eSIM activation (Hofer Telekom (HoT)) not working on Pixel 8a in Austria

maggallie

Hello,
I'm trying to activate my eSIM on my Pixel 8a device and it's not working. After scanning the QR Code I get an error message: 'SIM not activated. Something went wrong while trying to activate your SIM.' This is with DSDS toggle switched on, without it, it doesn't get past the Scanning for Network phase, as described in the eSIM guide.
I talked to my provider, and from their side, it should work, I also got a second Code which behaves the same
My error is very similar to the one described here: but with a different error message. The solution there was a bug report to a dev, but there are no further updates
I've tried manually inserting the activation code, two different wifi networks, turning off the eSIM feature and turning it on again, rebooting the phone and installing the newest update.
Does anyone have further suggestions what I could try? Thanks in advance

de0u

maggallie Does anyone have further suggestions what I could try?

Providing the name of the carrier might help, since then people might report that it works for them, or that it doesn't.

Providing the GrapheneOS build number would be good practice. In general, providing more details is better than providing fewer details.

Is a VPN or ad blocker in use? Were any of the Wi-Fi networks used public Wi-Fi networks, such as a library or coffee shop?

maggallie

[https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/10665-esim-error] this is the error I meant

maggallie

de0u
Thanks for your answer!

The provider I'm using is Hofer Telekom (HoT).

Graphene OS build number: 2025120401

I'm not using a VPN and my home router does not provide an ad blocker
The other network I used was at work and I don't know anything about it's configuration, but both use WPA for authentication. What exactly do you mean by public network? Do you mean an open WiFi? Because most businesses in Austria also use WPA for costumer WiFi. Should I try to find an open one?

Today I also tried over a hotspot of a different phone which is in the HoT network and it got me the same error

de0u

maggallie I'm not using a VPN and my home router does not provide an ad blocker. The other network I used was at work and I don't know anything about it's configuration, but both use WPA for authentication. [...] Today I also tried over a hotspot of a different phone which is in the HoT network and it got me the same error.

Ok, then blocking of the provider's web services probably isn't an issue.

I don't think I see existing posts on the forum about Hofer Telekom. Perhaps now that it's mentioned somebody will chime in. Is it possible to try activating an eSIM from a different provider? Maybe a 30-day tourist eSIM or something else that might be cheap?

maggallie

de0u
Honestly at this point I might just get a new sim card and try to transfer the number to that one (I really want to keep the number) since that's like 12€ max. Just in future it might be good to know if it's the specific eSIM, or a different issue.

Holafly for example has an eSIm for just one day for like 4€ that I might try. I will report back

23Sha-ger

Did you do all the steps as described here?
https://www.hot.at/static-cms/media/HoT_info_english_8009bfeced.pdf
Can be on the website, can be on the app, but the app must be in owner profile.

maggallie

23Sha-ger I did yes. I did everything over the website, but on a differnt phone. I had this SIM as physical one but lost it. I'm very attached to the nimber so I wanted to convert it to eSIM. For that they wanted to confirm via SMS additionally to the email and PUK1, so I also called the hotline and got them to receive the SMS for me (since I don't have the physical card) I got the QR code per email and just scanned it on this phone.
Are you suggesting I try via app?

23Sha-ger

maggallie
The app will have it in proper format at least, since it will request it from the SM-DP+ server.
Plus it can "force" to install it on the phone.
Not sure what you did there, it sounds like a legal sim swapping, I don't know if this works with them.
If the app doesn't work try to visit a local branch.

maggallie

23Sha-ger
Hm, I installed the app it seems to just want to send me another email and not work in the app directly. Should I still try? (Each new code generation costs me a bit of money) What exactly did you mean by force install?
And yes they have the option to swap from normal to eSIM (and back)

23Sha-ger

maggallie
Carrier apps can install eSIM on supported devices. A website can't, you have to scan a QR and it
sometimes it can only be scanned once. An app is a safer choice. You normally won't need the app after.
I don't know about this carrier or why it's such a complicated process with them.

maggallie

23Sha-ger Well it seems like the app won't get me far. This is just their standard app for everything related to this provider, I think, it isn't meant as an esim specific app, so not really useful. Thank you for the tip anyway tho!