How to Activate an eSIM on Google Pixel

Installed but no internet: four connection checks

At your destination, confirm the plan covers your location and has data and validity remaining. Keep the eSIM installed while troubleshooting.

1. Enable Data Roaming for the Wanderly eSIM and select it for mobile data. Keep data roaming off for your home SIM.
2. If the current network gives you trouble, turn off automatic network selection and try another network listed for your plan. Allow a minute for each connection attempt.
3. Temporarily turn off other SIMs/eSIMs in SIM settings, leaving Wanderly enabled. This pauses calls and texts on those lines; turn them back on after testing. Do not delete any eSIM.
4. Restart your phone, then turn Wi-Fi off briefly to test mobile data at your destination.

Manual network selection on your phone

Try a supported network listed in your plan details. If no networks are shown, ask Wanderly support which to choose.

• iPhone: Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Service) > Wanderly eSIM > Network Selection > turn Automatic off.
• Samsung: Settings > Connections > Mobile networks > Network operators > turn Select automatically off for the travel line.
• Pixel: Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Wanderly eSIM > turn Automatically select network off. Menu names vary by phone.

Add the eSIM

1. Connect to Wi-Fi and disable any VPN.
2. Settings > Network & internet > SIMs (or Mobile network) > Add eSIM / Download a SIM instead.
3. Scan the QR code, or choose manual entry and paste the full LPA string from your email.
4. Confirm the download and tap Use SIM when prompted.

Choose data and roaming

1. Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > select the travel eSIM.
2. Turn on Mobile data for that line and set it as the preferred data SIM.
3. Turn on Roaming for that line.
4. Restart or toggle airplane mode.

Pixel-specific notes

• Pixel supports multiple stored eSIM profiles; only one non-carrier profile can be active at a time on older models.
• During setup of a new Pixel, the phone offers to copy eSIMs from your old device — use it before wiping the old phone.
• If the download stalls, disable Private DNS temporarily (Settings > Network & internet > Private DNS). This is a Pixel-specific cause that does not affect other Android phones.

If the download fails

Pixel usually reports this as "Couldn't add eSIM" or "Can't connect to network. Try again later." — the second refers to the download server, not your mobile signal.

• Turn off any VPN, then retry.
• Turn off Private DNS, then retry. On Pixel this is the second most common cause after a VPN.
• Move off captive-portal Wi-Fi to home Wi-Fi or another phone's hotspot.
• Confirm the phone is carrier-unlocked, especially if it was bought on a US carrier plan.
• If "Download a SIM instead" never appears, check for an OS update, then dial *#06# to confirm an EID exists.