How Do I Set Up an eSIM on My Smartphone?
Installing an eSIM takes less than five minutes. A complete step-by-step guide, with videos for iPhone and Android, plus the differences between the two systems.
An eSIM (embedded SIM) installs in just a few minutes, with no physical card and no trip to a store. All you need is a compatible phone, a Wi-Fi connection and the QR code sent by your carrier. This guide walks through every step on both iPhone and Android, with a video for each system, and explains what to do when something goes wrong.
Before you start: the 4 prerequisites
Check these four points before you begin the installation. They prevent the vast majority of issues:
- Your phone supports eSIM. Most models released since 2018 do, but not all of them. If in doubt, check our guide to eSIM compatible phones.
- Your phone is unlocked. A device locked to a carrier (SIM lock) will reject a third-party eSIM. Phones bought outright, or fully paid off, are unlocked.
- You are connected to Wi-Fi. The eSIM profile downloads over the internet. A stable connection is essential, especially when abroad before you have any network signal.
- You have your QR code or activation code. The carrier sends it by email or displays it in its app after purchase.
Good to know: install your eSIM before you leave, from home over Wi-Fi. On most travel plans, the validity period only starts at the first connection to the destination network, not at installation. That way you arrive already connected, without having to hunt for Wi-Fi at the airport.
iPhone or Android: what are the differences?
The principle is identical on both systems: you scan a QR code, the profile downloads, and you choose which line uses your data. But the menu paths and the wording differ.
| Step | iPhone (iOS) | Android |
|---|---|---|
| Add menu | Settings then Cellular | Settings then Connections or Network |
| Term used | "Add Cellular Plan" or eSIM | "Add eSIM" or "Download a SIM" |
| Selecting the data line | Settings then Cellular | Settings then Data SIM |
| Installing without a QR | "Enter Details Manually" | "Enter code manually" |
The most important thing in common: after installation, remember to set your travel eSIM as the data line, otherwise your phone keeps using your regular SIM, with its roaming billed at premium rates.
Installing an eSIM on iPhone (iOS)
On iPhone, QR code installation takes six steps:
- Open Settings then Cellular (or Mobile Data depending on your iOS version).
- Tap Add Cellular Plan or Add eSIM.
- Scan the QR code provided by your carrier with the camera that opens.
- Confirm the addition. The profile downloads in a few seconds.
- Name the line (for example "Travel eSIM") to tell it apart from your regular plan.
- At the "Default Cellular Data" step, choose the line you want to use for the internet.
iPhone without a QR code (manual entry)
If your carrier provides a code instead of a QR, choose Enter Details Manually at the bottom of the scan screen, then enter the SM-DP+ Address and the activation code you were given. The result is the same.
Turning on data when you arrive
Once you are there, go to Settings then Cellular, select your travel eSIM and turn on Data Roaming for that line. A travel eSIM needs roaming to connect to the local network, unlike a local subscription. You can leave your main SIM active for calls and texts, and use the eSIM only for data.
Installing an eSIM on Android
Android covers dozens of manufacturers, and each one names its menus differently. Here are the three most common families.
Samsung Galaxy
- Open Settings then Connections then SIM Manager.
- Tap Add eSIM (or Add mobile plan).
- Choose Scan carrier QR code.
- Scan the QR code, then confirm the download.
- Turn on the eSIM and set it as the Mobile Data SIM.
Google Pixel
- Open Settings then Network & Internet then SIMs.
- Tap + Add eSIM (or the + next to "SIMs").
- Choose Download a SIM instead.
- Scan the QR code and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Once installed, select the eSIM for mobile data.
Xiaomi, OPPO, OnePlus and others
The path is similar to Samsung's: Settings then SIM cards & mobile networks then Add eSIM, then scan the QR code. The exact label ("eSIM", "digital SIM", "downloadable profile") varies with the manufacturer's software skin, but the logic stays the same.
Android without a QR code
As on iPhone, an Enter code manually (or Enter details manually) option lets you paste the activation address provided by your carrier if you do not have a QR to scan.
Choosing which line uses your data
This is the step people forget most often. With two active lines (your regular SIM plus the travel eSIM), your phone needs to know which one to use for the internet:
- iPhone: Settings then Cellular then Cellular Data, choose the travel eSIM.
- Android: Settings then SIMs then Mobile Data SIM, choose the travel eSIM.
Tip: keep your main SIM for calls and texts so you stay reachable on your own number, and reserve the eSIM for data. That way you avoid roaming charges from your regular carrier while remaining reachable.
Common problems and solutions
"Invalid QR code" or "already used": an eSIM can usually only be installed once, on a single device. If you have already scanned the code, even on another phone, it will no longer work. Contact the carrier for a new profile.
"Unable to download": check your Wi-Fi connection. The profile needs the internet to download. Try again on another network if the first one is unstable or filtered.
The eSIM is installed but there is no connection: make sure the eSIM is set as the active data line, that Data Roaming is turned on for that line, and that you have reached your destination. A travel plan will not pick up a signal from your home. Restart the phone if needed.
Connection failure on arrival: switch carrier selection to automatic (Settings then Cellular then Network Selection, or the Android equivalent). The phone will pick the local partner network.
I did not receive a QR code: check your spam folder, then the carrier's app or account area. Most of them show the QR code and the manual code in the order details.