How to install Holafly eSIM on a Samsung Galaxy
To install the Holafly eSIM on a compatible Samsung Galaxy, go to Settings > Connections > SIM card manager > Add eSIM, and choose between scanning the QR code or entering the manual activation code that Holafly sends by email after purchase; confirm and wait for the profile to download.
This path corresponds to Holafly's official help center, which describes three possible ways to install the eSIM on a Samsung Galaxy (source: esim.holafly.com/faq, accessed August 3, 2026):
- By QR code: Settings > Connections > SIM manager > Add eSIM > Scan QR code. The code can be scanned with the camera or uploaded as an image from the gallery.
- Manual, with activation code: same path, but choosing "Enter activation code" and typing the full code, including the LPA prefix and the colon separating it from the SM-DP+ address.
- From the Holafly app: download the app, log in, go to "Purchases," select the purchased eSIM, and tap "Install" > "Install Automatically."
The same help center warns that the manual code can only be used once, so if you type it incorrectly and the system rejects it, you must request a new one via email or support before retrying.
Manual, QR, or app installation: which method to choose
All three methods lead to the same result (the eSIM profile downloaded to your Samsung), but you don't always have all three options available at the time of installation. This table summarizes when each one is appropriate.
| Method | Path on the phone | When it's best |
|---|---|---|
| QR code | Settings > Connections > SIM manager > Add eSIM > Scan QR code | When you can view the QR on another screen (computer, tablet) or printed, because the Samsung device that will receive the eSIM needs its camera free to focus on it. |
| Manual code (LPA) | Settings > Connections > SIM manager > Add eSIM > Enter activation code | When installing from the same phone that will use the eSIM and you cannot scan a QR on that same screen. |
| Holafly app | App > Purchases > Install > Install Automatically | When you purchased the eSIM from the app itself and prefer to avoid typing codes manually. |
Whatever the method, the prerequisite is the same: a stable Wi-Fi connection. Holafly's own help center explicitly states this before detailing the installation:
"Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network before starting the installation." — Holafly Help Center (esim.holafly.com/faq, accessed August 3, 2026)
This recommendation is not exclusive to Holafly: downloading any eSIM profile, regardless of the provider, is done over the internet, so if you try to install it with unstable mobile data or no connection, the process will be incomplete, and your phone will ask you to retry.
How to activate Holafly once installed
Installing the profile and activating it are two different steps, and this is where most people get confused: the profile can be downloaded on the phone without actually being "on" to provide data. According to the same Holafly help center (accessed August 3, 2026), activation on Samsung follows this path:
- Settings > Connections > SIM manager.
- Tap the newly installed eSIM profile and activate it.
- Deactivate the physical SIM for mobile data, if you have one, to avoid charges from your local operator.
- Select the eSIM as the line used for mobile data.
- Upon arrival at your destination, go to Settings > Mobile data, choose the eSIM, and enable data roaming for that line.
That last step—enabling data roaming for the eSIM, not for the physical SIM—is the one most people forget. If you land and don't see data signal even though the profile is "active," it's almost always because that switch is still off.
What you need before starting
Before buying or installing any eSIM on a Samsung, it's worth checking three things. First, that the model is compatible with eSIM (not all Galaxy models are, especially in the more budget-friendly ranges). Second, that the phone is unlocked by the carrier, because a Samsung locked to a company might reject third-party eSIM profiles even if the hardware supports it. Third, have stable Wi-Fi available, as already mentioned.
There's a detail about the behavior of Samsung's own operating system that's worth knowing and isn't usually explained in installation guides: a Galaxy can store up to two eSIM profiles plus one physical SIM, but only one of the eSIM profiles can be active at a time (source: esim.holafly.com/es/blog, accessed August 3, 2026). If you travel frequently and accumulate profiles from different trips without deleting them, after a couple of installations, you won't be able to distinguish which is which in the SIM Manager. The solution is simple: as soon as each profile is installed, go to the SIM Manager and rename it with the destination and travel date (for example, "Japan - Jul 2026") instead of leaving the generic name assigned by the system. This way, the next time you activate an eSIM before a flight, you activate the correct one on the first try and not the one left over from your previous trip.
