Android was actually ahead of the curve on eSIM — Google's Pixel phones supported it years before it went mainstream. The catch is that Android isn't one phone: Samsung buries the eSIM setting in its SIM card manager, Pixel puts it under Network & internet, and Motorola and other brands each have their own path. The underlying process is identical everywhere, but the menu names differ, which is where most people get stuck.

This guide walks through the universal flow first, then the exact steps for Samsung and Pixel (the two most common travel phones), plus manual setup with an activation code and the APN notes that fix the "installed but no data" problem. Do the whole thing at home on Wi-Fi the night before you fly.

Quick answer: On Samsung, go to Settings > Connections > SIM card manager > Add eSIM and scan your provider's QR code. On Pixel, go to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Add SIM and scan the code. Then set the eSIM as your mobile data SIM, turn on roaming for it, and activate the plan when you land in Europe.

1. Confirm your Android actually supports eSIM

Not every Android does — eSIM is common on flagships but rare on budget models. The fastest check: dial *#06# on your phone's keypad. If you see an EID number (a long identifier for the embedded chip) listed alongside your IMEI, your phone has eSIM hardware. No EID, no eSIM — it's that simple.

As a second check, look in Settings for an "Add eSIM" or "Download a SIM" option (paths below). Also confirm the phone is carrier-unlocked: a phone locked to your home carrier may refuse a travel eSIM profile. And watch out for regional variants — some Samsung models sold in certain regions (notably China and Hong Kong) ship without eSIM support even though the same model elsewhere has it. See our full eSIM compatible phones list for model-by-model details.

2. Buy your Europe plan before you travel

Purchase the eSIM while you're still on reliable home Wi-Fi. Providers such as Saily and Nomad eSIM sell regional Europe plans that work across 30+ countries, so one plan covers a multi-country trip. After checkout you'll receive a QR code (on screen and by email) plus, usually, a manual activation code as backup.

Keep that email. Travel eSIM QR codes are typically single-use — if you lose the code or install on the wrong device, you'll need the provider to reissue it. Don't install the profile on a spare phone "to test"; install it on the phone you're taking to Europe.

3. Samsung Galaxy: install via SIM card manager

On Samsung phones (Galaxy S20 series and newer, Z Fold/Flip series, recent A-series models with eSIM):

If the QR scan fails, tap Enter activation code instead and type the code from the provider's email. Samsung also lets you scan from a screenshot: if the QR code is saved in your gallery, some One UI versions offer "scan from photos" in the QR scanner — handy when you're buying directly on the phone.

4. Google Pixel: install via Network & internet

On Pixel 3 and newer (Pixel 3/3a have limited eSIM support; Pixel 4 onward is fully featured):

Pixels also support manual entry: on the QR scanning screen, tap the option to enter the activation code manually. Pixel phones handle eSIM particularly cleanly — if you've used eSIM before, the flow will feel familiar, and Pixels are among the least fussy Android phones for travel eSIMs.

5. QR code vs manual activation code

Both methods install the exact same profile; the difference is only how the phone learns where to download it. The QR code bundles the server address (SM-DP+) and activation code into one scan. Manual entry asks you to type or paste them separately — the provider's email usually labels them "SM-DP+ address" and "activation code".

Use manual entry when: you're buying the eSIM on the phone itself and have no second screen, the QR code won't scan cleanly, or provider support tells you to. The number-one manual-entry failure is a typo in the SM-DP+ address — copy and paste it from the email rather than typing it by hand.

PhoneSettings pathNotes
Samsung Galaxy (S20+/Z series)Settings > Connections > SIM card manager > Add eSIMMay be called "SIM manager" on new One UI; some regional models lack eSIM
Google Pixel (4+)Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Add SIMPixel 3/3a support is limited; very reliable eSIM handling
Motorola (Razr, Edge with eSIM)Settings > Network & internet > Mobile network > Advanced > Carrier > Add carrierOnly specific models support eSIM — check for an EID first
Other brands (Huawei, Honor, Sony, Xiaomi)Usually under Settings > Mobile network or SIM settingsSupport varies by model and region; the EID check is the authority
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6. Set the eSIM as your mobile data line (dual-SIM settings)

After installation you likely have two SIMs: your home SIM and the new travel eSIM. Android needs to know which one does what:

Many travelers simply turn off the home SIM for the whole trip to eliminate any chance of accidental home-carrier roaming — you can re-enable it on the flight home. If you need your home number for two-factor codes, leave it on but disable its mobile data and data roaming.

APN notes: when the eSIM installs but data won't flow

Most travel eSIMs configure data settings automatically, but occasionally Android needs the APN (Access Point Name) set by hand — this is the setting that tells the phone how to reach the internet through the carrier. Symptoms: the eSIM shows signal bars and even "connected", but apps say you're offline.

Change nothing else in the APN screen — wrong values here are a classic way to break a working connection. If the provider didn't supply APN details, don't invent any; the problem is almost certainly elsewhere.

7. Troubleshooting the usual failures

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my Android supports eSIM?
Dial *#06# — if an EID number appears alongside your IMEI, the phone has eSIM hardware. You can also look for an "Add eSIM" option in your SIM/network settings. Flagships from Samsung (S20+), Google (Pixel 4+) and recent Motorola, Huawei and Honor models commonly support it; budget phones usually don't.
Can I keep my home SIM active while using a travel eSIM?
Yes — that's the main advantage. Set the travel eSIM as your mobile-data SIM with roaming on, and keep your home SIM for calls and texts. Just make sure data roaming is OFF on the home SIM so apps don't accidentally use it, or turn the home SIM off entirely if you don't need the number.
Do I need to change APN settings for a travel eSIM?
Usually not — Android configures the APN automatically when the profile downloads. Only set it manually if the eSIM shows signal but apps can't reach the internet, and only using the exact APN values your provider supplies. Guessing APN values will break the connection.
Can I install the eSIM at home before flying?
Yes, and you should. Installation needs Wi-Fi and downloads the profile without starting the plan's validity clock — most Europe eSIMs start counting validity when they first connect to a network in Europe. Install the night before, then switch your data SIM to the eSIM when you land.
Why does my travel eSIM need "roaming" turned on?
Travel eSIMs don't own networks in every country — they roam onto local partner networks (Orange in France, TIM in Italy, and so on). That roaming is prepaid inside the plan you bought, so enabling roaming on the eSIM line costs nothing extra. It's the home SIM's roaming you want to avoid.
Can I move my eSIM to a new phone later?
Not directly. Travel eSIM profiles are generally bound to the device that first activated them. If you upgrade phones mid-trip, contact the provider — most will reissue the QR code for the new device, though some count it against a limited number of reinstalls.

The menus differ between Samsung, Pixel and the rest, but the flow is always the same: buy on Wi-Fi, scan or enter the code, set the eSIM as your data line with roaming on. Do it the night before you fly and Europe is plug-and-play. Updated 2026-10-22.