My Phone Dey Support eSIM? How to Check

Before you buy travel eSIM, e good make you spend one minute to confirm say your phone fit really use am. Most recent phones fit, but no be all, and phone wey support eSIM fit still dey blocked from using one if dem lock am to network.

Dis guide dey cover di two questions: your phone get eSIM, and e free to use eSIM from anoda provider? E go end wit di exceptions wey dey catch pipo wey dey travel pass, and wetin to do if e turn out say your phone no compatible.

Two tins wey your phone need

Before travel eSIM go work, your phone need:

1. 1eSIM hardware. eSIM na small chip wey dem build inside di phone wey fit hold SIM profiles wey you download. If di chip no dey, no software setting fit add am.
2. 2Carrier unlock. Phones wey dem sell through network dey sometimes locked to dat network, and dat one dey stop dem from accepting SIM or eSIM from anybody else.

Di two must dey true. Brand-new flagship wey still dey locked no go take travel eSIM, and old phone wey dem don unlock but no get di chip no go take am too.

Phones wey dey usually support eSIM

As general guide, dis phones dey support eSIM:

• iPhone: iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and every newer model.
• Google Pixel: Pixel 3 and newer.
• Samsung Galaxy: recent Galaxy S and Galaxy Z phones and plenti Galaxy A models.
• Oda Android brands: plenti recent mid-range and flagship models, but support dey change well well from model to model.

See dat list as starting point, no be guarantee. Dem fit sell di same model for different versions depending on di kontri or network, and some versions no get eSIM. Di checks wey dey below go tell you about your own phone.

Three quick ways to check your phone

1. Look for Add eSIM option

Dis na di most reliable test, becos e dey show wetin your software really support.

• iPhone: open Settings → Mobile Service (Mobile Data for older iOS, Cellular for US English) and look for Add eSIM.
• Google Pixel: open Settings → Network & internet → SIMs and look for option to add or download SIM.
• Samsung Galaxy: open Settings → Connections → SIM manager and look for Add eSIM.
• Oda Android phones: search Settings for "eSIM". If option to add or download eSIM show, you dey set.

2. Dial *#06#

Open your phone app and dial *#06#. Most phones dey show dia IMEI number dis way. For plenti phones wey fit use eSIM, di screen go also show EID, long 32-digit number wey dey identify di eSIM chip. If you see EID, your phone get eSIM hardware. If you no see am, check wit di first method before you rule am out, becos no be every phone dey show am here.

3. Check di About screen

• iPhone: Settings → General → About. Scroll down: iPhones wey fit use eSIM dey list EID.
• Android: Settings → About phone. Plenti phones dey show di EID here or under SIM status or status information section.

Your phone dey carrier-unlocked?

Even if di hardware correct, phone wey dem lock go refuse travel eSIM.

• iPhone: go Settings → General → About and find Carrier Lock. "No SIM restrictions" mean say your iPhone dey unlocked.
• Android: no one setting dey for every brand. Di simplest options na to ask your network or to put SIM card from different network and see if e go connect.

Phones wey you buy on contract or payment plan dey often locked until you finish di payment, while phones wey you buy full from di manufacturer or shop dey usually unlocked. If your own dey locked, your network fit tell you if dem fit unlock am and how.

Exceptions wey dey catch pipo wey dey travel

iPhones from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao

Plenti iPhones wey dem sell for mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao dey use two physical SIM slots instead of eSIM. If na dia dem buy your iPhone, check for di Add eSIM option before you buy anytin.

Dual SIM no always mean eSIM

Some Android phones dey offer dual SIM through two physical card slots and no eSIM at all. Second SIM tray no be proof say e support eSIM, and if e no get one, dat one no be proof too.

Second-hand and refurbished phones

Used phone fit still dey locked to di first owner network, or e fit be regional version wey no get eSIM. Run di two checks when you get am, no be di night before your flight.

Company phones

Work phones dey sometimes under IT policy wey dey stop you from adding new mobile plans. If di Add eSIM option dey grey or e no dey for work phone, ask your IT team.

Wetin if your phone no support eSIM?

Then travel eSIM no be di correct tool for dis trip. Your realistic options na:

• Your home network roaming, afta you check your current tariff for di destination.
• Local physical SIM card wey you go buy for where you dey go.
• To depend on Wi-Fi where you dey stay, wit offline maps wey you don download before you comot.

If e don reach time to buy new phone anyway, e make sense to choose one wey get eSIM and buy am unlocked.

Once you know say your phone dey compatible

Choose plan for your destination, one region or di whole trip. HelloSIM dey cover 190+ destinations wit kontri, regional and Global plans. Afta payment, dem go email you di QR code sharp sharp, and dem also save am inside your HelloSIM account and di HelloSIM app.

Install am for house on Wi-Fi, then on di line when you land. Validity dey start when di eSIM first connect to network for where you dey go. Dem dey install one eSIM for one phone, so if you dey travel as group, each phone need im own.