Guide

How to set up eSIM on Android: Samsung, Xiaomi, Pixel, Honor

Which Android phones support eSIM, where to find the setting on Samsung, Xiaomi, Pixel and Honor, how to install a profile and how to switch lines while you travel.

Published September 19, 2026 · Updated October 1, 2026 · 7 min read · MoreSim editorial team

You set up an eSIM on Android in the SIM settings: the phone scans a QR code, downloads the profile and adds a second line next to your home SIM. The path to that setting differs on Samsung, Xiaomi, Google Pixel and Honor, and some models and regional versions have no eSIM at all, so check support first. After landing, you set the eSIM line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it.

Which Android phones support eSIM?

There is no universal list of Android phones that support eSIM, and that’s the key thing to know. Support depends on the model and the regional version: the same smartphone bought in different countries may or may not have eSIM. “This brand supports it” is no help — you need to check the actual phone in your hand.

A rough rule of thumb: recent flagship lines are more likely to have eSIM than budget ones, but there are exceptions both ways. Phones made for the domestic market of certain countries are a special case: they look like the familiar model but won’t accept a profile. That’s why the check takes a minute but can save you a whole evening on your trip.

If your Android phone doesn’t support eSIM, your options are limited: bring a second phone that does, or buy a local SIM on arrival. There’s no in-between — you can’t add eSIM through software to a phone that lacks it at the hardware level. The good news is that checking takes nothing more than a minute in the bot.

Where is the eSIM setting on Android?

The eSIM setting on Android is in the network and SIM settings, but every brand calls it something different. The table has rough paths for the popular skins: think of them as pointers, not exact instructions, since the wording changes from version to version and from firmware to firmware.

If there’s nothing like it along that path, try searching your settings — almost every skin has a search bar. Type “eSIM” or “SIM” and the system will show all matching sections. No results is almost certainly a sign that the phone doesn’t support eSIM, and no update will change that.

The Android version matters too. A very old OS may not know about eSIM even if the phone has the chip. Update to the latest version the manufacturer released for your model and check settings again. Beyond that, nothing will help: eSIM support is built into the hardware and firmware and can’t be unlocked through settings.

How to install an eSIM on Android, step by step

Installing an eSIM works the same way on every Android phone: the phone reads the QR code, downloads the profile from the carrier’s server and writes it to the chip. It usually takes a few minutes, and you need a stable internet connection the whole time.

1. Connect to Wi-Fi — installing over mobile data works too, but a dropped connection halfway through will ruin it.
2. Open the SIM settings using the path from the table above.
3. Choose to add an eSIM or a mobile plan. The wording varies by skin: “Add eSIM”, “Download a SIM”, “Add mobile plan”.
4. Point the camera at the QR code from the bot chat. If the code is open on the same phone, choose to enter the activation details manually.
5. Wait for the profile to download and confirm adding the line.
6. Give the line a clear name so you don’t mix it up with your home SIM.
7. Check that the line shows up in the list. You don’t need to turn it on before the trip.

How to activate an eSIM on Android after landing

Activating an eSIM on Android after landing means turning the line on, setting it for mobile data and turning on data roaming for it. The plan starts counting on first connection in the destination country, so keep the line off at home.

1. Turn on the eSIM line in the SIM settings.
2. Set it as your mobile data line.
3. Turn on data roaming for it: most travel eSIMs run on the local network as roaming, and without it you won’t get data. If your plan’s instructions say otherwise, follow them.
4. Turn off mobile data on your home SIM so your data doesn’t go through your home carrier. Keep the line itself on if you’re expecting bank texts.
5. Wait a couple of minutes, then toggle airplane mode on and off if the network still hasn’t appeared.

If the network still doesn’t show up after toggling airplane mode, go to mobile network settings and pick the network manually: the phone will list the available ones, and you can try them one by one. Which networks show up and how strong they are depends on the country and the exact spot — no one can promise that in advance.

How do I switch between SIM cards on Android?

Each line on an Android phone has three roles: mobile data, calls and texts. You set them separately, and switching between SIMs is really just changing the line for one of those three. No restart needed — changes apply instantly.

• Keep mobile data on the eSIM for the whole trip and turn off data on your home SIM.
• Keep calls and texts on your home number — that’s where your bank codes arrive.
• Add the data line toggle to the quick settings panel if your skin allows it.
• Name both lines so you don’t have to guess which is which.
• When you’re back home, switch mobile data back to your home SIM, or the phone will be left without data.

Messaging apps aren’t affected by switching: they run over the internet and stay tied to your home number. Outgoing cellular calls from your home line while abroad, though, are your carrier’s roaming under its own rules, so check those with your carrier.

One more thing: Wi-Fi calling and VoLTE. Some skins set these toggles separately for each line, so it’s worth double-checking them after you add an eSIM. The labels vary, so look for them by meaning in the mobile network settings.

What if the eSIM still has no data?

Most eSIM data problems on Android come down to four checks, and it’s almost always the settings, not the profile itself.

1. The eSIM line is on, and it’s the one selected for mobile data.
2. Data roaming is on for the eSIM line.
3. Mobile data is off on your home SIM, and data saver isn’t blocking the network.
4. You’ve toggled airplane mode on and off and restarted the phone at least once.

Still stuck? Contact MoreSim support: it’s available via /support in the bot, a ticket in your account and email at admin@moresim.online. If you’ve run out of data, you don’t need a new eSIM: tap “Top up data” on the eSIM card in your account or in the bot’s app, and the data is added to your current profile, if top-ups are available for that plan.