Android eSIM installation in 2026: a one-scan setup checklist

Android menus vary by manufacturer and software version, but the safe setup sequence is consistent: verify the phone, install on Wi-Fi, label the profile, then choose it for data at the right time.

Check the phone first

Search the exact model in a compatibility catalogue and confirm the sales region. Some variants of an otherwise compatible phone do not include eSIM hardware or have different carrier restrictions. Dial *#06#; an EID indicates that the device exposes eSIM hardware. The phone must also be carrier-unlocked.

Never paste an EID or IMEI into a support form. These are device identifiers, not details needed to search for a compatible model.

Add the profile

On many Samsung Galaxy phones, open Settings → Connections → SIM manager → Add eSIM. On Google Pixel, the path is usually Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Add SIM or Download a SIM instead. Other Android phones may call the menu Mobile network, eSIM, or Add mobile plan.

Choose the QR-code option and scan the code from the delivery email on another screen. If the camera cannot read it, use the manual activation details supplied in the same email. Do not invent values for optional fields.

Choose the right data line

Give the new profile a label such as “Thailand eSIM” or “Vietnam eSIM”. Keep the home SIM enabled for calls and texts if you need it, then select the travel profile for mobile data. Turn off automatic data switching so a weak signal cannot move data back to the home line.

Leave data roaming off until the plan instructions say to connect, especially when the plan starts validity at first network connection. When you arrive, enable roaming for the travel profile only and check that the device shows the expected network.

If the eSIM menu is missing, the profile will not download, or the phone refuses the QR code, stop before deleting anything. Confirm the exact model and region, check the carrier lock, and use the secure support path with a safe description of the problem. The QR code and activation details should stay private.