How to install an eSIM on Android (Pixel, Galaxy and others)

By the 30k eSIM team in Asakusa. · October 18, 2026

By the 30k eSIM team · MIZUHIKO Co., Ltd., Asakusa, Tokyo

To check whether an Android phone supports eSIM, dial *#06#: if an EID (a long 32-digit number) appears, it does. To install a travel eSIM, connect to Wi-Fi before your trip and scan the QR code from the SIM settings: on a Pixel that is Settings, Network & internet, SIMs, Add SIM; on a Samsung Galaxy it is Settings, Connections, SIM manager, Add eSIM. After landing in Japan, turn on roaming for the eSIM and choose it as your mobile data SIM.

Android menus vary more than iPhone menus, so below we cover Pixel and Galaxy in detail and give a general route for other brands.

Step 1: confirm the phone supports eSIM

Try these in order. One positive result is enough.

1. Dial *#06# in the phone app. If you see an EID alongside the IMEI numbers, the phone has an eSIM chip.
2. Look in About phone. Many phones list the EID under Settings, About phone, sometimes inside a Status or SIM status page.
3. Look for an "add eSIM" option in the SIM or mobile network settings. If the only option is to insert a card, the phone probably does not support eSIM.

Rough guide by brand:

• Google Pixel: Pixel 3 and later support eSIM. Some Pixel 3 units sold in Japan and Australia are exceptions, and a Pixel 3a bought in Japan cannot use two SIMs at once.
• Samsung Galaxy: the S20 series and later, plus the Z Flip and Z Fold series, generally support eSIM. Some regional versions do not, and many A-series models, especially budget ones, have no eSIM.
• Other brands: many flagships from 2019 onwards support eSIM, but the same model can differ by country. Phones sold in mainland China often have no eSIM.

Our compatible devices page has the current list. The phone also has to be carrier-unlocked; see how to check for a carrier lock.

Step 2: install at home over Wi-Fi

You need an internet connection to download the eSIM, so do this before you travel, ideally one or two days before departure. Have the QR code on another screen or printed, because you cannot scan a code shown on the same phone. The order page also shows the SM-DP+ address and activation code if you need to type them instead.

Google Pixel

1. Open Settings, Network & internet, SIMs.
2. Tap Add SIM (on some versions a plus sign), then choose the option to set up or download an eSIM.
3. Scan the QR code. If scanning fails, look for a "Need help?" or manual entry option and enter the activation details.
4. When asked about SIM preferences, keep your home SIM for calls and texts. Our eSIM is data only and has no phone number.

Samsung Galaxy

1. Open Settings, Connections, SIM manager (called SIM card manager on older versions).
2. Tap Add eSIM (some versions say Add mobile plan).
3. Choose to scan a QR code from your service provider and scan it. Manual entry of the activation code is offered on the same screen.
4. Give the new line a name such as "Japan" so it is easy to find later.

Other Android phones

Search the Settings app for "eSIM" or "SIM". The add option usually sits under a menu named something like SIM cards and mobile networks, Mobile network, or Connections. The flow is the same: add eSIM, scan QR code, confirm.

Install the eSIM once, on the phone you will carry. Once installed it cannot be moved to another device.

Step 3: keep it off until you land

After installing, either switch the new SIM off in the SIM settings, or leave it on but not selected for mobile data and with roaming off. Our plans start counting days when the eSIM first connects to a network in Japan, so an early install does not waste days. Do install before the install-by date in your order confirmation. See when does an eSIM plan start.

Step 4: switch over after landing

Pixel

1. Settings, Network & internet, SIMs, tap the Japan eSIM and turn on Use SIM.
2. On the same page, turn on Roaming.
3. Back on the SIMs page, set Mobile data to the Japan eSIM.
4. If you see Automatic data switching (Pixel 8a and later) or Data during calls, turn it off for your home SIM so it does not use data.

Galaxy

1. Settings, Connections, SIM manager, and make sure the Japan eSIM is switched on.
2. Under preferred SIM, set Mobile data to the Japan eSIM, and turn off any automatic data switching option.
3. Go to Settings, Connections, Mobile networks and turn on Data roaming.

In both cases, make sure roaming stays off on your home SIM if your phone shows a separate switch for it, so your home carrier cannot charge you for data. More in avoiding roaming charges in Japan.

Turning on roaming for the eSIM is normal for travel eSIMs and does not add charges from us.

If it does not connect

1. Check the eSIM is switched on and chosen for mobile data.
2. Check roaming is on for the eSIM.
3. Turn airplane mode on, wait ten seconds, turn it off.
4. Restart the phone.
5. In the eSIM's network settings, make sure network selection is automatic.

If the install itself fails with a message that the code is invalid or already used, check the SIM list first: the eSIM may already be installed. Do not delete it to try again, because a deleted eSIM cannot always be reinstalled and we do not issue replacements. Email us with your order number and a screenshot instead.

Common mistakes

• Scanning on Wi-Fi that drops out. An interrupted download can use up the code. Use a stable network.
• Leaving mobile data on the home SIM. Everything then runs on your home carrier's roaming.
• Assuming every Galaxy has eSIM. Check the exact model and region.
• Confusing "OEM unlocking" with carrier unlocking. The developer-options switch has nothing to do with whether the phone accepts other carriers' SIMs.

Using an iPhone? See how to install a Japan eSIM on iPhone. For plan sizes, read how much data you need in Japan, and see our FAQ for refunds and validity.

Last updated: 18 October 2026.

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