How to Install eSIM on Samsung Galaxy

Samsung’s eSIM flow is straightforward once you know where to look. The setting lives in a slightly different menu than people expect, and the device variant you bought matters more than on iPhone — some Galaxy units sold in Hong Kong, mainland China, and a few other markets don’t support eSIM at all. This guide covers exactly where to tap on One UI 6 and One UI 7 (Android 14/15), what to do when the QR won’t take, and how to keep your home line for calls while data runs over the travel eSIM.

The steps work on Galaxy S20 through S25, the Z Fold and Z Flip series (Fold2 and later, Flip and later), and Note 20 / Note 20 Ultra.

Before you start: 4 quick checks

Check	How to verify
Galaxy supports eSIM	Dial *#06#. If you see an EID number alongside the IMEI, eSIM works.
It’s not a Hong Kong / China variant	Settings > About phone > Model number. Models ending in /HK, /CHC, /CHN typically lack eSIM.
Phone is unlocked	Settings > Connections > SIM manager. If there’s no SIM lock warning, you’re fine.
Wi-Fi or working mobile data	The profile downloads over the internet.

A few specific cases worth knowing:

• Galaxy S20 / S20+ in the US and Korea support eSIM. S20 Ultra in some markets doesn’t.
• Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip (all variants worldwide) support eSIM, even the Chinese versions — Samsung made an exception for foldables.
• Galaxy A series: only A54, A55 and newer support eSIM. Older A-series don’t.

If you’re unsure, check our eSIM-compatible devices list.

Step 1: Buy the eSIM

Pick a country on Simsimsim, choose a plan, and check out. Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and crypto (USDT or BTC) all work. New customers get a $5 welcome credit. No account, no app — just an email.

Full walk-through: How to buy an eSIM.

Step 2: Receive the QR code

The email lands within about 60 seconds and contains:

• A QR code (image)
• A manual activation string (SM-DP+ address and activation code)
• A direct install link (works on most Galaxy phones running One UI 6.1+)

Keep that email until your trip ends. If it doesn’t arrive in a few minutes, check spam and promotions. Still nothing? Reply to your confirmation or contact support and we’ll resend.

Step 3: Install the eSIM (3 methods)

Samsung gives you the same three options as iPhone, just in different menus.

Method A — Scan the QR code (most common)

Display the QR code on a second screen (laptop, tablet, friend’s phone). Samsung can’t scan its own display.

1. Open Settings > Connections > SIM manager.
2. Tap Add eSIM (on older One UI versions: Add mobile plan → Add using QR code).
3. Tap Scan QR code from service provider.
4. Point the camera at the QR. Recognition takes a second.
5. Tap Add.

Method B — Enter details manually

If the QR won’t scan, or you only have one device:

1. Settings > Connections > SIM manager > Add eSIM.
2. Tap Enter activation code (or Enter code manually — wording varies by One UI version).
3. Paste the SM-DP+ Address and Activation Code from your email.
4. Tap Connect, then Add.

Method C — Direct install link

On One UI 6.1 and later, tap the install link in the email on your Galaxy. It opens the SIM manager with the profile pre-filled — just tap Add.

Step 4: Choose your primary line — the step people get wrong

After install, SIM manager shows both lines. This is where setup most often goes sideways.

1. Calls → keep your home SIM so people can reach you.
2. Messages (SMS / RCS) → home SIM.
3. Mobile data → switch to the new travel eSIM. This is the whole point.

You can change all three later in Settings > Connections > SIM manager > Preferred SIMs.

Step 5: Label the eSIM

Give the new profile a clear name like “Travel — Japan” or “Simsimsim”. Default labels become a mess once you have several travel eSIMs.

1. Settings > Connections > SIM manager.
2. Tap the new eSIM.
3. Tap SIM name and enter the label.
4. You can also set a colour to tell them apart at a glance.

Step 6: Turn on Data Roaming for the new eSIM

Travel eSIMs roam onto local partner networks, so the profile must have Data Roaming on — even though the data is foreign.

1. Settings > Connections > Mobile networks.
2. If asked, pick the new eSIM at the top.
3. Toggle Data roaming on.
4. Back in SIM manager, disable Data roaming on your home SIM so your home carrier doesn’t sneak in a charge.

Step 7: Activate on arrival

Most plans activate when your Galaxy first connects to a partner network at the destination. For most countries this is instant. A few (some carriers in India, China, Russia) need 1–5 minutes. If you’ve waited longer, toggle airplane mode off and on.

You don’t need to do anything before departure — keep your home SIM as primary until you land.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Likely cause	Fix
QR won’t scan	QR too small or screen glare	Zoom on the source device, or use manual entry (Method B)
“Unable to add eSIM”	Slow Wi-Fi or temporary download error	Switch Wi-Fi, reboot the phone, try again
“Code already used”	QR has been redeemed before	Each QR is single-use. Contact support to reissue
“Add mobile plan” missing from menu	One UI version too old, or HK/China variant	Update One UI; if model ends in /HK or /CHC, eSIM isn’t supported
Profile installed but no signal	Data roaming off for the eSIM	Toggle Data roaming on for the eSIM, off for home line
Profile installed but slow	Phone picked a weak partner network	Settings > Connections > Mobile networks > Network operators → manual, pick a stronger one
Calls go to wrong line	Travel eSIM set as default for calls	Settings > Connections > SIM manager > Preferred SIMs > Calls → home line

If none of these help, contact us with your order ID and a screenshot of Settings > Connections > SIM manager.

FAQ

Can I install the eSIM before I travel? Yes. Install it at home over Wi-Fi a day or two ahead. The plan timer starts on first connection at the destination, not at install.

Does adding an eSIM remove my physical SIM? No. The eSIM is added alongside your existing SIM. Most Galaxy phones support one physical SIM and one or two eSIMs active at the same time.

How many eSIMs can a Galaxy phone store? Storage varies: most models hold up to 5–7 profiles, with one or two active at once. You can keep old profiles for future trips and switch in SIM manager.

My Galaxy is from Hong Kong / China. Why doesn’t the menu show “Add eSIM”? Samsung disables eSIM in firmware for some Hong Kong and mainland China variants of the S series. Foldables (Fold, Flip) are an exception and do support eSIM in all regions.

Will my Galaxy still receive SMS on my home number? Yes, as long as the home SIM is set as Preferred SIM for messages in SIM manager.

The “Add eSIM” button is greyed out. What now? Either Wi-Fi is unstable, you’re at the storage limit (delete an old profile), or it’s a regional variant without eSIM. Reboot and try a different network first.

Next steps

Browse plans across 186 destinations or read the full purchase guide: How to buy an eSIM.

Different phone? See install on iPhone or install on Pixel.