If you’ve recently purchased a new Samsung phone or are considering upgrading to one, you may have heard about eSIM technology.
eSIM, short for embedded SIM, is a digital SIM that allows you to activate a cellular plan from your carrier without the need for a physical SIM card. Many newer Samsung phones, like the Galaxy S21, S22, and A54, support eSIM.
Using eSIM can be incredibly convenient. You can store multiple eSIM profiles on a single device, easily switch between plans, or add a second line — perfect for traveling or separating work and personal numbers.
However, the process of activating eSIM can vary between carriers and may seem a bit tricky at first.
Don’t worry though, we’ll walk you through everything step-by-step. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover what you need to know about using eSIM on your Samsung phone, how to set it up with your carrier, and some advanced tips.
Whether you’re tech-savvy or not, you’ll be up and running in no time.
But first, let’s go over some eSIM basics and benefits.
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eSIM 101: What You Need to Know
An eSIM is essentially a small, embedded chip inside your phone that functions as a replacement for the traditional plastic SIM card. Unlike a physical SIM that you can remove and swap out, an eSIM cannot be taken out – it’s built into the device itself.
With an eSIM, rather than having to order a physical SIM from your carrier, waiting for it to arrive, and inserting it into your phone, you can simply sign up for a plan and activate the eSIM with a few taps.
The eSIM is remotely provisioned, meaning the necessary data is downloaded onto the chip via WiFi or cellular connection.
So why make the switch to eSIM? There are several key benefits:
No More SIM Cards to Lose or Damage
Since the eSIM is digital and embedded into the device hardware, there’s no physical card to deal with. This means no more losing your SIM, having it fall out if you drop your phone, or worrying about damage from removing and reinserting it.
Easily Switch Plans or Add A Second Line
With eSIM, changing your cellular plan is much simpler. If you want to switch carriers entirely, rather than having to order a new SIM and wait for it to be mailed to you, you can often sign up for and activate the new plan entirely from your phone in just a few minutes.
Many carriers also support multiple eSIM profiles, meaning you can configure more than one line on the same phone. This is handy if you want a separate work number, a local plan while traveling abroad, or just a secondary line for any reason. You can store several eSIM profiles and switch between them in your settings.
More Space Inside the Phone
While it may seem like a small thing, every bit of space matters inside increasingly thin smartphones. Removing the SIM card slot frees up a bit of precious real estate for other technology, like larger camera sensors or batteries. With eSIM, that space can now be used for features that more directly benefit the user.
More Secure Than Physical SIM Cards
There are some security advantages to eSIM vs a removable SIM card. A stolen phone with a physical SIM can potentially be used by simply removing the SIM and putting it in another device. With eSIM, carriers can implement better security measures like two-factor authentication.
Additionally, with an eSIM, user data is better encrypted and stored directly on the protected chip rather than on a removable card. This makes it much harder for someone to clone the SIM or access personal info and account details.
Now that you have some background on the technology, let’s dive into how to actually set it up on your Samsung phone.
Setting Up eSIM on Samsung Phones
The exact process to set up and activate eSIM on your Samsung device may vary a bit depending on your carrier, plan, and where you live. In general though, you’ll need to provide a few key pieces of information to your carrier, who will then walk you through the necessary steps.
Here’s how to get started:
Step 1: Check eSIM Compatibility
First, make sure your Samsung phone actually supports eSIM. Currently, the following models have eSIM capability:
- Galaxy Fold, Z Fold2, Z Fold3, Z Fold4
- Galaxy Z Flip, Z Flip 5G, Z Flip3 5G, Z Flip4
- Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra
- Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra
- Galaxy S22, S22+, S22 Ultra
- Galaxy Note 20, Note 20 Ultra
- Galaxy A52s, A53, A54
If you have one of the above phones, you’re good to go. Also confirm that your carrier supports eSIM activation, as not all carriers do.
Step 2: Find Your eSIM’s IMEI And EID Numbers
Next, you’ll need to locate a couple key pieces of identifying information about the eSIM in your phone that your carrier will need to set up your line. These are the eSIM IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) and EID (embedded identification number).
To find these on your Samsung phone, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app
- Tap “About phone” or “About device”
- Tap “Status information”
- Scroll down and look for “IMEI (eSIM)” and “EID” numbers
Your IMEI will be a 15 digit number, while the EID is 32 characters. Write these both down or take a screenshot, as your carrier will likely ask you to provide them.
Step 3: Contact Your Carrier
Now that you have your eSIM identifiers, it’s time to reach out to your cellular provider to begin the activation process. How you do this will depend on your specific carrier, but in general, you can either:
- Visit a retail store in-person
- Contact customer support via phone or online chat
- Use your carrier’s online activation portal
- Complete the process in your carrier’s mobile app, if available
If purchasing a new plan, your carrier will ask for your identifying information and what plan you’d like, then get the eSIM provisioned remotely. For existing plans, they’ll simply need the EID and eSIM IMEI to get it switched over from a physical SIM.
