What is an SM-DP+ address, and when do you need one?
6 min read
An SM-DP+ address (Subscription Manager Data Preparation +) is the web address of the server that stores your eSIM profile. When you scan an eSIM QR code, all the code really contains is that server address plus a one-time activation code. If you can't scan the QR — because it's on the same phone, or the camera won't focus — you can type the SM-DP+ address and activation code in by hand and get exactly the same result.
What the SM-DP+ server actually does
Every eSIM profile has to live somewhere before it reaches your phone. That somewhere is an SM-DP+ server, run by the operator or their eSIM platform. When you activate, your phone contacts that address, presents its activation code, and the server releases one profile — once. That's why an eSIM QR code usually stops working after the first install: the profile has already been handed over.
The full name is Subscription Manager Data Preparation, and the '+' marks the consumer version of the standard (the earlier one was designed for machines and cars). You'll see addresses that look like domain names, such as consumer.rsp.world or similar operator-run hosts.
| Part | Example | What it's for |
|---|---|---|
| SM-DP+ address | consumer.rsp.world | The server holding your profile |
| Activation code | 1$K2-XXXX-XXXX | The one-time key that releases it |
| Confirmation code | (rare) | An extra PIN some operators add |
How to install an eSIM without scanning a QR code
- 1
Open your eSIM settings
iPhone: Settings → Mobile Service → Add eSIM. Android: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Add eSIM.
- 2
Choose the manual option
iPhone: tap 'Use QR Code', then 'Enter Details Manually'. Android: tap 'Need help?' or 'Enter it manually' on the scan screen.
- 3
Type the SM-DP+ address
Copy it exactly from your activation email or order page — no https://, no trailing spaces. A single wrong character produces a generic 'could not add' error.
- 4
Type the activation code
This is the long string after the address. Leave the confirmation code blank unless one was supplied.
- 5
Confirm and label the line
Let the profile download over Wi-Fi, then name it something obvious like 'Travel data' so you can tell it apart from your home line.
Where to find your SM-DP+ address
It comes with the eSIM, not with the phone. Whoever sold you the plan supplies it — usually printed underneath the QR code in the activation email, or shown on your order page. On a NoKYCsim order, both the QR code and the manual details appear on your tracking page, which you can open with just your order reference, no account required.
There is no way to look up an SM-DP+ address from your phone before you have a plan, and no universal address that works for every operator. If a site offers you one 'generic' address, it isn't real.
Common SM-DP+ errors and what they mean
- 'Unable to add mobile plan' — usually a typo in the address, or the profile has already been installed on another device.
- 'This code is no longer valid' — the profile was released once already; ask your provider to reissue it.
- Nothing happens at all — your phone has no working internet. Profile download needs Wi-Fi or another live connection.
- 'Not supported on this device' — the handset is carrier-locked or too old for consumer eSIM.