Setting up an eSIM sounds technical, but it takes about two minutes and you only do the fiddly part once. This guide walks you through exactly how to set up an eSIM on both iPhone and Android, including scanning the QR code, labelling the new line so you do not get confused, switching on data roaming for the travel line, and the small but important difference between what to do before you fly and what to do after you land.
What you need before you start
Three things, and that is it:
- A phone that supports eSIM. Most handsets from 2019 onwards do, but it is worth a quick check on our compatibility page if you are not sure.
- The QR code we email you the second your payment clears. No account, no app, no waiting.
- A Wi-Fi connection or your normal mobile data at home. You install the eSIM before you travel, so you want a reliable connection for the setup step.
One reassuring point before we begin: installing an eSIM does not touch your existing SIM or number. Your physical SIM stays active, so WhatsApp, iMessage and your usual phone number keep working exactly as they do now. The eSIM simply adds a second, data-only line alongside it.
How to set up an eSIM on iPhone
Have the email with your QR code open on a second screen, a laptop or tablet, so your iPhone camera can scan it. If the QR code is on the same phone, do not worry, there is a workaround further down.
- Open Settings, then tap Mobile Service (older versions say Mobile Data or Cellular).
- Tap Add eSIM or Set Up eSIM, then choose Use QR Code.
- Point the camera at the QR code and let it scan. Your iPhone reads the details automatically.
- When prompted, tap Continue and let the plan finish adding. This can take a minute.
If the QR code is on the same iPhone you are installing on, choose Enter Details Manually instead and paste the activation code from the email. Everything else stays the same.
How to set up an eSIM on Android
Android wording varies a little between Samsung, Google Pixel and other brands, but the path is almost identical. Again, keep the QR code open on a separate screen where possible.
- Open Settings, then Connections or Network & internet.
- Tap SIM manager or SIMs, then Add eSIM or the plus icon next to Download a SIM.
- Choose Scan QR code and point the camera at it.
- Confirm the download and wait for the line to be added.
On most Android phones you can also tap a small "Need help?" or "Enter code manually" link if scanning is not practical, then type the activation code from your email.
Label the line so you do not get muddled
This is the step people skip and then regret. Once your eSIM is added, your phone asks you to name it. Give it something obvious like Travel or the destination name, and leave your home SIM as Primary or your network's name.
Clear labels matter because your phone will now ask which line to use for calls, texts and data. You want your travel eSIM handling data and your home SIM handling calls and texts, so that your number stays reachable while you browse on the cheaper travel plan. On iPhone this is under Mobile Service, on Android under SIM manager, and you can set a preferred line for each purpose. Since our plans are data-only, set mobile data to the travel line and leave calls and texts on your home number.
Turning on data roaming for the travel line
This one confuses everyone, so here is the plain version. For a travel eSIM to work at your destination, data roaming needs to be switched on for the eSIM line only. That word "roaming" sounds like it will cost you, but with a Simju plan you have already paid, so switching it on simply lets the eSIM connect to the local networks it is meant to use.
- On iPhone: Settings, Mobile Service, tap your travel eSIM, then toggle Data Roaming on.
- On Android: Settings, Connections or Network, SIM manager, select the eSIM, then switch on Data roaming.
Leave data roaming off for your home SIM to avoid any charges from your usual provider. You are only enabling it on the travel line.
Before you fly versus after you land
The golden rule: install before you go, activate when you arrive. Our plans start counting only when you first connect at your destination, so installing early costs you nothing and saves you hunting for airport Wi-Fi.
Before you fly, while you have a solid connection at home:
- Install the eSIM and label the line.
- Set your data line to the travel eSIM.
- Switch on data roaming for that eSIM line.
- Then turn the eSIM line off again until you land, so it does not activate early.
After you land, before you leave the plane or the terminal:
- Turn the eSIM line back on.
- Turn off Wi-Fi briefly so the phone reaches for mobile data and registers on a local network.
- Give it a minute or two. The plan starts, a signal appears, and you are online.
If nothing happens after a few minutes, toggle Aeroplane mode on and off, or restart the phone. That nudges it to find a network. You can share that connection too, since our data-only plans allow hotspot tethering for a laptop or a travelling companion.
A quick recap
Setting up an eSIM comes down to five moves: scan the QR code, add the plan, label the line, point your data at the travel eSIM, and switch on data roaming for that line only. Do the first four before you fly and the activation happens automatically when you land. If you want the full picture, our how it works page covers the journey from checkout to connection.
Ready to get connected for your next trip? Browse plans for 190+ destinations and have your QR code in your inbox within minutes over on our full destination list. Pick your country, pay, and you are set up before you have even packed.