How to set up an eSIM on Android

Do the setup while you still have reliable internet. The worst time to find out that your Android phone is unsupported, carrier-locked, missing the activation details, or using a different settings path is after landing.

• Your Android phone supports eSIM
• Your phone is carrier-unlocked if using another provider
• You have your eSIMbundle order email, QR code, activation link, or manual details
• You have reliable Wi-Fi or mobile data
• Your phone has enough battery
• Your Android / One UI / HyperOS version is reasonably up to date
• You know which SIM is your home SIM and which eSIM is your travel eSIM

Many newer Android phones support eSIM, but support depends on the phone model, region, carrier lock status, Android version, and provider support. Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy are the clearest setup paths, but other Android brands may use different labels.

If your phone shows Add SIM, Add eSIM, Download SIM, Add carrier, Add mobile plan, SIM manager, or Set up an eSIM, you are probably in the right area.

If your phone was not bought from the provider that supplies the eSIM, the provider may need your IMEI or device ID to confirm support.

Use the compatibility checker if you are unsure.

On Samsung Galaxy, Samsung's official path is Settings → Connections → SIM card manager → Add mobile plan. Some newer Galaxy phones may show Add eSIM instead of Add mobile plan.

1. 1Open Settings.
2. 2Tap Connections.
3. 3Tap SIM card manager.
4. 4Tap Add mobile plan (or Add eSIM on some newer Galaxy phones).
5. 5Tap Add using QR code. Some phones may phrase this as Scan QR code.
6. 6Scan the QR code from your eSIMbundle order.
7. 7Follow the on-screen steps.
8. 8Choose the travel eSIM for mobile data when you are ready to use it.

Samsung also supports pre-assigned mobile plans when the provider supports automatic activation. For eSIMbundle travel plans, use the setup method shown in your order.

If your order provides activation details instead of a QR code, tap Add using activation code (Samsung's official manual setup wording).

On Google Pixel, Google's official Settings path is Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Add SIM → Set up an eSIM. During first phone setup, Pixel may also show Download SIM → Set up.

1. 1Open Settings.
2. 2Tap Network & internet.
3. 3Tap SIMs.
4. 4Tap Add SIM.
5. 5Tap Set up an eSIM.
6. 6Use the setup method shown in your eSIMbundle order.
7. 7Follow the on-screen steps.
8. 8Choose the travel eSIM for mobile data when you are ready to use it.

Pixel wording can vary slightly by carrier and Android version. If your eSIM is not detected automatically, use the QR code, activation link, or manual details from your order.

Other Android phones can use different settings labels. Some brands, including Xiaomi, Motorola, OnePlus, Oppo, and others, may use different paths depending on model, region, Android version, and carrier software. Treat this as a practical fallback, not a universal official path.

1. 1Open Settings.
2. 2Look for Network & internet, Connections, Mobile network, SIMs, SIM manager, or Cellular data.
3. 3Look for Add SIM, Add eSIM, Add carrier, Download SIM, or Add mobile plan.
4. 4Use the QR code, activation link, or manual details from your eSIMbundle order.
5. 5Follow the on-screen steps.
6. 6Choose the travel eSIM for mobile data when you are ready to use it.

If the labels on your Android phone do not match Pixel or Samsung, search Settings for eSIM, SIM, mobile plan, or mobile network. If the path is unclear, use the compatibility checker or your phone maker's support docs.

Paths vary by Android brand. Follow the labels shown on your phone.

If QR setup does not work or your order provides manual details, you may need to enter the activation details manually.

Samsung manual steps

1. 1Open Settings.
2. 2Tap Connections.
3. 3Tap SIM card manager.
4. 4Tap Add mobile plan or Add eSIM.
5. 5Tap Add using activation code if shown.
6. 6Enter the activation details from your order only.

Pixel / other Android manual steps

1. 1Open Settings.
2. 2Open the SIM or mobile network settings.
3. 3Choose Add SIM, Add eSIM, Download SIM, or Set up an eSIM.
4. 4Look for Need help?, Enter manually, Enter details manually, or activation details if shown.
5. 5Enter the activation details from your order only.

If the QR code does not scan, try better lighting, clean the camera lens, increase screen brightness on the device showing the QR code, or use manual activation details if your order provides them.

After the eSIM is installed, choose which SIM should use mobile data. Keep your home SIM available for calls, SMS, or verification codes if needed, and use the travel eSIM for mobile data abroad.

