iOS 17 added an option to import an ESim QR code from photos when adding an ESim, so that if the carrier provides the photo, we can easily add it without having to scan it from another device and line up the camera. This was a huge accessibility aid. Unfortunately, that option was removed at some point. I can no longer find it on iOS 17.4 or 17.5. I don't know why Apple would have silently taken out such a useful option, but I'm going to be e-mailing Apple accessibility because this regression hits blind people particularly hard, and it could also cause problems for someone who has only one device. By forcing us to scan using the camera, Apple is also forcing us to have a second device available to display the QR code.
@simon That option is still present on my phone, although I am one minor iOS version behind. I tap on the QR code option, and there's an "open photos" button in there. You can also enter two or three fields of data manually, but I have a feeling that many carriers don't provide that info upfront even though they should.
@jscholes No photos button for me, just a "learn more" button and an "enter details manually" button. I wonder if it's possible to decode the QR code and get the details that way.
@simon The only thing I can think of is a permissions issue. Although I don't recall ever being asked to grant Settings, or the sub-app that handles eSIM registration, access to my photos.
@simon@jscholes Almost certainly, if you understand the scheme they're using inside the QR code, I.E. what fields are in what order. If you have the picture there are libraries to decode it.
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