Installing a travel eSIM on an Android phone

Android phones add an eSIM in their SIM settings. The steps are the same on every phone, but each maker names its menus a little differently, so this guide gives Google’s names for a Pixel, Samsung’s for a Galaxy, and the ones most other phones use.

Before you start

• Check that the phone takes an eSIM. Open Settings, then Network & internet or Connections, then SIMs or SIM manager. If you can add an eSIM there, it can.
• Check that it isn’t locked to the carrier that sold it. Google says a phone must be SIM-unlocked to use it with any carrier, not only the seller’s. Android doesn’t show this in one standard place, so if you’re not sure, ask the carrier.
• Connect to Wi-Fi. Samsung asks for the phone to be connected to Wi-Fi or a mobile data network before you add a plan.
• Keep your order page to hand. Once your eSIM is ready, it shows the QR code and the same details as text.

Three ways to install it

1. On the phone itself, with the code. Open your order page on the phone and copy the line labelled Full code, for Android. Then open the SIM settings, choose to add an eSIM, choose Enter activation code or Use a code, and paste it in.
2. With the QR code, from another screen. Open the order page on a laptop or a second phone, then open the SIM settings on the Android phone and choose to add an eSIM. On a Pixel, Google’s path is Settings, Network & internet, SIMs, Add SIM, Set up an eSIM. On a Galaxy, Samsung’s is Settings, Connections, SIM manager, Add eSIM, then Scan QR code. Scan the code on your order page.
3. With one tap, on some phones. Your order page also offers Try one-tap install. On some Android phones it opens the phone’s own eSIM setup with the details filled in. Others say that setup through a link isn’t supported, and then the code is the way.

Choosing what each line does

With two lines, the phone needs to know which to use for what. On a Pixel it’s under Settings, Network & internet, SIMs, where Google lets you choose which SIM the phone uses for calls, texts and mobile data. On a Galaxy, Samsung puts the same choice under SIM manager, then Primary SIM.

• Calls and texts: your usual SIM, so your number works as it always does.
• Mobile data: your usual SIM until you land. You move it to the travel line when you arrive.
• A name for the travel line, if the phone offers to set one. Travel is easy to spot in a list.
• Automatic data switching, on a Pixel: leave it off if you want all your data abroad to go through the travel line.

When you land

1. Open the SIM settings and tap the travel line.
2. Turn on roaming for it. Google describes roaming as letting the phone send data over other carriers’ networks, and a travel eSIM needs it on to use the local network.
3. Choose the travel line as the SIM for mobile data.
4. Leave roaming off on your usual SIM, so it doesn’t use data abroad. The SIM itself stays on, for calls and texts to your number.

If it doesn’t connect

Check both settings again, then turn Airplane mode on and off so the phone looks for a network afresh, and restart it if that doesn’t help.

Check the plan too. Your order page says if its data has run out or its plan has ended. If it still won’t connect, write to us with your order number.

Keep it on the phone

Leave the eSIM installed until you’re sure you’ve finished with the plan. Its code works only once, so an eSIM you remove can’t be added again from your order page.

Back home, choose your usual SIM for mobile data again and turn the travel line off in the same settings.