o install an eSIM for travel, connect to Wi-Fi at home, then add the plan in your phone settings. Scan the QR code, tap an install link or type the details by hand. Label the new line, keep it switched off, and fly. When you land, turn the line on, set it as your mobile data line and turn on data roaming for it. TripoSIM, a BroadNet Group travel eSIM, works exactly this way.
Facts checked at their sources on 8 November 2026. Phone steps come from Apple Support, Google Pixel Help and Samsung Support, and each one is linked inline. Facts about TripoSIM come from triposim.com, its FAQ, install pages and its llms.txt. Menu names change with each software update, so check the linked page if a label on your phone looks different.
This guide is about setup only. To decide whether a travel eSIM beats roaming, or how to choose one, read our guide to the best eSIM for international travel first.
| Step | iPhone (iOS) | Samsung Galaxy | Google Pixel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Add the eSIM | Scan the QR code with the Camera app, or tap and hold the QR code in Mail or a browser (iOS 17.4 or later), then tap Add eSIM | Settings > Connections > SIM card manager > Add mobile plan > Add using QR code | Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Add SIM > Set up an eSIM |
| No camera? Enter it by hand | Settings > Cellular > Add Cellular Plan > Enter Details Manually | Add mobile plan > Add using activation code | Depends on the provider |
| Choose the data line | Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data | SIM card manager > Mobile data | Network & internet > SIMs > Mobile data |
| Turn on data roaming | Settings > Cellular > (travel line) > Data Roaming | Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks > Data Roaming | Network & internet > SIMs > (travel SIM) > Roaming |
Before you start: is your phone ready for a travel eSIM?
Your phone needs eSIM support, no carrier lock, and internet during setup. Check all three a few days before you fly.
- eSIM support. Most phones from 2018 onward support eSIM. That includes iPhone XR and XS or newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 or newer and Google Pixel 3a or newer, according to the TripoSIM compatibility checker. Quick test: dial *#06#; if an EID appears, the phone has eSIM.
- No carrier lock. On iPhone, open Settings > General > About. If Carrier Lock says "No SIM restrictions", the phone is unlocked. Apple says only your carrier can unlock it, and this can take a few days. Pixel phones from the Google Store come SIM-unlocked, according to Google.
- Recent software. TripoSIM asks for iOS 12.1 or later, or Android 9 or later.
- Wi-Fi during install. Apple and Samsung both say the phone must be online to download the eSIM profile. Home Wi-Fi is the safest choice.
When should you install a travel eSIM, and when does it activate?
Install the eSIM at home, one or more days before you fly. Activate it only when you land. These are two separate steps, and only the second one should start your plan.
On TripoSIM, a plan starts when the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination. It does not start when you buy it or install it, says the TripoSIM FAQ. So installing early costs you no days. There is one catch. If the line stays on, the phone can connect by itself and start the plan. Turn the travel line off right after you install it.
- Install: downloads the eSIM profile. Needs Wi-Fi. Nothing counts down.
- Activate: the first connection to a local network. The validity clock starts.
- Check your plan: some providers start validity at install instead.
How do you install a travel eSIM on iPhone?
On iPhone, scan the QR code with the Camera app, then tap Add Cellular Plan. Apple's setup page lists four ways to add an eSIM: a QR code, a link, an app, or details you type in. Use whichever your provider gives you.
- Connect to Wi-Fi.
- Open the Camera app and point it at the QR code. When "Cellular Plan Detected" appears, tap it.
- If the QR code is on the same iPhone, in Mail or in a browser, tap and hold it, then tap Add eSIM. Apple says this works on iOS 17.4 or later.
- If you got a link instead, tap it on iOS 17.4 or later. When "Activate New eSIM" appears, tap Allow.
- Tap Add Cellular Plan. Enter a confirmation code only if your provider gave you one.
- Give the new line a clear label, such as "Travel". Keep your home line as the default for calls and messages.
- Go to Settings > Cellular, tap the travel line, and turn off Turn On This Line until you land.
If you cannot scan anything, open Settings > Cellular, tap Add Cellular Plan and tap Enter Details Manually at the bottom of the screen. You will need the SM-DP+ address and the activation code. TripoSIM puts both in the order email and in your account, according to its FAQ.
What changes with iOS 26?
Apple says that with iOS 26 you may see a "Turn On Travel eSIM" prompt on arrival. You then choose "Travel eSIM Only" or "Travel eSIM and Current eSIM". If you keep both lines, the travel eSIM carries data, but Apple warns that your home line may still incur roaming fees.
How do you set up an eSIM on a Samsung Galaxy?
