How to install an eSIM on Android
Android Configuration Guide
You can install your eSIMtime plan in a few minutes. Do it before you travel, while you are connected to Wi-Fi. Menu names differ a little between phone brands; the steps below cover Google Pixel and Samsung.
Before you start
- Check that your phone supports eSIM. Recent Samsung Galaxy (S20 and newer) and Google Pixel (3 and newer) phones do.
- Make sure your phone is not carrier-locked. A locked phone only works with the operator it was bought from, and the eSIM will not connect.
- Connect to Wi-Fi. Installation fails without an internet connection.
Install with the QR code
After you buy a plan, we send you an email with your QR code. You can also see it in your account.
- Google Pixel: open Settings > Network & internet > SIMs, then tap Add SIM or Download a SIM instead. Samsung: open Settings > Connections > SIM manager, then tap Add eSIM.
- Choose to scan a QR code.
- Scan the QR code from your email and confirm the download.
- When the eSIM is added, choose it as the SIM for mobile data.
Install by entering the details manually
If the QR code does not scan, you can enter the activation code instead. It is in your email and in your account.
- Start adding an eSIM as above.
- On the scanning screen, tap Need help? or Enter activation code.
- Enter the activation code exactly as shown and confirm.
Turn on roaming
Your eSIM uses partner networks abroad, so roaming must be on for it to work. This does not add charges to your eSIMtime plan.
- Google Pixel: Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > your eSIMtime eSIM, then turn on Roaming.
- Samsung: Settings > Connections > Mobile networks, then turn on Data roaming.
When you arrive
Your phone can keep your main SIM and the eSIM installed at the same time, and you can switch each one on or off in the SIM settings.
Turn off your main SIM before you reach the border. Near a border your phone can pick up a foreign network even before you cross, and your home operator may charge roaming for it.
Some networks take up to 10 minutes to register a new eSIM. If you have no connection after that, restart your phone and check the APN settings.
Stuck at any step? Send us a message on WhatsApp or Telegram and our team will walk you through it, 24/7.
Android Configuration Guide
Version: 1.0