Samsung models compatible with eSIM
Not all Galaxy models support eSIM, and within the same series, there may be regional variants that do or do not include it (some versions sold in certain countries have dual physical SIM instead of eSIM). As a reference, Holafly's official blog lists these models as compatible (source: esim.holafly.com/es/blog, accessed August 3, 2026):
| Series | Models mentioned |
|---|---|
| Galaxy S | Galaxy S20, S21, S22, S23 |
| Galaxy Note | Note 20 |
| Galaxy Fold / Flip | Galaxy Fold, Z Flip |
| Galaxy A | Galaxy A54 |
This list corresponds to the content published by Holafly up to the consultation date and does not yet include the latest Samsung releases, such as the S24 or S25 series. This does not mean that these models do not have eSIM: the eSIM function is enabled by Samsung at the hardware and operating system (One UI) level, not by the line provider, so a Galaxy S24 or S25 with eSIM available in your country follows the same SIM Manager described in the previous sections. If you have doubts about your specific model, check Samsung's technical specifications for your region or consult support before purchasing any eSIM.
Activating Holafly on the Galaxy S25 Ultra
The procedure for the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the same as for the rest of the S series: Settings > Connections > SIM Manager > Add eSIM, either by QR or with the manual code, and then activate the profile and data roaming upon arrival at the destination, as detailed in the activation section. The S25 Ultra runs One UI on Android, the same software base where the SIM Manager lives across the entire current Galaxy range, so there is no additional or different step just because it is this particular model.
The only thing that changes from one model to another is not the procedure but the exact location of the menu within Settings, which Samsung reorders slightly between One UI versions. If you don't find "SIM Manager" in your S25 Ultra where described here, use the search bar within Settings (the magnifying glass at the top) and type "eSIM": it will take you directly to the menu even if the visual path has changed with the software update.
Installing an eSIM on any Android
Outside the Samsung world, other eSIM-compatible Android phones (Pixel, and other brands with the feature enabled) use a similar path but with different menu names. Generally, the path is: Settings > Network & Internet (or Connections, depending on the brand) > SIMs > Download a SIM instead / Add eSIM, and from there, scan the QR or enter the manual code, exactly as on Samsung.
The difference between brands is in the interface, not the technology: eSIM is an industry standard (GSMA), not something proprietary to Samsung, Google, or any line provider. That's why an eSIM from Holafly, PuraSIM, or any other provider is installed with the same type of steps on any compatible phone; only where the menu is hidden changes. If your model is not a Samsung and you want to confirm if it has eSIM before buying any plan, it's worth checking which phones are generally compatible with eSIM first.
Common problems when installing eSIM
Most installation hiccups when installing an eSIM on a Samsung device are common regardless of the provider. Here are the most frequent ones and their most probable causes:
| Problem | Most probable cause |
|---|---|
| The QR code "has already been used" or gives an error when scanned | QR codes and manual activation codes can only be used once; if it has been installed before (even by mistake), a new one must be requested. |
| Profile download gets stuck halfway | Unstable Wi-Fi connection during installation; you need to retry with a more stable network. |
| No data signal upon arrival at destination | eSIM data roaming was not enabled, or the physical SIM is still selected as the data line. |
| Samsung does not show the "Add eSIM" option | The model is not compatible with eSIM, or the phone is locked to a specific carrier. |
| It installed but does not appear as an option for mobile data | The profile was downloaded but not activated; the step to activate it within the SIM Manager is missing. |
If the problem persists after reviewing this, the quickest solution is to contact the support of the eSIM provider you purchased from, because some blocks (like a partially unlocked phone) can only be diagnosed by reviewing the specific order.
Holafly vs PuraSIM: objective comparison
Before comparing, a clarification: the Holafly data that follows is taken directly from their official site on the indicated date, and PuraSIM's data is what the store itself publicly declares. Neither includes reviews, ratings, or customer figures, because that type of data is not independently verifiable.
