The short answer
On most Android phones: Settings, then Network & internet or Connections, then SIMs or SIM manager, then Add eSIM, then scan the QR code. Do it at home on Wi-Fi, and leave the eSIM switched off until you land.
Samsung, Pixel and most other Android phones, with the menu names that actually appear on each.
Android does not use one set of menu names. The steps are the same everywhere, but what the menus are called depends on who made the phone, which is why generic instructions so often send people in circles.
Where the setting lives on your phone
Find your make below, then scan the QR code from your order email. You will need a Wi-Fi connection for the install itself.
Google Pixel
- Where to go
- Settings, Network & internet, SIMs, Add eSIM
Samsung Galaxy
- Where to go
- Settings, Connections, SIM manager, Add eSIM
Motorola
- Where to go
- Settings, Network & internet, SIM cards, Add eSIM
OnePlus / Oppo
- Where to go
- Settings, Mobile network, Add eSIM
Xiaomi
- Where to go
- Settings, SIM cards & mobile networks, Add eSIM
Set it up so it costs you nothing until you land
After installing, turn the eSIM off so nothing can connect by accident. Some plans start counting when they first connect abroad and others the moment they are installed; the plan page says which kind yours is. To lose no days, install it on the day you travel, before you leave.
When you land, turn the eSIM on, turn data roaming on for it, and set it as the line for mobile data. Leave your home SIM active for calls and texts, with its own data roaming switched off.
Common questions
My Android has no Add eSIM option. Why?
Either the phone does not support eSIM, or it is locked to a carrier. Phones sold by a carrier on contract are the usual case. A quick check of your model against a compatibility list will tell you which it is.
Can I scan the QR code from the same phone?
Not usually, because you need the camera to point at the code. Open the email on a laptop or another screen, or use the manual entry option and type the activation details instead.
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