If you've never installed an eSIM and just want to know what it is, where to activate it on your Android, and if your phone supports it, this guide follows that order: first it explains, then it shows the steps, and finally it suggests what to do if you're traveling soon.
What is an eSIM and how does it work on Android?
An eSIM is a digital chip integrated into your Android's motherboard. Instead of inserting a physical card, you download a profile (QR or link), and your phone connects to a data plan in minutes. It doesn't replace your main line; it can coexist with your physical SIM on the same device.
The word "eSIM" comes from "embedded SIM." It's the same circuit your phone has had from the factory for several years; what changes is that instead of buying a plastic card and inserting it into a slot, the operator provides you with a digital profile that your Android reads and saves. Once installed, this profile functions exactly like a physical SIM: it identifies your line to the network, enables data, and if the plan includes it, calls and messages.
For travelers, the practical difference is that there's no need to find a counter at the airport or wait for a card to arrive by mail. If you already know your destination, you can install the profile before leaving home and simply activate it upon landing. If you want to understand the full concept in more technical detail, there's a dedicated explanation in what an eSIM is.
How to get an eSIM on Android: Straightforward steps
Getting an eSIM on your Android involves four general steps, regardless of the provider: checking if your phone supports it, obtaining the profile (usually a QR code), installing it from the network settings, and deciding how to share the work between that line and your physical SIM if you have both.
- Confirm that your Android is compatible and unlocked. A phone locked to an operator may reject profiles from other companies, even if the hardware supports eSIM.
- Get the profile. When you purchase a data plan for travel, the provider will send you a QR code or an installation link, usually by email, as soon as the purchase is confirmed.
- Go to your phone's network settings and look for the option to add a new line or mobile plan. The exact path varies by brand, and we'll see it in the next section.
- Scan the QR code (or enter the data manually if your provider gave you a text code) and wait for the phone to download the profile. This is where it's advisable to be connected to a stable network, something we detail later.
- Label the line with a recognizable name ("Colombia," "Travel data") and decide if it will be your default data line while you're away.
If you prefer an even more detailed guide, with screenshots of each step, there's a specific one on how to install an eSIM.
Where is the eSIM option on your Android?
The path changes depending on the manufacturer and Android version, which confuses many people who swear their phone "doesn't have eSIM" when in reality they just couldn't find the menu. As a general reference (names may vary slightly between system versions):
- Samsung: Settings → Connections → SIM card manager → Add mobile plan.
- Google Pixel: Settings → Network & Internet → SIMs → Download a SIM installed by the operator (or "Add" depending on the version).
- Xiaomi, Motorola, and other brands with standard Android: Settings → Connection & internet (or "SIMs and mobile networks") → Add eSIM.
If you get lost in the menus, the quickest shortcut on almost any Android is to type "eSIM" into the Settings search bar: almost all manufacturers index this option with that exact name, even if it's hidden several levels deep. And if that option simply doesn't appear anywhere, the problem is probably not that you're looking incorrectly, but that the model doesn't support it or the phone is locked to an operator: we cover that in the next section.
Which Android phones have eSIM? How to check before buying
Not all Android phones have eSIM, and the list of compatible models changes with each generation, so instead of memorizing names, it's better to know how to check it yourself in less than a minute. Two quick ways: the first is to dial *#06# from your phone (like to check the IMEI) and see if an EID code also appears, which is the exclusive identifier for eSIMs; if it appears, your phone supports it. The second is to simply search for "eSIM" in Settings, as explained above: if the option exists, you can use it.
In general, mid-to-high-end models from major brands released from 2019-2020 onwards usually include it, but there are significant regional variations: some models sold in Latin America or the U.S. have the eSIM chip disabled by operator or distributor decision, even if the same model in another country has it active. That's why the EID code method is more reliable than just looking at the model name. To avoid guessing, there is a more extensive and updated list of which phones are compatible with eSIM.
Which app is better for eSIM? Native settings vs. provider app
The question stems from a common confusion: Android does not need any third-party app to install or use an eSIM, because that function already lives within the operating system, in Network Settings. What does vary is whether your data plan provider also gives you an app or panel to check your usage, which is useful but not mandatory for the line to work.
| Method | What it does | When it's convenient |
|---|---|---|
| Native Android settings | Installs, activates, pauses, or deletes the eSIM profile directly from the system, without any additional download. | Always: it's the only mandatory step for the eSIM to work. |
| Provider app or panel | Shows how much of your data plan you've used, allows topping up or buying another plan, and usually provides access to support. | When you want to monitor your usage during your trip without manually checking the system's data usage. |
| Generic third-party "SIM management" apps | Promise to centralize multiple eSIMs from different providers on a single screen. | Rarely provide anything that Settings doesn't already do; they add another app to keep updated. |
If you're worried about exceeding your plan and running out of data halfway through your trip, it makes more sense to check how real consumption behaves based on how you use your phone, which we delve into in how much each app consumes with eSIM, rather than relying on a specific app.
eSIM vs. physical SIM on your Android: The real comparison
To decide which one is best for a specific trip, it helps to see the differences side-by-side rather than in abstract terms.
| Aspect | eSIM | Physical SIM |
|---|---|---|
| How it's obtained | Digital profile via QR or link, can be installed before traveling | Plastic card that needs to be picked up, purchased, or mailed to you |
| Installation | Scan QR from Settings; no tools needed | Needs a SIM ejector tool (or similar) to open the tray |
| Risk of physical loss | Non-existent: lives inside the phone | Can fall out, get lost, or be damaged when changing it |
| Changing lines | Activated or deactivated from software, without opening anything | Requires removing one card and inserting another |
| Coexistence with another line | Many Android phones allow eSIM + physical SIM to be active simultaneously | Depends on whether the phone has a dual physical tray |
| What happens if you change phones | You have to reactivate or transfer the profile with the operator | Removed from one phone and placed in the other |
An eSIM is no more fragile than a physical one: the difference is that its most common problems are solved within the phone itself, not by looking for a counter or a SIM ejector tool.
