An eSIM QR code contains an activation string in the GSMA LPA format, LPA:1$<SM-DP+ address>$<activation code>, which a phone reads to download an eSIM plan from the carrier's server. This generator formats that string into a QR code. It does not create a plan, and it cannot work without the server address and activation code your carrier or eSIM provider gave you.
How do you make an eSIM QR code?
- If you already have the whole string, starting with
LPA:1$, paste it into Full Activation String. The other fields are then ignored. - Otherwise enter the SM-DP+ Address and the Activation Code separately.
- Tick the confirmation-code box only if the provider said one is required when installing.
- Download the code and keep it private (see below).
The two ways to enter it give the following results:
LPA:1$rsp.example.com$K2-1A2B3C-4D5E6F
LPA:1$rsp.example.com$K2-1A2B3C-4D5E6F$$1The second line shows the trailing $$1 flag, meaning a confirmation code will be requested during installation. If you type the server address as a full web address, such as https://rsp.example.com/, the generator strips the scheme and path and keeps only the host.
What do the parts mean?
| Part | Meaning |
|---|---|
LPA: | Marks the string as an eSIM activation code for the phone's Local Profile Assistant |
1 | Format version, which is always 1 today |
| SM-DP+ address | The server that hosts the eSIM profile |
| Activation code (matching ID) | Identifies the specific profile for download |
$$1 (optional) | A confirmation code will be required |
The format comes from the GSMA's SGP.22 consumer eSIM specification. There is nothing more inside the QR than the string itself, which is why any tool that prints the string as a QR code produces a valid code.
Is an eSIM QR code reusable?
Usually not. Activation codes are generally single-use: whoever scans one first gets the profile, and after installation the code stops working for another device. That has two consequences.
- Do not post it publicly. A code shown on a website, in a shared chat, or on a screenshot can be used by anyone before you. Treat it like a voucher.
- Do not print a batch of the same code. Each customer needs their own, issued by the provider.
Who actually needs this tool?
People whose provider gave them the details as text: an email that lists the SM-DP+ address and activation code, or the single LPA:1$… line, with no scannable image. Travel agencies and resellers who forward a code they received also use it. If your provider already sent a QR image, use that one.
What if scanning is not possible?
Phones that support eSIM also allow manual entry of the SM-DP+ address and activation code, so the QR code is a convenience, not a requirement. If a code does not scan, check the string for typos, confirm the phone is eSIM-capable and unlocked for the carrier, and that it has an internet connection during setup.
How do you test it?
Check the string on screen before you download: it should begin with LPA:1$, contain no spaces, and end with the activation code (and $$1 if required). Scanning it on a phone begins a real download and consumes a single-use code, so only do that when you mean to install. To check the image's quality without installing anything, use the payload decoder to read the code back as text.
For a wider view of QR codes on hardware and products, see QR codes for product authentication.