How to Activate a US eSIM on Pixel and Samsung Galaxy

You can activate a US eSIM on any recent Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy in under five minutes, and eSIMpass's United States plan starts at €3.07. The process is nearly identical on both brands: buy the plan, scan a QR code over Wi-Fi before you fly, then turn on data roaming for the new line after you land. This guide walks through the exact menu taps for Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel, plus the dual SIM setup that keeps your home number for calls while your US eSIM handles data.

Android eSIM support has been solid for years, but the settings live in slightly different places on each brand, and one wrong toggle (data roaming left off) is the single most common reason a perfectly good eSIM shows no internet on arrival. We will get that right. For how setup differs across phones, see eSIM setup: iPhone vs Android differences.

US eSIM Plans and Pricing

Every plan covers the entire United States and connects to a major US network (such as T-Mobile or AT&T). These are prepaid, data-only plans - no US phone number, no contract, no activation fee - delivered as a QR code by email the moment you pay. Pick the data size that matches your trip and install it before you leave home.

Before You Start: Is Your Phone Compatible?

eSIM works on Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer (including the S21, S22, S23, S24, the Z Fold and Z Flip foldables, and the A-series models that list eSIM in their specs) and Google Pixel 3 and newer. If your phone is older than that, or is a US carrier-locked model, it may not accept a travel eSIM.

Two quick checks before you buy:

• Carrier lock: Your phone must be unlocked. A device still tied to a home carrier contract can refuse a second eSIM. On both brands you can dial *#06# - if you see an EID number listed alongside the IMEI, your phone has an eSIM chip.
• Software up to date: Update to the latest Android version in Settings before installing. Early software builds on some regional Galaxy models shipped without eSIM enabled.

If you are unsure, our eSIM compatible devices list spells out every supported model, and the eSIM for Android and eSIM for Samsung pages cover brand-specific quirks in more detail.

Step 1: Buy and Install Over Wi-Fi Before You Fly

Installation needs an internet connection; activation later does not. So do this part at home, on your own Wi-Fi, the day before you travel:

1. Order the US eSIM and complete checkout.
2. Your QR code arrives by email within minutes. Open it on a second screen - a laptop or tablet - so you can scan it with the phone you are setting up.
3. Follow the brand-specific steps below to scan the code.

Installing early means that if anything looks off, you are troubleshooting from your couch with fast Wi-Fi, not standing in an arrivals hall. Once installed, you can leave the eSIM switched off until you land.

Step 2 (Samsung Galaxy): Add the eSIM

On a Galaxy running One UI:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Connections.
3. Tap SIM manager (on older One UI versions this may read "SIM card manager").
4. Under the eSIM section, tap Add eSIM.
5. Tap Scan QR code from service provider and point the camera at the QR code from your email.
6. Confirm when Galaxy asks to add the plan, and give the line a clear label like "USA Data" so you can tell it apart from your home SIM.

If you cannot scan the code - say you only have it on the same phone - choose Enter activation code instead and paste the manual activation string from the same email.

Step 2 (Google Pixel): Download the SIM

On a Pixel running stock Android:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Network & internet.
3. Tap SIMs.
4. Tap Download a SIM instead? or the + next to your existing SIM (the wording depends on your Android version).
5. Tap Next, then scan the QR code from your email.
6. When the plan finishes downloading, name the line something obvious like "USA Data".

If scanning is not an option, tap Need help? or Enter it manually on the scan screen and paste the activation code from your email.

Both brands finish in the same place: two lines now live on your phone, your home SIM and the new US eSIM, and you decide which does what.

Step 3: On Arrival, Turn On Data Roaming for the eSIM Line

This is the step travelers skip, and it is why an eSIM sometimes shows full bars but no internet. A travel eSIM connects to its US host network as a "roaming" partner, so data roaming must be ON for that specific line - even though you are paying nothing extra for it. Enabling roaming on the eSIM does not touch your home SIM's billing.

On Samsung Galaxy: Settings > Connections > SIM manager > tap the US eSIM line > enable Allow data roaming (or go to Settings > Connections > Mobile networks and toggle Data roaming for that SIM).

On Google Pixel: Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > tap the US eSIM > turn on Roaming.

