Last updated: August 17, 2026
Seeing “This code is no longer valid” while you’re trying to add an eSIM is unsettling — it can feel like the plan you just paid for has vanished. Here’s the short answer: in most cases the message simply means the activation code has already been used once, not that your purchase is gone. It usually happens because the install was cancelled partway through, the connection dropped, or the same code was scanned a second time. And quite often the plan is already sitting on your phone, just switched off. Below, we’ll walk through what’s actually happening, what to check in each situation, and how to reach us if the eSIM still won’t install.
- An activation code is normally single-use
- The plan may already be installed but turned off
- Check your line list and line settings first
- You can ask us about reissuing the code
- Finishing the install in one go prevents a repeat
What “This code is no longer valid” actually means
In short, it’s your phone telling you the activation code has already been used. An eSIM activation code works like a one-time key that downloads the profile (the line’s settings) onto your device. Once the download starts and is registered as complete, that same code can’t be used to add the plan again.
The deciding factor is whether the profile is still on your phone. If the install ran to the end, the line is already there — you don’t need to add anything, you just need to switch it on. But if the process never finished — you closed the screen, the connection dropped, airplane mode kicked in — the code can be marked as used while nothing lands on the device.
So the same error message covers two very different situations: “it’s already installed, so it can’t be added again” and “it isn’t installed, and it still can’t be added.” Working out which one you’re in is the fastest route to a fix.
Three things to check first
1. Is the line already in your device’s list?
On iPhone, open Settings → Cellular (Mobile Service). On Android, go to Settings → Network & internet → SIMs, or similar depending on your model. Look through the list of lines. If you see one with a name resembling your plan — a country name, a data amount, or a network operator’s name — the installation is already done. Phones generate these labels automatically, so the name may not match your plan name exactly.
2. Is that line turned on?
Being in the list isn’t enough — a line that’s switched off won’t connect. Select the line, turn it on, and set mobile data to use that line. When you’re abroad, you also need to enable data roaming. A surprising number of “it won’t connect” cases come down to one of these switches.
3. Are you expecting it to work too early?
Most plans start counting their validity period from the moment you first connect at your destination. Before you leave, the safest approach is to install the eSIM and leave the line switched off. “It installed but there’s no data” is often completely normal if you haven’t traveled yet — there’s no need to redo anything.
Narrowing it down by symptom
Really, there are only two questions: is the line in the list, and is it connecting? Find the row below that matches your situation.
| Your situation | Likely cause | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| The line is listed and connects at your destination | Setup is complete | Nothing to do — enjoy your trip |
| The line is listed, but you haven’t traveled yet | Normal — not activated yet | Turn on the line and data roaming after you arrive |
| The line is listed, but won’t connect at your destination | Line switched off / mobile data set to another line / roaming not enabled | Review the line settings, toggle airplane mode, restart the phone |
| The line isn’t listed and the error blocks installation | The install likely never completed | Contact us about reissuing the activation code |
| The install screen doesn’t appear at all | Device doesn’t support eSIM / device is carrier-locked | Check device compatibility and lock status |
You can look up your model on our eSIM-compatible devices page. If your phone is carrier-locked, it may refuse to add another operator’s line at all, so it’s worth confirming the unlock status with the carrier you bought the phone from.
When it installed but still won’t connect
At that point the activation code isn’t the problem — it’s either the line settings or local network conditions. Working through these in order usually isolates it: turn the line on, set mobile data to use that line, enable data roaming, toggle airplane mode on for about ten seconds and back off, then restart the phone. That clears up the majority of cases. If it doesn’t, try switching network selection from automatic to manual and choosing a different local operator. The full steps are on our connection troubleshooting page.
Bloomy eSIM is data-only. It doesn’t come with a phone number, so voice calls and SMS over a cellular number aren’t available — but app-based calls and messages that run over data, such as WhatsApp, Messenger, FaceTime and similar services, work as usual. If you need to receive SMS verification codes tied to a phone number, plan ahead — for example, by keeping your home-country number active alongside the eSIM. All plans are subject to a fair usage policy, and speeds depend on the local network, your device and the area you’re in.
If it still won’t work: asking about a reissued code
If no line has landed on your device and you’ve never connected with the plan, you’re welcome to ask us about reissuing the activation code. Where we can confirm that the code became unusable because the installation didn’t complete, Bloomy eSIM may reissue it free of charge, once per order, after reviewing the situation. We base that decision on things like usage records, installation status and the plan’s validity period.
Including the following details makes it much faster for us to check: your order number or the email address used at purchase, your destination and plan length, your device model (for example, iPhone 15 or Pixel 8), the exact wording of the error on screen, and — most importantly — whether the line appears in your device’s list of lines. We can’t see inside your phone, so that last point is the single most useful clue you can give us.
You can reach us through the contact form. If the plan has already started connecting, if the validity period has passed, or if this is a repeat request, we’ll review the details individually and advise from there.
How to avoid this next time
The one rule that matters: once you start the install, see it through to the end. Because the activation code is single-use, stopping partway can leave it unusable. The whole thing takes about a minute, so just keep three things in mind.
- Use a stable connection: home Wi-Fi or anything unlikely to drop. Avoid installing while on the move or where signal is weak.
- Go all the way to the line-labelling screens: after the download, your phone asks you to name the line and pick your default line. You’re only done once the line appears in your settings list.
- Don’t switch to another app mid-install: however tempting that notification is, leave it until the install finishes.
With Bloomy eSIM, the usual flow is to tap the setup link we send you once and follow the on-screen prompts. When you open that link, we show these reminders up front. You’ll find the full walkthrough in our setup guide (QR code and manual entry are available as alternatives if the link method doesn’t work on your device).
What to handle yourself, and what to bring to us
The shortcut here is knowing which problems you can solve in a minute and which are faster to hand over.
Handle it yourself when the line is already in your list. Turning it on, switching mobile data over to it, enabling roaming — that resolves most cases, with no waiting. And if you simply haven’t traveled yet, there’s nothing to fix at all.
Get in touch when the error appears and nothing shows up in your list of lines, when you’ve run through the same steps three or more times without success, or when you’re flying out within a day. Telling us what you’re seeing is more reliable than repeating the same attempt. The same goes if you suspect your device may not support eSIM — check the compatibility list and reach out.
Check your order status in your account
You can review your eSIM’s activation details and usage in My Account, including whether it’s not yet set up, installed, or in use, along with an estimate of remaining data. If it still shows as unused, your activation code is intact — you can start using the plan by turning the line on once you arrive.
Still choosing a destination? Our eSIM comparison page lets you filter plans by country, data allowance and duration. Setup and troubleshooting articles are collected in the eSIM guide, and common questions are answered in our FAQ.
In summary: start with the line list, not the panic
“This code is no longer valid” means the activation code has already been used once. Check your device’s list of lines first: if the plan is there, you only need to switch it on; if it isn’t, get in touch about reissuing the code. Split it that way and there really isn’t much to do. And if you haven’t left yet, install the eSIM now and leave the line switched off until you land.
This article reflects information available as of August 2026. Device and OS wording, plan conditions and our reissue policy may change. Please refer to the current details on each page and the prompts on your screen. Bloomy eSIM plans are data-only (no phone number, SMS or voice calls) and subject to a fair usage policy; connection quality varies with the local network, coverage area, network congestion and the device you’re using.
