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How to activate and use an eSIM on Android
In This Article
eSIM is a new way for consumers to use their smartphones without the need for a physical SIM card. Popularised by theiPhone 14, especially in the US where you can only buy eSIM variants of Apple’s tech,eSIM functionalityisn’t exclusive to the iPhone.
In fact, there’s a growing number of Android smartphones that offer eSIM connectivity, some even offering dual-SIM connectivity alongside a standard physical SIM. It’s a key feature of thePixel 7andPixel 7 Pro, as well asSamsung’s Galaxy S23range and other popularflagship-level smartphones.
The question is, how do you set up eSIM functionality on Android? While you’re prompted to set up the functionality during the initial setup of the phone, what if you skipped the step? You might be worried that you’ll have to factory reset your phone and set it up again, but hold off from pressing that Erase All Content button.
That’s because there’s an easy way to activate eSIM on an Android smartphone at any point, not just during the initial setup process. If you want to convert to the simplistic eSIM lifestyle, here’s how to activate an eSIM on Android.
Editor’s Note:We’ve used the Google Pixel 7 Pro running stockAndroid 13for the purposes of our tutorial. Depending on the manufacturer of your smartphone and whether it uses a custom UI, your steps may vary slightly, but the overall process should be very similar.
What you’ll need:
The Short Version
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How to use an eSIM on Android
Step1
Open the Settings app
The first step is to head to your phone’s Settings app. While the style of the icon varies depending on the smartphone you use, it’s usually denoted by a mechanical cog wheel.
Step2
Tap Network & internet
From the main Settings app menu, tap Network & Internet (right at the top of the app).
Step3
Tap SIMs
The Network & Internet menu is where you can add a new Wi-Fi network, adjust cellular settings and more. For our eSIM purposes, tap the SIM menu.
Step4
Tap Download eSIM instead
If you’ve got a physical SIM card in your smartphone, you’ll be able to change specific settings about that SIM’s connectivity. That’s not what we’re interested in, however.Instead, remove your old physical SIM card from your phone using the supplied SIM ejection tool (if it was in there initially) then head back to the menu and tap ‘Use eSIM instead’ at the bottom of the page to continue setup, and tap Next on the following page.
Step5
Scan the eSIM QR code provided by your network
The next step is to use your smartphone to scan the QR code provided by your network carrier when ordering an eSIM or upgrading your contract to an eSIM variant. If you haven’t got a QR code handy, give your carrier a quick call.If you do have the QR code handy, point your phone at it and ensure that the entire QR code is visible from the camera preview on-screen.Once the QR code has been scanned and authenticated by your network carrier, simply tap Activate in the bottom right to begin using your new eSIM.
Troubleshooting
The process varies slightly depending on the smartphone manufacturer, with the eSIM functionality on Samsung devices found in Settings > Connections > SIM Card Manager > Add Mobile Plan.
If your phone’s Camera app supports QR code scanning, you can scan the eSIM QR code in the Camera app to start the setup process.
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Lewis is the Mobile Editor of Trusted Reviews with plenty of phone experience, from the Nokia 3210 to the iPhone 14 Pro Max. He has been in the tech industry writing about phones, headphones, tablets,…
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Why trust our journalism?
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