The complete comparison, with more context on when each is convenient depending on the type of trip, can be found in eSIM vs. physical SIM.
How to use eSIM and physical SIM simultaneously (dual SIM)
Most Android phones with eSIM allow you to have that line active along with your regular physical SIM, in what the system calls "dual SIM." This is useful for travel because you can keep your usual number available for calls and verification messages (banks, apps with two-factor authentication) while all data navigation goes through the local eSIM, avoiding roaming charges from your home operator.
To configure it correctly, it's advisable to check three things in Settings, within the SIMs menu: first, which of the two lines is the default for mobile data (it should be the eSIM while traveling); second, if you want calls to go through your physical SIM; and third, disable data roaming for that physical SIM so it doesn't try to connect to a foreign network on its own and accidentally incur charges. This last point is the one most people forget, and it's the most frequent cause of surprise bills that actually have nothing to do with the eSIM.
If you also want to understand what exactly traditional roaming costs versus a data eSIM, there is a specific comparison in eSIM vs. roaming.
Real example: Installing and using an eSIM on a trip
To make it less abstract, here's a concrete case. Someone in Mexico City has a flight to Bogotá in five days. Instead of leaving it for the airport, they decide to sort it out the night before, connected to their home Wi-Fi: they buy a data plan for Colombia, receive the QR code by email almost immediately, go to Settings → Connections → SIM card manager on their Android, and scan the code. The profile downloads in seconds and is saved with the label "Colombia," but they don't activate it yet: they'll leave that for when they land, so the plan days don't start running prematurely.
Upon arriving in Bogotá, with airplane mode still on, they go back to that screen and activate the "Colombia" line as the default for data, leaving their Mexican physical SIM active only for calls and with data roaming disabled. They turn off airplane mode, and in approximately one minute, they have data connection working, without having visited any counter or searched for a physical SIM card store after getting off the plane.
During the trip, if something doesn't connect properly or they have a question about the plan, PuraSIM support is available 24/7 via email and WhatsApp, in their own language, without needing to call any number. And if the trip had been postponed for another week, there would be no problem either: the profile purchased in advance can be activated up to 180 days after purchase, so installing it calmly before leaving has no disadvantage compared to doing it at the last minute.
Common eSIM problems on Android and how to solve them
Almost all eSIM issues on Android fall into a handful of recurring causes, and most can be resolved without reinstalling anything.
-
"I can't find the option to add eSIM." First, check if your model supports it using the EID code trick (
*#06#) explained above. If it doesn't appear, it's likely that the phone is locked to an operator or that this model, in your region, doesn't have it enabled. - "The QR code won't scan." Try increasing the brightness of the screen where the QR is displayed (if you're showing it on another device) or ask the provider for the manual installation code, which usually comes with the QR as an alternative.
- "It installed but I have no data." Verify that this line is marked as the default for mobile data, not just installed. This is the most common error: the profile is saved but inactive.
- "I had signal and suddenly lost it." Restarting the phone usually solves it, as it forces the line to reconnect to the network. If it persists, confirm that you are not outside the coverage area of the plan you purchased.
- "The profile downloaded, but I didn't find a network to connect to beforehand." Installing the profile before traveling and activating it at your destination, as in the previous example, avoids most of these cases.
A longer list, with more detail for each symptom, is available in common eSIM problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an app to use eSIM on Android?
No. Installing and using an eSIM is a built-in feature in Android, found within Settings. Some providers also offer an app or panel to check usage, but it is not mandatory for the line to work.
Can I have both eSIM and physical SIM active at the same time on Android?
On most compatible models, yes. You can use the eSIM for data and keep your physical SIM active only for calls and messages, disabling its data roaming to avoid charges.
What happens if I change phones, do I lose the eSIM?
The profile remains associated with the phone where you installed it. If you change devices, you usually need to request a new profile or a transfer from the provider, instead of simply moving it as you would with a physical card.
Do I need an unlocked phone to install an eSIM?
If your phone is locked to a specific operator, it may reject eSIM profiles from other companies even if the hardware supports it. It's advisable to confirm this before purchasing a plan.
How long does it take to activate an eSIM on Android?
Profile installation takes seconds. Line activation, once you arrive at your destination and select it as the default for data, usually completes in approximately one minute.
Does eSIM consume more battery or data than a physical SIM?
There is no difference due to it being an eSIM: data consumption depends on the apps you use, not the type of line. Network behavior is the same as with a physical card.
Can I install the eSIM before traveling?
Yes, and it is recommended to do so from a stable network like your home Wi-Fi. You can leave the profile installed without activating the line until you reach your destination, so the plan doesn't start running prematurely.
What do I do if my Android doesn't detect the eSIM option?
First, check with the code *#06# if an EID identifier appears. If it doesn't appear, that specific model or unit probably does not support eSIM, or it is locked by the operator.
Conclusion: What to do before your next trip
If your Android is compatible, activating an eSIM before a trip takes less time than packing your suitcase: you confirm the model with the EID code, buy the plan for your destination, install the profile from home with Wi-Fi, and activate it upon landing. There's no counter to find or card to lose.
To take the first step without errors, the step-by-step installation guide covers each screen in detail, and if you already know where you're traveling, you can check the available plans by destination in the international eSIM collection, with coverage in over 200 destinations and 24/7 support via email and WhatsApp if something doesn't go as expected.
