Check if your phone is eSIM compatible

The quickest check is to dial *#06# on the phone: if an EID number shows up alongside the IMEI, the phone has eSIM hardware. Two things have to be true before a travel eSIM will work: the phone must support eSIM, and it must be carrier-unlocked. Most flagship and many mid-range phones from about 2019 on pass both, but region variants and carrier locks trip up enough people that a two-minute check before you buy is worth it.

As a broad rule, most phones from about 2019 on support eSIM. That covers the iPhone XS, XR and everything newer, recent Samsung Galaxy S, Note, Z and a growing set of A-series models, the Google Pixel 3 and later, and many recent Android phones from other makers. Older handsets, basic budget models and some smartwatches often skip it. The model name alone is not proof, though, because the same model can ship with or without eSIM depending on where it was sold, so always confirm your own unit.

A travel eSIM needs two things at once: eSIM hardware in the phone, and a phone that is not locked to a single carrier. The first is fixed in the hardware and cannot be added later. The second is a software lock your home provider can remove: a phone still tied to your carrier may refuse another network's eSIM until it is unlocked. If either is missing, the eSIM will not install, so it pays to settle both before you buy a plan.

The fastest hardware check is *#06#, backed by two menu checks that confirm it. Dial *#06# in the phone app and look for an EID number: if one appears, the phone has eSIM hardware. On iPhone, open Settings > General > About and look for a Digital SIM or an EID entry. On Android, open the SIM settings and look for Add eSIM or Download a SIM. If the EID and those options are all missing, the phone almost certainly has no eSIM.

Confirm the phone is carrier-unlocked with your provider, and remember that the same model can differ by region. If you bought the phone outright it is usually unlocked; if it came on a contract or instalment plan, ask your provider to confirm, since a lock is not always obvious from the settings. Region matters too: some phones sold in mainland China, and certain older models bought in specific countries, omit eSIM entirely even though the same model has it elsewhere. When in doubt, check the exact variant you own.

If the checks above leave you unsure, look up your exact model before you buy. For a fuller, model-by-model list of what works, see the Goodbars eSIM-compatible phones page. Once you have confirmed your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked, installing a travel plan is a short, one-time job: the order email delivers the eSIM as a QR code plus manual entry details, and you scan it on home Wi-Fi before you fly. Confirming compatibility first is what keeps that step painless.