How a travel eSIM works, from order to first connection

The three settings that get you online

The travel eSIM is switched on, Data Roaming is on for that line, and mobile data runs over that line. Those three settings explain nearly every case of signal bars without internet.

1. 1The travel eSIM is on Installing adds a second line. On your phone it is shown as Carrier, not as AeroSims. It has its own on/off switch.
2. 2Data Roaming is on for the travel eSIM Costs nothing extra on this eSIM. With it off, the phone shows a network and lets no data through.
3. 3Mobile data is set to the travel eSIM Until you switch, the phone keeps sending data over your home SIM.

Show me the screens on my phone Go through the checklist

What is a travel eSIM?

A travel eSIM is a second mobile line that you download onto your phone instead of inserting a card. It carries your internet abroad while your own SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts.

• Nothing is shipped. There is no card, no envelope and no address needed; the eSIM arrives in your inbox.
• Data only. The travel eSIM has no phone number. WhatsApp, FaceTime, Signal and Telegram calls work over its data.
• Your home SIM stays active for calls, texts and bank codes. Nothing has to be removed from your phone.
• No passport, no ID upload, no registration. You buy online and install it yourself.

Does my phone support eSIM?

Dial *#06#. If an EID line appears, your phone has eSIM hardware. The phone must also be carrier-unlocked, otherwise it installs the eSIM and then refuses to use it.

• Works on all iPhone models from the XR onwards, Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer, and most smartphones released after 2019.
• iPhone unlock check: Settings › General › About › Carrier Lock. "No SIM restrictions" means unlocked. The EID is on the same screen.
• Samsung: depending on the country the phone was sold in, eSIM can be missing even on a listed model. Wi-Fi-only tablets have no eSIM.

Check your model in the list of 393 checked deviceschecked 2026-09-03

How does a travel eSIM work, step by step?

You choose a country and a plan, the eSIM arrives by email within seconds, you install it on Wi-Fi before the trip, and it connects when you land with Data Roaming switched on for the travel eSIM.

1. 1

   Choose

   Pick the country you are travelling to and a plan: unlimited by trip length, or a data package with fixed GB.

   More

   A plan for one country works only in that country. For several countries, pick a regional plan and check its country list on the product page.

2. 2

   Email in seconds

   The eSIM arrives by email automatically. July 2026 measurement: median 14 seconds, every order inside one minute.

   More

   The email holds a one-tap install button for iPhone and one for Android, a QR code, the manual details and a link to your personal eSIM page. If you cannot see it, look in spam and promotions; a QR image sometimes triggers filters.

3. 3

   Install at home on Wi-Fi

   About two minutes. Label the new line AeroSims and switch Data Roaming on for it. The days have not started.

   More

   After installing, the new line shows "No Service" at home. That is expected with a plan for another country. Leave it installed.

4. 4

   Land and switch mobile data to the travel eSIM

   At the destination, set mobile data to the travel eSIM. Switch Wi-Fi off for a moment and open a page to test.

   More

   Why the line needs roaming, and the exact path on your phone: see the roaming section below.

5. 5

   First connection starts the days

   The moment the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination, the validity starts. A welcome email names the end date.

   More

   Your personal eSIM page, linked in the delivery email, shows status, validity and usage at any time. No app is needed.

6. 6

   It ends

   The plan simply stops. The eSIM stays on your phone, nothing renews and nothing is charged.

   More

   Before your plan ends, your personal eSIM page shows whether you can add to it: extra days on unlimited plans, extra data on data packages. Back home, set mobile data back to your home SIM.

Install steps for my phone

How do I install the eSIM on iPhone or Android?

Open the delivery email on the phone you travel with, connect to Wi-Fi, and tap the one-tap install button for your phone. It takes about two minutes and does not start your validity.

• Wi-Fi on
• The phone you travel with
• Carrier-unlocked
• About two minutes, do not interrupt

Install it on the phone you will actually travel with. An eSIM locks to the first device it is installed on and cannot be moved. Leave it installed until the trip ends.

How do I install the eSIM on iPhone?

