Unable to activate eSim

[danco]

Since I only just started a Sky contract, I am within the cooling-off period and intend to cancel. There's quite a simple online cancellation form. But that is not going to work for me as it requires entering the Sky phone number, and since my esim was never activated I don't have a phone number. I'll check if it can be done in the app.

[BladeRiderNI]

@SarahBrowsmy experiences with them over this past week have been shocking.

Can't deliver phones when promised and can't even provide the most basic of services.

Add in people who don't seem to know what is going on, and I'm severely regretting leaving Vodafone after 22 years.

[SarahBrows]

Oh no, I feel for you. 

My plan is to purchase an esim tomorrow from another provider and to contat sky to get my pac to port my number over. Frankly, I can't believe that sky are so underprepared for this esim issue given that many new phones don't even have a sim card tray now.  I really don't have a full day to get passed from pillar to post by the 'help centre' tomorrow, so just requesting a pac code might actually be the quickest route I guess. 

[Ellis736]

help me please esim keeps saying failed to activate

[Sarahbrows1]

I’ve just upgraded from an iPhone 16 Pro Max to the 17. This is my business phone and the only way clients can contact me, so I urgently need it working.

The transfer process looked straightforward at first — my new phone prompted me to move my number over via eSIM. Unfortunately, it failed. I tried removing and re-adding, only to be told to contact my provider.

I now have no working phone at all. My old SIM has been deactivated, the new eSIM hasn’t activated, and I’m stuck in limbo. From reading here, it’s clear this is happening to lots of customers, but I can’t see a single post where Sky have actually resolved it.

This situation leaves me completely cut off and is a breach of Ofcom’s guidance, which requires providers to ensure customers are not left without service when switching SIMs or devices.

I’m working all day tomorrow and simply cannot spend hours chasing this on the phone. What exactly are customers supposed to do in this situation?

[Hi12341]

it's saying I need to link skyID and then says it’s already linked but then it keeps making me do it and won't go into the next step of activating the esim

[Bevan2002]

Did this get sorted? Mine is also doing the same. I went from iPhone 14 to iPhone 17. eSIM won't activate after signing in, confirmation code, everything. I've tried several times, reset my device. Nothing.

[JEFF1102]

@SarahBrows That's dreadful. I still have my current phone working so everytime I phone them I am now reluctant to try what they say in case I get left with no working phone. I feel like phoning Apple support to see what they say. I have Iphione Air which is esim only. I thought iphone 17 is able to take a normal sim. Is there no way you can still do that? I really wish the Air was able to take a physical sim and I could simply move it to the new phone.

[danco]

Luckily for me I only just joined Sky and di not port my old number. So I am still in the cooling-off period, and intend to cancel. Interesting to know that Sky are aweare of a problem.

[danco]

Loads of us are having this problem. I suspect an issue with the Sky eSIM and iOS 26, which has only been out a week.

[danco]

Happening to lots of us. Are you using an iPhone with iOS 26?

After phoning for help I got sensible suggestions that I had already tried. Finally I received an email saying that my eSIM failed to activate and that they would get back to me within 48 houtrs, which I suspect they will not do.

Best advice, for anyone about to join Sky - it's too late if you have moved over, is NOT to move your old phone number over at the same time as moving to Sky, wait until you have an active line and then port the old number.

I'm going to cancel my order with Sky as I'm still in the cooling-off period and still have my service with another provider.

[Mollysmum]

Good Morning 

I installed an esim on my Iphone 16 

well at least i thought i did ready to transfer everything over to my new Apple Air when it arrived 

My physical sim was turned off and removed 

Now i have in esim settings conversion completed 

However underneath it says Status inactive and use of this line is unavailabke 

I was installing esim for when i make a phone transfer to Apple Air

However  i have lost the use of my calls and texts because i no longer have a physical sim and i am unable to use the esim

please advise if you are able to 

Thank you in advance 

I tried phoning 150 but the options were not what i needed 

[danco]

I am one of the many people whose eSIM did not activate. The good news is that Sky don't start billing until it is activated. So as I have decided not to go with SKY and I am still in the cooling-off period anyway, all I need to do is stay with my old provider adn never activate the Sky SIM.

This may help others who had planned to move over.

[caesarome]

@Hi12341 

You will need to contact Sky about this so if you can't call them then there are social media links at the bottom of the page that you can use.

[BladeRiderNI]

I have asked them on the phone, via their chat service and on social media when this issue will be fixed and they have said that there is no known issues.

Not only is there service utterly pathetic, they are liars and are robbing their customers blind.

Moderator note: Removed campaigning.