How to Set Up a Travel eSIM on Android: Pixel and Samsung
Setting up a travel eSIM on Android takes a few minutes, but the menus differ between brands and even between software versions. This guide covers the two most common phones travellers use, Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy, and the four settings that decide whether your eSIM actually works once you land. If you're on an iPhone, follow our iPhone setup guide instead.
Menu names below follow Google's and Samsung's own support pages. Wording can change slightly between Android and One UI versions, so look for the menu in roughly the same place if the label doesn't match exactly.
Before you start
- Check your phone supports eSIM and isn't carrier-locked. Our guide to checking eSIM support and unlocking shows how to look up the EID and lock status.
- Connect to Wi-Fi. The phone downloads the eSIM profile over the internet.
- Put the QR code on another screen or print it. A phone camera can't scan its own screen. If you only have one device, use the manual activation code instead.
- Install before you travel, ideally a day or two ahead, so you have time to sort out problems.
Google Pixel: installing the eSIM
According to Google's Pixel help, eSIM is supported on Pixel 4 and later. Pixel 7 and later models can have two eSIMs active at once, if the carriers support it.
- Open Settings, then Network & internet, then SIMs.
- Tap Add SIM (on some versions, tap the plus icon next to SIMs, then Download a SIM instead?).
- Choose to set up an eSIM and scan the QR code. If you have an activation code instead, look for the option to enter it manually on the scan screen.
- Wait for the download to finish. When asked about SIM preferences, keep your home SIM for calls, texts and mobile data for now.
To confirm your Pixel has an eSIM chip, go to Settings › About phone › SIM status and look for an EID.
Samsung Galaxy: installing the eSIM
- Open Settings, then Connections, then SIM manager.
- Tap Add eSIM.
- If the phone starts searching for eSIMs from your carrier, skip that and choose Scan QR code instead. Travel eSIMs use the QR code route.
- Scan the QR code, or choose the option to enter an activation code.
- Wait for the eSIM to appear in the SIM manager list.
Samsung's eSIM support depends on the model and where it was sold. Even models listed as eSIM-capable may lack it in some regions. The simplest check: if Add eSIM appears in SIM manager, your phone supports it.
The four settings to change after landing
| Setting | Pixel | Samsung | What to choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turn on the eSIM | Network & internet › SIMs › tap the eSIM › Use SIM | SIM manager › switch the eSIM on | On |
| Mobile data | Network & internet › SIMs › mobile data preference | SIM manager › Mobile data | Travel eSIM |
| Roaming | SIMs › tap the eSIM › Roaming | Connections › Mobile networks › Data roaming | On for the travel eSIM |
| Automatic data switching | SIMs › automatic mobile data switching | SIM manager › auto data switching | Off |
Data roaming must be on for the travel eSIM. To your phone, a travel eSIM abroad is a roaming connection, even if you bought it for that country. Without roaming enabled, it won't connect.
Automatic data switching should be off. If it's on, the phone may fall back to your home SIM when the travel eSIM's signal is weak, and your home carrier may charge roaming rates.
Keeping your home number for texts
You can keep your home SIM switched on to receive bank codes and texts, while using the travel eSIM for data. Make sure your home SIM's data roaming is off, and check your home carrier's charges for receiving texts abroad. The details, including what happens with calls, are in our dual-SIM guide.
One Pixel-specific detail from Google's dual-SIM help: on Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro and earlier models, mobile data switches to the SIM you're on a call with for the duration of the call. If you take a call on your home number abroad, your data may briefly go through your home carrier's roaming. Using messaging apps for calls avoids this.
When it won't install or connect
| Problem | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| No "Add eSIM" or "Add SIM" option | Phone doesn't support eSIM, or is carrier-locked | Check EID and lock status |
| QR code scan fails | Code already used, or poor lighting or screen glare | Enter the activation code manually; contact the provider if it was already used |
| "Can't add eSIM" error | No internet connection, or the profile was already installed elsewhere | Connect to stable Wi-Fi and try again |
| Installed but "No service" abroad | Roaming off, wrong data line, or network selection | See the no-service troubleshooting guide |
Don't delete an eSIM to "reset" it unless the provider tells you to. Many travel eSIMs can only be installed once, and deleting means you'd need a new one.
Sharing data
Android's hotspot works with travel eSIMs, subject to the plan's terms. On Pixel it's under Network & internet › Hotspot & tethering; on Samsung under Connections › Mobile Hotspot and Tethering. Data use rises quickly once a laptop is connected; our hotspot guide has the numbers.
FAQ
Can I install a travel eSIM after I land?
Yes, if you can get on Wi-Fi at the airport, but it's easier to install at home and only switch the line on after landing.
How many eSIMs can my Android phone store?
Most phones can store several eSIM profiles, but typically only one or two can be active at the same time, depending on the model.
Do I need to change APN settings?
Usually not. Most travel eSIMs configure the APN automatically. If the provider gives APN details, enter them under the eSIM's access point names setting.
My Samsung shows the eSIM but no internet. What's wrong?
Check that Mobile data is set to the travel eSIM and data roaming is on. Then toggle airplane mode.
Will the travel eSIM affect my home number?
No. The eSIM is added alongside your home SIM. You can switch the travel line off or delete it after the trip.