How to install an eSIM on Android (Pixel, Samsung, Xiaomi, Honor)
The menu changes shape on every brand. Here's the path on every major Android skin in 2026.
Most Android phones since 2022 ship with at least one eSIM slot. The settings path varies by manufacturer; the underlying GSMA spec doesn't.
Pixel (stock Android 15+)
Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → +Add eSIM → scan QR or paste activation code.
Samsung One UI
Settings → Connections → SIM manager → Add eSIM. Then Scan QR code from service provider.
Xiaomi HyperOS / MIUI
Settings → SIM cards & mobile networks → Add cellular plan. Camera view scans the QR.
Huawei / Honor (no Google Play)
Settings → Mobile network → Add eSIM. Honor's MagicOS 8 added a clean two-step flow with progress feedback that beats some Google variants.
OPPO ColorOS
Settings → Mobile network → SIM card information → Add eSIM.
Common surprises
- Some Chinese Android phones disable eSIM at firmware level even when the hardware supports it (regulatory). Pre-trip, search "<your phone> eSIM" to make sure.
- APN settings sometimes don't auto-populate for travel eSIMs. The provider's QR carries them, but if not, Settings → eSIM → Access Point Names → Add.
- Data switching — Android's auto-switch between SIMs is hit-or-miss. If your home line keeps stealing data from the travel profile, lock the data SIM manually in SIM manager.
When the embedded slot is taken
A 9eSIM card sits in the regular SIM tray, looks like a regular SIM to Android, but is itself programmable — you can write Airalo, Holafly, and your home carrier all to one chip, then switch between them with no re-installation. Useful when:
- The phone has a SIM tray but no embedded eSIM (most Xiaomi global firmware).
- The embedded eSIM is full or locked by the original carrier.
- You want one chip you can move between two phones.