How To Get eSIM: A Beginner’s Guide for 2024
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An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital version of the traditional SIM card, allowing users to activate a cellular plan without a physical card. To get an eSIM, ensure your device is compatible, then contact your carrier for an activation QR code. Simply scan the code using your phone’s settings to activate the eSIM. This technology offers flexibility to switch networks or plans without swapping physical cards, making it ideal for frequent travellers or dual-SIM users. Remember to check your carrier’s eSIM support and your phone’s compatibility before proceeding.
A new spectrum of possibilities known as eSIM technology is changing communication – a better solution than the physical SIM cards. It is time for everyone to invest in learning how to get eSIM. Unlike physical cards, eSIM lets you switch the service provider on your phone and activate mobile plans remotely. This makes eSIMs ideal for international travellers because they are not required to change their SIM cards physically.
From making roaming cheaper to making it easier to connect to local networks, eSIM is a revolutionary technology, particularly for those travellers who wish to save on the cost of their travels.
Whether travelling by hitch to Southeast Asia or flying from one country to another in Europe, using an eSIM will make your journey a wonderful experience. Let us find out how to get eSIM and optimise its usage.
Check eSIM Compatibility
The first step in the process of how to get eSIM is to check the compatibility.
Device Compatibility
The first step before getting an eSIM is to confirm that the device is compatible with the eSIM technology. Many of today’s newer mobile devices, especially those made by Apple, Samsung and Google, include eSIM technology, also known as embedded SIM. Generally, you check it in your phone settings in the ‘Cellular’ or ‘Mobile Network’ sub-sections.
How to Figure Out if eSIM is Supported by Your Device?
- Go to “Settings”
- Go to “Cellular” or “Mobile Data”
- If you find an option to input ‘Cellular Plan’ or ‘Add Carrier,’ your device has an eSIM.
Checking Carrier Compatibility
Some phones have eSIM support, but not all carriers support eSIM services. To know whether eSIM is available for a specific carrier, one should ensure that the carrier supports eSIM functionality before one buys an eSIM plan or activates an eSIM plan online. Most providers offer eSIM service; however, you must check the companies in your country separately.
Steps to Check Carrier Compatibility
- Visit the carrier’s website.
- Search for eSIM plans or check under mobile services.
- Contact the customer service to get more information regarding the issue.
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How to Get an eSIM?
Wondering how do I get a eSIM card? Here’s how to get eSIM so that you can take advantage of the affordable and quality internet service being offered by the various internet service providers.
1. Direct from Carrier
All the current providers have eSIM plans on their services that can be easily activated through a few steps. You can either go to the carrier’s store of your device to get assistance in the activation process or eSIM activation can be done online.
Steps to Get eSIM from Your Carrier:
- Choose an eSIM plan and purchase it at one of the carrier stores.
- If it is available, one has to choose a plan online and the buyer is supposed to be sent a QR code to activate it.
2. Third-Party Providers
The process of how to purchase eSIM is simple. Several virtual SIM providers and global eSIM platforms, provide the services of eSIMs besides traditional carriers. These services are handy to users in the midst of business travel and need data from abroad but with low tariffs.
Popular Global eSIM Platforms:
- Airalo
- Ubigi
- Holafly
These sites usually sell packages for individual countries or regions and thus can be useful to people who are in other countries for a short time.
3. Travel SIMs
For tourists, most of the providers have travel eSIMs that are available for the specified area with particular data packages. These plans are normally cheaper than conventional roaming and may be availed on the go via an icon on your device.
Travel SIM Benefits:
- Prepaid plans for short-term travel and usage of the device only for browsing the Internet.
- A user can have seamless operations between various countries or regions without changing physical SIM cards.
4. Steps to Activate an eSIM
Scanning a QR Code
When you have subscribed to an eSIM plan of your choice, the majority of the carriers shall offer you a QR code. The QR code displayed is used to activate your eSIM on your device.
Steps to Scan QR Code for eSIM Activation:
- Tap “Settings” on your phone.
- Choose ‘Cellular’ or ‘Mobile Network. ’
- Press “Add Cellular Plan” or “Add Carrier. ”
- You could simply focus your phone’s camera on the QR code that your carrier gave to you.
Manual Activation
Some of the carriers provide the option of a manual activation through using the activation code.
Steps for Manual Activation:
- Proceed with the identical steps in the “Settings” section for including a cellular plan.
- Instead of scanning a QR code, choose the “Enter details manually” option.
- Enter the data required by your carrier depending on the type of plan your carrier has provided you.
5. Troubleshooting Activation Issues
In some cases, the process of activating eSIM may be a failure. Some of them comprise network failure or an incorrect activation code. Such issues can normally be solved by restarting the phone or by checking the information you’ve been given by a carrier.
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How to Get an eSIM for iPhone?
Apple was one of the early adopters of eSIM integration and all iPhone models, starting from the iPhone XS model, have the eSIM option. The process of how to get eSIM for iPhone is a cakewalk as activation is simple and Apple’s products can work with multiple profiles, thus are well suitable for travellers.
iPhones that Support eSIM:
The model iPhone XS and newer models, including the iPhone 14 series, support eSIM.
Steps to Activate eSIM on iPhone:
- Open “Settings”
- Go to the “Cellular” or “Mobile Data” section.
- Press the “Add Cellular Plan” option.
- Scan the QR code from your carrier or enter details manually.
Carriers That Support eSIM for iPhone: A great majority of the global players including those in India, offer the eSIM service to iPhone users so how to get eSIM for iPhone is nothing to worry about. Currently, the Indian carriers who have adopted eSIM include Airtel and Jio.
How to Get an eSIM for Android?
Are you an Android user and seeking an answer to the question of how to get eSIM for Android? Here is the solution.
Popular Android Phones that Support eSIM:
- Galaxy S20 model and newer models out of Samsung.
- Google Pixel Smartphones, Pixel 3 or the new model Pixel 4.
Steps to Activate eSIM on Android:
- Open “Settings. ”
- Click on “Network & Internet. ”
- Go to ‘Mobile Network’ then tap on ‘Add Carrier. ’
- You have the option to input the activation details manually with the keypad or scan the QR code if you prefer.
eSIM for Android Devices: Carriers such as Airtel, Jio, and Vi have adopted eSIM and are compatible with several Android gadgets making how to get eSIM for Android feasible for all. There are also virtual SIM sellers where you can also buy your eSIM plans.
Conclusion
The steps involving how to get eSIM are easy and incredibly advantageous, particularly for global travellers. This is important if you are travelling with an iPhone or an Android device as eSIM make it possible to switch between carriers, have different profiles and activate your carrier plan remotely.
Therefore, if you are thinking about organising the next trip or just wish to have more than one number for convenience, get to know the devices that support eSIM and the process how to purchase eSIM plan right now.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can buy eSIM plans specifically for travelling from global providers like Airalo or Holafly. These platforms provide data only for the various countries.
Yes, most of the existing devices support dual SIM functionality.
If eSIM activation is not successful, you can try activating your device by restarting it and checking the eSIM activation again. If the issue persists, then your best bet will be to contact your carrier.
Yes, but one should note that there are separate eSIM profiles for each carrier, thus meaning that in case you switch carriers you will need to activate a new eSIM.
A majority of phones today come with the ability to use multiple eSIM profiles even though only one profile can be in use at any one time depending on the phone model.
