What is an EID and when do you need it?

EID stands for embedded UICC Identifier. It's a 32-digit number that uniquely identifies the embedded SIM chip in your phone. Only phones with eSIM hardware have an EID. Older phones with only physical SIM slots don't. The EID itself is rarely needed during normal eSIM use; most travelers never see it. When it does matter, it's usually because customer support is helping with a manual install or a phone-to-phone profile transfer.

Below: what the EID does, how it differs from your phone's IMEI, when (if ever) you'll be asked for it, and how to find it.

The 30-second explanation

Every modern phone with eSIM support has an embedded chip soldered onto the motherboard. That chip stores eSIM profiles. The credentials your phone uses to authenticate to cellular networks. The chip itself has a permanent 32-digit serial number called the EID.

Think of it this way:

• The EID identifies the chip (the hardware).
• The eSIM profile is the software loaded onto the chip (your carrier credentials).
• The IMEI identifies the phone itself (a separate hardware ID).

One phone, one EID, multiple profiles. Profiles come and go (you install them, you delete them); the EID is permanent and doesn't change.

What the EID does

Three real uses:

1. Confirming eSIM hardware exists. If your phone has an EID, it has the chip. If *#06# or Settings shows no EID, your phone is physical-SIM only. This is the most common use of the EID for travelers. Checking compatibility.

2. Authenticating eSIM transfers between phones. When you move an eSIM from one phone to another (Apple's eSIM Quick Transfer, Google's eSIM Transfer), both phones exchange EIDs. The carrier verifies the move is legitimate by checking which EID is requesting the profile.

3. Manual profile installation. In rare cases, a carrier may need to push an eSIM profile to your phone manually (instead of via QR code). To do that, the carrier needs your phone's EID to target the right chip. Eflexsim doesn't use this flow as standard. Our QR codes do all the targeting. But if a QR install fails repeatedly and we're troubleshooting, we may ask for your EID to issue a profile manually.

That's the full list. The EID isn't used during normal QR-based install (the QR contains the targeting info), isn't tied to your account in any meaningful way, and isn't something most travelers think about.

How to find your EID

The fastest way: dial *#06# on your phone's keypad. The result shows your IMEI(s) and (on eSIM-capable phones) your EID.

If *#06# doesn't show the EID, check Settings:

• iPhone: Settings → General → About → scroll to EID.
• Samsung Galaxy: Settings → About phone → Status information → EID.
• Google Pixel: Settings → About phone → EID.
• Other Android: Settings → About phone or About device → scroll for EID.

If you can't find an EID anywhere, your phone almost certainly doesn't have eSIM hardware. Check the eSIM compatibility guide to confirm.

EID vs IMEI: how they're different

These two get confused a lot.

IMEI:

• 15 digits.
• Identifies the phone as a device.
• Every phone has at least one IMEI; dual-SIM phones have two.
• Used for carrier registration, stolen-phone tracking, insurance claims, resale verification.
• Doesn't change when you swap SIMs or install new eSIMs.

EID:

• 32 digits.
• Identifies the embedded SIM chip specifically.
• Only on phones with eSIM hardware (most phones from 2018+, none before).
• Used for eSIM profile installation, transfers, and chip identification.
• Doesn't change when you install or delete eSIM profiles.

A phone has one IMEI (or two on dual-SIM hardware) and one EID. They're independent.

When Eflexsim might ask for your EID

In our standard install flow, we don't need your EID. The QR code we send contains everything our partner network needs to install the profile on your chip.

The edge cases where support might ask:

• Repeated failed installs on a specific phone. If you've tried to scan the QR multiple times and the install fails with a specific carrier error, we may ask for your EID to push the profile through a different (more direct) install path.
• Phone-to-phone transfers when the original device is unrecoverable. If your phone was lost or broken with the eSIM installed, and you want a fresh profile for a new phone, we may ask for the new phone's EID to confirm we're issuing to the right chip.
• Region-restricted phone troubleshooting. Some India-market Samsungs have the chip but firmware-block eSIM. Sending us the EID lets us verify the chip is the locked variant before refunding.

If support emails ask for your EID, paste the 32-digit number directly into the reply. It's not sensitive in the same way as your account password. Having someone else's EID doesn't let them install an eSIM on your phone or impersonate you. They'd need physical access to your phone and your authorization with the carrier as well.

For more on eSIM hardware and what phones support it, see eSIM-compatible phones. For the install steps that don't need your EID at all, see iPhone install or Android install.