In short: To activate the eSIM on Google Pixel, go to Settings → Network & internet → SIM cards → Add SIM and scan the QR code you received by email, or install it directly from the Camera app on Pixel 7 and later models. Everything is done via Wi-Fi, in a few minutes and without touching the physical SIM tray.
Google controls the Pixel's hardware and software, so its eSIM implementation is one of the cleanest in all of Android: fewer strange steps, fewer hidden menus, fewer surprises. Still, there are Pixel-specific details you should know before installing your travel eSIM, especially if your phone came from the United States or if you've never used a virtual eSIM before.
What you need before activating the eSIM on your Pixel
Three things, that's all. A compatible and unlocked Pixel (see the table below). A stable Wi-Fi connection, because the eSIM profile download is small but requires data, and if you're at the airport using public Wi-Fi, it sometimes cuts out mid-installation. And the QR code or manual activation code you receive by email when you buy the eSIM: open it from a computer or another mobile phone, because you can't scan a QR code that's on the screen of the same phone where you're going to install the eSIM.
A detail many people miss: install the eSIM before leaving home, using your usual Wi-Fi, and activate it only when you land. The profile stays saved on the phone even if you don't activate it, so you arrive at your destination, turn off airplane mode, activate the line, and you're good to go. No need to struggle with airport Wi-Fi at three in the morning.
Google Pixel models compatible with eSIM
From the Pixel 3 onwards, all models include eSIM, but the way it combines with the physical SIM varies significantly depending on the generation and, in some cases, the region where the device was purchased.
| Model | eSIM | Combination with physical SIM | Things to consider |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pixel 3 / 3 XL | Yes | 1 physical SIM + 1 eSIM | First generation with eSIM in the Pixel range |
| Pixel 4 / 4 XL / 4a | Yes | 1 physical SIM + 1 eSIM | No significant differences compared to the 3 |
| Pixel 5 / 5a | Yes | 1 physical SIM + 1 eSIM | - |
| Pixel 6 / 6 Pro / 6a | Yes | 1 physical SIM + 1 eSIM | Redesigned and clearer SIM card menu |
| Pixel 7 / 7 Pro / 7a | Yes | 1 physical SIM + 1 eSIM, or 2 eSIMs depending on region | First to install eSIM from the Camera app |
| Pixel 8 / 8 Pro / 8a | Yes | 2 eSIMs, or 1 physical + 1 eSIM | Models sold as eSIM-only in the US: check the box |
| Pixel 9 (all series) | Yes | 2 eSIMs, or 1 physical + 1 eSIM | Some US variants no longer have a physical tray |
eSIM compatibility by Google Pixel model. Compilation: PuraSIM / purasim.com.
The detail that causes the most problems is for models sold in the United States: many Pixel 8s and all Pixel 9 Pro US versions are now sold without a physical SIM tray, only with eSIM. If your Pixel came from there and is associated with a local carrier, you often need to request an unlock before you can install an eSIM from another provider.
How to activate eSIM step by step on your Pixel
Method with QR code (the one PuraSIM uses)
- Go to Settings → Network & internet.
- Tap SIM cards (on some Pixels it appears as "SIMs" directly).
- Press the "+" icon or Add SIM.
- Select Download a SIM instead or Scan QR code, depending on the Android version.
- Point the camera at the QR code in the PuraSIM email (remember: from another device or printed, not from the same Pixel).
- Accept the download. The profile installs in seconds if the Wi-Fi is good.
- Activate the line from the same SIM cards menu.
No camera or no QR: manual activation with LPA code
If the camera doesn't recognize the QR (happens with very small screens or low brightness) or if your provider gives you a text code instead of an image, there's no need to reinstall anything: within the same "Add SIM" assistant, look for the option "Can't scan?" or "Enter manually". There you can paste the activation code (LPA:1$... format) which is also in the email. It's slower to type but works exactly the same way.
Pixel's unique feature: activate from the Camera app
From Pixel 7 onwards, you don't even need to go into Settings: open the Camera app, point it at the QR, and Android automatically recognizes it as an eSIM profile, offering to install it directly. This is the fastest shortcut available on Android for this process, and very few users know about it because the "official" flow that everyone teaches is still through Settings.
Configure eSIM for data, not calls: how dual SIM works on Pixel
When you activate a second line, the Pixel asks you what role each one plays: calls, SMS, and mobile data can be assigned separately. The usual setup for traveling is to keep your Spanish line for calls and SMS (so you still receive bank codes or taxi calls) and set the PuraSIM eSIM as the default data line. This way, you avoid the strange routing where the phone tries to use data from the wrong line, leaving you without internet even if the eSIM is active.
A nuance often overlooked: if you have WhatsApp or messaging apps linked to your Spanish number, they will continue to work over the eSIM's data line without you having to do anything, because they use the internet connection, not the phone line. The only thing your active Spanish SIM needs is for traditional calls and SMS.
