Quick answer: To install an eSIM on a Samsung Galaxy, open Settings → Connections → SIM manager → Add eSIM, then scan the QR code; the eSIM activates in under two minutes. Every Galaxy from the S20 onward supports eSIM, and you can install your Simbye eSIM at home on Wi-Fi before you travel, then switch on data roaming when you land.
Samsung made eSIM simple. If you have a Galaxy S20 or newer, you can skip the physical SIM swap and add a travel data plan digitally, straight from the settings menu. No tray, no pin, no waiting for a card in the post.
This guide walks through exactly how to install an eSIM on your Samsung Galaxy, with two installation methods, the data-roaming setting most people miss, and a quick fix table for the errors that pop up. The whole process takes less than two minutes.
Which Samsung Galaxy models support eSIM?
Samsung introduced eSIM with the Galaxy S20 series in 2020 and has kept it in every flagship and foldable since. If your phone is an S20 or newer, you are almost certainly covered:
- Galaxy S series: S20, S21, S22, S23, S24 and S25 (all variants, including Ultra, +, FE and Edge)
- Galaxy Z foldables: Z Fold and Z Flip, generations 1 through 7
- Galaxy Note: Note 20 Ultra
- Galaxy A series (select models): A35, A36, A54, A55, A56 in Europe, North America and Korea
One catch: eSIM availability depends on the region your phone was sold in. Units sold in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan usually have eSIM disabled, and some early US carrier versions of the S20, S21 and Note 20 Ultra do too. The fastest check is to dial *#06#; if a 32-digit EID appears next to your IMEI, your Galaxy supports eSIM. You can also open Settings → Connections → SIM manager and look for Add eSIM.
Method 1: Install your Samsung eSIM by scanning a QR code
Scanning the QR code is the fastest way to install. Have your Simbye confirmation email open on a second screen (a laptop or tablet) so you can point your Galaxy camera at it.
- Open the Settings app and tap Connections.
- Tap SIM manager (called "SIM card manager" on older One UI versions).
- Tap Add eSIM, then Scan QR code.
- Point your camera at the QR code from your Simbye email. The phone reads it automatically.
- Tap Add to download and activate the eSIM profile. This usually takes 30 seconds to a couple of minutes on a stable connection.
No second screen? On the Galaxy S22 and newer you can scan a QR code from a screenshot. Save the QR image to your gallery, start the scan, then tap the gallery icon to pick the saved image.
Method 2: Install your Samsung eSIM with a manual activation code
If you cannot scan a code, type the details in by hand. Both values are printed in your Simbye confirmation email.
- Go to Settings → Connections → SIM manager → Add eSIM.
- Instead of scanning, tap Enter activation code (or "Enter details manually").
- In the SM-DP+ Address field, paste the SM-DP+ address from your email.
- In the Activation code field, paste the activation code.
- Tap Connect, then Add, and wait for the profile to download.
Manual entry produces the exact same eSIM as the QR method. It is handy when the QR image is blurry or you only have your phone to hand.
Enable data roaming for your travel line
This is the step most people forget, and it is the number-one reason a freshly installed eSIM shows no internet abroad. Your Samsung treats a travel eSIM as a roaming line, so roaming has to be on for that line.
- Open Settings → Connections → Mobile networks.
- Toggle Data roaming to ON.
- If your phone asks which SIM, choose your Simbye eSIM.
Leaving roaming off on your home SIM is fine; you only need it on for the travel eSIM. Most Simbye eSIMs configure their APN automatically, but if you still have no data after enabling roaming, go to Settings → Connections → Mobile networks → Access Point Names, select your Simbye eSIM, and create a new APN with simbye in both the Name and APN fields, then save.
Label your eSIM and set the default line
After activation, Samsung lets you name the eSIM and decide which line handles what. Getting this right keeps your home number live for calls while the travel eSIM carries your data.
- When prompted, give the eSIM a clear label such as Simbye so you can tell it apart from your home SIM.
