How to set up your eSIM (Android)
Android doesn't have one eSIM menu. Samsung calls it SIM manager, Pixel calls it SIMs, Xiaomi files it under Mobile network — and most guides online only walk through one of them. This one covers the three that matter, then the four settings that decide whether the eSIM actually gets data.
On an iPhone instead? Use our iOS setup guide.
Before you start: three checks
Ninety percent of failed installs fail here, not at the QR code.
- Does your phone have an EID? Go to Settings → About phone and look for an EID next to the IMEI. No EID means no eSIM hardware — some phones sold in mainland China, and a few carrier-locked models, don't have it.
- Is the phone carrier-unlocked? A locked handset can still download a profile, then refuse to register on a foreign network. You'll see bars and no data, which looks exactly like a broken eSIM.
- Are you on Wi-Fi? The profile downloads over the internet. A dropped connection mid-download can cost you one of your attempts.
Step by step: installing the profile
Your QR code arrives by email, usually within 5–10 minutes of payment. Open it on a second screen — you'll be scanning it with the phone you're setting up, so it can't be on that same phone.
| Phone | Where the menu lives | What to tap |
|---|---|---|
| Pixel (Android 13+) | Settings → Network & internet → SIMs | “Download a SIM instead?” → scan the QR |
| Samsung (One UI) | Settings → Connections → SIM manager | Add eSIM → Scan QR code from service provider |
| Xiaomi / Redmi (HyperOS) | Settings → Mobile network → SIM card | Add eSIM → scan the QR |
| OnePlus / OPPO / realme | Settings → Mobile network → eSIM | Add eSIM → scan the QR |
| Anything else | Settings → search “eSIM” | Follow the add / download option |
The wording changes, the shape doesn't: you're looking for an add-or-download option inside the SIM / mobile network menu. If you end up in Wi-Fi, Accounts or Google, you're in the wrong place.
After it installs: the four switches that matter
Installing the profile is half the job. These four settings are what people miss, and each one produces a phone that looks connected and isn't.
| Setting | Where | What it should be |
|---|---|---|
| Data line | SIMs → Mobile data | Set to the eSIM. Leave your home SIM for calls and SMS. |
| Data roaming | The eSIM's own settings | On. Travel eSIMs register as roaming even when the plan is local. Off means no data, full bars or not. |
| Auto data switching | SIMs → “Switch mobile data automatically” | Off. Otherwise Android quietly falls back to your home SIM when the eSIM is weak, and you come home to a roaming bill. |
| APN | eSIM → Access point names | Usually fills itself in. If the list is empty, add the APN from your order email. |
One thing worth knowing before you install at home: the plan starts counting when the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination, not when you scan the code. Installing a week early costs you nothing — deleting it does.
When it installs but won't connect
| Symptom | Most likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No signal bars at all | Roaming off, or the eSIM isn't the active line | Turn roaming on, confirm the eSIM is enabled, restart once |
| Full bars, no internet | APN empty, or the plan's data is used up | Add the APN manually, check your balance in the order email |
| “This eSIM has already been installed” | The QR is single-use and tied to one handset | Email tonggl@uhuibao.com with your order number and the ICCID |
| Can't add the plan after scanning | Download interrupted, or a temporary network error | Reconnect to Wi-Fi and retry — profiles allow up to 10 download attempts |
| Hotspot greyed out | Some handsets restrict tethering on eSIM | Turn off VPN, set the eSIM as default, restart, retry |
To find your ICCID on Android: Settings → About phone → SIM status (on some models it's listed under the eSIM entry itself). Support will ask for it, so grab it before you email.
FAQ
Where is the eSIM menu on my phone?
Pixel: Network & internet → SIMs. Samsung: Connections → SIM manager. Xiaomi: Mobile network → SIM card. If you can't find it, search “eSIM” in Settings — every Android build indexes it.
How long does the eSIM take to install?
Under a minute on a stable Wi-Fi connection. The QR email itself usually lands within 5–10 minutes of payment.
Should I install it before I fly or after I land?
Either works. The plan activates on its first connection to a network at your destination, so installing at home doesn't start the clock. Don't delete the profile to “start over” — it can't be reinstalled from the same QR.
Can I install the same eSIM on a second phone?
No. One profile, one handset, up to 10 download attempts. If you're switching phones, contact us before you wipe the old one.
What if I can't receive the QR code?
Check spam first, then email tonggl@uhuibao.com with your order number and we'll resend it.
Why can't I add the plan after scanning the QR?
Almost always an interrupted download. Reconnect to Wi-Fi, make sure you're scanning the original code (not a screenshot that's been compressed), and retry.
How do I check the ICCID on Android?
Settings → About phone → SIM status. It's the long number starting with 89, and support needs it to look up your order.
Why doesn't hotspot work with the eSIM?
Some Android builds restrict tethering on eSIM lines. Try turning off any VPN, setting the eSIM as the default data line, then restarting. A physical SIM in the other slot can also unblock it — connect with that first, switch the hotspot on, then switch data back to the eSIM.