Do this after you land, alongside the next step, and your phone connects within a minute or two.

Step 4: Choose the eSIM for Data, Keep Your Home SIM for Calls

This dual SIM setup is the whole point: cheap US data on the eSIM, your regular number still reachable for calls and texts.

On Samsung Galaxy (Settings > Connections > SIM manager > Preferred SIM):

• Mobile data: set to your US eSIM.
• Calls: leave on your home SIM.
• Text messages: leave on your home SIM.

On Google Pixel (Settings > Network & internet > SIMs):

• Tap the US eSIM and confirm it is the Mobile data SIM.
• Under Calls preference and SMS preference, keep your home SIM selected.

To avoid a nasty bill, turn off data roaming on your home SIM (the same menu, on the home line). That way your home number can still receive calls and texts, but it will never quietly burn expensive carrier data in the background - all your data flows through the affordable eSIM instead. If keeping your everyday messaging apps working matters, this is exactly how you keep WhatsApp on your home number while paying eSIM prices for data.

Why an eSIM Beats US Roaming

If you are visiting from Europe, the UK, Australia, or anywhere outside the US, your home carrier's US roaming is the expensive default. A prepaid US eSIM sidesteps it entirely - you can compare the two approaches on our eSIM vs roaming page. For budget travelers, the US eSIM plans show how a data plan undercuts a daily roaming pass on almost any itinerary, and heavy streamers can look at an unlimited eSIM instead.

Not sure how much data you actually need? Estimate it here:

eSIM vs Carrier Roaming vs Local SIM

A physical local SIM means finding a carrier store after landing, showing ID, and swapping your tray - and on many modern US carriers, tourist-friendly prepaid plans push you toward eSIM anyway. Carrier roaming is effortless but costs several times more per gigabyte. The travel eSIM is the middle path: installed before you fly, active the moment you land.

Common Android Activation Problems

A few quick fixes for the issues that actually come up:

• "No internet" with full signal: Data roaming is off on the eSIM line. Turn it on (Step 3).
• Data using the wrong SIM: Your home SIM is still set as the mobile data line. Switch mobile data to the eSIM (Step 4).
• QR code will not scan: Use the manual activation code from the same email instead.
• eSIM not connecting on arrival: Toggle airplane mode on and off, or restart the phone to force a fresh network search.

For a broader walkthrough that covers every phone, our eSIM installation and activation guide is the reference. Planning where you land matters too - if you are flying into New York, our guide to the best eSIM for New York City covers coverage across the boroughs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Samsung Galaxy models support eSIM?

The Galaxy S20 and every flagship since (S21 through S24), the Z Fold and Z Flip foldables, the Note 20, and many recent A-series models. If your phone lists an EID when you dial *#06#, it has an eSIM. US carrier-locked Galaxy phones can be the exception, so make sure yours is unlocked.

Which Google Pixel models support eSIM?

Pixel 3 and newer, including the 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 series and their a-series variants (Pixel 6a, 7a, 8a). Every current Pixel sold outside the US supports eSIM out of the box.

Do I have to turn on data roaming even though there is no roaming fee?

Yes. A travel eSIM connects to its US host network as a roaming partner, so Android needs data roaming enabled on that line to pass traffic. You are not charged extra for it - the plan price is fixed - but the toggle must be on. Keep roaming off on your home SIM to avoid your home carrier's charges.

Can I keep my home number active while using the US eSIM?

Yes, that is the point of dual SIM. Keep your home SIM selected for calls and texts so your number stays reachable, and set the US eSIM as the mobile data line. Turn off data roaming on the home SIM so it never uses expensive carrier data in the background.

Should I install the eSIM before or after I fly?

Install it before you fly, on Wi-Fi at home, because downloading the eSIM profile needs an internet connection. Activation on the US network happens later and needs only signal. Installing early gives you time to fix any hiccup before you travel.

Will the US eSIM give me a US phone number?

No. eSIMpass plans are data-only, so there is no US number for calls or SMS. Your calls and texts continue through your home SIM. If you need a US number, that is a separate service - but for maps, messaging apps, streaming, and everything data, the eSIM covers you.