How to Use an eSIM for Travel on iPhone and Android
You want to step off the plane with maps and a ride app working, and not hunt for airport Wi-Fi first. To use an eSIM for travel, install it at home over Wi-Fi with the QR code from your plan. When you land, turn the line on, turn on data roaming for that line, and pick it for cellular data. Your US number stays on the phone as a second line. Most of the work takes place before you leave, and it takes a few minutes.
In short:
- Check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked before you buy anything.
- Install at home on Wi-Fi. On Moosetrip plans, days count from your first connection in the country you are visiting.
- After landing, turn on the eSIM line and its data roaming, and set it as your data line.
- Keep the eSIM on your phone for the whole trip. Do not delete it to fix a problem.
Check your phone first
Your phone needs two things: eSIM support and no carrier lock.
eSIM support. Apple says you need an iPhone XS, XS Max, XR or later. Google says all Pixel 4 and later models work. Samsung's list is longer, so we broke it down in does my phone support eSIM. A quick test on any phone is to dial *#06# and look for a line called EID. Our phone check also helps.
Carrier lock. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > About and find Carrier Lock. Apple says "No SIM Restrictions" means the phone is unlocked. If you see anything else, ask your carrier about unlocking it before your trip. This step can take days, or may not be possible until the phone is paid off.
What to have ready
- Wi-Fi. Apple asks for a Wi-Fi network or hotspot during setup. Use a connection you trust, since the phone downloads the eSIM over it.
- Your QR code. On a Samsung or Pixel, show it on a second screen or print it. The camera cannot scan the phone's own display.
- Time. Do this a day or two before your flight. If something goes wrong, you still have a chance to fix it at home.
- The right plan. A single-country plan works in that country. For several stops, look at a regional plan such as Europe, Asia or Japan + South Korea.
Installing early is safe on Moosetrip plans, because days start with your first connection in the destination country. A plan for Italy will not connect at home, and that is normal. Do not read it as a failed install.
How to install an eSIM on iPhone
Apple gives three ways to do it. The QR code is the usual one.
From an email or web page (iOS 17.4 or later). Press and hold the QR code and tap Add eSIM. This means you do not need a second screen.
With the camera.
- Open the Camera app and point it at the QR code.
- Tap the Cellular Plan Detected notification.
- Tap Continue, then Add Cellular Plan.
- Enter a confirmation code if the phone asks for one.
By hand. If the code will not scan, go to Settings > Cellular > Add Cellular Plan and tap Enter Details Manually at the bottom. Type in the details that came with your plan.
When it finishes, give the line a clear name, like "Italy." Keep your US number as the default for calls and texts. Leave cellular data on your US line for now, and change it when you land.
How to install an eSIM on Samsung Galaxy
- Open Settings and tap Connections.
- Tap SIM manager, then Add eSIM.
- Choose Scan QR code and scan the code.
- Restart the phone, as Samsung's US page advises.
If you were given an activation code instead, Samsung's guide says to choose Enter activation code. To set which line handles calls, texts and data, tap Primary SIM in SIM manager.
How to install an eSIM on Google Pixel
- Open Settings and tap Network & internet.
- Tap SIMs, then Add SIM.
- Tap Set up an eSIM and follow the prompts.
Menu names on Android can differ by model and software version. On another brand, look in Settings for a section about SIMs, and the steps should be close to these.
What to do after you land
Do this in the arrivals hall, or while the plane taxis if your airline allows it. Turn off airplane mode first.
iPhone
On iOS 26 or later, you may see a Turn On Travel eSIM notification. Tap it, then pick one of these:
- Travel eSIM Only. Your home line goes quiet.
- Travel eSIM and Current eSIM. The travel line handles data, and you may still pay roaming fees on your home line. Pick this one if you want bank codes on your US number.
The phone also offers Low Data Mode, which is a good idea on a small plan.
If you do not see the prompt, set it up by hand:
- Go to Settings > Cellular and tap the travel line. Make sure Turn On this Line is on.
- Turn on Data Roaming for that line.
- Go back and tap Cellular Data, then select the travel line.
- Tap your US line and turn its Data Roaming off.
Samsung Galaxy
- In Settings > Connections > SIM manager, turn the eSIM on with its switch.
- Set it as the line for mobile data.
- Go to Settings > Connections > Mobile networks and turn on Data roaming.
Google Pixel
- Go to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs.
- Under Your primary SIMs, tap Mobile data and pick the eSIM.
- Select the eSIM and turn on Roaming.
