To check if your phone supports eSIM, look for an EID number. On an iPhone it sits in Settings under General and About, and on most Android phones dialing *#06# shows it. A phone with an EID has an eSIM chip, but it also needs to be free of a carrier lock before a travel eSIM bought online will work.
Both checks take a couple of minutes and cost nothing. Skipping them can leave you with a paid plan that never connects, so this guide walks through each screen on iPhone, Google Pixel and Samsung, then covers the regional exceptions and what happens if the check fails after you have already paid.
Key takeaways
- Apple supports eSIM on iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and later models.
- An EID number on the phone means the hardware has an eSIM chip.
- A carrier-locked phone can block a travel eSIM even when the chip is present.
- Some iPhone models sold in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao use two nano-SIM cards instead.
- Several stores refund a plan bought for an incompatible device, but each sets its own window.
Quick answer: two checks before you buy
A phone is ready for a travel eSIM when it passes two tests: it has an eSIM chip, and it is not locked to a carrier. The first test is about hardware, the second is about the contract the phone was sold under.
Check 1
Does the phone have an eSIM chip?
Look for the EID, a long identification number that only phones with an eSIM have. If there is no EID line anywhere, the phone cannot install an eSIM.
Check 2
Is the phone unlocked?
A carrier lock limits the phone to one network. On iPhone the lock status appears on the About screen; on Android the carrier that sold the phone can confirm it.
- Open Settings, General, About.
- Find the EID line: it means the phone has an eSIM chip.
- Check the carrier lock field shows No SIM Restrictions.
- Dial *#06# and look for a 32-digit EID.
- Pixel: Settings, About phone, SIM status.
- Samsung: Settings, Connections, SIM manager, Add eSIM.
The eSIM glossary explains EID, eUICC and the other terms that come up on these screens.
How to check an iPhone for eSIM support
Every iPhone from the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR onward supports eSIM, according to Apple's eSIM travel guide. If you are unsure which model you own, the About screen answers both the model question and the lock question at once.
Open the About screen
Go to SettingsGeneralAbout. The model name shown there tells you whether the phone is an iPhone XS, iPhone XR or a later model.
Find the EID line
Scroll down the About screen. An EID entry with a long number confirms the iPhone has an eSIM chip ready to receive a travel plan.
Read the carrier lock field
On the same About screen, find Carrier Lock. Apple states that an unlocked iPhone shows "No SIM Restrictions" in this field.
Your home number stays on
Apple notes that a travel eSIM used only for data leaves the home line active, so iMessage and FaceTime on your usual number keep working. You pick which line carries data in SettingsMobile ServiceMobile Data (called Cellular in some regions).
Apple also requires a Wi-Fi connection or a hotspot to set up the eSIM, apart from some eSIM-only models in certain regions. That is one more reason to install the plan at home or at the hotel before you need it, as the main guide to buying an eSIM online describes step by step.
How to check an Android phone for eSIM support
Android phones have no single settings layout, so the fastest universal test is the dialer. On many Android phones, dialing *#06# shows the EID if the device has an eSIM.
Any Android phone: the dialer code
Open the Phone app
Use the keypad as if you were making a call.
Dial *#06#
The phone opens a screen with its device identifiers.
Look for an EID line
An EID entry means the phone has an eSIM chip. If no EID appears, check the brand's SIM settings before you buy.
Google Pixel
Google lists the EID on Pixel phones under SettingsAbout phoneSIM status, and it is also printed on the phone's box. The Pixel help page on eSIM gives the add path as well: SettingsNetwork & internetAdd, tapping Add next to Mobile network, then "Download a SIM instead?". Seeing that option is a second confirmation that the Pixel accepts eSIM.
Samsung Galaxy
Samsung phones with eSIM show an "Add eSIM" option in SettingsConnectionsSIM manager. If SIM manager lists only physical SIM slots and no Add eSIM entry, the phone does not support eSIM.
| Phone | Where to find the EID | Sign of eSIM support |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later | Settings, General, About | EID line on the About screen |
| Google Pixel | Settings, About phone, SIM status; phone box | "Download a SIM instead?" when adding a network |
| Samsung Galaxy | Dialer code *#06# | "Add eSIM" in SIM manager |
| Other Android phones | Dialer code *#06# | EID shown after dialing *#06# |
Carrier lock: why it blocks a travel eSIM and how to check
A carrier lock ties a phone to the network that sold it, so a travel eSIM from another company may refuse to connect. Apple lists an unlocked iPhone as a requirement for using a travel eSIM, and the same logic applies to Android phones bought on a carrier contract.
