The 60-second answer
Settings → Cellular → tap the eSIM you want to remove → Delete eSIM → confirm. It takes about ten seconds. The important part is what happens next: deleting removes the carrier profile from the phone permanently, and most travel eSIM QR codes are single-use, so you usually cannot reinstall the same plan afterwards — even if it still has data and validity left on it.
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Delete or just turn it off?
| Situation | Do this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Trip is over, plan is expired and empty | Delete | Nothing left to lose, and it declutters the line list |
| Trip is over, plan still has data or validity | Turn off the line | You may return; deleting usually forfeits the remainder |
| Want to stop background data now | Turn off the line | Instant, reversible, no risk |
| Out of eSIM slots for a new plan | Delete the oldest expired one | iPhone stores several profiles but only a limited number |
| Selling or trading in the phone | Delete all eSIMs | A profile left behind travels with the handset |
| Moving to a new iPhone | Transfer, do not delete | See [transferring an eSIM](/guides/esim-transfer) |
Deleting an eSIM, step by step
Open your cellular settings
Settings → Cellular. On some regions and iOS versions this reads "Mobile Service" or "Mobile Data".
Pick the right line
Under SIMs, tap the plan you want to remove. Check the label carefully — a phone back from a trip often has several similarly named travel plans, and there is no undo.
Scroll to Delete eSIM
It sits at the bottom of that line's settings screen, below the network and data options.
Confirm
Tap Delete eSIM again in the confirmation sheet. The line disappears from the list immediately.
Check what is left
Back on the Cellular screen, confirm your remaining line is set for Cellular Data and for Calls, so the phone does not end up with data pointed at a line that no longer exists.
Turning a line off instead
This is the reversible option and the right default when the plan is not fully used. Settings → Cellular → tap the line → toggle "Turn On This Line" off. The profile stays on the phone, uses no data, and can be switched back on at any time — useful when you fly the same route again inside the plan's validity window.
Before you sell, trade in, or reset
An eSIM profile is stored on the phone, not on a card you can pull out, so it leaves with the handset unless you remove it. Two things worth knowing:
- **Erase All Content and Settings** offers to remove eSIMs during the reset. Choosing to keep them leaves your profiles on a phone you no longer own.
- **Delete your primary line last.** Removing the line tied to iMessage and FaceTime before you have finished deregistering can leave messages routing to a number the phone no longer has.
Can you reinstall a deleted eSIM?
Usually not from the original QR code. Most travel eSIM QR codes, ours included, are single-use: once the profile has been installed, scanning the same code again returns an error. That is a fraud-prevention measure across the industry, not a quirk of any one provider.
What that means in practice: if you delete a plan that still had data left, treat the remainder as lost unless your provider can re-issue the profile. Some can, at their discretion, if the plan is genuinely unused. If you deleted a Flysimio eSIM by mistake, contact us with your order reference and ICCID before buying a replacement — we would rather re-provision it than sell you the same thing twice.
Frequently asked questions
Does deleting an eSIM cancel the plan or refund it?
No. Deleting removes the profile from your phone; it does not cancel the plan or trigger a refund. Any remaining data and validity stay attached to a profile you can no longer install. If you want a refund, check the provider's policy first and delete nothing until it is resolved — ours is at /legal/refund.
Can I reinstall the same eSIM after deleting it?
Usually not. Most travel eSIM QR codes are single-use, so the original code will fail on a second scan. Contact your provider before assuming the plan is gone — some will re-issue a profile for a plan that was never used.
How many eSIMs can an iPhone store?
iPhone XS and later can store multiple eSIM profiles — commonly eight or more on recent models — but only two lines can be active at once. You do not need to delete an old plan to install a new one until you actually run out of storage slots.
Will deleting an eSIM delete my photos, messages, or apps?
No. It removes only the cellular profile for that line. Nothing else on the phone is affected. Messages already received stay where they are.
How do I delete an eSIM on Android?
Settings → Network & Internet → SIMs → select the eSIM → Erase eSIM (wording varies by manufacturer; Samsung uses "Remove"). The same caution applies: it is permanent and the QR code is usually single-use.
Sources & further reading
Daniel Reyes
eSIM & Mobile Networks Writer
Daniel is a telecoms writer who has covered mobile networks and eSIM technology since 2019. He breaks down carrier coverage, device compatibility, and activation step by step.