Most common errors and problems when activating eSIM on Pixel
| Problem | Common cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Option to add eSIM does not appear | Pixel purchased with a carrier contract in the USA | Request unlock from original carrier before traveling |
| Download fails or gets stuck loading | Unstable or saturated Wi-Fi (typical in airports) | Switch Wi-Fi networks or install the eSIM before leaving home |
| eSIM is active but no data | Data roaming disabled for that line | Settings → Network & internet → SIM → activate Roaming |
| "Invalid eSIM profile" when scanning | QR was already scanned (codes are single-use) | Contact support to re-issue the profile, do not try twice |
| Pixel does not recognize eSIMs not from US carriers | Device's own regional policy (blocked US version) | Check unlock status from Settings → About phone |
Most common issues when activating eSIM on Pixel. Compilation: PuraSIM / purasim.com.
What almost no one tells you about eSIM on Pixel
The QR doesn't "expire" over time, but it does with use. There's no problem installing the eSIM three weeks before your trip: the profile doesn't expire by being saved. What you can't do is scan the same QR twice, not even on the same phone, because each code is linked to a single installation. If for whatever reason you uninstall the profile, you'll need a new one.
Changing Pixels doesn't automatically transfer the eSIM. If you sell your Pixel 7 and buy a Pixel 9, the eSIM installed on the old one doesn't "travel" to the new device unless you use Google's phone transfer feature (and it only works between certain models and with the original carrier supporting that transfer). For third-party travel eSIMs like PuraSIM, it's normal to install a new profile on the new phone.
Airplane mode doesn't erase the eSIM. You can install and save the profile with airplane mode activated without any problem, which is useful if you're on a flight and want to have everything ready for when you land. You just need to deactivate airplane mode (or at least reactivate mobile data) for it to start working.
The "a" series Pixels (6a, 7a, 8a) are not worse for this. Many people assume that the budget versions of the Pixel have some eSIM limitation compared to the Pros. This is not the case: the software implementation is identical; the difference is in other things (camera, battery, screen), not in how they manage eSIM profiles.
Saving multiple profiles is not the same as having them active. The Pixel allows you to save several installed eSIM profiles at once (for example, one from each recent trip), but it can only have your physical line and one eSIM active simultaneously, or two eSIMs on models that allow it. If you go to Morocco and then to South Korea on different trips, don't delete the first trip's profile just in case: simply activate it when you need it again, although for different destinations, it's almost always better to get a new eSIM rather than recycling the old one.
When you DON'T need a data eSIM for your Pixel
Here it's important to be honest. If you travel within the European Union with a Spanish line, your plan already includes data roaming at no extra cost within the "roam like at home" area: for a weekend in Lisbon or a getaway to Rome, you don't need to buy anything, your physical SIM already covers you. Where it really changes the game is outside the EU: destinations like the United States, Morocco, Colombia, or South Korea, where roaming with your Spanish operator becomes very expensive or is not included at all. That's where a data eSIM prevents bill surprises. If you have doubts about when each case applies, this comparison between eSIM and traditional roaming makes it quite clear, and if you've never heard of data roaming as a concept, it's worth reading what it is exactly before deciding.
Checklist before landing with your Pixel
- Install the eSIM profile at home, using your Wi-Fi, not at the airport at the last minute.
- Confirm which line you will use for data and which for calls in the dual SIM menu.
- Leave roaming activated only on the eSIM line, not on the physical one, to avoid your Spanish operator's roaming charges accidentally skyrocketing.
- If it's your first eSIM, this is the general process if you want to see it applied to any mobile, not just Pixel: how to install an eSIM step by step.
- If you're going to move through several countries on the same trip, compare whether a country-specific eSIM or a regional one is better for you: here are some tips for saving data on a trip with an eSIM.
For specific destinations, PuraSIM has eSIM for Europe and eSIM for the United States in its catalog, as well as options for those who travel within Spain without losing data coverage.
Frequently asked questions about eSIM on Google Pixel
Are all Pixels from 3 onwards compatible with eSIMs from other providers?
Yes, as long as the device is unlocked. Technical compatibility is present in all models from Pixel 3, but a Pixel sold with a carrier contract (especially in the US) may require prior unlocking before it can accept third-party eSIMs.
Can I install the PuraSIM eSIM without an internet connection?
No, you need Wi-Fi or mobile data to download the profile the first time. Once installed, you don't need to download anything again: just activate it when you arrive at your destination.
What if my Pixel is from the US and I want to use a European eSIM?
It depends on whether the phone is unlocked. If you bought it unlocked, it works without a problem. If it came with a contract from an American carrier, you will need to request an unlock before you can install any eSIM that is not from that carrier.
Does the Pixel's eSIM stop working if I factory reset the phone?
Yes, a factory reset usually deletes installed eSIM profiles. If you are going to reset your Pixel before a trip, do it before installing the travel eSIM, not after, so you don't have to request a new profile.
Can I have PuraSIM's eSIM and my Spanish line active at the same time?
Yes, that's exactly the intended use for Pixel's dual SIM: your physical line for calls and SMS, the eSIM for data. They are configured separately in Settings → Network & internet → SIM cards.
Do I need a different eSIM for each country I visit?
Not necessarily: there are regional eSIMs that cover several countries within the same area, useful if your trip combines several nearby destinations. If your route is only one country, a local eSIM for that destination is usually more beneficial than a regional one.
Is there a difference in speed between physical SIM and eSIM on a Pixel?
No, the eSIM uses exactly the same antenna and modem as the physical SIM: the speed depends on the local operator's network you connect to, not whether the profile is physical or electronic.
