Travel guide
How to Install an eSIM on Android: The Complete 2026 Setup Guide
Noa Regev10 min read
Installing an eSIM on Android takes about two minutes on most phones. But the exact screens you'll see depend on whether you're holding a Samsung, a Pixel, or another Android brand — manufacturers rename the same settings differently, and that's the part that actually trips people up, not the install itself. This guide covers every method Android supports, the menu path for each major brand, and the activation step most guides skip entirely. If you haven't bought a plan yet, see SimSIM's Android eSIM plans first — the app you'll be installing from is where every method below starts.
Key Takeaways
- Android eSIM coverage now spans the Samsung Galaxy S20 through S26 series and every Pixel from the Pixel 7 onward with dual-eSIM support — check your specific model before buying, since exact coverage still varies by brand and region (Samsung Support; Google Pixel Phone Help).
- Installing through the app is a one-tap process on most Android phones — no camera, no manual QR scan required.
- Installing the eSIM is not the same as activating it — you still need to turn on data roaming and select the eSIM as your active mobile data line, ideally only after you land.
- Menu names differ by manufacturer: Samsung uses Connections → SIM Manager, Pixel uses Network & Internet → SIMs, and most other Android brands use a similar "SIM Manager" or "Mobile Network" path under a different label.
- eSIM adoption is accelerating fast: global eSIM shipments grew 18% in 2025 to reach 605 million (Trusted Connectivity Alliance, 2025), and GSMA Intelligence projects eSIM smartphone penetration will roughly double from about 5% at the end of 2025 to 10% by the end of 2026 (GSMA Intelligence, 2026).
Before You Start: Check Compatibility and Unlock Status
An eSIM install will fail before it starts if your Android phone doesn't support it or is locked to a carrier. Confirm both first.
Which Android phones support eSIM. Samsung's own compatibility list covers the Galaxy S20 through S26 series, the Note20 and Note20 Ultra, every Z Fold and Z Flip since the original Z Fold, and select A-series models like the A55 and A56 (Samsung Support, retrieved 2026-08-20). On Pixel, Google confirms Pixel 7 and later can run two eSIM profiles active at the same time, and the Pixel 10 series sold in the US ships eSIM-only with no physical SIM tray (Google Pixel Phone Help, retrieved 2026-08-20). Other Android brands — including Xiaomi, OnePlus, and Motorola — increasingly support eSIM too, but coverage still depends on the exact model and the country it was sold in. Not sure about your specific device? Check SimSIM's eSIM compatibility list before you buy.
Quick way to check your own phone. Dial *#06# on your phone's keypad — if a 32-digit EID number appears on screen, your phone supports eSIM. You can also check under Settings → About Phone → IMEI Information → "Show EID," though the exact path varies slightly by brand.
Your Android phone must be carrier-unlocked. A locked phone will reject a second carrier's eSIM even on a fully compatible model. Ask your carrier directly if you bought the phone on a plan rather than outright. This single check causes more failed installs than any bug in the process itself.
You need a stable internet connection. Downloading an eSIM profile requires Wi-Fi or an active data connection — it cannot be done over a dead network. Install at home before you fly, not at the airport gate on public Wi-Fi you've never used before.
Which Method Should You Use?
- In-app install (Method 1) — fastest option, works for almost everyone installing on their own phone, no camera needed.
- QR code (Method 2) — use only for a second device or when your provider sends a QR image instead of an in-app button.
- Manual entry (Method 3) — fallback when your connection is too unstable for the automated methods, or your provider only gives text credentials.
Method 1: In-App Install (Recommended)
This is how almost everyone should install SimSIM: directly from the app, no camera and no manual QR scan.
- Open your eSIM in the app. In SimSIM, go to the "My eSIM" tab and open the package you purchased.
- Tap "Install eSIM." No camera, no QR scanning.
- Confirm the addition when your phone prompts you, then wait for the download to complete — installation takes a few minutes on a stable connection, shown as a percentage. Keep the screen on and the app open throughout.
- Note where it lands. The newly installed eSIM typically appears at the bottom of your device's list of lines — that's expected, not a sign anything went wrong.
This mirrors SimSIM's own step-by-step Android install guide in the help center — worth bookmarking if you want the reference version with screenshots for your exact package.
If your carrier or provider gives you a QR code image instead of an in-app button — common when buying from a website rather than an app — or you're setting the eSIM up on someone else's phone, use Method 2 below instead.
Method 2: QR Code (For a Second Device or a QR Image)
Use this only in two situations: installing on someone else's Android phone, or when a provider hands you a QR code as an image instead of an in-app button. The one-tap install in Method 1 is tied to the app session on the device that generated it, so it can't set up a different phone.
- On the phone that will use the eSIM, swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the QR scanner icon in the quick settings panel — or open any QR scanning app if your phone doesn't have one built in.
- Point the camera at the QR code — shown on your own screen for a second device, or on the image/screen your provider gave you. The profile details will display on screen.
- Tap "Confirm" or "Add" to accept the plan.
- Wait for installation to finish; this takes a few minutes and the screen should stay open and connected to Wi-Fi throughout.
An alternative for setting up a second device: use the share button inside the SimSIM app to send the QR code image directly. The recipient can tap the image to start the install without scanning anything. See SimSIM's QR code installation guide for the equivalent iPhone steps if you're setting up a mixed household of devices.
Method 3: Manual Entry (SM-DP+ Address and Activation Code)
Manual entry is the fallback when the automated methods fail — a slow connection interrupting the QR download, or a provider that only issues text credentials. It's slower but more reliable when the network is unstable.
