Before you start

Six things to confirm. Two minutes of prep saves you twenty in airport-Wi-Fi-purgatory.

  • Compatible device. iPhone XR / XS or newer, Pixel 3 onward, Galaxy S20 onward.
  • Carrier-unlocked. A locked phone refuses third-party eSIMs. US carriers all publish unlock criteria. Most unlock for free if you have paid off the device.
  • Plan purchased. You have the QR code email from the provider (or the activation code, if your provider ships that instead).
  • Wi-Fi. The profile downloads from the provider's servers. Home Wi-Fi is ideal. Airport Wi-Fi is not.
  • Battery above 30 percent. Some phones refuse eSIM activation in low-power mode.
  • Latest OS update. Apple and Google ship eSIM-related bug fixes regularly. Open your settings and run the update before installing.

On iPhone (XR / XS and newer)

Recent iOS versions streamlined this. Older versions have the same screens with slightly different labels.

  1. Open Settings, tap Cellular

    Your current line shows at the top. Below it, tap Add eSIM. On older iOS, it reads Add Cellular Plan.

  2. Choose Use QR Code

    Hold the iPhone up to the QR code on a screen or printout. The phone reads it within a second or two. If it will not scan, tap Enter Details Manually and paste the SM-DP+ address plus the activation code from the provider email.

  3. Confirm the carrier

    iPhone reads the carrier name from the profile (e.g. NTT Docomo, Vodafone, Saily). Tap Continue through the setup screens.

  4. Set the new line as data-only

    iPhone will ask you to pick a Default Line and a Cellular Data line. Pick your home number for both Default Line and iMessage / FaceTime; pick the new eSIM for Cellular Data.

    Then on the next screen, turn Allow Cellular Data Switching off. It mainly keeps data working during calls on your other line; with it off, data stays on the eSIM. Also keep Data Roaming off on your home line, which is what actually stops it from using data abroad.

  5. Turn the new line OFF for now

    Back on Cellular, tap the new line and toggle Turn On This Line off. The validity timer on most travel plans starts when the line goes active, not when it installs. Leaving it off keeps your days for when you actually land.

  6. On arrival, turn it on

    Clear airplane mode after the gate. Go back to Settings, Cellular, tap the line, toggle it on. Restart the phone once so it registers cleanly on the local network. You should be online inside two minutes.

On Google Pixel (3 and newer)

Stock Android is the cleanest of the Android eSIM flows. Recent Pixels can keep two eSIMs active at once; check your model.

  1. Open Settings, tap Network and internet

    Tap SIMs. You will see your current line listed. Tap Download a SIM instead? at the bottom.

  2. Tap Next, then point at the QR code

    The camera viewfinder opens. Hold it over the QR code on screen or paper. If it will not scan, tap Need help? and select Enter it manually to paste the activation details.

  3. Confirm and download

    Pixel reads the carrier from the profile and shows a confirmation screen. Tap Download to install the profile.

  4. Pick which line is your data line

    Back on SIMs, you will see two entries now. Tap the travel eSIM. Toggle Use SIM on. Then go back and set Mobile data to the travel eSIM and leave Calls and SMS on your home line.

  5. Turn the new line off until you land

    Tap the travel eSIM entry, toggle Use SIM off. Most plan timers start at line activation. Re-enable after you land.

On Samsung Galaxy (S20 and newer)

One UI calls things by slightly different names than stock Android, but the flow is the same.

  1. Open Settings, tap Connections, tap SIM Manager

    On older One UI versions, this is under SIM card manager. You will see your physical SIM at the top.

  2. Tap Add eSIM

    Then Scan QR code from service provider. Galaxy can also detect a QR code from a photo: tap Scan from gallery if you saved the email's QR to your camera roll.

  3. Add via activation code, if needed

    If the QR will not scan, tap Add eSIM using activation code and paste the SM-DP+ address and activation code separately.

  4. Confirm and add

    Galaxy reads the carrier and shows a confirmation screen. Tap Add. The profile downloads over Wi-Fi.

  5. Set data routing

    Back on SIM Manager, scroll to Preferred SIMs. Set Mobile data to the travel eSIM. Leave Calls and Messages on your home line.

  6. Disable the line until you land

    Tap the travel eSIM entry, toggle off. Galaxy leaves the profile installed and ready, but the plan timer will not start until you re-enable on arrival.

The dual-SIM pattern, every device

Same idea across platforms, just different menu names. Get this right and you avoid roaming charges while staying reachable at home.

The goal: your home number stays alive for SMS and voice (the verification codes your bank texts you, the calls from the airline if your flight changes); the travel eSIM handles all data (maps, messaging, browsing).

Configure four settings, then leave them alone for the trip.

