How to activate eSIM on Samsung Galaxy (step-by-step)

In short: to activate the eSIM on your Samsung Galaxy, go to Settings → Connections → SIM card manager → Add eSIM, scan the QR code PuraSIM sends you, and wait a few minutes for the profile to download. Note: the Galaxy A51, A52, and A52s don't have eSIM—only the S20 and newer, the Z Fold/Flip, and the A54 5G do.

If you just bought a trip and found yourself searching "activate eSIM on Samsung Galaxy" late at night, this guide is exactly what you need: no fluff, with the exact One UI menus (which aren't the same as on an iPhone) and the real list of which Galaxy models support it and which don't. Because that's the first issue, and the one most people skip: not all Samsung phones have eSIM, even if it seems like they should.

Before you start: check that your Samsung has eSIM

There are two quick ways to check without installing anything:

• Go to Settings → About phone → Status → IMEI information. If you see "IMEI 1" and "IMEI 2," the device supports dual SIM, which is a good sign for eSIM (though not a 100% guarantee, since some models with two IMEIs only support two physical SIMs).
• Go straight to Settings → Connections → SIM card manager. If the "Add eSIM" or "Download SIM profile" option appears, your Samsung is compatible. If that screen doesn't even exist, it isn't, and no hidden setting will make it work.

The second check is the one that really settles it, so if you're in a hurry, go straight to it.

Samsung Galaxy models with eSIM

What about the Galaxy A51, A52, or A52s? The most asked question

Let's be clear here, because it's the most searched question and the honest answer isn't what everyone wants to hear: neither the Galaxy A51, nor the A52, nor the A52s have eSIM. They're mid-range models designed for physical SIMs (one or two, depending on the version), and Samsung didn't include the eSIM chip in that hardware. It's not a software or carrier issue—it's a physical limitation of the device, so neither updating One UI nor unlocking anything will make that option appear.

If you have one of these models and you're traveling, your alternative is a physical data SIM you buy at your destination or, if you want to avoid hunting for a store when you land, consider whether it's worth switching to an eSIM-capable model before your trip. The first Galaxy A with true eSIM is the A54 5G (2023); from there on, the A series includes it as standard.

How to activate the eSIM step by step on a Samsung Galaxy

Before leaving home: install the profile using Wi-Fi

This is what almost nobody does and should be the first thing: install the eSIM at home, on your Wi-Fi, a few days before you fly. You don't need to activate it yet, just download the profile. That way you arrive at the airport with the work already done and without relying on the (often slow and congested) Wi-Fi at the terminal.

1. Go to Settings → Connections.
2. Tap SIM card manager.
3. Select "Add eSIM" or "Download SIM profile" (the exact wording changes a bit depending on the One UI version and your carrier).
4. Scan the QR code that PuraSIM sent you using the camera built into the menu itself (no need to open the camera app separately).
5. Accept the terms and let the profile download. It usually takes between two and ten minutes; if your Wi-Fi is slow, it can take longer.
6. When it finishes, you'll see the new line in the SIM card manager. You don't need to activate it yet if you haven't traveled.

Upon landing: activate the data line

Once at your destination:

1. Settings → Connections → SIM card manager.
2. Turn on the switch for the eSIM line you already downloaded.
3. Go to Settings → Connections → Mobile networks and set that eSIM as the preferred data network (your physical SIM, if you keep it active, should remain only for calls and SMS).
4. Make sure airplane mode is off and that "data roaming" is ON for the eSIM line, even if it seems contradictory: on your own destination eSIM it's not real roaming, but Samsung still calls the switch that.

If you've never installed an eSIM and want the process explained more generally, with screenshots for several brands, we also have a complete eSIM installation guide that you can use as a cross-reference.

Dual SIM on Samsung: which line to use for what

One of the biggest advantages of eSIM on Samsung is that you can have the physical and digital lines active at the same time. The setup that works best in practice: physical SIM for calls and SMS (so you keep your number, and your bank or messaging app doesn't notice anything odd), and the destination eSIM as the preferred data line. This way you avoid data roaming from your local carrier, which is what drives up the bill if you don't disable it in time.

A detail that many people miss: if you activate WhatsApp or Telegram with SMS verification while you're away, make sure your physical SIM (with your usual number) is still active to receive that code, because the data eSIM normally doesn't have an associated voice number.

Frequent errors when activating the eSIM on Samsung

Compatibility with Spanish carriers

A point that's often overlooked: if you bought your Samsung under contract with a Spanish carrier (not unlocked), sometimes the eSIM option is restricted until that carrier enables it on your line. This is different from the hardware not having eSIM: here the chip exists, but the menu is limited.

If you bought your Samsung outside Spain (for example in the United States), keep in mind that some American carriers do block third-party eSIM more aggressively than Spanish ones; if that's your case, check it before relying on the eSIM as your plan A for the trip.

Myths and what almost nobody tells you about eSIM on Samsung

"The more eSIMs I install, the faster my phone fills up with useless profiles." That's not how it works: a Samsung can store several downloaded eSIM profiles (usually more than five), even though only one can be active as a data line at a time. You can keep the eSIM from your previous trip installed without it taking up much space or consuming anything while inactive.