On iPhone, the answer is on screen: "No SIM Restrictions" next to Carrier Lock means the phone is unlocked. Any other wording means the phone is tied to a carrier, and only that carrier can lift the lock.
Android has no single lock screen across brands in the sources checked for this guide. The reliable route is to ask the carrier that sold the phone whether it is unlocked, ideally a few days before the trip so there is time to request an unlock if needed.
Locked phone, working chip
A locked phone can still show an EID. The EID proves the chip exists; it does not prove the phone will accept a plan from a different provider. Run both checks.
Regional exceptions: China, Hong Kong and Macao models
Where an iPhone was sold matters as much as the model. Apple states that in mainland China only some recent models support eSIM, and that certain Hong Kong and Macao models use two nano-SIM cards instead of an eSIM.
If you bought your iPhone in one of these markets, the model name alone is not enough. Open the About screen and look for the EID line: no EID means no eSIM on that unit, whatever the model number suggests.
One store-side rule is worth knowing here too. TonMobile states in its terms that its service is not available to residents of Hong Kong, which matters if you live there and carry a dual nano-SIM model anyway.
What to do if the check fails
If the phone has no EID, no plan will install, and the practical options are a physical local SIM, a different device, or roaming from your home carrier. If the phone has an EID but is locked, contact the carrier about an unlock before buying.
If you already paid for a plan and then discover the phone is incompatible, several stores treat that as a refund case. The details differ, which is why the eSIM refund policies guide compares them side by side.
| Store | Incompatible device refunded? | Stated conditions |
|---|---|---|
| TonMobile | Yes | Request before the package expires and within 180 days of purchase; card refunds up to 14 calendar days, crypto and electronic refunds up to 5 business days |
| Holafly | Yes | Refunds for incompatible devices, paid back in 3 to 5 business days |
| Ubigi | Yes | Request within 14 business days of purchase |
Do not install to "test" it
TonMobile's terms say a package starts being consumed as soon as the eSIM activates on a device, and a profile deleted or installed incorrectly by the user is not refundable. Check compatibility first, then buy.
For setup help on the phone itself, the TonMobile app on Google Play and the App Store includes in-app setup guides. Before you choose any store, the rating methodology explains how refund terms and device support feed into each score.
Checklist before you pay for an eSIM
Run through this list once per trip, ideally on the day you buy the plan. Each line takes seconds and rules out a failed install.
- The phone shows an EID (iPhone About screen, Pixel SIM status, or *#06# on Android).
- iPhone: Carrier Lock reads "No SIM Restrictions".
- Android: the carrier has confirmed the phone is unlocked.
- The phone was not sold as a dual nano-SIM model for Hong Kong or Macao, or a mainland China model without eSIM.
- You can connect to Wi-Fi or a hotspot when installing the plan.
- You have read the store's refund rules for an incompatible device.
- You know how to switch mobile data to the travel line and back after the trip.
After the trip, Apple recommends checking that "Turn On This Line" is on for your home line and switching off travel lines you no longer use. Once the phone passes, compare stores on the eSIM store rating, or read how to buy an eSIM with crypto, how to buy an eSIM in Telegram and what unlimited eSIM plans actually include.
FAQ
How do I check if my phone supports eSIM?
Look for an EID number. On iPhone it appears in Settings, General, About; on most Android phones dialing *#06# shows it. A phone with an EID has an eSIM chip, and it also needs to be carrier unlocked to accept a travel plan.
Which iPhones support eSIM?
Apple supports eSIM on iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and later models. Some models sold in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao are exceptions, so check the About screen for an EID line.
How do I find the EID on my phone?
On iPhone, open Settings, General, About. On Google Pixel, open Settings, About phone, SIM status, or check the box. On many other Android phones, dial *#06# and the EID appears if the phone has an eSIM.
Is my phone unlocked for eSIM?
On iPhone, "No SIM Restrictions" next to Carrier Lock in Settings, General, About means it is unlocked. On Android, the carrier that sold the phone can confirm the lock status and request an unlock if needed.
Can a Samsung phone use a travel eSIM?
A Samsung phone can use a travel eSIM if "Add eSIM" appears in Settings, Connections, SIM manager and the phone is unlocked. If only physical SIM slots are listed, that Samsung model does not support eSIM.
Can I get a refund if my phone does not support eSIM?
Often, yes. TonMobile, Holafly and Ubigi all list an incompatible device as a refund case, each with its own deadline. Request the refund before installing, because a profile installed or deleted incorrectly may no longer qualify.