iPhone eSIM erased after iOS 18 Update

UPDATE: The issue was finally resolved. After 2 trips to the Apple Store and a trip T-Mobile, a senior Apple technician (on the phone with me and the T-Mobile assistant) scheduled me for a repair. Going into the Apple Store for the 3rd time, this time the genius ran diagnostics and actually found a “No SIM” error on their end. They took my phone and shipped it back to me a week later. They ended up replacing the motherboard. Called up T-Mobile and they were able to push the eSIM to my phone.

When I’ve had eSIM issues in the past the solution has always been with the carrier. I use AT&T and their OTA push eSIM fixes are effective maybe 25% of the time. If I go into the carrier’s corporate store it’s fixed every time in about 10 minutes.

If you haven’t been to your carrier’s retail store, that’s what I’d do before another Apple appointment.

iOS 18.3 update caused issues outbound dropped calls, poor signal, messages outbound/inbound to other carriers not within Verizon network- issue was with esim duplication on my now extinct iphone13 pro, Verizon wireless India was able to resolve that on their end and also suggested erasing ALL settings, not just network, powering off 3 minutes each time. After several phone calls to carrier, apple support, it appears if you are fortunate enough to get elevated tech support, as in my case, India, that resolved my issue. These security patches create issues with wireless carriers so it’s not a one and done update

So, the same issue happened with me. I have a 13 but I lost the sim tray a while ago so I switched to esim. After the update, my esim stopped working. I went to the "genius" bar (in Paris), very skeptical about that word now. They told me my antenna is fried maybe because I have dropped it way to many times or the lack of sim card tray could've resulted in humidity rusting the internals and I would need to change the whole body of my phone for €399. I was about to do it but I still ordered a sim tray from Amazon and tried to check with a physical sim and guess what, IT WORKS. The new update is messing up the esim feature and Apple isn't taking any accountability for it. Instead they are going to suggest a solution which is going to cost you an arm and a leg.

My concerns got validated when the same issue happened with my friends but unfortunately they have no sim slots. So now they have to pay £590 to change their entire phone body as suggested by "genius" bar (in London)

Yes, go to a carrier store and ask them to fix the issue. You can also contact the carrier via their support phone number and ask them to attempt an over the air update, but that is likely to fail. Only your carrier can resolve the issue.

I have tried something for the same issue and it somehow worked for me, go to your eSim menu where you can turn it off and on (if the setting is still showing eSim) then turn it on-- next turn on your airplane mode-- after that again turn off and on the eSim while being in airplane mode and turn the airplane mode off. After that my eSim started.

i call to support in china, they help me. what i do:system->general-> transfer or reset phone-> reset network settings after reboot phone my esim appears

No issues here on iOS 18 on iPhone 15 Pro Max. My eSim is working fine. Can you not go to Settings ➜ Cellular and tap on "Add Esim"

Or use your carrier's App to install the esim again?

Or if all else fails, go to your carrier's store or support center to get it re-added?

click here ➜About eSIM on iPhone - Apple Support

Having the same issue. 14 plus, did the upgrade on Wednesday and esim error Thursday. Did everything: airplane, reboot, erase eSIM, add eSIM, reset network settings, delete eSIM, call carrier, chat with carrier, go to carrier store, erase entire phone. THEN finally the eSIM is gone. So I go to my carrier website to scan the QR code to activate my new eSIM, and it shows an Unable to read this file.

I went to apple today- said it’s a hardware issue from chronic trauma over time. What do you make of that?!

Same. iPhone 14. First esim started misbehaving. Updated to iOS18.4 – 1 esim disapped compleately, another was showing "no sim".

The UI of Settings app on iphone is messed up, no more "add esim" feature. No half of the settings in physical sim.

Two weeks earlier same happened with a second phone, exactly the same model, make, purchased the same day. This phone was a bit more lucky, after calls with carrier help center, resetting network settings, migrating to another phone and back – the issue seemed to go away. Almost. The UI still is messed up. Some sim settings are missing. Rare signal drops. Waiting for new google pixel release or something. Fed up with this nonsense.

what model phone and what carrier? ours didnt totally lose sim one flopped over to secondary sim and another said it was deactivated but after reprovisions of sims and getting the one phone back to original imei , 4 days later cellular data dumped BAD on April 24th. have apple care sent phones in. we on verizon network been happening accross them all.

I also have this issue on iPhone 14 Pro Max.

After automatic iOS update to 18.2 my cellular data stopped working.

Apple support diagnostic app suggested to upgrade to 18.3, which was impossible without Macbook connection, because the update stucked on "Verifiying update" stage. So, I updated iOS to 18.3 via Macbook, but the problem was not gone.

In a reddit thread I have found an information, that the issue is related to an old eSim version, and can be resolved by my cellular carrier.

I have contacted them and asked to reinstall my eSim. The problem was not gone.

I have tried to remove all eSims via iPhone configs, also did not help.

Apple support application is suggesting now to visit a repair store because of a "hardware issue".

Which is totally unfair, since my iPhone is bricked by the iOS update.

I have actually had the EXACT same experience on my 15 pro, including every troubleshooting step, and the resulting trauma. Both my provider (T-Mobile) and Apple support techs have noted that the eSIM profile has essentially disappeared and for some reason, will not restore after a factory reset. And since it’s strictly a software issue, Apple cannot detect any hardware issues and refers users to the network provider. Provider says everything looks good on their network and refers you back to Apple.

same happened with me today on my 12pro after the latest ios update, Suddenly the Esim stopped working and after restarting the phone the esim vanished and now there is no option to add the esim, i went to carrier bt they said it’s showing in their system , and asked me to check with the apple service center.

Latest iOS 18.1.1 - iPhone 15 Pro Max - Just had "SIM FAILURE" pop up, no Cellular menu at all, T-Mobile couldn't get anything to re-add, Apple support is worthless - There's no problem with your phone.

Right...