How to Install eSIM on Android

Android is not one operating system in practice — it’s about a dozen close cousins. The eSIM flow is fundamentally the same on every device because the underlying spec (GSMA SGP.22) is standard, but the menu wording, the number of taps to reach it, and the location of the “Add eSIM” button vary by manufacturer.

This guide gives you the universal pattern and a per-brand cheat sheet for the most common Android phones outside Samsung and Pixel. For those two, we have dedicated guides linked at the bottom.

When to use this guide

Use this guide if your phone is:

• OnePlus (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, Open, Nord with eSIM support)
• Sony Xperia (1 IV and newer)
• Motorola (Edge series, Razr foldables)
• Honor (Magic series with eSIM support)
• Xiaomi (12T Pro, 13, 14 in eSIM-supported variants — many Xiaomi global ROMs lack eSIM)
• Huawei (P40 and select Mate series — eSIM support is regional)
• Fairphone, Nothing Phone, and other Android brands not covered elsewhere

If you have a Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel, use the dedicated guides — they’re shorter and more precise.

Before you start

1. Confirm eSIM support. Not every Android with the right chip ships with eSIM enabled in firmware. Region and carrier variants matter a lot — a Xiaomi 14 in China has no eSIM; the same model in Europe might. Check the eSIM-compatible devices list, or dial *#06#: if you see an EID number, you have eSIM hardware.
2. The phone is unlocked. Carrier-locked phones often reject travel eSIMs.
3. You’re on Wi-Fi or working cellular. Profile download needs internet.
4. Allow 5–10 minutes. Most installs finish quickly; allow buffer for retries.

Step 1 — Buy your eSIM

Pick a destination on the 186 destinations page, choose a plan, and pay with card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or crypto. See how to buy an eSIM for a walk-through.

Within about 60 seconds you’ll receive an email containing:

• A QR code (image)
• A manual activation code (SM-DP+ address and activation code)
• A direct install URL (LPA:1$... — tap to open Settings pre-filled)

Step 2 — The universal install flow

The pattern is the same on every Android skin. Only the words differ.

1. Open Settings.
2. Find the section about mobile networks / SIMs / connections.
3. Look for Add SIM, Add eSIM, or Mobile plan.
4. Choose Scan QR code (or paste the activation code manually).
5. Confirm the download and activation.

Where each manufacturer hides this section is the only real variation.

Per-brand Settings paths

Brand	Path to “Add eSIM”
OnePlus (OxygenOS 13+)	Settings → Wi-Fi & network → SIM & network → Add eSIM
OnePlus (OxygenOS 14/15)	Settings → Mobile network → SIM cards → Add eSIM
Sony Xperia	Settings → Network & internet → Mobile network → Add carrier → Download a SIM instead?
Motorola (Edge, Razr)	Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → + Add SIM → Download a SIM instead?
Honor (Magic UI)	Settings → Mobile network → SIM management → Add eSIM
Xiaomi (HyperOS / MIUI 14+)	Settings → SIM cards & mobile networks → Add eSIM (or Use eSIM)
Huawei (EMUI/HarmonyOS)	Settings → Mobile network → SIM management → eSIM → Add eSIM
Nothing Phone (Nothing OS)	Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → + Add SIM
Fairphone (Android stock)	Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → + Add SIM

On any of these, once you reach Add eSIM the next screen is essentially identical: scan QR, or tap a small “enter manually” link to paste the activation code.

Step 3 — Three install methods

Method A — QR scan (recommended)

1. Open the eSIM email on a second screen (laptop, tablet, second phone).
2. On your Android, follow the path in the table above.
3. Tap Scan QR code when offered.
4. Point the camera at the QR. Wait 10–60 seconds.
5. Confirm Activate when prompted.

Method B — Manual entry

Use if the QR won’t scan.

1. Follow the same path, but instead of scanning, choose Enter activation code manually (wording varies — sometimes hidden behind a small “Need help?” link).
2. Paste the activation code from your email. Format: LPA:1$rsp.simsimsim.net$XXXXXXXX. On some skins you’ll be asked to split it into “SM-DP+ address” and “activation code” — the address is rsp.simsimsim.net, the code is the hex string after the last $.
3. Confirm and download.

Method C — Direct install URL

Use if you opened the email on the same Android phone.

1. Open the email on the device.
2. Tap the Install eSIM button or the LPA:1$... link.
3. Android opens the right Settings page with the SM-DP+ address pre-filled.
4. Tap Download and then Activate.