Some carriers like T-Mobile now let you complete the entire process very quickly right from their app. You can choose a plan, provide your information, and have the eSIM activated without needing to talk to customer support at all.
Once your carrier has set up your line for eSIM, they will provide you with one of two things to complete the process on your end in the phone settings:
- An activation code (aka SM-DP+ address)
- A QR code
The activation code typically looks something like lpa:\/\/[email protected]$ and would be provided over email or in your account online. A QR code may be sent as an image for you to scan with the phone camera.
With that activation code or QR code on hand, you can move on to the next step.
Step 4: Activate eSIM in Settings
With the information provided by your carrier, it’s now time to complete the setup on your Samsung phone. The steps may vary slightly by model, but will generally be something like this:
- Open your phone Settings app
- Tap “Connections”
- Tap “SIM Card Manager”
- Tap “Add Mobile Plan”
- You will be prompted to choose one of three options:
- Scan QR code – select this if your carrier provided a QR code image to scan
- Enter activation code – select this if you were given an SM-DP+ address
- Select a plan from available carriers – you may see your carrier listed if they have pre-configured plans ready to go
- If prompted, select the data plan you signed up for
- Your eSIM will activate. Once complete, you will see a “Mobile Plan Added” confirmation message.
That’s it! Your new eSIM line should now be up and running. You can browse the web, send messages, and make calls just like with a traditional SIM card.
Advanced eSIM Tips And Troubleshooting
Now that you have eSIM activated, there are a few other helpful things to know to make the most of the technology.
Setting Your Default Line
If you now have two lines active on your Samsung phone, your physical SIM and eSIM, you may want to specify which should be used by default for things like calls or mobile data. To do this:
- Go to Settings > Connections > SIM Card Manager
- Tap the line currently marked “Default” to expand the options
- Here you can change the default for mobile data, calls, and messages
- Tap the switch next to any of these to toggle the default between SIMs
Editing or Removing eSIM Plans
If you ever need to edit the nickname of your eSIM line, remove an old one, or delete eSIM plans to free up space for others, you can do that right from your phone settings.
To rename an eSIM plan:
- Go to Settings > Connections > SIM Card Manager
- Tap the nickname of the plan you want to edit
- Tap the pencil “edit” icon next to the name
- Type in a new nickname and tap “Save”
To delete an eSIM plan:
- Go to Settings > Connections > SIM Card Manager
- Tap the plan you want to remove
- Tap “Delete”
- Confirm you want to remove the plan
- If you have multiple eSIMs, repeat the process for any others you want to delete
Just keep in mind that deleting an eSIM plan permanently removes it from your phone. If you simply want to use a different eSIM but keep the old one for later, consider just switching the active/default line rather than fully deleting the plan you’re not currently using.
Troubleshooting Issues
If you encounter any issues during the activation process or with your eSIM service after, there are a few steps you can take:
- Restart your phone – as with many tech problems, sometimes a simple reboot is all it takes to solve odd issues
- Ensure your phone is updated – check for any available system updates in Settings that may include bug fixes or support for your carrier’s eSIM implementation
- Re-enter your activation code – if you have issues activating initially, double check that you’ve entered your SM-DP+ address correctly or try scanning the QR code again
- Contact your carrier – eSIM is still a fairly new technology, so some carriers’ support processes are not perfected yet. If you have persistent issues, it’s best to reach out to your provider’s support directly for help.
The future of eSIM
eSIM technology has been steadily gaining adoption, with more phones released each year supporting it, and an increasing number of carriers offering eSIM plans. It’s likely that eSIM will eventually become the default, primary way cellular service is delivered.
In the future, we may see the complete phasing out of removable physical SIM cards in favor of a fully digital experience. For now though, many Samsung phones support both eSIM and physical SIM cards to give users options.
As 5G networks continue to expand and more foldable phones hit the market, the space savings of eSIM will become increasingly important. Samsung has been at the forefront of both technologies, so expect their support for eSIM to only grow in the coming years.
Some analysts predict that eSIM will be a key enabler for new categories of cellular-connected devices beyond just phones, tablets, and wearables. This could include everything from smart home devices to augmented reality glasses to connected cars. The possibilities are endless!
Final Thoughts
eSIM is an exciting technology that brings a new level of flexibility and convenience to Samsung phone owners. While the setup process does require a few extra steps compared to a traditional physical SIM card, it’s still quite straightforward, especially if your carrier offers a streamlined activation method.
The benefits are well worth it though. The ability to easily switch plans, add a second line, or avoid the hassle of a physical SIM card make eSIM a great option to consider.
Hopefully this guide has helped clarify the process of setting up and using eSIM on your compatible Samsung phone. For more tips and tutorials on getting the most out of your Samsung device, check out our other articles. And if you have any other questions about eSIM or your cellular plan, don’t hesitate to reach out to your carrier for personalized support.
