How to install an eSIM on Android: Samsung, Google Pixel, Xiaomi and other phones
Install an eSIM on Android step by step: where the menu is on Samsung, Pixel and Xiaomi, QR code or activation code, travel settings and fixes for errors.
To install an eSIM on Android, open Settings, find the SIM or mobile network menu (on Samsung it is Connections → SIM manager, on Google Pixel Network & internet → SIMs), choose Add eSIM and scan the QR code from your provider. If scanning is not possible, you can type in the activation code instead, and some provider apps install the eSIM with one tap. Menu names differ more on Android than on iPhone, so this guide shows where to look on the most common brands, which settings to choose for a trip and how to fix the errors that come up most often.
Before you start: is your Android phone ready?
- Your phone supports eSIM. Dial
*#06#: if the screen shows an EID (a long number next to the IMEI), the phone has an eSIM chip. Most Samsung Galaxy S models from the S20 onwards, the Z Fold and Z Flip series and Google Pixel phones from the Pixel 4 onwards support eSIM, but the same model can lack it in some markets. Our guide How to check if your phone supports eSIM covers this in detail. - Your phone is unlocked. A phone locked to your carrier may install the eSIM but will not connect with it. Android has no single place that shows the lock status; if you bought the phone on a contract, ask your carrier.
- You have a working connection. The eSIM profile is downloaded during installation, so use Wi-Fi or your current mobile data.
- Your software is up to date. Older Android versions sometimes miss options such as manual code entry.
Install the eSIM a day or two before you leave, at home. With most travel eSIMs the validity starts with the first connection in the destination, not with the installation, so installing early does not cost you days. Check your provider's terms to be sure.
Install with a QR code
- Open the QR code from your provider on a second screen, such as a laptop or tablet, or print it.
- On the phone, go to the eSIM menu (see the table above) and choose Add eSIM or Download a SIM instead.
- Choose the option to scan a QR code from your provider and point the camera at the code.
- Confirm the download. It usually takes under a minute; keep the phone online and do not leave the screen.
- When the phone asks how to use the new SIM, follow the choices in the setup section below.
On Samsung phones the scan option is called Scan QR code from service provider; on Pixel phones you tap Next on the download screen and the scanner opens.
No second screen? Enter the activation code instead
If you only have the phone, you cannot scan a code shown on its own screen. Use manual entry instead. Providers list the details under the QR code or in their app, often labelled “manual installation” or “Android”.
- One field: many Android phones ask for the whole activation code in a single field. It usually starts with
LPA:1$, followed by the server address and the code, separated by dollar signs. Paste the complete line as it is. - Two fields: some phones ask for the SM-DP+ address and the activation code separately. Copy the part between the first and second
$into the address field and the part after the second$into the code field, without the dollar signs.
The option is on the scanner screen: on Samsung look for Enter activation code, on Pixel tap Need help? and then the option to enter the code manually. Copying and pasting is safer than typing, because a single wrong character makes the download fail.
Install from the provider's app
Many travel eSIM providers have an Android app with an Install button. The app passes the eSIM details to Android, which then shows its own confirmation screen; you never see a QR code. This is the quickest way if you bought the plan in the app on the same phone.
If the button is missing, greyed out or fails, the method may not be available on your phone model or Android version. Use the QR code or the activation code from the same order instead: they install exactly the same eSIM. Try only one method at a time, and check the SIM list after a failed attempt, because the eSIM is sometimes installed even when an error message appears.
After the download: calls, texts and mobile data
Android then asks which SIM to use for what, or shows the choices in the SIM menu. These settings keep your home number reachable and stop the travel eSIM from being used too early:
- Name: give the travel eSIM a clear name such as “Travel”. On Samsung, tap the eSIM in SIM manager to change the name and icon.
- Calls and SMS: keep your home SIM, so people can still call and text your usual number.
- Mobile data: keep your home SIM until you arrive, then switch.
- Automatic data switching: turn it off if your phone offers it (on Samsung under SIM manager, on Pixel in the SIM's settings). Otherwise the phone may move data between the lines on its own.
Until the trip, you can switch the travel eSIM off: on Samsung with the switch next to it in SIM manager, on Pixel with Use SIM in its settings. It stays installed. Messaging apps such as WhatsApp stay linked to your phone number, not to the SIM that carries the data, so they keep working as usual. Our guide eSIM vs roaming vs local SIM explains what your home carrier may still charge abroad.