- Open Settings → Connections → SIM Manager (some brands label this "Network & Internet → SIMs" or simply "Mobile Network") and tap "Add eSIM" or the + button.
- Select "Enter Activation Code" or "Add via Activation Code" — the exact wording is device-dependent.
- Enter the SM-DP+ address in the first field and the activation code in the second, exactly as shown in your provider's app or confirmation email.
- Tap "Connect" or "Confirm."
- Confirm the plan details when they appear, then tap "Confirm" again. Installation takes several minutes — keep the screen open while it runs.
Both the SM-DP+ address and activation code are available in the SimSIM app under "My eSIM," so this method doesn't require anything the automated install didn't already give you — it just enters the same data by hand. SimSIM's manual installation reference guide has the exact field names for this step if you'd rather follow along with screenshots.
Activating Your eSIM at Your Destination
Installation and activation are two different steps, and conflating them is the single biggest source of "my eSIM isn't working" reports. Installing puts the profile on your phone. Activating makes it usable for data — and exactly where that toggle lives depends on your phone's brand.
Samsung Galaxy. Go to Settings → Connections → Mobile Networks and turn on "Data Roaming." Then go to Settings → Connections → SIM Manager, tap "Mobile Data," and select your eSIM. Data now routes through your purchased package while calls and texts continue via your primary line.
Google Pixel. Go to Settings → Network & Internet → SIMs, select your eSIM, and turn on roaming. Confirm the eSIM (not your home line) is selected under "Mobile data."
Other Android brands. If your phone isn't a Samsung or Pixel, look for "SIM Manager," "SIM Cards," or "Mobile Network" under Settings → Connections or Settings → Network & Internet. Manufacturers rename this screen, but the two settings you need are always the same: a roaming toggle and a mobile-data line selector.
Keep your home line active for calls and texts, but turn off its mobile data. This avoids your home carrier charging you international roaming rates on top of what you've already paid for the eSIM data plan.
Don't delete the profile while your plan is still valid. A deleted eSIM profile generally can't be restored or re-added from most providers' apps; you'd need to purchase and install again.
For the full activation walkthrough with screenshots, see SimSIM's eSIM activation guide.
Common Errors and How to Fix Them
- No signal after landing — eSIM installed but data roaming still off → Settings → Connections (or Network & Internet) → find your eSIM line → enable data roaming
- eSIM sits at the bottom of the SIM list and data won't route through it — normal Android behavior, not an error → Settings → Connections → SIM Manager → Mobile Data → select the eSIM explicitly
- "Activation code is not valid" — code already used, expired, or mistyped during manual entry → re-copy the code from the app rather than retyping it; contact support if it was never activated
- QR code won't scan / install fails — weak or unstable internet during download → reconnect to strong Wi-Fi, retry, or switch to manual entry (Method 3)
- "This device isn't supported" / can't add an eSIM at all — phone is carrier-locked or the model doesn't support eSIM → dial
*#06#to confirm an EID appears, and confirm unlock status with your carrier; check SimSIM's compatibility list - Data works at home but not abroad — home line's roaming settings interfering, not the eSIM itself → disable mobile data on your home line, keep only the eSIM's data active
If none of these resolve it, a general Android troubleshooting step is worth trying before contacting support: toggle Airplane Mode on for about 10 seconds without Wi-Fi connected, then off again, to force the device to re-register with the local network.
Getting It Right the First Time
Installing an eSIM on Android is a two-step process people treat as one: install the profile, then separately turn on data roaming and select it as your active data line — and know that the screen names for both steps depend on whether you're holding a Samsung, a Pixel, or another brand. Do the install at home over Wi-Fi — a one-tap process through the app for almost everyone, with QR code and manual entry as backup options for the few cases that need them — and leave the actual data switch for when you land.
Setting up a mixed household or traveling with an iPhone too? See SimSIM's guide to installing an eSIM on iPhone for the equivalent steps on iOS.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a QR code to install an eSIM on Android?
No. Installing through the app — SimSIM included — is a one-tap process with no camera and no manual scan, on Samsung, Pixel, and most other major Android brands. A real camera QR scan is only needed for two edge cases: setting up a second device, or installing from a QR code you received as an image rather than through the app.
Which Android phones support eSIM?
On Samsung, that's the Galaxy S20 through S26 series, the Note20 and Note20 Ultra, every Z Fold and Z Flip, and select A-series models like the A55 and A56 (Samsung Support). On Pixel, Google confirms the Pixel 7 and later support two active eSIM profiles at once (Google Pixel Phone Help). Other Android brands increasingly support it too, but coverage depends on the exact model and country. Check SimSIM's compatibility list or dial *#06# to confirm your specific device.
Why does the SIM Manager menu look different on my phone than in this guide?
Because Android manufacturers customize the settings app differently — Samsung calls it "Connections," Google calls it "Network & Internet," and other brands use their own labels. The underlying functionality is identical: look for "SIM Manager," "SIM Cards," or "Mobile Network" and you'll find the same roaming toggle and data-line selector described in this guide.
Will installing a travel eSIM affect my regular phone number?
No, as long as you keep your primary line selected as the default for calls and texts. The two lines run independently; the eSIM only needs to be active for mobile data.
Can I move my eSIM to a different Android phone?
No. eSIM profiles are tied to the specific device they were installed on and can't be transferred between phones. If you get a new phone, you'll need to purchase and install a new eSIM.