Is My Phone eSIM Compatible? The 30-Second Check

"Is my phone eSIM compatible?" is the question that stops most people before their first eSIM purchase. The answer is usually yes for phones bought in the last few years, but there are two catches that matter more than the model list.

The 30-second check

You do not need to look up your model. Dial *#06# on your phone's keypad.

If the screen shows an EID number alongside your IMEI, your phone has eSIM hardware. No EID means no eSIM support, regardless of what a compatibility list says.

This works on both iPhone and Android and takes seconds.

The catch most lists do not mention: carrier locking

eSIM hardware is not the same as eSIM freedom. A phone locked to the carrier you bought it from will accept an eSIM profile and then refuse to connect to any other network.

This catches people out because installation appears to succeed. The profile installs, the plan shows as active, and there is simply no service.

If you bought your phone outright, or you have used another carrier's SIM in it before, you are almost certainly fine. If it came on contract and has only ever run on that carrier, contact them and confirm it is unlocked before you buy a travel plan.

The second catch: region-specific models

Some phone models ship without eSIM in particular markets, even where the same model has it elsewhere. Phones sold in mainland China are the most common example, and some models sold in Hong Kong differ too.

This is exactly why the *#06# check beats a model list — it tells you about the device in your hand rather than what the model generally supports.

Broad compatibility by platform

iPhone

iPhone XS, XR and every subsequent model support eSIM. The iPhone SE second generation and later do too. Earlier iPhones do not, and there is no way to add it.

Google Pixel

Pixel 3 and later generally support eSIM, with some carrier-specific exceptions on early models.

Samsung Galaxy

Galaxy S20 and later, recent Z Fold and Z Flip models, and several Note models support eSIM. Samsung's regional variation is wider than Apple's, so the *#06# check is particularly worthwhile here.

Other Android

Many recent Motorola, Huawei, Oppo and Sony models include eSIM. Support is inconsistent across model years and regions, so check the device directly.

Our device compatibility page lists supported models in more detail.

Confirming in your settings

If you would rather check visually:

iPhone: Settings, then Mobile Service (or Cellular). If you see "Add eSIM" or "Add Data Plan", you are supported.

Android: Settings, Network & Internet, SIMs. Look for "Download a SIM instead" or an option to add an eSIM.

If neither option appears but *#06# showed an EID, your phone may need a software update before eSIM becomes available.

What happens to your existing number

A common worry, and an unnecessary one. Installing a travel eSIM does not replace your normal SIM. Modern phones run both at once.

The typical travel setup is your home SIM active for calls and texts on your usual number, with the travel eSIM handling data. You stay reachable while paying local data rates rather than roaming rates.

You can switch which line handles data at any time in settings.

If your phone does not support eSIM

There is no way to add eSIM hardware to a phone that lacks it. Realistic options are a physical local SIM on arrival, your carrier's roaming bundle, or relying on Wi-Fi with offline maps downloaded in advance.

Before you buy

• Dial *#06# and confirm an EID appears.
• Confirm the phone is carrier-unlocked.
• Check that your destination is covered — browse available destinations.
• Install before you fly, while you have reliable Wi-Fi.

If installation goes wrong, our guide to fixing an eSIM with no internet covers the common causes in order.