Tech

How to set up an eSIM on Samsung Galaxy phones and watches

How to set up an eSIM on a Samsung phone: where to find it in One UI, how to pick your data line, and why a phone eSIM usually won’t work on a Galaxy Watch.

Published September 14, 2026 · Updated October 1, 2026 · 8 min read · MoreSim editorial team

To set up an eSIM on a Samsung Galaxy phone, open Settings, go to Connections and SIM manager, choose Add eSIM and scan the QR code while connected to Wi-Fi. Then set the eSIM as your mobile data line and turn on data roaming for it. The path in One UI barely changes between versions; only the menu wording does. The Galaxy Watch is different: its eSIM is a separate carrier service, and a travel plan for your phone usually can’t be moved to it.

How to check whether your Samsung has an eSIM

The quickest way to check whether your Samsung has an eSIM is on the phone itself: search settings, look in SIM manager or check for an EID. eSIM support spread unevenly across Samsung’s lineups, and it also depends on the market the phone was built for, since firmware differs between country versions. So a list of models won’t settle it, while checking your actual phone takes a minute.

• Open Settings and type “eSIM” into the search bar: if the option exists, it’ll show up right away.
• Look in Connections, then SIM manager: next to the physical slot there should be an option to add an eSIM.
• Dial *#06#. If an EID appears alongside the IMEI, your phone has an eSIM chip.
• Run your model through the compatibility check in the bot @moresim_bot.

Pay extra attention to phones bought abroad or secondhand. Some regional versions have a second physical SIM slot and no eSIM at all; the warranty card won’t tell you, but the settings menu will.

How to set up an eSIM on Samsung: step by step in One UI

The path has barely changed over the years, and the logic is the same on any Android phone: the option lives under Connections, in SIM manager. The wording varies between One UI versions, sometimes “Add eSIM”, sometimes “Add mobile plan”, so look for the meaning rather than an exact match.

1. Connect to stable Wi-Fi, since the profile downloads over the internet.
2. Open Settings, then Connections, then SIM manager, and choose Add eSIM.
3. Scan the QR code. With MoreSim it arrives in the chat about 30 seconds after you check out.
4. Wait for the profile to download, and stay on Wi-Fi until the installation finishes.
5. Give the line a clear name, such as the country you’re going to.
6. Set the eSIM as your mobile data line and turn on data roaming for it: most travel eSIMs run on a local carrier’s network as roaming lines, so you won’t get data without it.
7. Turn off mobile data on your home SIM so your data doesn’t go through your home carrier.

Your home number stays in the phone: the eSIM runs as a second line, so there’s no need to remove your physical SIM. Calls and texts to your home number keep coming through as long as that line is on.

It’s easiest to install the profile at home on your own Wi-Fi. The plan starts counting on first connection in your destination, so an eSIM installed in advance doesn’t use up any days.

A Samsung phone can store several eSIM profiles, but not all of them can be active at once; how many depends on the model and software version. If you’ve built up a collection, clear out the extras before your trip, but only the ones you’re sure you’re done with: a deleted eSIM profile usually can’t be reinstalled from the same QR code. If you’ve deleted one you still need, contact support first rather than buying a new plan.

How to choose your data line and switch between SIMs

After installation, SIM manager shows two lines, and you need to tell the phone which does what. Usually you set three things: the line for mobile data, the default line for calls and the line for text messages.

It makes sense to keep mobile data on the travel eSIM and calls and texts on your home number if you need it for bank codes. You can switch the data line at any time, no restart needed. Some One UI versions put the switch in the notification shade, which is handier than digging through settings every time.

If you only need your home number to receive codes, keep that line on but with mobile data off. Bank texts will get through as long as your carrier offers roaming in the country you’re visiting, and all your data will go through the travel plan.

What to do if there’s no internet on your Samsung after landing

It’s almost always the line settings rather than the profile itself. Work through this short list from the top; the answer is usually in step two or three.

• Check that the travel eSIM, not your home SIM, is selected for mobile data.
• Make sure data roaming is on for the eSIM: a travel eSIM usually connects to the local network as a roaming line.
• Turn on airplane mode for half a minute, then off, so the phone searches for a network again.
• Check network selection: if it’s set to manual, switch it back to automatic.
• Check your remaining data in the bot or in your account on the website.

Right after landing, a phone sometimes clings for a few minutes to the last network it saw. That’s normal, so give it a couple of minutes before changing anything. If nothing on the list helps, MoreSim support is reachable via /support in the bot, a ticket in your account and email.

Can you put an eSIM on a Samsung Galaxy Watch?

You usually can’t put a travel eSIM on a Samsung Galaxy Watch: on the watch, eSIM is a separate service your carrier adds to your number. Galaxy Watch models come in two versions, with cellular (LTE) support and without it. The version without a cellular module only works paired with your phone over Bluetooth or via Wi-Fi, and you can’t install any profile on it because there’s nowhere to put one.

The cellular version of the Galaxy Watch does have an eSIM, but it’s a separate story. The watch profile isn’t a copy or extension of your phone’s; it’s a standalone service your carrier adds to your number.

• A watch eSIM is a separate profile, not the same one that’s on your phone.
• It’s usually a carrier service, and not every carrier or plan supports it.
• You need a watch model with a cellular module, and compatibility with your specific phone matters too.
• A travel eSIM for your phone generally can’t be moved to a watch: they’re different services.
• Terms vary from country to country, so check with your carrier and the watch maker.

The practical approach for travel is less exciting, but it works: keep data on your phone and connect the watch to it over Bluetooth. Notifications, step tracking, music and watch payments are usually available in this mode, and only one device uses data instead of two.

Pre-flight checklist for your Samsung

Seven steps before you fly are enough: check the phone, install the profile at home and set up your lines in advance.

1. Check that your Samsung supports eSIM, by searching settings or using the compatibility check in the bot @moresim_bot.
2. Buy a plan and install the profile at home on stable Wi-Fi.
3. Label your lines so you don’t mix up your home SIM and the travel eSIM.
4. Set the eSIM as your mobile data line and turn on data roaming for it.
5. Turn off mobile data on your home SIM.
6. If you need cellular on your watch, check the terms with your carrier in advance.
7. If you run out of data, top up without a new eSIM: use “Top up data” on the eSIM card in your account or in the bot’s app, if top-ups are available for that plan.