You’ve booked your flight, sorted accommodation, and now you’re tackling connectivity. An eSIM sounds perfect — no physical card to swap, activate before you leave, data the moment you land. But if you’ve never set one up on an Android device, the process isn’t always obvious. Unlike iPhones, which follow a single activation flow, Android phones vary by manufacturer. Samsung does it one way, Google Pixel another, Xiaomi differently again.

We’ve shipped thousands of devices and eSIMs to digital nomads working across Europe, Southeast Asia, and beyond. This guide walks you through the actual activation steps, the hiccups we see most often, and — honestly — when portable WiFi makes more sense than juggling eSIM profiles on your phone.

Before You Start: Does Your Android Phone Support eSIM?

Not every Android device has eSIM capability, even newer models. Carriers and manufacturers don’t always enable the feature, especially on budget or regional variants.

To check if your phone supports eSIM, open Settings and search for “SIM” or “Network”. If you see options like “Add eSIM”, “Download a SIM”, or “SIM Manager” with a plus icon, you’re good to go. Common eSIM-compatible Android phones include:

• Samsung Galaxy S20, S21, S22, S23, S24 series (not all regional variants)
• Google Pixel 3 and newer (Pixel 3a, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 series)
• Motorola Razr (2019 onwards)
• OPPO Find X3 Pro, Find X5, Reno series (selected models)
• Xiaomi 12T Pro, 13 Pro (check your region)

If your phone doesn’t support eSIM, or you travel with multiple devices like a laptop, tablet, and backup phone, portable WiFi is more practical. ConnectPls ships a mobile hotspot that connects up to 10 devices at once, no phone dependency, and it’s included in the monthly subscription. You don’t buy hardware upfront.

“We managed to stay always connected while travelling around Europe, without having to buy SIM cards in every country and ending up with a handful of them with different balances we couldn’t use. Excellent support team.”
— Patrícia Reis de Magalhães, verified ConnectPls customer

How to Activate eSIM on Android: The General Steps

Most Android eSIM activations follow this pattern, though menu names differ:

1. Get Your QR Code or Activation Details

Your eSIM provider sends a QR code, usually by email, once you’ve purchased a plan. Some providers also offer manual entry (SM-DP+ address and activation code) if you can’t scan a QR.

Make sure you’re connected to WiFi before you start. You’ll need internet to download the eSIM profile.

2. Open Your Phone’s SIM Settings

The exact path varies by brand:

• Samsung Galaxy: Settings → Connections → SIM Manager → Add eSIM → Scan QR code
• Google Pixel: Settings → Network & Internet → SIMs → Add more → Download a SIM instead → Next → scan QR code
• OnePlus: Settings → Mobile Network → Add eSIM → Scan carrier QR code
• Motorola: Settings → Network & Internet → Mobile network → Advanced → Carrier → Add carrier → scan QR code

If you can’t find it, search “eSIM” or “add SIM” in your phone’s settings search bar.

3. Scan the QR Code

Point your camera at the QR code. The phone should recognize it automatically and begin downloading the profile. This takes 10–30 seconds. You’ll see a confirmation message once it’s installed.

If you don’t have a second device to display the QR code, look for the manual entry option. Your provider should supply an SM-DP+ address and activation code. Enter these instead.

4. Activate and Set as Your Data SIM

Once the eSIM profile is installed, you need to turn it on. Go back to SIM Manager (or your phone’s equivalent), toggle the new eSIM to active, and set it as your preferred mobile data SIM. You can usually leave your home SIM active for calls and texts while using the eSIM for data.

Enable data roaming if prompted. eSIMs often require this to connect to local networks abroad.

5. Restart Your Phone

Some Android phones won’t connect until you reboot. Restart, wait a minute, and check your signal bars. If you see “4G” or “LTE” and a carrier name, you’re connected.