- Open Settings → Connections → SIM manager.
- Under Preferred SIM, set the Simbye eSIM for Mobile data.
- Keep your primary SIM for Calls and Messages so you stay reachable on your usual number.
- Turn off "Mobile data switching" (sometimes called "Allow data switching"). This stops your Galaxy from quietly falling back to your home SIM's expensive roaming data.
With labels and preferred-SIM settings done, your travel eSIM is fully active and you are ready to go online the moment you arrive.
Common Samsung eSIM install errors and how to fix them
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No "Add eSIM" in SIM manager | Unsupported model or a China / Hong Kong / Taiwan regional variant | Dial *#06# to confirm an EID exists. If none, the phone has no eSIM. Carrier-locked devices may also hide it. |
| QR code will not scan | Low brightness or a small QR image | Raise the brightness on the second screen. On S22 and newer, scan from a saved screenshot, or use Method 2 (manual entry). |
| eSIM installed but no internet | Data roaming is off, or the wrong line is set for data | Enable Data roaming for the eSIM, set it as Mobile data under Preferred SIM, and confirm the APN reads "simbye". |
| "Unable to add eSIM" / download fails | Weak or dropped internet during the profile download | Connect to stable Wi-Fi and retry. The activation code stays valid, so a failed attempt does not waste your plan. |
| Slow or unstable connection | Phone locked to a weak network | Go to Mobile networks → Network operators and turn on "Select automatically" so the Galaxy picks the strongest signal. |
Still stuck? Simbye's support team answers in seconds via WhatsApp, Telegram or live chat, around the clock, in 12 languages. Real people, not chatbots, who can walk you through any Galaxy-specific quirk.
Get a Simbye eSIM for your Samsung
Once you know the steps, all you need is the eSIM itself. Simbye delivers your QR code by email the moment you order, so you can install it on Wi-Fi before you fly and switch on data roaming when you land. Plans start from $3 and cover 190+ destinations:
- Europe eSIM — from $25
- USA eSIM — from $3
- Turkey eSIM — from $3
- Browse all 190+ destinations →
Prefer to manage everything from your phone? Download the Simbye app for one-tap installs and instant top-ups:
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to install an eSIM on a Samsung Galaxy?
Under two minutes. Open SIM manager, scan the QR code, confirm, and the profile downloads almost instantly on a stable connection. Manual entry takes about the same time.
Can I install my Simbye eSIM before I travel?
Yes, and it is the smart move. Install at home on Wi-Fi, leave data roaming off until you arrive, then switch it on. Simbye eSIMs do not auto-activate, so you control when the validity period starts.
Can I use my physical SIM and the eSIM at the same time?
Yes. Samsung's Dual SIM support keeps your home number live for calls and texts while the Simbye eSIM handles data. Just set the Preferred SIM options as described above.
Why does my Samsung not show the "Add eSIM" option?
Three usual reasons: the model has no eSIM hardware, the device is carrier-locked, or it is a China, Hong Kong or Taiwan regional variant with eSIM disabled. Dial *#06# to check for an EID, and contact your carrier about unlocking if needed.
Do I need to set up an APN manually?
Usually no. Most Simbye eSIMs configure the APN automatically. If you have signal but no data, create an APN with "simbye" in both the Name and APN fields under Access Point Names for your eSIM.
Does a Simbye eSIM work with the Samsung mobile hotspot?
Yes. Mobile Hotspot is included with Simbye plans, so you can share your data with a laptop, tablet or a travel companion at no extra cost.
What happens if I run out of data?
You can top up instead of buying a new eSIM. Open your Simbye account or the app, select your eSIM, and add more data; the same eSIM keeps working with no reinstall.
Can I scan the QR code from a screenshot on Samsung?
On the Galaxy S22 and newer, yes. Save the QR image to your gallery, start the scan in SIM manager, then tap the gallery icon and select the saved screenshot.
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