1. Connect to Wi-Fi and open the delivery email on the iPhone.
2. Tap "Install eSIM on iPhone, one tap" (iOS 17.4 or later). The eSIM setup opens by itself. On older iOS: show the QR code on another screen, then go to Settings › Mobile Data › Add eSIM › Use QR Code and scan it.
3. Follow the prompts and wait until the line appears. Do not leave the screen while it loads.
4. When asked for a label, choose a custom label and type AeroSims. Keep your own number as the default for calls and messages. Leave mobile data on your home SIM for now.
5. Switch Data Roaming on for the new line: Settings › Mobile Data › Carrier › Data Roaming. It costs nothing extra on this eSIM.

You should see: two lines under Settings › Mobile Data. The new line is shown as Carrier, or under the label you gave it, and shows "No Service" at home. That is normal; it only registers at your destination. Leave it installed.

Your iPhone may call this menu Cellular or Mobile Service instead of Mobile Data. It is the same menu.

What the prompts look like

Scanning with the Camera shows "Mobile Plan Detected" (or "Cellular Plan Detected"), then Continue and Add Mobile Plan. On iOS 17.4 or later you can also touch and hold the QR code inside the email and choose "Add eSIM". Leave the phone alone until it says the eSIM is ready; interrupting is what breaks an install. To rename the line later: Settings › Mobile Data › the new line › Mobile Data Plan Label.

Play the video (3:49)

One exception: if your plan already covers the country you are leaving from (a regional plan, for example), keep the travel eSIM switched off until you leave. The first connection starts the days.

Full installation guide with screenshots

What if the QR code will not scan?

A phone cannot scan a QR code shown on its own screen. Use the one-tap button in the email, show the QR code on a second screen, or type the SM-DP+ address and the activation code by hand.

• iPhone: Settings › Mobile Data › Add eSIM › Use QR Code › Enter Details Manually. Paste the SM-DP+ address and the activation code, leave the confirmation code empty.
• Android: Settings › Network & internet › SIMs › Add SIM › Set up an eSIM › Need help? › Enter it manually.
• Samsung: Settings › Connections › SIM manager › Add eSIM › Enter activation code.

The two values sit under "Or enter manually" in the delivery email and on your personal eSIM page. On a phone, long-press a value to copy it.

If the phone says the code is invalid or already used, the eSIM is almost always installed already. Look for a second line in your SIM settings before you try again.

My eSIM is installed but has no internet. What do I check?

Check, in this order: the travel eSIM is switched on, Data Roaming is on for that line, mobile data is set to that line, Wi-Fi is off. Then Airplane Mode for about 15 seconds. Then choose the network by hand.

This is the order our support team uses. Each step says what you should see afterwards. Tick the steps as you go.

1. Switch the travel eSIM on. most common
   • iPhone Settings › Mobile Data › Carrier › Turn On This Line
   • Android Settings › Network & internet › SIMs › Carrier › Use SIM
   • Samsung Galaxy Settings › Connections › SIM manager › Carrier

   You should see: the line listed as on, with a network name after a few seconds.

   On your phone the travel eSIM is shown as Carrier, not as AeroSims, unless you gave it a name. It is the line that is not your phone number; on iPhone it is usually also labelled Secondary, Travel or Personal.

2. Turn Data Roaming on for the travel eSIM. most common
   • iPhone Settings › Mobile Data › Carrier › Data Roaming
   • Android Settings › Network & internet › SIMs › Carrier › Roaming
   • Samsung Galaxy Settings › Connections › SIM manager › Carrier › Data roaming (greyed out? Settings › Connections › Data usage › Mobile data first)

   You should see: the switch on; after a moment LTE, 4G or 5G next to the travel eSIM. This is the single most common cause.

3. Set mobile data to the travel eSIM. most common
   • iPhone Settings › Mobile Data › Mobile Data › Carrier
   • Android Settings › Network & internet › SIMs › Your primary SIMs › Mobile data › Carrier
   • Samsung Galaxy Settings › Connections › SIM manager › Preferred SIMs › Mobile data › Carrier

   You should see: the travel eSIM selected as the data line, your home SIM not.

