Two different things, easy to confuse. Here's what each one is, where it comes from, and what you do with it.

Purchase code — what you buy from Openline

The purchase code is what Openline issues when you pay. It looks like this:

OL-4F7X-9K2Q-A3M8

  • Issued at — checkout on openline.com, inside the Openline app, or via openline.com/start.
  • Bearer instrument — whoever holds the code can redeem it. Nothing ties it to your account until it's redeemed.
  • Giftable — you can share the code by email, SMS, Signal, whatever. The recipient redeems it.
  • Anonymous redemption — the recipient does not need an Openline account. They can redeem at openline.com/start with just the code.
  • Reusable install token — sign in at openline.com → My Codes → Reinstall to get a fresh install if the eSIM disappears or you switch phones.

Activation code — what the phone actually installs

The activation code (also called the "LPA string" or "SM-DP+ address plus matching ID") is what the redemption process generates. It looks like this:

LPA:1$rsp.openline.com$K2-83HFN-9382MDL-XZKAP

Breakdown:

  • LPA:1 — the format identifier for eSIM install strings.
  • rsp.openline.com — the SM-DP+ address: Openline's Remote SIM Provisioning server that hands the profile to your phone.
  • K2-83HFN-... — the matching ID: a one-shot token telling our SM-DP+ which profile to serve.

The activation code is embedded in the QR code your phone scans. On iPhone you'll see rsp.openline.com referenced as the "SM-DP+ Address" if you install manually.

Which one do you interact with?

  • You deal with the purchase code. Store it, gift it, reinstall from it.
  • Your phone deals with the activation code. It's generated automatically each time you redeem or reinstall.

Why we separate them

  • Purchase codes let you buy now, install later (or gift entirely) — the eSIM profile isn't generated until redemption.
  • Activation codes are single-install by GSMA spec. Once a phone consumes an activation code, that specific code is dead. Reinstalling issues a fresh activation code from the same underlying purchase code.

In practice

  1. You buy a plan → Openline emails you a purchase code (OL-…).
  2. You (or whoever you gift it to) redeem the code → Openline generates an activation code (LPA:1$…) and wraps it in a QR / one-tap link.
  3. The phone consumes the activation code and installs the eSIM profile.
  4. If you ever need to reinstall (new phone, factory reset, deleted the line), go back to step 2 — the purchase code is still yours, a fresh activation code is generated.

Want to gift the code?

Any unredeemed purchase code can be gifted at any time — including one you bought for yourself and never used. See Everything about gifting your Openline purchase code for every method: copy from the app, share the link, print a QR, "unlock" from your account, and more.

Still stuck?

Reach Openline support 24/7 through any of these channels:

When you write in, include your purchase code (the OL-… code we emailed you) and, if the eSIM is already installed, its ICCID (Settings → Cellular → tap the Openline line). That's enough for us to find your plan and diagnose without back-and-forth.