eSIM Setup FAQ: Install, Activate, Roam and Tether
The questions people actually ask after buying a travel eSIM. Everything here applies to both iPhone and Android — for the exact menu on your model, see our iPhone setup guide and Android setup guide.
Before installing
How do I download the eSIM after purchase?
The QR code is emailed to the address you entered at checkout, usually within 5–10 minutes. You can install it at home before you fly — it won't start counting until it connects to a network at your destination. Have the code open on a second screen, since you'll be scanning it with the phone you're setting up.
Which phones support eSIM?
iPhone XS, XS Max, XR or later; most flagship Androids from 2019 onwards. Two exceptions worth checking: iPhones bought in mainland China have no eSIM hardware at all, and some carrier-locked Androids can install a profile but refuse to register abroad.
My phone is on a contract — will it work?
Only if it's carrier-unlocked. On iPhone: Settings → General → About → Carrier Lock should read “No SIM restrictions”. On Android: Settings → About phone → SIM status, or just try a SIM from a different carrier.
I never got the QR code email
Check spam and the address you typed at checkout first. If it's still missing, email tonggl@uhuibao.com with your order number and we'll resend it.
Installing and activating
Where is the eSIM menu on my phone?
iPhone: Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM (on older iOS versions the button says “Add Data Plan”; some regions label the menu “Mobile Data”). Android varies by maker — the paths are in the table below.
| Phone | Path | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Pixel (Android 13+) | Settings → Network & internet → SIMs | “Download a SIM instead?” → scan |
| Samsung (One UI) | Settings → Connections → SIM manager | Add eSIM → Scan QR code |
| Xiaomi / Redmi | Settings → Mobile network → SIM card | Add eSIM → scan |
| OnePlus / OPPO / realme | Settings → Mobile network → eSIM | Add eSIM → scan |
| Anything else | Settings → search “eSIM” | Tap the add / download option |
Why can't I add the plan after scanning the QR?
Usually the download was interrupted. Reconnect to Wi-Fi, make sure you're scanning the original code from the email rather than a compressed screenshot, and try again. A profile allows up to 10 download attempts.
When does the plan start counting?
When the eSIM first attaches to a supported network at your destination, not when you scan the code. Install it early if you like — it costs nothing. Do note you must activate within 30 days of purchase.
Do I need to turn on data roaming?
Yes. Travel eSIMs register on the local network as roaming even when the plan is for that country. With data roaming off you'll see full bars and no internet. This is the single most common cause of "my eSIM doesn't work".
When it doesn't work
It installed but there's no data — where do I start?
Work through four things in order: data roaming is on for that line; the travel line is the one set for cellular data; automatic data switching is off (otherwise the phone hops back to your home SIM); and the APN field isn't empty. Then restart once.
Why does it show full bars but no internet?
The bars only mean you're registered on a network, not that data is flowing. Check data roaming, the APN, and whether you've actually reached the destination where the plan starts.
Can I move the eSIM to a new phone?
Not by re-scanning the same QR code — it's single-use and bound to one handset. On iPhone, use Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM → Transfer from Another iPhone. On Android, contact us to have the profile reissued.
Does hotspot / tethering work?
Usually, but some phone builds restrict tethering on eSIM lines. If the tethered device gets no internet, turn off any VPN, set the travel line as the one for mobile data, restart, and try again.
After it's working
Will I still get my WhatsApp messages and bank codes?
Yes. Keep your home SIM active for calls and SMS while the eSIM carries data. WhatsApp stays on your existing account since you're not changing numbers.
How do I find my ICCID if support asks for it?
iPhone: Settings → General → About, scroll to the eSIM entry. Android: Settings → About phone → SIM status. It's the long number starting with 89.
Do I need to take my physical SIM out?
No — leave it in. Set the eSIM as the line for mobile data and keep your home SIM for calls and SMS, so your number still works and verification codes still arrive. Just don't let the home line carry data.
How do I know whether I bought a daily plan or a fixed-data plan?
A daily plan gives you a set allowance that refills each day; a fixed-data plan gives you one bucket that runs until it's gone. Daily allowances reset at 00:00 Hong Kong time (UTC+8), which is 23:00 in Thailand and Vietnam. We priced both types side by side here.