"If I accidentally delete the eSIM, I can scan the same QR code again." False, and this is the mistake that causes the most headaches: eSIM QR codes are single-use. If you do a factory reset, switch phones, or delete the profile by mistake, that QR code is no longer valid. Take a screenshot of the QR and save it, but remember that if it becomes invalid, the solution is to ask for a new one, not to try the same code twenty times.

"Airplane mode deletes the eSIM." No, airplane mode only temporarily disables the radios; the profile stays installed. What can happen is that if you turn airplane mode on and then off, you might need to set the eSIM as the preferred data line again if the phone changed the priority on its own.

"All Galaxy phones with 5G have eSIM." 5G and eSIM are not the same thing; they are two different chips. There are Galaxy A phones with 5G that don't have eSIM (the A52s itself has 5G and no eSIM), so don't use 5G as a compatibility indicator. Always use the SIM card manager check instead.

When you DON'T need to buy a travel eSIM

Let's be honest, because it's not all about selling you an eSIM. If you're going to a European Union country with a local plan that includes EU roaming at no extra cost (most current plans do), you don't need to buy anything: your own SIM already covers data, calls, and texts at domestic rates. Buying an extra eSIM for a weekend in Lisbon or Rome with a normal local plan is just throwing money away.

Where it does make sense is outside the EU: the United States, the United Kingdom, countries in Asia or Latin America, destinations where your carrier's roaming charges skyrocket or simply don't work. In those cases, having a local or regional eSIM ready before you leave saves you from bill shock and the hassle of hunting for a SIM shop when you land. If your route goes through several European countries both outside and inside the EU on the same trip, a data eSIM for Europe usually works out cheaper than buying a SIM country by country; and if your destination is the United States, it's worth checking out an eSIM for the United States beforehand, because roaming rates from local carriers there are among the most painful.

And if you're staying within your own country, don't even think about it: for travel within Spain, a travel eSIM has no role to play; your own line already covers you.

Before you leave: the quick checklist

Download the profile at home over Wi-Fi, don't leave it for the airport. Check that your model is on the compatible list (and if you have an A51, A52, or A52s, you already know you need another solution). Save a screenshot of the QR code just in case. And decide in advance which line will handle your calls and which one your data, so you don't have to switch things around mid-trip. If you also want to stretch your data plan, take a look at our tips for saving data with eSIM while traveling, especially if you'll be uploading photos or video frequently.

A real-world example of why it's good to have everything ready before you leave: if you land in Seoul in the early morning, Incheon Airport's Wi-Fi works fine, but you'd rather have your data line already active as soon as you get off the plane to order a taxi or open the subway map, without relying on finding an open network. For that kind of destination, it's worth checking what coverage your local operator offers beforehand; we have the details in the guide to eSIM for South Korea (Seoul and Busan).

Conclusion

Activating an eSIM on a Samsung follows the same logic as on any other Android, but the menu has its own name: look for "SIM card manager" under Settings → Connections, not just Settings. If your model is one of the ones that does have eSIM (S20 onwards, Note 20, the Z Fold/Flip series, and the A54 5G or later), the process takes five minutes with Wi-Fi. If it's an A51, A52, or A52s, save yourself the time of looking for the option: it's not there, and it won't appear no matter how many system updates you install.

Frequently asked questions

How do I activate an eSIM on a Samsung Galaxy?

Go to Settings → Connections → SIM card manager → Add eSIM. Scan the QR code your provider gives you, accept the terms, and wait for the profile to download — usually between two and ten minutes.

Does the Samsung Galaxy A51 have eSIM?

No. The Galaxy A51 is a 2020 model without an embedded eSIM chip — it only supports a physical SIM. No software update can change that.

Do the Samsung Galaxy A52 or A52s support eSIM?

No — neither the A52 nor the A52s include eSIM, even though the A52s does have 5G. The first Galaxy A with real eSIM is the A54 5G, released in 2023.

Which Samsung Galaxy phones have eSIM?

The S20 series and later (S20, S21, S22, S23, S24), the Note 20, the Z Fold and Z Flip from the 3 onward, and on the A-range the A54 5G and newer. Some S10 units have it depending on the region of sale.

Can I use a travel eSIM and my Spanish SIM at the same time on a Samsung?

Yes, if your model supports Dual SIM — and most eSIM-compatible ones do. The physical SIM keeps your number for calls and SMS, and the eSIM handles data at your destination.

Can I install the eSIM before I travel?

Yes, and it's the recommended approach: download the profile at home over Wi-Fi without activating it, then turn it on only when you land. That way you don't have to rely on airport Wi-Fi.

Why does my Samsung say "this device does not support eSIM" if the model actually does?

It's usually outdated software — update One UI from Settings → Software update — or the phone was bought under a carrier contract and that carrier hasn't enabled the feature on your line yet.

Written byMarc González Sáez Founder of PuraSIM. He oversees the blog guides, which are built from our wholesale provider's network data, official carrier and manufacturer documentation, and real questions from travelers. If you spot something wrong, write to him and he'll correct it.