Quick answer: Open the MyJio app, search for “Switch to eSIM”, verify your email and your phone’s EID, enter the OTP, then answer Jio’s confirmation call after the 2-hour cooling period. It is free.
Jio lets you swap your physical SIM for an eSIM without visiting a store. You can do it from the MyJio app or by SMS. This guide covers both methods, how to install the eSIM on iPhone and Android, and how to fix the most common problems.
Before you start: a quick checklist
- An eSIM-ready phone. Most recent iPhones, Google Pixels, Samsung Galaxy S and Z models, and some Motorola, OnePlus, Vivo and other phones support eSIM. Check your exact model on the Jio eSIM page.
- An email ID registered with Jio. Jio sends the eSIM QR code to this email. If it is missing, open MyJio, search “Update my Email ID” and add it.
- An active Jio number with your current SIM in the phone, so you can receive the OTP and SMS.
- Your EID and IMEI. Dial
*#06#to see both. If your phone shows an EID, it supports eSIM. - Wi-Fi or mobile data to download the eSIM profile.
Method 1: Switch to Jio eSIM with the MyJio app
This is the easiest way and the one Jio recommends.
- Open the MyJio app and search for “Switch to eSIM”.
- Confirm your email ID by entering the OTP sent to it.
- Enter the EID of the phone where you want the eSIM.
- Enter the OTP sent to your Jio number to verify the request.
- Wait for the 2-hour cooling period. This is a DoT security rule.
- Answer the automated call from +91 22 3507 2222 and press the number it asks for to confirm.
- Install the eSIM when the profile notification or the QR code email arrives (see the install steps below).
Method 2: Get a Jio eSIM by SMS
Use this if the app does not work for you. Send every SMS to 199 from the Jio number you want on eSIM.
| Step | Send to 199 | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Request | GETESIM <32-digit EID> <15-digit IMEI> | You get a 19-digit eSIM number by SMS, and the eSIM profile details by SMS and email |
| 2. Confirm SIM change | SIMCHG <19-digit eSIM number> | Your SIM change request starts |
| 3. Give consent | 1 (after about 2 hours) | Jio sends a consent SMS once the cooling period ends; reply 1 |
| 4. Confirm on call | No SMS needed | Answer the call from +91 22 3507 2222 and press the prompted number |
Jio’s own page writes the request with no spaces, as GETESIM followed by the EID and IMEI. If one format is rejected, try the other.
How to install the Jio eSIM on your phone
Once Jio processes the request, you will either see an eSIM notification on the phone or get a QR code email from notification@jio.com. Menu names vary by brand and software version.
iPhone
- Tap the “Jio eSIM ready to be installed” notification if it appears.
- Otherwise go to Settings > Mobile Service (or Mobile Data) > Add eSIM and scan the QR code from the email.
- Follow the prompts, then choose which line to use for calls, SMS and data.
Android (Samsung, Pixel, others)
- Samsung: Settings > Connections > SIM manager > Add eSIM, then scan the QR code.
- Pixel and most others: Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Add SIM or Download a SIM, then scan the QR code.
- Restart the phone after the eSIM shows as active.
Tip: Open the QR code email on another screen, such as a laptop, so you can scan it with the phone you are setting up.
Cost and timing at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is there a charge? | No. Jio says the eSIM upgrade is free. |
| How long does it take? | Plan for a few hours: a 2-hour cooling period, then the confirmation call, then processing. |
| Does my plan change? | No. Your number and recharge plan stay the same. |
| What about my physical SIM? | It stops working once the eSIM is active, so keep it until the switch is complete, then discard it. |
Moving your Jio eSIM to a new phone
An eSIM cannot be pulled out and moved like a plastic SIM. On the new phone, run the same MyJio “Switch to eSIM” process with the new phone’s EID. Do this before you reset or sell the old phone, and keep the old phone working until the new eSIM is active.
Common problems and fixes
- Missed the confirmation call: SMS
RECALLto 199 to get another call. - iPhone “Error Code: 999”: Your email ID is not registered with Jio. Update it in MyJio and try again.
- Request rejected for email: Add or update your email in MyJio first.
- QR code does not scan: Check that you are on Wi-Fi or data, increase screen brightness, or wait a while and retry.
- On international roaming: The SMS method does not work on roaming. Use the MyJio app instead.
- Still stuck: Contact Jio support through MyJio or visit a Jio store with your ID.
Stay safe while switching
- Jio’s confirmation call comes from +91 22 3507 2222. Never share OTPs with anyone who calls or messages you claiming to be from Jio.
- Only start an eSIM request yourself. If you get a consent SMS or call you did not ask for, do not confirm it, as SIM swap fraud uses this route.
- Do not forward your eSIM QR code; anyone with it could install your number.
FAQs
Can I use a Jio eSIM and a physical SIM together?
Yes, on phones that support dual SIM with eSIM. You can keep, for example, a Jio eSIM and an Airtel physical SIM.
Can I have more than one eSIM on my phone?
Many phones can store several eSIMs. Some only run one eSIM at a time, so check your phone’s specifications.
Can I get a Jio eSIM for a smartwatch?
Jio lists compatible smartwatches and tablets on its eSIM page. Watch eSIM plans can differ from phone eSIMs, so check the page for your model.
Do I need to visit a Jio store?
No. The MyJio app and SMS methods work from home. A store visit is only needed if the online process keeps failing.
Using Airtel too?
See our Airtel eSIM guide for the Airtel steps.
