EID and ICCID explained, and where to find them on your phone
Your phone has one EID for life; each eSIM plan you install gets its own ICCID. The EID is a 32-digit number identifying the eSIM chip soldered inside the handset. On iPhone find it in Settings, General, About. On Android open Settings, About phone, then SIM status. IMEI identifies the device itself.
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If you've ever bought an eSIM, set up a new phone, or messaged support, you've probably bumped into two cryptic strings of numbers: the EID and the ICCID. They look similar, but they describe very different things, and knowing which is which makes activation and troubleshooting far less stressful.
The 30-second version
Here's the short answer before we dig in. Your phone has one EID for life, and each eSIM plan you install gets its own ICCID.
- EID: the permanent ID of the little eSIM chip built into your phone. One phone, one EID, forever.
- ICCID: the ID of a single eSIM plan (profile) once it's installed. New plan, new ICCID.
- IMEI: the ID of the phone itself as a device, used for network and warranty checks.
What is an EID?
EID stands for 'Embedded Identity Document'. It's a 32-digit number that identifies the eSIM hardware, the small reprogrammable chip soldered inside your phone that replaces the old removable plastic SIM. Because the chip never leaves your device, the EID never changes, no matter how many eSIM plans you add or remove.
Think of the EID as your phone's eSIM 'slot'. It's tied to the device, not to any carrier or plan. Some eSIM services use it during setup to prepare a profile for your specific phone, which is why you're sometimes asked for it before a plan is issued.
What is an ICCID?
ICCID stands for 'Integrated Circuit Card Identifier'. It's a 19–20 digit number that identifies one specific eSIM profile (a single plan) once it's installed on your phone. Every plan you install has its own ICCID, so if you keep three travel eSIMs on your phone, you have three different ICCIDs.
If the EID is the slot, the ICCID is the individual ticket that goes into it. When support needs to find the exact plan you're using (to check activation, data balance, or a stuck profile) the ICCID is what points them to the right one.
Rule of thumb: the EID belongs to your phone and never changes; the ICCID belongs to one plan and is different for every eSIM you install.
EID vs ICCID vs IMEI, at a glance
These three get mixed up constantly because they're all long numbers that live in the same corner of your settings. Here's how they differ.
| Identifier | Identifies | How many you have | Typically used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| EID | The eSIM chip inside your phone | One per phone, permanent | Preparing an eSIM profile, compatibility checks |
| ICCID | A single installed eSIM plan | One per plan you install | Looking up or fixing a specific plan |
| IMEI | The phone as a physical device | One or two (dual-SIM phones) | Network registration, warranty, blocklist checks |
Where to find your EID
On iPhone, open Settings → General → About and scroll down to the EID field. You can press and hold the number to copy it. Apple lists the same steps in its official guide to finding your iPhone's identifiers.
- Open Settings.
- Tap General, then About.
- Scroll to EID and touch and hold to copy.
On most Android phones the path is Settings → About phone → SIM status (or Settings → Connections → SIM manager on some models), where you'll find the EID listed with the SIM details. Google documents this for Pixel in its dual-SIM and eSIM help.
- Open Settings and tap About phone.
- Tap SIM status or SIM card status.
- Look for the EID entry and touch and hold to copy.
The fastest trick on almost any phone: open the dialer and type *#06#. Your IMEI and EID appear on screen instantly, no menu-digging required.
Where to find the ICCID of an installed eSIM
The ICCID only exists once a plan is installed, so you'll find it alongside that specific eSIM rather than on the phone's main About screen.
- iPhone: Settings → General → About, scroll to the section for your installed eSIM, and read the ICCID field. If you've labelled your eSIM (for example 'Travel'), it appears under that name.
- Android: Settings → About phone → SIM status, choose the eSIM (not your home SIM), and read the ICCID line.
Remember that on a Zwitchy travel eSIM your home SIM stays in place for calls, texts, and one-time passcodes, so when you're hunting for the ICCID, make sure you're reading the travel plan's entry and not your regular carrier's.
When Zwitchy support might ask for one
Most of the time you'll never need these numbers. When you do, it's usually because something needs a precise lookup, and giving support the right identifier gets you an answer faster.
- Compatibility check before you buy: the EID (or IMEI) helps confirm your phone can take an eSIM.
- A plan that installed but won't connect: the ICCID lets us find that exact profile and check its status.
- Re-issuing a profile you deleted by mistake: we match it by ICCID or order.
- Confirming a top-up landed on the right plan: again, the ICCID.
None of this is something you have to memorise. Installing an eSIM is not the same as activating it (a plan usually activates when you arrive and connect to a partner network with Data Roaming switched on) and if anything looks off, the numbers above are simply how we pinpoint your plan. If you're still deciding whether your device is ready, our compatibility checklist and how eSIMs actually work walk through the essentials, and the travel-eSIM glossary defines every term you'll meet.
Is my EID the same as my IMEI?
No. The EID identifies the eSIM chip inside your phone, while the IMEI identifies the phone as a whole device. A phone has one EID but can have one or two IMEIs.
Does my EID change when I install a new eSIM?
Never. The EID is fixed to the eSIM hardware for the life of the phone. Only the ICCID changes: each plan you install has its own.
Why can't I see an ICCID yet?
An ICCID only appears after an eSIM plan is installed on your phone. If you haven't installed your plan, there's no ICCID to show yet, just your EID.
Do I need to give Zwitchy my EID to buy a plan?
Usually not. You can browse and buy without it. We may ask for your EID or IMEI only to confirm compatibility, or the ICCID if we're troubleshooting an installed plan.
Will finding these numbers use up my data or affect my home number?
No. Reading your EID or ICCID in Settings is completely offline, and it doesn't touch your home SIM, your phone number, or your data balance.
