For example, you might have one cellular data plan for work, and a different plan with another mobile operator for personal use. If you travel, you can get connected in more places by finding mobile operators with plans in that area.
Here's what you'll need:
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A PC running Windows 10, Version 1703 or later. To see which version of Windows 10 your device uses, select the Start button, then select Settings > System > About .
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A PC with an eSIM in it. Here's how you can tell if your PC has an eSIM:
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Select the Start button, then select Settings > Network & Internet > Cellular .
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On the Cellular screen, look for a link near the bottom of the page that says Manage eSIM profiles. If that link appears, your PC has an eSIM.
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Note: Some devices have both an eSIM and physical SIM card. If you don’t see Manage eSIM profiles but you do see Use this SIM for cellular data at the top of the Cellular settings screen, select the other SIM from the drop-down box, and then see if the Manage eSIM profiles link appears.
You'll need to add an eSIM profile to get an Internet connection using cellular data.
If you have a PC from your organization, an eSIM profile might already be added to your PC. If you select Manage eSIM profiles and see an eSIM profile for a mobile operator you expect to find, you can skip this procedure and go to the next one to get connected.
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Select the Start button, then select Settings > Network & Internet > Cellular > Manage eSIM profiles.
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Under eSIM profiles, select Add a new profile.
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To search for available profiles or use an activation code you have from your mobile operator, do one of the following:
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Search for available profiles
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Select Search for available profiles > Next.
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When a profile you want to use is found, select Download.
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Enter the confirmation code from your mobile operator in the corresponding box, then select Download.
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After the profile is downloaded and installed, select Continue to find other profiles you might want and then repeat the previous steps.
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Select Close when you have downloaded the profiles you want.
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Use an activation code you have from your mobile operator
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Select Let me enter an activation code I have from my mobile operator > Next.
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If you have a QR code to scan for the activation code, choose which camera to use on your PC, and then scan the QR code.
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The activation code should appear in the corresponding Activation code box. Select Next.
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For the dialog box that asks Do you want to download this profile?, enter the confirmation code from your mobile operator into the corresponding box, and then select Download.
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Select Close.
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Optional: To give the profile a friendly name (for example, Work or Personal) to help you remember it, select the profile, select Edit name, type a name you'll remember, and then select Save.
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Select the Start button, then select Settings > Network & Internet > Cellular > Manage eSIM profiles.
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Under eSIM profiles, select the profile you want, and then select Use.
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Select Yes for This will use cellular data from your data plan and may incur charges. Do you want to continue? You’ll be connected to a cellular data network and ready to go.
If you have more than one profile installed on your PC, you can switch between profiles to use a different mobile operator and data plan.
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Select the Start button, then select Settings > Network & Internet > Cellular > Manage eSIM profiles.
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Under eSIM profiles, select the profile you want to stop using, and then select Stop using.
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Select Yes for You'll be disconnected from this cellular network. Continue?
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Select the different profile you want to use, then select Use.
If you don't want to use a profile anymore, you can delete it from your PC. If you delete the profile and want to add it again later, you'll need to download the profile again and might need to contact your mobile operator.
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Select the Start button, then select Settings > Network & Internet > Cellular > Manage eSIM profiles.
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Under eSIM profiles, select the profile to delete, and then select Delete.
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At the prompt that warns you that the profile will be permanently deleted, select Yes.
Note: If you have a PC from your organization, you might not be able to delete an eSIM profile because of a policy that’s set by your organization.
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