Common Activation Issues and How to Fix Them

We hear the same frustrations from digital nomads who’ve activated eSIMs mid-journey:

“The QR Code Won’t Scan”

Make sure you’re on WiFi. The phone needs internet to download the profile. If the camera won’t focus, increase screen brightness on the device displaying the QR, or save the QR as an image and open it locally (some phones let you scan from the gallery). Otherwise, use manual entry.

“eSIM Installed But No Signal”

Check that you’ve turned the eSIM on in SIM Manager and set it as your data SIM. Enable data roaming. Restart the phone. If it still won’t connect, the eSIM may not be active yet. Some providers require you to land in the destination country first.

“Can’t Remove or Switch eSIM Profiles”

Most Android phones let you store multiple eSIM profiles but only activate one or two at a time (depending on dual-SIM support). To switch, go to SIM Manager, deactivate the current eSIM, and activate the other. Deleting an eSIM profile is permanent. You’ll need a new QR code to reinstall it.

This juggling act is why many van lifers and long-term travelers prefer portable WiFi. A mobile hotspot subscription from ConnectPls covers 160+ countries on one device, with truly unlimited data across 70 “Group 0” countries including the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand. No profile swapping, no wondering which eSIM to activate this week.

When Portable WiFi Makes More Sense Than eSIM

eSIMs work well for solo travelers with a single phone on short trips. But if you’re a digital nomad working across multiple countries each month, or you need to share data with a partner, laptop, or backup devices, the limitations add up fast:

• You switch devices often: eSIM profiles are tied to one phone. If you upgrade or carry a backup Android, you’re buying new eSIMs or transferring profiles (which isn’t always possible).
• You share data: A portable hotspot connects up to 10 devices. Laptop, tablet, your travel partner’s phone, all from one subscription.
• You stay somewhere for months: ConnectPls billing is monthly and flexible. Activate the device when you’re on the road (France in June, Spain in July), pause it when you’re back home. No long-term contract, no wasted data days.
• You move between countries weekly: The Plus Europe package uses Cloud SIM technology, automatically switching between local operators as you cross borders. No new eSIM profile in each country, no manual setup every time you drive from France into Spain.

The device ships in 2–3 working days across Europe, 4–5 in the UK, and it’s included in the subscription. You’re not paying £200 upfront for hardware. There’s a £25 early cancellation fee only if you cancel a mobile-router plan within the first three months (it covers shipping and return costs). After that, cancel anytime.

eSIM, Local SIM, Roaming, or Portable WiFi: Which Should You Choose?

Option	Best For	Pros	Cons
eSIM	Short trips, single phone user	Quick setup, no physical SIM, activate before you fly	Phone must support eSIM, profile tied to one device, can’t share data
Local SIM	Long stays in one country	Often cheapest per GB, local number	Requires unlocked phone, paperwork or ID in some countries, new SIM each destination
Home Roaming	Occasional weekends abroad	No setup, same number	Expensive daily fees, surprise bills, often slow or capped data
Portable WiFi	Multi-country travel, multiple devices, remote work	Share across 10 devices, monthly billing, no phone dependency, works in 160+ countries	Carry an extra device, battery needs charging

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use eSIM and a physical SIM at the same time on Android?

Yes, most eSIM-compatible Android phones support dual SIM (one eSIM, one physical). You can leave your home SIM active for calls and texts while using the eSIM for mobile data. Check your phone’s SIM Manager to set which SIM handles data, calls, and messages.

Do I need to delete my eSIM profile when I return home?

You don’t have to delete it. Just turn it off in SIM Manager and switch your data back to your home SIM. Keep the eSIM installed if you plan to return to that country and your provider allows reuse. If it’s a one-time plan, you can delete it to tidy up, but you’ll need a new QR code to reinstall.

What happens if my Android phone breaks or I upgrade mid-trip?

eSIM profiles usually can’t be transferred between devices. Some providers let you request a new QR code, but others treat it as a new purchase. This is a real pain if you’re months into a van life trip across Europe or working remotely in Southeast Asia. Portable WiFi doesn’t have this problem. The device is separate from your phone, so if your phone dies, your connectivity doesn’t.