You've just landed, your phone has no data, and the eSIM you were counting on… has to be downloaded first. An eSIM can't install without a connection: the profile arrives over the internet. The good news is that you only need a few minutes online, once. Here is where to get them when you arrive in Morocco, and how to install the eSIM on the very phone that shows it.
Can you install an eSIM without Wi-Fi?
Not without internet. Our eSIM supplier is clear: you need "a stable internet connection (preferably WiFi)", or a good 4G connection. Apple also asks for Wi-Fi or a hotspot to set up an eSIM. The connection is only for the download: once the eSIM is installed, it no longer needs Wi-Fi.
Your phone also has to be eSIM compatible and carrier-unlocked. That is the first reason installs fail, well before the connection.
4 connections to install your eSIM on arrival
| Connection to install with | What to know |
|---|---|
| Airport Wi-Fi | ONDA, the airport operator, says Marrakech Menara has a Wi-Fi network. It launched free in 2015, with an email address to sign in; today's terms are not published. |
| Riad, hotel or café Wi-Fi | The most common option. A slow line is usually fine, but it has to stay stable while the eSIM downloads. |
| A friend's hotspot | A travel companion who already has data turns on their hotspot and you join it like any Wi-Fi. |
| Your home plan, roaming | A few minutes of data is enough, but Morocco is outside EU roaming: every MB may be billed. Check your carrier's rate first. |
If your home plan doesn't include Morocco, roaming is the most expensive fallback: see how to avoid a huge phone bill after Morocco.
Installing the eSIM on the phone that shows the QR code
After payment we show the QR code on screen and email it to you. With only one phone, you can't scan it with itself. Two ways round it:
- iPhone on iOS 17.4 or later: open the email, tap and hold the QR code, then tap "Add eSIM". This is the method Apple gives.
- Manual install (iPhone and Android): the confirmation page also shows the SM-DP+ address and the activation code. On iPhone: Settings > Mobile Data > Add eSIM > Use QR Code > "Enter Details Manually".
The QR code works only once, so don't scan it "just to try" on another device.
After installing: 2 settings and you're online
- Mobile data: choose the eSIM line. Keep your usual line for calls and texts.
- Data roaming: turn it on for the eSIM line. The supplier states the eSIM will not work without it.
Activation can take up to 10 minutes. Your plan only starts on the first connection to a Moroccan network, not when you buy or install it. If nothing works after that, our guide no service after installing an eSIM in Morocco goes through the checks in order.
The easy way: install it before you fly
If you're reading this before the trip, install the eSIM at home on your own Wi-Fi. The plan only starts in Morocco. Since iOS 26, Apple even separates installation from activation: install at home, and the eSIM activates when you arrive. On iPhone, switch off Wi-Fi Assist (at the bottom of the mobile settings): on weak Wi-Fi, the iPhone may otherwise use a little mobile data and start the plan early.
Our plans run from 1 day (€6) to 30 days (€79), with the QR code emailed straight after payment: see the Morocco eSIM plans. For the full walkthrough, read how to install a Morocco eSIM step by step.