Menu names vary a little by brand, but the flow is the same on Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, and most other recent Android phones with eSIM support. Do the install at home on Wi‑Fi before you travel.
Which Android phones support eSIM
Broadly: Google Pixel 3 and later, Samsung Galaxy S20 / Note20 / Z-series and later, and recent phones from Motorola, Oppo, Honor, Xiaomi and others in markets where those brands sell eSIM-enabled variants. Two important caveats:
- Carrier-locked and US-carrier variants are the biggest gotcha. A Pixel or Galaxy bought directly from Verizon, AT&T or T‑Mobile in the US often has eSIM support disabled or restricted to that carrier, even though the same model sold unlocked supports it fully. If you don’t see an eSIM option at all, this is the most likely reason, not a hardware limit.
- Some regional variants ship without eSIM hardware. A handful of Galaxy models sold in mainland China, for instance, use a dual-physical-SIM design instead. Check your specific model and region on the manufacturer’s spec page if you’re unsure.
1. Confirm eSIM support and unlock status
- Pixel: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Download a SIM instead?
- Samsung: Settings → Connections → SIM manager → Add eSIM.
If you don’t see an eSIM option, your model or region variant may not support it — see the carrier-lock note above. For unlock status, check Settings → About phone → SIM status, or ask your carrier.
2. Install the eSIM profile
With a QR code:
- Open the Add eSIM / Download a SIM flow above.
- Scan the QR code from the provider’s email (from a laptop or second screen).
- Confirm the download. Give the profile a name like “Trip”.
With the provider’s app: Airalo, Saily, Nomad and aloSIM can install directly on most Android phones — buy or open the plan and tap Install. This avoids needing a second screen to scan a QR code.
3. Configure the two SIMs
Once both are active:
- Set Mobile data to the travel eSIM.
- Set Calls and SMS to your home SIM.
- Turn off “Switch mobile data automatically” / “Auto data switching” so it can’t fall back to home-carrier roaming.
On Samsung: SIM manager → Preferred SIM → set Mobile data to the eSIM. On Pixel: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → pick the eSIM → set as data.
4. On arrival: enable roaming for the travel eSIM
- Settings → Network & internet → SIMs (Pixel) or SIM manager (Samsung) → tap the travel eSIM.
- Turn the eSIM on.
- Turn on Roaming for that line — required, because the eSIM’s home network is abroad. It doesn’t affect your home SIM.
- Confirm Mobile data is pointed at the eSIM.
Wait a minute for it to register. If it doesn’t connect, toggle Airplane Mode, then restart.
5. After the trip
Top up in the app if supported, or remove it: SIMs / SIM manager → tap the eSIM → Erase / Delete.
Common problems
- No data on arrival: roaming is off for the eSIM, or mobile data is still set to your home SIM.
- Only 3G / slow: manually select the network — Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → the eSIM → Preferred network type → 5G/LTE, and try choosing the carrier manually.
- APN issues (rare): the provider’s help page lists the APN to enter under the eSIM’s Access Point Names.
- No “Add eSIM” option at all: almost always a carrier-locked device (see above), not a hardware issue — confirm by checking the exact model number against the manufacturer’s spec sheet for your region.
- Dual SIM standby is inconsistent: some Android brands only keep one SIM’s data connection “hot” at a time even with both active, which can cause a short delay switching between calls on the home SIM and data on the eSIM. This is a phone-software quirk, not a sign the eSIM isn’t working.
FAQ
My phone shows the eSIM option is greyed out — what now? Check Settings → About phone → SIM status for a carrier-lock indicator, and separately confirm your exact model number supports eSIM in your region (manufacturer spec pages list this per variant). If it’s carrier-locked, you’ll need an unlock from that carrier before any other network’s eSIM — physical or electronic — will work.
Can I use eSIM on Android without a Google account signed in? Yes — the eSIM install itself doesn’t require it, though some phones prompt for account sign-in during general setup for unrelated reasons.
I’m switching Android phones — can I transfer my eSIM? Support varies by brand and provider; some (mainly Pixel-to-Pixel via Google’s eSIM transfer flow) support it directly, but the safer assumption for a travel eSIM is that you’ll need to reinstall or buy a new plan for a new device.
See also: installing on iPhone, how much data to buy, and what an eSIM actually is if you’re starting from scratch.