Does My Phone Support eSIM? A 2-Minute Check
Two things have to be true before a travel eSIM will work: your phone has an eSIM chip, and it is carrier-unlocked. Checking both takes about two minutes in Settings. Here is how to do it on iPhone and Android, and what to do if the answer is no.
The quick model list
As a starting point, these support eSIM:
- iPhone: iPhone XS, XR and newer.
- Google Pixel: Pixel 3 and newer.
- Samsung Galaxy: Galaxy S20 and newer.
- Other Android phones: most flagships from 2020 on.
Model lists are only a starting point. Some versions of the same phone, sold in certain countries or through certain carriers, ship without eSIM, and a phone with the chip can still be locked. The checks below are what count. The same list lives on our device compatibility page.
Check 1: does the phone have an eSIM chip?
The dialler shortcut
Open the phone app and dial *#06#. On many eSIM phones, a screen appears showing an EID (a long number that identifies the eSIM chip) alongside the IMEI. If you see an EID, the chip is there. If you don't, it isn't proof either way: some phones only list the EID in Settings → About phone. Use the Settings checks below to be sure.
On iPhone
Go to Settings → Cellular. In some regions this is called Mobile Service or Mobile Data. If you see Add eSIM (Add Cellular Plan on some iOS versions), the phone supports eSIM. Apple explains the options in set up eSIM on iPhone. You can also look for an EID under Settings → General → About.
On Samsung Galaxy
Go to Settings → Connections → SIM manager. If there is an Add eSIM option, the phone supports it. On some models the menu is called SIM card manager and the option Add mobile plan; see Samsung's SIM help.
On Google Pixel
Go to Settings → Network & internet → SIMs and tap Add SIM. If the phone offers to set up an eSIM, it supports eSIM. Google's steps are in add an eSIM on Pixel.
Menu names vary by phone and software version. On other Android brands, search Settings for "eSIM" or "SIM manager".
Check 2: is the phone carrier-unlocked?
A phone locked to one carrier rejects plans from other networks, including a travel eSIM, even when the chip is there. Phones bought on a contract or on instalments are the ones most often locked.
On iPhone
Go to Settings → General → About and scroll to Carrier Lock. It should say No SIM restrictions. Anything else means the phone is locked.
On Android
There is no single menu for this on Android. Some phones show a network lock status in the SIM or security settings; on others, the simplest way is to ask your carrier. If a friend's SIM from another network works in your phone, that is a good sign it is unlocked.
If it is locked
Ask your carrier to unlock it. Many carriers do this once the phone is paid off, but the rules and timing are theirs, and it can take a few days. Do it well before the trip, not from the departure lounge.
Not sure? Let the app check
If you have an iPhone, our app checks compatibility silently before you buy, so you won't pay for an eSIM your phone can't use. And if you buy one and it never connects, you get a full refund: email hello@e-sim.net with your order id.
Other things worth knowing
- Update the software first. eSIM support improves with updates, and an old version can hide the Add eSIM option.
- Your home line can stay. On most eSIM phones, the home SIM and a travel eSIM run at the same time: home for calls and SMS, travel for data. That is how you keep your WhatsApp number abroad.
- eSIM-only iPhones. Some recent iPhones, including US models from iPhone 14 onward, have no SIM tray. They support eSIM by definition; you only need to confirm they are unlocked.
If your phone can't use eSIM
A travel eSIM won't work on it. Your options are a local physical SIM bought on arrival, your carrier's roaming option, or a pocket Wi-Fi device. We compare them in eSIM vs physical SIM, eSIM vs roaming and eSIM vs pocket Wi-Fi.
All clear?
If your phone passed both checks, pick a destination on the eSIM page and follow the install steps for iPhone or Android. New to all this? Start with what an eSIM is.
Questions
My phone shows an EID but no Add eSIM option. Why?
The chip is there, but something is blocking it: usually a carrier lock or old software. Update the phone, then ask your carrier whether it is locked and how to unlock it.
Do phones bought outright work with eSIM?
Usually, because phones sold unlocked aren't tied to one network. Still check that the model has an eSIM chip, since some versions sold in certain countries don't.
Can a carrier-locked phone use a travel eSIM?
No. A locked phone rejects plans from other networks, even if it has an eSIM chip. Ask your carrier to unlock it before the trip, not at the airport.
What if my phone doesn't support eSIM?
A travel eSIM won't work on it. A local physical SIM, your carrier's roaming option or a pocket Wi-Fi device are the alternatives.