On a Galaxy phone, go to Settings > Connections > SIM card manager, tap Add mobile plan, then Add using QR code. These steps come from Samsung's eSIM support page.
- Connect to Wi-Fi, then open Settings > Connections > SIM card manager.
- Tap Add mobile plan.
- Tap Add using QR code and scan the code from another screen.
- No camera option? Tap Add using activation code and type the details instead.
- When the plan downloads, give it a name such as "Travel".
- In SIM card manager, keep Calls and Text messages on your home SIM.
- Switch the travel eSIM off until you land.
On arrival, set the travel eSIM under Mobile data in SIM card manager. Then turn on data roaming at Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks > Data Roaming. Samsung notes that if the Data Roaming switch is greyed out, mobile data is probably off. Turn it on at Settings > Connections > Data usage > Mobile data. Samsung explains line choices on its dual SIM page.
How do you set up an eSIM on a Google Pixel?
On a Pixel, go to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Add SIM > Set up an eSIM, then follow the prompts. Google documents this path on its dual SIM help page.
- Connect to Wi-Fi, then open Settings > Network & internet > SIMs.
- Tap Add SIM, then Set up an eSIM.
- Follow the on-screen steps and scan the QR code when asked.
- Under "Your primary SIMs", keep Calls and Texts on your home SIM.
- Turn the travel SIM off (Use SIM) until you land.
On arrival, open Network & internet > SIMs. Set Mobile data to the travel SIM, tap the travel SIM and turn on Roaming. Google describes roaming as using other carriers' networks, which is how a travel eSIM connects. Google adds that two eSIMs work if your carrier allows it. In the US, Pixel 10 and later (except the Pixel 10 Pro Fold) are eSIM only, per Google.
How do you keep your home number for calls and OTP codes?
Keep your home line switched on for calls and texts, but turn off data roaming on it. The travel eSIM then carries all your data, and your bank codes still reach your usual number.
A travel eSIM such as TripoSIM is data only. It has no phone number, says TripoSIM. Your home SIM stays in the phone, and WhatsApp keeps your usual number. This setup gives you the best of both lines:
| Setting | Home line | Travel eSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Line on | Yes | Yes, after landing |
| Calls and SMS (default) | Yes | No (data only) |
| Mobile data | No | Yes |
| Data roaming | Off | On |
| iPhone: Allow Cellular Data Switching | Off | Off |
Apple says Allow Cellular Data Switching lets the iPhone use data from both plans. Abroad, that can mean roaming charges on your home line, so turn it off. Apple also notes that turning off data roaming avoids roaming charges.
Texts to your home number, such as bank one-time passwords, still need the home line to be on and connected. Your home carrier may charge to receive calls or texts abroad. TripoSIM's FAQ says standard roaming rates from your home carrier may apply. Ask your carrier before you go. For calls, TripoSIM's HomeLink forwards calls from your home number to the TripoSIM app over data, for numbers from 18 countries. Your carrier may charge forwarding fees.
Pilgrims rely on this setup most. See our Hajj and Umrah eSIM guide.
What should you do when you land?
When you land, turn the travel line on, make it your data line, and turn on data roaming for it. Most phones connect within a few minutes.
- Turn off Airplane Mode once the plane allows it.
- Turn on the travel eSIM line. On iOS 26, you may simply tap "Turn On Travel eSIM".
- Set the travel eSIM as your mobile data line.
- Turn on Data Roaming for the travel eSIM only. TripoSIM says roaming must be on for travel eSIMs, and it costs nothing extra on the eSIM.
- Wait 1 to 2 minutes for the phone to register on a local network.
eSIM not working abroad? How to fix no signal or no data
Most failures come from three settings: the line is off, it is not the data line, or data roaming is off. Fix those first. These steps combine Apple's eSIM fixes, Google's connectivity fixes and TripoSIM's troubleshooting guide.
| Problem | Most likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No Service or Searching | Line off, or roaming off | Turn the line on, turn on data roaming for it, then toggle Airplane Mode on and off |
| Signal bars but no data | Home SIM still set for data | Set the travel eSIM as the mobile data line |
| Still no signal after a few minutes | Phone picked a network the plan does not use | Switch network selection to Manual, pick a listed network, then return to Automatic |
| QR code will not scan | No internet, poor image, or code already used | Use Wi-Fi, raise screen brightness, or enter the details by hand |
| Data works but very slow | Data used up, or a daily fair-use cap reached | Check the remaining data and top up if needed |
| Plan active but nothing loads | VPN or APN issue | Turn off any VPN; ask support for the APN for your plan |
On iPhone, Apple's order is: toggle Airplane Mode, turn the line off and on, then restart. On Pixel, Google says to confirm that Mobile data and Use SIM are both on.