4. Switch Wi-Fi off and open any website.

   You should see: the page loads. If it does, you are done. Hotel Wi-Fi hides whether the eSIM works.

5. Airplane Mode on, wait about 15 seconds, off again.

   You should see: the phone registers freshly with the local network. Give it a minute before judging.

6. Choose the network by hand.
   • iPhone Settings › Mobile Data › Carrier › Network Selection › Automatic (off)
   • Android Settings › Network & internet › SIMs › Carrier › Automatically select network (off)
   • Samsung Galaxy Settings › Connections › Mobile networks › Network operators › Select automatically (off)

   You should see: one of the listed networks connects. Try them one after the other and wait up to a minute each. Set the selection back to Automatic afterwards.

7. Is an older AeroSims eSIM from an earlier trip still switched on?

   You should see: a second travel eSIM in your SIM list, also shown as Carrier. If there is one, follow the four steps under "I bought a new plan" below. This blocks new eSIMs more often than people expect.

8. Restart the phone with Wi-Fi off and give it two minutes.

   You should see: a page loads after the restart. Still offline? Run the eSIM check, then write to us with the details listed under "Who helps if I get stuck?". If we cannot get it working, you get your money back in full.

Run the eSIM checkWrite to support

Why does my eSIM say "No Service"?

At home it is normal: a plan for another country cannot connect there, so keep the eSIM installed. Abroad: switch the line on, Data Roaming on, then Airplane Mode for about 15 seconds. Still nothing? Choose a network by hand.

On a single-country plan, "No Service" in a neighbouring country is also expected. The plan works only in the country you bought it for.

The code says invalid, already used or expired. Is it broken?

Almost never. An activation code works once, so "used" or "expired" usually means the eSIM is already on your phone. Look for a second line in your SIM settings before you do anything else.

iPhone: Settings › Mobile Data. Android: Settings › Network & internet › SIMs. Samsung: Settings › Connections › SIM manager. If the line is there, keep it and follow the checklist above. Do not scan again. Install interrupted halfway? Connect to Wi-Fi, restart the phone, add the eSIM again and leave the phone alone for a few minutes.

I bought a new plan and the new one will not connect

An expired travel eSIM that is still switched on keeps the phone attached to it. Switch the old line off, do not delete it. Set network selection back to Automatic. Switch the new line on with Data Roaming on. Restart.

1. Switch the OLD travel eSIM off. Do not delete it. iPhone: Settings › Mobile Data › Carrier › Turn On This Line off. Android: Settings › Network & internet › SIMs › Carrier › Use SIM off. Samsung: Settings › Connections › SIM manager › Carrier off.
2. Set network selection back to Automatic: iPhone Settings › Mobile Data › Carrier › Network Selection › Automatic (on); Android Settings › Network & internet › SIMs › Carrier › Automatically select network (on); Samsung Settings › Connections › Mobile networks › Network operators › Select automatically (on).
3. Switch the NEW travel eSIM on with Data Roaming on, and set mobile data to it (steps 1 to 3 of the checklist).
4. Restart the phone and give it two minutes with Wi-Fi off.

Nothing on the new plan is lost while you do this; its days start only with its first connection. On most Galaxy phones only one eSIM can be active at a time, so the old one must be off before the new one can register.

Things that look wrong and are normal

• In your SIM settings the travel eSIM is shown as "Carrier", not as "AeroSims".
• The status bar shows a local network name instead of "AeroSims".
• A roaming symbol appears next to the signal bars.
• Two signal indicators, one of them sometimes "No Service".
• The travel eSIM shows "No Service" whenever you are outside the plan's country, including at home before the trip.
• Visual Voicemail on your own number is unavailable on iPhone while roaming is on for the data line.
• An unlimited plan slows down after a very heavy day: full speed returns the next day (see the plans section).

Who helps if I get stuck?

Write to support@aerosims.com, around the clock, seven days a week. Personal support in your language: write in yours and we reply in it. The eSIM check page also has a chat assistant that brings a human colleague into the same chat when needed.