This method works on Android 13 and newer on most brands. On Huawei HarmonyOS, the direct link often fails — use Method A or B.

Step 4 — Label the eSIM

After download, you’ll be asked to name it. Default is the carrier; we strongly recommend changing to the destination — for example “Spain travel” or “Thailand Dec”. With multiple eSIMs you’ll thank yourself later.

Step 5 — Set default lines

Setting	Recommended (travel)
Calls	Home SIM
Texts	Home SIM (for 2FA codes)
Mobile data	Travel eSIM

Simsimsim eSIMs are data-only — no phone number, no SMS, no voice. Use WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal for calls.

Step 6 — Enable Data Roaming on the travel eSIM

Android treats the travel eSIM as “roaming” because the profile is foreign to the local network. Without this toggle, data silently fails.

The path varies by brand but generally: Settings → [SIM section] → [tap your travel eSIM label] → Data roaming → On.

This toggle applies only to the travel eSIM. Your home SIM’s roaming stays as you had it.

Step 7 — Activation timing

Most Simsimsim plans activate on first connection in the destination country, not at install time. You can install at home safely. The plan starts counting once your phone registers on a local network at the destination.

A small number of plans activate on download. The plan’s purchase page states which rule applies.

Generic troubleshooting

The fixes below work across all Android skins; only the menu names differ.

Problem	Fix
QR won’t scan	Brightness up on the QR screen, wipe camera lens, or use Method B (manual entry).
“Couldn’t add eSIM” / “Error downloading profile”	You lost internet mid-download. Switch network and retry. The QR is still valid — it can be retried unless explicitly consumed.
Profile downloads but no signal	Reboot the phone. Then disable Auto network selection: pick the local carrier manually under Mobile network → Network operators.
eSIM not showing in SIM picker	The eSIM is disabled. Open the SIM section in Settings, tap the eSIM label, toggle Use SIM to On.
Phone refuses to add the eSIM	The phone may be carrier-locked, or your region’s firmware has eSIM disabled. Check by dialling *#06# — no EID means no eSIM hardware support in this firmware.
Slow data after activation	Toggle Airplane Mode on for 10 seconds, then off. The handset will reselect bands.
“This eSIM is already installed on another device”	Each QR can only be installed once. If you reinstalled, request a new QR from support.

Per-brand quirks worth knowing

• OnePlus: Some OxygenOS 13 builds had a bug where adding a second eSIM disabled the first one. OxygenOS 14+ fixed this.
• Xiaomi: Many global Xiaomi models lack eSIM despite the hardware supporting it. This is a firmware/region restriction, not fixable from user space. Check the compatibility list before buying.
• Huawei: Newer Huawei phones run HarmonyOS. The eSIM flow is similar but the direct install link (LPA:1$...) often fails. Use QR scan or manual entry.
• Honor: Since the Huawei spin-off, Honor uses Magic UI/MagicOS. eSIM works reliably but the menu path is Mobile network → SIM management (different from most Android skins).
• Motorola: Razr foldables sometimes refuse the QR scan when the phone is folded. Unfold first.
• Sony Xperia: Some carrier-branded Xperia units in Japan are locked to a single eSIM profile slot.
• Nothing Phone: Treat as stock Android — paths match the Pixel guide closely.

FAQ

Why is the eSIM menu missing on my Android? Either your model doesn’t have eSIM in this firmware variant (common on Xiaomi global ROMs), or the menu is in a non-obvious place. Dial *#06# — if there’s an EID, you have hardware support; the menu exists somewhere.

Can I install before I travel? Yes. Most Simsimsim plans only start counting when you connect at the destination. Installing in advance is the recommended approach.

Will my home SIM keep working? Yes. Most modern Android phones support a physical SIM plus an active eSIM at the same time. Some newer models support multiple active eSIMs.

Can I move an eSIM between phones? No, not from a single QR. eSIM profiles are bound to a device’s EID at download. If you swap phones, you need a new QR — contact support for a re-issue.

What if I uninstall the eSIM by mistake? Once erased, the QR can’t be reused. Support can re-issue. To avoid this, only erase after your trip ends and the plan is exhausted.

My phone has a “Mobile plan” entry instead of “Add eSIM”. Same thing? Yes. “Mobile plan” is older Google wording for the eSIM enrollment flow. The next screen is the QR scanner.

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Got your QR? The pattern is always the same: Settings → SIM section → Add eSIM → scan. Browse 186 destinations or check the eSIM-compatible devices list to confirm your model is supported.

For specific phones: iPhone install guide · Samsung Galaxy install guide · Google Pixel install guide