Your phone is glitching, apps are crashing, and someone told you a factory reset will fix everything. But you have a travel eSIM installed for your upcoming trip, your home carrier on eSIM, and maybe a work line too. What happens to all those eSIM profiles when you hit that reset button? The answer might make you pause before tapping "Erase All Content and Settings."
What Factory Reset Does to eSIM
iPhone (Erase All Content and Settings)
When you perform a factory reset on an iPhone through Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings, iOS gives you a choice:
Starting with iOS 17, Apple shows a prompt:
- "Do you want to keep your eSIM plans?"
- If you choose Keep, your eSIM profiles are preserved through the reset. When your phone restarts, you can re-activate them during setup.
- If you choose Erase, all eSIM profiles are permanently deleted.
Important: On older iOS versions (16 and earlier), factory reset always deleted eSIM profiles without asking. If your phone is running an older iOS version, your eSIM WILL be deleted.
Samsung Galaxy (Factory Data Reset)
Samsung's factory reset through Settings > General Management > Reset > Factory Data Reset:
- In One UI 6 and newer, Samsung also prompts to keep or remove eSIM profiles
- On older One UI versions, factory reset removes all eSIM profiles
- Samsung's reset process is less consistent than Apple's across different phone models
Google Pixel
Pixel phones handle factory reset eSIM similarly to Samsung:
- Newer Pixel phones (Pixel 7 and later with Android 14+) may offer to keep eSIM
- Older models delete eSIM profiles during factory reset
- Check your specific model's behavior before resetting
Other Android Phones
OnePlus, Xiaomi, Oppo, Motorola, and other Android brands: behavior varies significantly. Most delete eSIM profiles during factory reset. Check your manufacturer's support documentation before resetting.
Scenarios Where Factory Reset Might Happen
Intentional Reset (You Choose to Reset)
- Phone is running slowly and you want a fresh start
- Selling or trading in your phone
- Troubleshooting persistent bugs
- Setting up the phone for someone else
If you are doing an intentional reset: You have time to prepare. Follow the protection steps below before resetting.
Forced Reset (You Have No Choice)
- Phone is stuck in a boot loop and the only recovery is a factory reset via recovery mode
- A failed software update corrupts the system and requires a reset
- Apple or Samsung support instructs you to reset as a troubleshooting step
- DFU mode restore on iPhone
If you are forced to reset: Your eSIM profiles may be lost if the phone cannot boot normally to give you the "keep eSIM" option. This is the worst scenario for travelers.
Remote Wipe (Theft or Loss)
- You use Find My iPhone / Find My Device to remotely erase your stolen phone
- Your employer's MDM (Mobile Device Management) remotely wipes your phone
- Remote wipe typically erases all eSIM profiles
How to Protect Your eSIM Before a Factory Reset
Step 1: Document Your eSIM Details
For each installed eSIM profile, record:
- Provider name (TripoSIM, your carrier, etc.)
- Phone number (for carrier eSIMs)
- ICCID (found in Settings > Cellular > [plan] > scroll down on iPhone)
- Order number or account email
- Remaining data and validity (for travel eSIM)
Save this information in:
- A cloud-accessible note (Google Keep, Apple Notes synced to iCloud)
- Email to yourself
- Paper in your wallet (if traveling)
Step 2: Screenshot Your QR Codes
If you still have the original QR code emails from your eSIM purchases, save screenshots to cloud storage. While QR codes are typically single-use, having them helps support teams identify your account.
Step 3: Choose "Keep eSIM" When Prompted
On iPhone (iOS 17+) and newer Samsung/Pixel phones, select the option to keep your eSIM profiles during the reset. This is the simplest protection.
Step 4: Contact Providers Before Resetting (If Needed)
If your phone will not give you the "keep eSIM" option (DFU restore, recovery mode reset, very old OS):
- Contact your home carrier to request an eSIM re-provisioning after reset
- Contact your travel eSIM provider for a replacement QR code
- Do this BEFORE resetting while you still have connectivity
What to Do After a Factory Reset Deleted Your eSIM
Home Carrier eSIM
- Call your carrier (from another phone or visit a store)
- Verify your identity
- Request eSIM re-provisioning
- They will send a new QR code or use eSIM Quick Transfer
- Scan and install
This process is free with most carriers and takes 15-30 minutes.
Travel eSIM
- Contact your travel eSIM provider's support
- Provide your order number, email, and ICCID
- Request a replacement eSIM
- Most providers issue replacement QR codes for active plans
- Some may charge a small reissue fee; others do it free
TripoSIM support can issue replacement eSIMs for any active plan with remaining data and validity.
Work/Enterprise eSIM
Contact your company's IT department. They manage the eSIM provisioning and can re-issue your corporate profile.
When You SHOULD Remove eSIM Before Reset
Selling Your Phone
Before selling or trading in your phone, you MUST remove all eSIM profiles. Even though a factory reset typically removes them, manually deleting ensures no trace of your carrier profile remains:
- Go to Settings > Cellular
- Tap each eSIM profile
- Tap "Delete eSIM" / "Remove Cellular Plan"
- Then perform the factory reset
Giving to a Family Member
Same as selling — remove all your eSIM profiles first, then reset. The new user will install their own eSIM.
Returning a Company Phone
Your employer's IT department may handle this, but verify that your personal eSIM (if installed alongside a work profile) is removed before returning the device.
Verify your device supports eSIM at [triposim.com/compatibility](/compatibility) and check our [how-it-works guide](/how-it-works) for installation instructions after a reset.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I choose "Keep eSIM" during reset, do I need to re-enter anything? When your phone restarts after a "Keep eSIM" reset, the eSIM profiles are already there. During initial setup, your phone recognizes the installed profiles and activates them. You may need to re-enter your cellular settings preferences (default line, data line) but not the eSIM itself.
Can I factory reset my phone while abroad without losing my travel eSIM? On iPhone with iOS 17+ or newer Android, yes — if you choose "Keep eSIM." On older phones, the factory reset will delete your travel eSIM, leaving you without data abroad. This is why we strongly advise against factory resetting during travel.
Does a "soft reset" (restart) affect eSIM? No. A normal restart (holding power button, sliding to power off, turning back on) does not affect eSIM at all. Only a full factory reset (erase all content and settings) can delete eSIM profiles. Restart your phone as often as you need.
What if my phone is stuck in a boot loop and I need to DFU restore? A DFU restore erases everything including eSIM profiles. You will need to contact each eSIM provider for replacement QR codes after the restore. There is no way to preserve eSIM during a DFU restore. This underscores the importance of having your eSIM provider details saved in cloud storage.