When you land: switch to the travel eSIM
- Switch the travel eSIM on in the SIM menu.
- Set mobile data to the travel eSIM (Samsung: SIM manager → Mobile data; Pixel: open the eSIM in SIMs and turn on Mobile data).
- Turn on roaming for the travel eSIM. Travel eSIMs connect through partner networks, so roaming must be on; it does not cost extra. On Samsung it is under Connections → Mobile networks → Data roaming, on Pixel in the eSIM's settings.
- Make sure roaming is off for your home SIM, so your own carrier cannot charge for data.
- Wait a minute or two. If your provider gave you an APN, enter it under Access Point Names in the mobile network settings of the travel eSIM.
Still no internet after a few minutes? Switch airplane mode on and off, restart the phone and try selecting a network manually. Our checklist eSIM not working abroad? 10 fixes goes through all settings in order. If you have not bought a plan yet, compare plans by country on our destination pages, and see How much data do I need for travel? for the right size.
Common problems on Android and how to fix them
| Problem | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No “Add eSIM” option anywhere | The model or its regional version has no eSIM, the phone is locked, or a company policy blocks it | Dial *#06# and look for an EID. Without one, the phone cannot use an eSIM. With one, ask your carrier or IT department. |
| Download fails or stops halfway | Unstable connection or a temporary problem at the provider | Connect to stable Wi-Fi, restart the phone and look at the SIM list before trying again: the eSIM may already be there. |
| “Code already used” or “not valid” | The code was used by an earlier attempt or on another phone, or typed incorrectly | Check the SIM list. If the eSIM is not there, ask the provider's support for a new code. |
| Installed, but no network or no data | Roaming off, mobile data on the wrong SIM, missing APN or a locked phone | Go through the steps in the arrival section; check the APN and choose a network manually. |
| The second eSIM cannot be switched on | The phone uses only one or two lines at the same time | Switch off another eSIM or line, or remove the physical SIM temporarily, while you use the travel eSIM. |
After the trip: set mobile data back to your home SIM and switch the travel eSIM off. Keep it installed if you may return to the same country or region, since many providers sell top-ups for an installed eSIM. Delete it only when you are sure (Samsung: tap it in SIM manager → Remove; Pixel: open it in SIMs → Erase SIM). Deleting is final, and moving a travel eSIM to a new phone works only if the provider supports it, so ask before you reset or sell your phone. Our promo codes page is worth a look before your next trip, and our iPhone guide helps if someone you travel with uses an iPhone.
Questions travellers ask
How do I know if my Android phone supports eSIM?+
Dial *#06# on the phone. If an EID is shown next to the IMEI, the phone has an eSIM chip. You can also search for eSIM in Settings: if an option to add an eSIM appears, the phone supports it. Some models lack eSIM in certain countries even if the same model has it elsewhere.
Can I install an eSIM on Android without Wi-Fi?+
You need an internet connection while the eSIM downloads, but it does not have to be Wi-Fi. The mobile data of your current SIM works too. Once installed, the travel eSIM connects on its own in the destination.
How many eSIMs can an Android phone hold?+
Most eSIM-capable Android phones can store several eSIMs, but only one or two lines can be active at the same time, depending on the model. On many phones that means one eSIM plus one physical SIM.
Do I have to turn on data roaming for a travel eSIM?+
Yes, for the travel eSIM. Travel eSIMs use partner networks abroad, so they only connect with roaming switched on, and this does not cost extra. Keep roaming switched off for your home SIM to avoid charges from your own carrier.
Will WhatsApp still use my normal number with a travel eSIM?+
Yes. WhatsApp and similar apps are linked to your phone number, not to the SIM that provides the data. They keep working with your usual number while the travel eSIM carries the internet traffic.
Can I move my travel eSIM to a new Android phone?+
Only if the provider supports it, and many travel eSIM providers do not. Before you reset, sell or replace your phone, ask the provider whether the remaining data can be transferred or a new eSIM issued.
Written by the eSIM Rankings editorial team. Menu names differ between manufacturers, Android versions and phone languages; this guide uses the names on recent Samsung and Google Pixel phones as reference. If your provider's instructions differ, follow them for its eSIM.
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