| Criterion | Holafly | PuraSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Destinations with coverage | Coverage by destination is checked on their own site, destination by destination (esim.holafly.com, accessed August 3, 2026) | More than 200 destinations |
| Data type | Plans advertised as "unlimited" (esim.holafly.com, accessed August 3, 2026) | Tiered data plans |
| Support channels | Online chat, email, and in-app support, according to the channels published on their site (esim.holafly.com, accessed August 3, 2026) | Email and WhatsApp, 24/7, in all languages |
| Activation time | "Immediate" installation after purchase, according to their site; data activation is done upon arrival at the destination (esim.holafly.com, accessed August 3, 2026) | Approximately 1 minute |
| Activation deadline from purchase | Not specified on the pages consulted on August 3, 2026 | 180 days from purchase |
For someone installing from a Samsung, the practical point to consider in that table is the support channel: if something goes wrong halfway through installation (for example, a QR code that doesn't scan) and you need to resolve it from the phone itself without being in front of a computer, it's worth checking how you can communicate at that moment. PuraSIM offers support via email and WhatsApp; the channels for each provider are published on their respective websites, and it's worth confirming them before purchasing.
When each option is best
Neither option is the right one for all trips. If your priority is a data consumption that the brand itself advertises as unlimited and you are going to move within the destinations that Holafly covers, that specific feature may outweigh anything else. If, on the other hand, you will need to resolve a technical question via WhatsApp while you are already at the airport or on the street, or if you can't find your specific destination in that brand's coverage list, then you should check other options.
In other words: the type of plan is not everything if the destination you are going to is not covered, and coverage is not everything if you then need support through a channel you don't have on hand. It is advisable to review both points—coverage of the specific destination and support channels—before deciding, not just the plan's price.
Frequently asked questions
How to install eSIM on Samsung?
By going to Settings > Connections > SIM Manager > Add eSIM, and choosing to scan the QR code or enter the manual activation code that the provider sent you by email.
How to install and activate Holafly?
It is installed from the Samsung SIM Manager (via QR, manual code, or the Holafly app) and activated by re-entering that menu to turn on the profile, disable the physical SIM for data, and enable eSIM data roaming upon arrival at the destination.
How to activate Holafly on Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra?
With the same steps as the rest of the S series: SIM Manager > activate the eSIM profile > enable mobile data roaming upon arrival at the destination. The S25 Ultra does not have a different procedure just because it is a newer model.
How to install an eSIM on an Android that is not Samsung?
The path changes names depending on the brand (for example, Settings > Network & Internet > SIMs on Pixel), but the mechanism is the same: scan a QR code or enter a manual activation code, because eSIM is an industry standard and not something exclusive to one phone brand.
Can I have a Holafly eSIM and a PuraSIM eSIM installed on the same Samsung at the same time?
Yes, you can have both profiles saved on the phone (a Samsung supports up to two eSIM profiles plus one physical SIM), but only one of the two can be active for data at a time. You have to go into the SIM Manager and manually switch which one is turned on.
What do I do if my eSIM QR code no longer works?
Activation codes, whether QR or manual, are for one-time use only. If they have already been used or the system rejects them, you must contact the provider's support to generate a new one; there is no way to reactivate the same code from the phone.
Do I need a Wi-Fi connection to install any eSIM?
Yes, it is recommended, especially during profile download. With unstable mobile data, the process may stop halfway and you may need to retry.
Is PuraSIM's eSIM installed the same way as Holafly's on a Samsung?
The installation mechanism on the phone is the same Samsung SIM Manager in both cases, because it depends on the operating system, not the provider. What changes between providers is the destination coverage, the type of plan, and the support channel available if something goes wrong.
Conclusion and next steps
Installing an eSIM on a Samsung Galaxy, whether from Holafly or any other provider, always comes down to the same three steps: adding the profile from the SIM Manager (via QR, manual code, or app), activating it, and enabling data roaming upon arrival at the destination. What changes between providers is not this procedure, but rather the destination coverage, the type of plan, and, most importantly, the support channel available if something goes wrong in the middle of a trip.
If you are going to buy an eSIM for your next trip and WhatsApp and email support, coverage in more than 200 destinations, and up to 180 days to activate it from the purchase are important criteria for you, you can check the available plans by destination in the PuraSIM international eSIM collection.
Related guides: what an eSIM is and how it works in what an eSIM is, the general process in how to install an eSIM step by step, the difference between eSIM and physical SIM and between eSIM and traditional roaming, the list of eSIM compatible phones, the solution to common eSIM problems and the specific sheet for eSIM on Samsung Galaxy.