Send us your order number, the phone model, which country you are in, and a screenshot of the SIM settings screen. Then we can answer in one go.

Write to support@aerosims.comContact pageOpen the eSIM check

When does the eSIM activate, and how long does it last?

The validity starts the moment the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination. Buying and installing do not start it. From then on the plan runs for the number of days you bought.

Can I install the eSIM weeks before I travel?

Yes. Install it on Wi-Fi at home whenever you like; the days only start at the first connection at your destination. An uninstalled QR code stays installable for 180 days, so buying well in advance costs you nothing.

How do I see how much data I have left and when the plan ends?

On your personal eSIM page, linked in the delivery email. It shows status, validity, data used and the install details. No app is needed. The welcome email after the first connection also names the end date.

What happens when the plan ends?

It simply stops. The eSIM stays on your phone, nothing renews by itself and nothing is charged. Signal may still show; data no longer passes.

Back home, set mobile data back to your home SIM. Switch the travel eSIM off if you like, or leave it. For the next trip, buy a new plan; it installs alongside. Before the new one goes live, switch the old travel eSIM off and set network selection back to Automatic.

The four steps for a new plan after an old one

Unlimited plan or data package?

Unlimited plans are priced by trip length and suit navigation, streaming and hotspot use. Data packages give a fixed number of GB at full speed and are often the cheaper choice for short trips with light use.

A plan for one country works in that country. For several countries choose a regional plan; its country list is on the product page. Most destinations run on 4G/LTE; 5G is available in some countries and is stated on the product page.

Unlimited plansData packages

Why did my unlimited plan slow down?

Unlimited plans follow a fair-use rule set by the local operators: full speed up to a daily allowance, then reduced speed for the rest of that day. Full speed returns the next day. The figure for your destination is on the daily allowance page.

Normal travel use, maps, messaging, social media, music and video calls, is rarely affected. Hotspot traffic to several devices counts toward the same daily amount and can use it up in a couple of hours. Reduced speed is the rule at work, and you stay online for the whole trip.

Daily allowance for every country

Data packages run at full speed until the GB are used up, then the data stops. As long as the package is still valid, you can often add data to it from your personal eSIM page, even after the data has stopped. Otherwise a new package restores your data within seconds and installs alongside.

Can I use the eSIM as a hotspot?

Yes. Each eSIM is installed on one device; to get a laptop, tablet or a travel companion online, use your phone's hotspot. Tethering is included on every plan at no extra cost. On unlimited plans it counts toward the daily allowance.

My trip got longer. Can I add days?

On most unlimited plans, yes. Open your personal eSIM page from the delivery email and add days before the plan ends. No new QR code, nothing to install. An extension keeps your current plan running with the same conditions, just more days.

Not every plan can be extended; the page shows the option when it exists. Many data packages can also take more data on the same page while they are still valid, and the added data extends how long they run. If yours can't, buy a second package; it installs alongside the first.

Does it work in the next country?

A plan for one country works in that country only. Regional plans list their countries on the product page. Several eSIMs can sit on one phone; when you cross a border, set mobile data to the eSIM for that country.

Some countries restrict internet calling or filter the internet at network level. We cannot promise that a particular app is reachable everywhere. Details are in the FAQ.

Plan choice, package sizes and the discount for several eSIMs are on the FAQ page.

What if it does not work, or I change my mind?

If the eSIM has not been installed on any device, you can request a full refund within 30 days of purchase, for any reason. If we cannot get an installed eSIM working, you get your money back in full.

• Consumers in the EU/EEA or the UK also have the statutory 14-day right of withdrawal, which ends once you install or activate the eSIM.
• After a refund the QR code is switched off and cannot be used.
• Plan extensions and added data are applied to your active eSIM immediately; once applied they can no longer be cancelled. Before that, we refund them in full.
• Write to support@aerosims.com with your order number.

Full refund policy in the FAQ

Questions people ask about using the eSIM

These questions are specific to using the eSIM on your phone. The general questions, prices and support, live on the FAQ page with all 27 answers.

All 27 questions in the FAQ