topic Cannot get esim in SIM cards & Porting

Cannot get esim

user87 — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 20:20:11 GMT

Can somebody please help.

I lost my iPhone that was previously under IDMobile on the weekend just gone. I used the opportunity to buy the Samsung galaxy Z fold 8.

I've just joined ee. I got a PAC from IDMobile so my Number could transfer over. My new phone got delivered today and I cannot connect to the network.

I had the following email from ee

Your mobile number is 0xxxxxx39. This may be temporary if you’re planning to transfer an existing mobile number across from another provider.

Download your eSIM

To register your EE account and get your eSIM, you’ll need to:

Go to ee.co.uk/go/login and log in with your EE ID, if one has been created for you. If it hasn't, you can set up an online account
Once you've logged in, please link your EE product using the mobile number on this email
You're now good to go - you'll get a pop up to download your eSIM

I have tried the above but when I do this (on my MacBook) it says I need to send an OTP to my ee phone, which I cannot do as I first need signal on my phone to receive the OTP, forgive me but this seems like a very obvious and stupid error by ee.
I obviously dot have any working phone now so its not like I can call ee.

what are my options as I just need this phone up and running. there currently seems to be no option for me to be able to get my esim to work? for clarification, when I goto my phone I goto settings > connections > sim manager > add esim. my 3 options are transfer sim from android, transfer sim from iPhone (off neither of these are viable as I have no phone) or scan QR code, which I have no idea where I would get this from, its not in any of my emails.

I assume there is an option available as I dont foresee a telecoms giant like ee prevent those without a current phone from....getting a phone?

any help appreciated.

Re: Cannot get esim

Schockwave — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 20:38:29 GMT

Hello @user87 ,

Welcome to the community,

Have you not set up the MacBook to receive text messages? I seem to remember that is what I did when I used a MacBook years ago, certainly have that with the IPad.

Re: Cannot get esim

user87 — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 20:52:13 GMT

Hi, no luck, my iPhone is long gone. will this post reach anyone from ee? I have no way of contacting them as I have no phone and I dont want to buy a second phone, pay as you go just so I can call ee technical support and there is no provided email address.

im hoping there is a simple way to get in touch so they can get my esim sorted as I need the phone asap

Re: Cannot get esim

XRaySpeX — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 03:35:59 GMT

This public user discussion forum can have no access to your specific account. You need to raise this with CS.

Re: Cannot get esim

Christopher_G — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 07:28:45 GMT

Hi @user87

Welcome to the community.

It's possible that an eSIM QR code has been sent through the post. If you pop into your nearest EE Store, they'll be able to give you a replacement QR code. Just please remember to take some physical ID in with you (passport or UK driving licence)

If you need to speak to someone, feel free to give our customer support team a call and they'll do their best to help.

Chris