Give the phone a minute or two to find a network. If you need your US number for bank texts, see how to keep your US number abroad.
Where everything is
All paths start in Settings.
| Task | iPhone | Samsung Galaxy | Pixel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Add an eSIM | Cellular > Add Cellular Plan | Connections > SIM manager > Add eSIM | Network & internet > SIMs > Add SIM |
| Choose data line | Cellular > Cellular Data | SIM manager > Primary SIM | SIMs > Mobile data |
| Data roaming | Cellular > line > Data Roaming | Connections > Mobile networks > Data roaming | SIMs > eSIM > Roaming |
| Check the lock | General > About > Carrier Lock | Ask your carrier | Ask your carrier |
If your eSIM will not work
Start with the two most common causes: data roaming is off on the eSIM line, or the wrong line is set for data.
| What you see | What to try |
|---|---|
| eSIM will not install | Check Wi-Fi and try again. Make sure the phone is unlocked. Ask the seller if the code is still valid |
| QR code will not scan | On iPhone, press and hold it or use Enter Details Manually. On Samsung, use Enter activation code |
| No network after landing | Turn airplane mode on and off. Check that the line is on. Restart the phone |
| Still no network | Pick a network by hand. On iPhone: Cellular > line > Network Selection, then turn off Automatic. On Samsung: Mobile networks > Network operators |
| Signal but no internet | Check Data Roaming on the eSIM line, and check which line handles data. If your seller gave you an APN, enter it in the line's network settings |
| Data coming off your US line | Set the eSIM as your data line and turn Data Roaming off on the US line |
| Very slow internet | Pick a different network by hand. If your data ran out, add more to the same eSIM |
The one thing not to try is deleting the eSIM. Apple says not to erase it as a troubleshooting step unless your carrier tells you to. Once it is gone, you need a new one from whoever issued it, and that is hard to sort out with no connection. If you need to clear it later, here is how to delete an eSIM.
When you do not need a travel eSIM
A travel eSIM is not always the right call.
- Your plan covers the trip. Verizon says all Unlimited and other select plans include data, talk and text in Canada and Mexico. Check yours first.
- You are gone for a day or two. A daily pass may be simpler. See Verizon Travel Pass vs an eSIM for the math.
- You need calls on a local number. A Moosetrip eSIM is data only. It has no number of its own.
How much data to get
As a rough guide, 1 GB is about 5 hours of maps and taxi apps, or 1.5 hours of video calls. On October 30, 2026, a Moosetrip plan for Italy with 3 GB for 30 days was $7, and Japan with 5 GB for 30 days was $10.50. If you run low, you can add data to the same eSIM.
Questions
How early can I install a travel eSIM?
Days ahead is fine. On Moosetrip plans, days count from your first connection in the country you are visiting, so installing early does not use any.
Do I need internet to install an eSIM?
Yes. Apple asks for Wi-Fi or a hotspot during setup, because the phone downloads the eSIM. That is why we suggest doing it at home.
Will my US number still work?
Yes. The eSIM runs as a second line and your US number stays on the phone. Keep the US line on to receive texts, and turn its data roaming off. Your carrier's roaming rules still apply to that line.
Why turn on data roaming on a travel eSIM?
A travel eSIM usually connects as a guest on a local network, so the phone treats it as roaming. Without the switch, you get no data. Data on the eSIM comes from the plan you already paid for.
Will it work during a layover?
Only if the layover country is in your plan. A single-country plan works in that country. On a layover elsewhere, use airport Wi-Fi.
How many eSIMs can a phone hold?
It varies. Apple says iPhones can manage up to eight or more, and two can be active at once on supported models. Pixel 7 and later can use two eSIM profiles if your carrier allows it.
Sources
- Set up an eSIM on your iPhone, Apple Support, published 2026-10-22, checked 2026-10-30
- Use an eSIM while traveling abroad with your iPhone, Apple Support, published 2026-10-22, checked 2026-10-30
- Erase the eSIM on your iPhone or iPad, Apple Support, published 2026-09-17, checked 2026-10-30
- SIM cards for your Galaxy phone or tablet, Samsung US, checked 2026-10-30
- How to install Nano-SIM card and eSIM on your Galaxy, Samsung, checked 2026-10-30
- Set up and activate an eSIM, Google, checked 2026-10-30
- How to use dual SIMs on your Google Pixel phone, Google, checked 2026-10-30
- Get a SIM or eSIM and add it to your Pixel phone, Google, checked 2026-10-30
- International Travel FAQs, Verizon, checked 2026-10-30