  • Default voice line: home line. Outbound calls and iMessage/FaceTime use your real number.
  • Cellular data line: travel eSIM. All data traffic flows here.
  • Data Roaming on home line: OFF. This is the single most important toggle. With it on, your phone will quietly use roaming if the eSIM signal dips, and you will get the bill.
  • Data Roaming on travel eSIM: ON. Travel eSIMs technically route as roaming traffic on a local carrier, so they need this enabled even on their home network.

When to actually activate the line

The single most common mistake new users make. Install at home, activate on landing.

Almost every travel eSIM starts its validity window the moment the line goes active on your phone, not the moment you install the profile. If you scan the QR at home five days before your trip and forget to turn the line off, you have just burned five days of a fourteen-day plan.

A few providers also set a deadline from purchase: Saily, for example, asks you to install and activate within 30 days of buying. When in doubt, check the order confirmation email for an activation deadline or a “valid until” date.

Safe sequence: install at home, label the line, configure dual SIM, toggle the line off. When you land, clear airplane mode, toggle the line on, restart the phone.

Don't have a plan yet?

Tell us your trip. We will surface the right plan from the providers we track.

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Common errors and the mistakes people make

If something is not working, start here. These are the issues that come up in support email most often, with the fixes that actually solve them.

The QR code will not scan, what now?

Three things to try in order. First, screenshot the QR code from your email, open the screenshot full-screen on a second device or computer, then scan from there. Second, switch to manual entry: most providers include an SM-DP+ address and an activation code below the QR image. Third, ask the provider to reissue the code. Travel eSIM QR codes are single-use, so a failed scan that did install partially may leave you needing a fresh one.

My eSIM installed but says no service. What is wrong?

Walk through this in order. Confirm the line is toggled on in Settings. Confirm Data Roaming is on for the eSIM line (it is required for almost every travel eSIM, even though the name is misleading). Restart the phone (not just airplane mode toggle). If still no signal, manually pick a network: Settings, Cellular, the eSIM line, Network Selection, turn Automatic off and pick the local carrier the provider lists. Service usually returns within two minutes of activation.

When should I install the eSIM, before I fly or after I land?

Install at home, before you fly. Most phones download the profile over Wi-Fi, and airport Wi-Fi is unreliable. After install, leave the line turned off until you land. The validity window on most plans starts when the line activates, not when you install it. Some providers also set a deadline from purchase: Saily, for example, asks you to install and activate within 30 days of buying. Check the order confirmation.

Can I keep my home phone number while using a travel eSIM?

Yes. That is the standard setup. Leave your home SIM in its slot (or your home eSIM installed). Add the travel eSIM as a second line. In Settings, set the home line as your default voice line and the travel eSIM as your data line. Turn off Data Roaming on the home line so it does not pull data while abroad. You will still receive calls and SMS on your home number, you just pay your home carrier's incoming rate (often nothing for SMS).

What is the SM-DP+ address my provider keeps mentioning?

It is the server address your phone contacts to download the eSIM profile. You only need it if QR scanning fails. The format looks like consumer.e-sim.example.com or similar. The provider sends it alongside an activation code (a longer string of letters and numbers). Both get pasted into your phone's manual eSIM entry screen.

Why is my eSIM data slow when my phone shows 5G?

Two common causes. First, your provider may throttle after a fair-use threshold. Check the plan's terms, especially on unlimited plans. Second, the local carrier the eSIM uses may not have a 5G agreement in that region. The phone shows 5G because it is connected to a 5G cell, but the eSIM's data path may be routed through a slower roaming agreement. Run a speed test app to confirm. If the speed stays well below the country's typical 5G performance, contact the provider with the test result.

Can I use the same eSIM on a second phone (a tablet, a partner's iPhone)?

No. eSIM profiles are bound to the device they install on. The QR code is single-use. If you want connectivity on two devices, buy two plans, or use one device as a Personal Hotspot for the second. Not all providers allow hotspot use, so check the plan's terms first.

What happens to my eSIM after the trip?

The profile stays installed on your phone, dormant. There are no monthly fees. You can delete it (Settings, Cellular, the line, Remove eSIM) or leave it for next time. Many providers let you top up the same line if you return to the country within their plan's window. Keeping the profile costs you nothing.

Can I transfer an eSIM from my old iPhone to a new one?

Often, yes, if your carrier supports eSIM Quick Transfer and both iPhones run a recent iOS version. During new-phone setup, choose to transfer your eSIM and follow the prompts. After setup, you can also do it manually: Settings, Cellular, Add eSIM, Transfer From Nearby iPhone. Carrier eSIMs (your home line) transfer most reliably. Travel eSIMs from third-party providers sometimes do not transfer; in that case, contact the provider for a replacement QR code.

I see a Cellular Plan Not Valid error. What does that mean?

Three possibilities, in likelihood order. First, the plan's validity window has ended. Check the provider's app for the expiration date. Second, the plan has not been activated yet on the provider's side (some require a one-tap activation in their app, separate from the iPhone install). Third, the eSIM profile is corrupted; deleting and reinstalling usually fixes it. If none apply, the provider needs to issue a new profile.