Do not delete the eSIM to fix a problem. Most QR codes install only once. If you remove the eSIM, you may need a new one. Turn the line off instead, and contact support.
How TripoSIM does this
TripoSIM sells prepaid, data-only travel eSIMs for 200+ destinations. It is part of the BroadNet Group. You buy online, get a QR code by email within seconds, install it before you fly, and get data on local networks when you land.
What the TripoSIM flow looks like
- Pick a plan. Choose a country on the destinations page, or a regional plan for a multi-country trip. Plans start at $1 (for example, 1 GB for 7 days in Turkey, on 7 November 2026).
- Pay. Use a card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. The QR code shows on the confirmation page and arrives by email, usually in under a minute.
- Install. Scan the QR code, or use the "Add eSIM to This Phone" button in the TripoSIM app for a one-tap install. The app installs from the browser, with no app store, per TripoSIM's install page.
- Land and connect. Turn the line and data roaming on. The plan starts on first connection, as TripoSIM's how-it-works page explains.
- Top up if needed. Open My eSIMs, choose the eSIM and tap Top Up. The data goes to the same eSIM, so there is no new QR code, according to TripoSIM's top-up guide. TripoSIM emails you at about 50%, 80% and 95% use.
Useful details from triposim.com
- Your QR codes stay available offline in the TripoSIM app.
- Most plans allow hotspot; look for the Hotspot badge on the plan card. Some plans offer 5G; the rest use 4G/LTE.
- Unlimited plans give a daily full-speed allowance, then run slower.
- Support is in English and Arabic, by email (support@triposim.com) and live chat.
What TripoSIM does not do
- It gives no phone number and no regular calls or SMS. Use your home SIM or internet apps for those.
- Each QR code installs once, on one device. You cannot move it to another phone.
- A single-country plan works only in that country.
- Some plans cannot be topped up, and expired eSIMs cannot be topped up. In those cases, you buy a new eSIM.
- It does not work on carrier-locked phones.
- An unused eSIM can be refunded within 30 days. The amount and form depend on the order size, per the refund policy. Once the QR code is scanned or installed, the eSIM no longer counts as unused.
See TripoSIM with BroadNet's other businesses on our brands page and the TripoSIM brand page.
Ready to set up your next trip? Check your phone on the TripoSIM compatibility checker, then pick your destination on triposim.com. Install it tonight on Wi-Fi, keep the line off, and you will be online a few minutes after you land.
Frequently asked questions
How do I install an eSIM before I travel?
Connect to Wi-Fi at home. On iPhone, scan the QR code with the Camera app and tap Add Cellular Plan. On Samsung, go to Settings > Connections > SIM card manager > Add mobile plan. On Pixel, go to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Add SIM. Label the new line and switch it off until you land. On most travel plans, including TripoSIM, installing early does not start the plan.
Should I turn on data roaming for my travel eSIM?
Yes. A travel eSIM connects to local networks as a roaming line, so data roaming must be on for that line. Turn it on only for the travel eSIM. Keep data roaming off on your home line, so your home carrier does not charge you for data abroad.
Will I still get bank OTP codes with a travel eSIM?
Yes, if your home line stays switched on. A data-only travel eSIM has no phone number, so SMS codes still go to your home SIM. Keep the home line on for calls and texts, and turn off data roaming on it. Your home carrier may charge to receive calls or texts abroad, so check its roaming rates before you travel.
Why does my eSIM say No Service abroad?
Usually the travel line is off, data roaming is off for it, or the phone has not found a supported network yet. Turn the line on, turn on data roaming, and toggle Airplane Mode. Still no signal after a few minutes? Choose a network manually, restart, then contact your provider with your order number.
Can I install an eSIM from a QR code on the same phone?
Often, yes. On iPhone with iOS 17.4 or later, Apple says you can tap and hold a QR code in Mail or a browser, then tap Add eSIM. Some providers send an install link or a one-tap button instead. TripoSIM's app has an "Add eSIM to This Phone" button. If none of these work, show the code on a second screen or enter the details by hand.
What happens if I delete my travel eSIM?
Deleting the eSIM removes the profile, and most QR codes install only once, so you may not be able to reinstall it. Turn the line off instead. If you deleted it by mistake, contact your provider straight away. TripoSIM asks you to email support@triposim.com so it can check whether a reinstall is possible.
How do I add more data to a travel eSIM?
Most providers let you top up the eSIM you already have. On TripoSIM, open My eSIMs, choose the eSIM, tap Top Up, pick a package and pay. The data is added to the same eSIM, so there is no new QR code and no reinstall. You can top up after your data runs out, as long as the eSIM has not expired.