To install a travel eSIM before you fly, use Wi-Fi, add the eSIM in your phone’s cellular settings, label the line clearly, and keep mobile data set to your home or travel line only when your plan’s activation rules say to switch it on.
iPhone: install first, then choose the data line later
Apple says your iPhone must be connected to a Wi-Fi network or hotspot to install and activate a travel eSIM before departure. In Apple's international eSIM guidance, if your travel provider uses a notification flow, you may see Turn On Travel eSIM after you arrive at your destination, and you can choose Travel eSIM Only or Travel eSIM and Current eSIM.
If you choose both lines, Apple says the travel eSIM is used for data, and your home line may still incur roaming charges. Apple also says you may be prompted to turn on Low Data Mode or select Not Now during activation.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Cellular, then tap Cellular Data.
- Select the line you want to use for data.
Apple’s page also says the route for selecting a data line depends on the region wording shown on the device, with some versions showing Mobile Data and others showing Cellular.
Android on Pixel: add the eSIM in Network & internet
On Pixel phones, Google’s support pages show two installation paths. During phone setup, tap Download SIM or Set up, then follow the on-screen steps. After setup, open Settings, tap Network & internet, then SIMs, then Add SIM, then Set up an eSIM.
Google also says that for international travel, prepaid eSIMs from international operators can be activated when you arrive at your destination to avoid roaming charges.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Network & internet.
- Tap SIMs.
- Tap Add SIM.
- Tap Set up an eSIM.
Google’s documentation retrieved here does not state a travel-specific label for the line or a dedicated pre-flight data-routing screen on Pixel, so the exact naming shown on the device should be followed.
Samsung Galaxy: add eSIM from SIM manager
Samsung's Galaxy eSIM guidance says to go to Settings > Connections > SIM manager, then tap Add eSIM. Samsung also documents QR-code setup and manual entry flows in the same help page, depending on the provider’s method.
Samsung says the mobile plan can be automatically downloaded and activated on the eSIM after Add eSIM is selected. For supported carriers, Samsung also notes that the provider may ask for the phone’s EID.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Connections.
- Tap SIM manager.
- Tap Add eSIM.
- Follow the carrier’s QR-code or activation-code instructions if provided.
Samsung’s Galaxy eSIM guidance is carrier-dependent, and the page says to check with the mobile provider whether the option is available before starting. The documented flow does not add a separate travel-only activation screen, so label the line in SIM manager and leave mobile data on your usual line until the provider says the travel plan is active.
Lock status, carrier support, and activation rules
eSIM installation still depends on carrier support. Apple’s guidance and Samsung’s help page both assume the mobile plan or carrier supports eSIM activation on the device, and Samsung explicitly says to check availability with the mobile provider first. Google’s Pixel help also routes setup through the device’s SIM setup screens rather than promising universal carrier support.
If the phone is carrier-locked, the travel eSIM may not install or activate as expected. The retrieved pages here do not give a single universal unlock rule for all iPhone, Pixel, and Galaxy models, so the carrier’s lock policy remains the controlling condition.
What to do before you fly
Install the travel eSIM on Wi-Fi before departure if your provider allows preloading, then give the line a clear label in the phone’s cellular settings so it is easy to identify at the airport or after landing. Keep the line’s data switch off until the provider’s activation rules say to turn it on, especially when the provider says activation starts on arrival.
For iPhone, use Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data or the equivalent regional menu wording to choose the data line. For Pixel, use Settings > Network & internet > SIMs. For Galaxy, use Settings > Connections > SIM manager.
Device-by-device differences
iPhone gives the clearest travel-specific guidance in the retrieved pages: connect to Wi-Fi or a hotspot, then wait for the Turn On Travel eSIM prompt or change the data line manually in Cellular settings. Pixel documents general eSIM setup and says travel eSIMs can be activated on arrival, but it does not document the same travel-specific prompt wording. Samsung documents the setup path through SIM manager and carrier scanning or manual entry, but not a separate travel-eSIM activation flow in the retrieved page.
For all three, the practical rule is the same: install the eSIM before flying if the plan supports it, label the line clearly, and do not route data to it until the plan’s activation instructions say to switch.
More eSIM resources: Browse our eSIM guides and troubleshooting resources for compatibility, setup, travel-data and account-safety advice.
Related reading: Complete eSIM Guide: Compatibility, Setup, Travel and Troubleshooting and What Is a Travel eSIM and How Does It Work?.
