Is My Phone eSIM Compatible? How to Check in Two Minutes

Most iPhones from the XS and XR onward, and most recent Pixel and Samsung Galaxy flagships, can use an eSIM. But "the model supports eSIM" is not quite the same as "my phone will accept a travel eSIM". Three things have to be true, and you can check all of them yourself in a couple of minutes, without installing anything.

The fastest single test: dial *#06#. If the screen shows a long number labeled EID, your phone has an eSIM chip. Then check that it is not carrier-locked.

The three conditions

A travel eSIM will only work if all three of these are true:

1. The phone has an eSIM chip. This is hardware. If the chip is not there, no setting or app can add it.
2. The version sold in your region has eSIM enabled. The same model name can ship with different hardware or software in different countries. Some regional versions leave out eSIM or switch it off.
3. The phone is carrier-unlocked. A phone locked to one carrier can have a perfectly good eSIM chip and still refuse a plan from anyone else, including a travel eSIM provider.

A model list only covers the first condition, and only roughly. Checking the phone itself covers all three.

If you are not yet sure what an eSIM is or why travelers use one, start with what an eSIM is and how it works.

Quick check: what to look for

Check	Where	A good sign
eSIM chip	Dial *#06#	An EID number appears
eSIM enabled	Cellular or SIM settings	An "Add eSIM" or "Download a SIM" option
Unlocked	iPhone: Settings > General > About. Android: ask your carrier	"No SIM restrictions" (iPhone)

Menu names vary by OS version, manufacturer and language, so treat the labels in this guide as signposts, not exact wording.

The universal test: dial *#06#

Open the phone app, type *#06# as if it were a phone number, and look at what appears.

• You see an EID (a long number, usually 32 digits, next to the letters EID): the phone has an eSIM chip. Move on to the unlock check.
• You only see IMEI numbers: the phone most likely has no eSIM, or the eSIM is disabled on this version. On a few Android phones the EID only shows elsewhere, so also look in Settings under About phone, often in a SIM status section, before you give up.

How to check on iPhone

1. Open Settings and tap Cellular (called Mobile Data or Mobile Service in some countries and iOS versions).
2. Look for Add eSIM or Add Cellular Plan. If it is there, eSIM is available on your iPhone.
3. Optionally, go to Settings > General > About and scroll down: phones with eSIM list an EID there too.

As a rule of thumb, iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and every later model support eSIM; Apple's official eSIM page lists the same minimum. Two regional exceptions matter:

• Mainland China. Most iPhone models sold there have used two physical SIM slots instead of an eSIM, and some versions sold in Hong Kong and Macao are dual physical SIM too. A few recent models do support eSIM in mainland China, so check the phone itself.
• eSIM-only models. Recent iPhone models sold in the United States, and some sold elsewhere, have no SIM tray at all. They are the easiest case: they work only with eSIM, so compatibility is guaranteed as long as the phone is unlocked.

When you are ready to set one up, follow the steps in how to install an eSIM on iPhone.

How to check on Android

Android is less uniform, because every manufacturer arranges its settings differently. The general approach:

1. Open Settings and go to the network section. It is usually called Network & internet on Pixel and Connections on Samsung Galaxy.
2. Open the SIM area: SIMs on Pixel, SIM manager on Samsung.
3. Look for an option such as Add eSIM, Download a SIM, Add mobile plan or a plus sign next to the SIM list. If you find one, the phone supports eSIM.

Pixel phones from the last several generations and recent Samsung Galaxy S, Z Fold and Z Flip flagships generally support eSIM, and many other recent mid-range and high-end models from brands such as Motorola and Xiaomi do as well. But regional variants differ: the same Galaxy or Xiaomi model can be sold with eSIM in Europe and without it elsewhere, and some carrier-branded versions ship with eSIM switched off. That is exactly why you should check the device in your hand, not a list.

If the option is missing, use the search bar at the top of Settings and type "eSIM" or "SIM".

For the setup itself, see how to install an eSIM on Android.

How to check if your phone is carrier-locked

People often skip this step, and it causes many failed activations abroad. A locked phone can show the "Add eSIM" option and still reject a plan from another network.

On iPhone

Go to Settings > General > About and scroll to Carrier Lock (on older iOS versions, Network Provider Lock). If it says No SIM restrictions, the phone is unlocked. Anything else means it is locked to a carrier.

On Android

There is no single menu that works on every Android phone. The reliable options:

• Ask your carrier, through its app, your online account or customer service. They can tell you whether the phone is locked.
• Try a SIM from another network. Borrow a friend's physical SIM from a different carrier (if your phone has a SIM tray) and see whether the phone connects or asks for an unlock code.
• On some models, a Network lock or SIM lock status appears under Settings, About phone. If you do not find it, that does not prove the phone is unlocked.

Phones bought outright from the manufacturer or a retailer are usually unlocked; those bought on a carrier contract or installment plan are the ones most often locked.

What to do if your phone is locked

Ask your carrier to unlock it. Many carriers do it on request once the phone is paid off or a minimum period has passed, and the unlock is often done remotely within a day or two. The rules and any fees vary by country and by carrier, so check your carrier's own unlock policy before assuming the answer is no.

Do this well before your trip: an unlock can take days, and it is much harder to sort out from abroad.

Tablets and smartwatches

• iPad. Cellular iPad models support eSIM, and recent ones are eSIM-only. Wi-Fi-only iPads cannot use any kind of SIM, so a travel eSIM will not work on them. Check the same way: Settings, then Cellular Data, and look for an option to add a plan.
• Smartwatches. Watches with cellular service do use an eSIM, but it is usually tied to your home carrier and shares your phone number. It is not meant for travel data, and travel eSIM providers generally do not offer plans for watches.

Once you know your phone is compatible

If all three conditions check out, the next step is choosing a plan for where you are going. The eSIM comparator lists plans for each destination, recalculated every day. Buy and install the eSIM before you leave, while you are still on reliable Wi-Fi, and switch it on when you land.

Frequently asked questions

Does every new phone support eSIM?

No. Most recent iPhones and flagship Android phones do, but many budget Android models still do not, and regional versions differ. Dial *#06# and look for an EID, or look for an "Add eSIM" option in your SIM settings.

Can I use an eSIM and my regular SIM at the same time?

On most eSIM phones, yes. Dual SIM lets you keep your home number active for calls and texts while the travel eSIM handles data. You choose in the SIM settings which line is used for mobile data.

My phone shows an EID but the eSIM will not activate. Why?

The most common reason is a carrier lock: the chip is there, but the phone only accepts that carrier's plans. Check the lock status as described above. Less often, the regional version has eSIM restricted, or the activation needs an internet connection, so try again on Wi-Fi.

Will my phone work with eSIM if it was bought in another country?

It depends on that regional version, not on where you are now. A phone bought in mainland China, for example, may have no eSIM even though the same model has one elsewhere. Run the *#06# test and check the SIM settings to be sure.