Pixel steps

1. 1Open Settings.
2. 2Tap Network & internet.
3. 3Tap SIMs.
4. 4Tap Mobile data.
5. 5Choose the travel eSIM for data.

Samsung steps

1. 1Open Settings.
2. 2Tap Connections.
3. 3Tap SIM card manager.
4. 4Open Mobile data, Preferred SIMs, or Primary SIM if shown.
5. 5Choose the travel eSIM for data.

On other Android phones, look for SIMs, SIM manager, Mobile network, Preferred SIMs, or Mobile data, then choose the travel eSIM for data.

Android wording varies by brand. The goal is the same: home SIM for calls/SMS if needed, travel eSIM for mobile data.

• Pixel: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → travel eSIM → Roaming
• Samsung: Settings → Connections → Mobile Networks → Data Roaming
• Other Android: Look for Mobile network, Mobile networks, or Data roaming in your Settings app.

On Samsung Galaxy, SIM card manager is used to add or manage eSIM plans. Samsung's official data roaming toggle is under Mobile Networks.

If the Data Roaming switch is greyed out, Samsung says to check that Mobile data is turned on under Settings → Connections → Data usage → Mobile data.

Choose the travel eSIM for mobile data first. Then turn Data Roaming on only if your travel eSIM plan instructions require it. Keep home SIM roaming off if avoiding home-carrier charges.

Turn data roaming on for the travel eSIM only if your plan instructions require it.

After setup, check that the travel eSIM appears in your Android mobile network settings and is turned on. This does not mean you should use mobile data before you are ready, but it helps confirm the profile was added correctly.

1. 1Open the Pixel SIMs screen, Samsung SIM card manager, or your Android mobile network settings.
2. 2Look for the travel eSIM in the SIM/eSIM/mobile plan list.
3. 3Confirm the travel eSIM is turned on.
4. 4Confirm it can be selected for mobile data.
5. 5When you are at your destination, test Chrome, Maps, WhatsApp, banking, or travel apps.
6. 6Turn on the included VPN in the app when wanted.

• Open your Android mobile network settings.
• Confirm the travel eSIM is turned on.
• Choose the travel eSIM for mobile data.
• Keep home SIM data roaming off if avoiding home-carrier charges.
• Turn travel eSIM data roaming on only if your plan instructions require it.
• Test Chrome, Maps, WhatsApp, banking, or travel apps.
• Turn on the included VPN in the app when wanted.

• Do not delete the eSIM while you still need it.
• Do not delete and reinstall repeatedly. Some eSIM profiles can only be installed once.
• Do not turn on home SIM data roaming unless you understand the charges.
• Do not assume the included VPN is on automatically.
• Do not wait until you are abroad with no internet to start setup.
• Do not assume Samsung, Pixel, Xiaomi, and other Android paths will look identical.

Walk through these steps in order before contacting support. Most issues are settings, not the eSIM itself.

1. 1Confirm your Android phone supports eSIM.
2. 2Confirm your phone is carrier-unlocked if using another provider.
3. 3Update Android, One UI, HyperOS, or your device software if your phone is far behind on updates.
4. 4Confirm the eSIM is installed under Pixel SIMs, Samsung SIM card manager, or your Android mobile network settings.
5. 5Confirm the travel eSIM is turned on.
6. 6Set the travel eSIM as the mobile data SIM.
7. 7Turn mobile data on.
8. 8Turn data roaming on for the travel eSIM if your instructions require it.
9. 9Keep home SIM data roaming off if avoiding home-carrier roaming charges.
10. 10Do not repeatedly scan the QR code or delete/reinstall the eSIM. Some eSIM profiles can only be installed once.
11. 11If QR setup fails, try scanning in better lighting, increase the brightness of the screen showing the QR code, clean the camera lens, or use manual activation details if your order provides them.
12. 12Toggle airplane mode for 20–30 seconds.
13. 13Restart the phone.
14. 14Move to an area with better signal.
15. 15Contact support with your order details.

This guide is based on official Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy documentation, then adapted for travel eSIM setup with eSIMbundle.

• Google Pixel Help: Set up a new eSIM
• Google Pixel Help: How to use dual SIMs on your Google Pixel phone
• Google Pixel Help: Learn more about eSIMs
• Samsung UK Support: How to use an eSIM with your Galaxy phone
• Samsung UK Support: How to turn international data roaming on or off