Can't switch nor erase eSIMs on Pixel 9 Pro

de0u

discuss-graphene When I try to erase to install it newly, it says that:

"Something went wrong and this eSIM wasn't erased.
Restart your device and try again."

Exactly which steps result in that message?

iusegraphene

discuss-graphene

I had a similar issue where I couldn't erase an eSim from my 8a device. I flashed normal android back onto the device in order to return the device to google for a different, unrelated reason. And in doing so, found that flashing a new ROM back onto the device isn't enough to erase the eSIM. It was still there. I would be unsurprised if a factory reset would not fix the eSim.

r134a

iusegraphene And in doing so, found that flashing a new ROM back onto the device isn't enough to erase the eSIM.

I'm not entirely sure about this, but i believe this is expected behavior/intended. Probably for various reasons the esim doesn't behave differently from a physical sim on that regard. I believe the physical sim card would still be there aswell when i flash another ROM.

discuss-graphene

eSim support is activated in Settings

In Settings:
klick on SIMs
klick on the eSIM I have added before
klick on erase eSIM

Then a window pops up to authentify "verify it's you"
Then a second windows pops "Erase this eSIM"

Then I press the button "Erase".

Then the windows with "Can't erase eSim"
"Something went wrong and this eSIM wasn't erased.
Restart your device and try again."
pops up

there is only a "OK" button. The windows closes.

That's it.

Just did it again. It is still not working, for whatever reason.

Probably9857

discuss-graphene

There is also Settings > System > Reset options > Erase eSIMs

In case you haven't tried that. Not sure why this would work differently than deleting the specific eSIM, but maybe worth a try.

1qkv9ddu3so2irvz

In the german forum kuketz-forum.de there's a 9 Pro user with the exact same problem: https://www.kuketz-forum.de/t/esim-problem-auf-pixel-9-pro-mit-grapheneos-can-t-switch-nor-erase-esims/13712

r134a

1qkv9ddu3so2irvz i think we can confidently say it is OP

harp

r134a I'm not entirely sure about this

Yes, that's a fact. Flashing the device with the same or a different OS doesn't have any effect to an installed eSIM. It's pointed in the FAQ:

By default, GrapheneOS has always shipped with baseline support for eSIM, where users can use any eSIMs installed previously on the device.

That means, if you flash GOS, any previously installed eSIM will be preserved. eSIMs are installed to an extra Chip or Space of the Hardware, not within the OS.

discuss-graphene

Yes, I tried this and it didn't help. With internet connection switched on and several restarts.

The only thing what's left over to do, is go back to the original Google ROM and try to delete it from there because somebody wrote it here. The eSim will probably persist a reinstall.

Or does anybody else have another idea?

de0u

discuss-graphene You could capture a "bug report" and submit it to the developers. I think this should work, and did before, so it might be fixable.

JollyRancher

Activating a Duress Pin will wipe all eSims. Set up a Duress pin, use it, and then factory reset to get back to a fresh GOS install - without any eSims.

Warning, this will wipe your phone entirely.

DeletedUser572

JollyRancher

The "Erase eSims" does nothing, so I have to go nuclear just to get my phone ready to sell?
This was my exit interview for GOS. I'm sorry it didn't work out, and this slapped me on the way out. Proceed with bitter replies, account's deleted.

Someone open a ticket on this, OR make a declare a clear procedure for what to do when selling the phone. (The fact that I'm posting this means whatever there is like that, it was NOT easy to find.)

wizoatk

DeletedUser572

On the off chance you return ...

Not enough information to open a ticket. Unable to reproduce.

Rough steps for prepping your phone for resale:

Remove non-stock key
Flash a Pixel factory stock image
Boot the Stock OS
Do whatever initialization necessary to get back to Settings Menu
Delete eSIMs
Do a Factory Reset so next user starts from the initialzation process

https://grapheneos.org/install/web#replacing-grapheneos-with-the-stock-os
https://grapheneos.org/install/cli#replacing-grapheneos-with-the-stock-os
https://flash.android.com/back-to-public

JollyRancher

DeletedUser572
Erase eSims does work, its just that you can end up in situations where your phone becomes unusable because of eSim settings. And even a factory reset won't resolve the issue. If you have a duress pin, that will.

If you plan on selling a phone and have GOS on it I would do the following:
1) Create a duress pin and use it.
2) Factory reset the phone.
3) Flash back to the original Google OS

The combination of 1 & 2 will ensure an entirely clean phone, and putting the original OS back on it will tend to make sales easier.