Update: How to Set Up eSIM on Galaxy S20 (2026 Guide)
Your Galaxy S20 can run a travel eSIM — but only if it's the right variant, and only if you install the profile in the right order. This guide walks through the full setup on Android 13 / One UI 5.1 (the last major software version Samsung shipped for the S20), tells you when to activate, and covers what to do when "Add eSIM" simply isn't there.
What you'll learn: how to check your S20 for eSIM hardware in 10 seconds, the exact menu path for your One UI version, and when to turn the plan on so you don't burn your data window before you land.
Before You Tap Anything: 10-Second Compatibility Check
Not every Galaxy S20 has eSIM. The S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra sold in most of Europe and Asia (Exynos models like SM-G980F, SM-G986B, SM-G988B) support it. Many US carrier variants (SM-G981U and similar) don't expose the eSIM menu at all, even though the hardware is there.
Here's the fastest test:
- Open the Phone app and dial
*#06# - Look for an EID number in the results
If you see an EID, your phone can hold an eSIM profile. If you only see IMEI and MEID, stop here — no amount of menu-hunting will help. Pick up a portable travel WiFi hotspot instead, or browse the eSIM collection for a device that fits.
One more thing worth checking: the S20 only supports one eSIM plus one physical nano-SIM at a time. Dual eSIM (two digital profiles running together) arrived on later Samsung models. If you need two active travel lines, read our WiFi guides before you buy.
Step-by-Step: Installing the UROCOMM eSIM
Confirmed your EID? Good. Set aside 5–10 minutes.
Step 1 — Update your software first. Go to Settings > Software update > Download and install. Old One UI 2.0 builds have a buggier eSIM download flow, and the menu naming differs anyway (see Step 3).
Step 2 — Get your QR code ready on another screen. UROCOMM emails your eSIM QR code after purchase. Open that email on a laptop or a second phone — you'll be scanning it with the S20's camera. Connect the S20 to home WiFi while you do this.
Step 3 — Find the SIM menu. The path depends on your version: - One UI 4 or 5 (Android 12/13): Settings > Connections > SIM Manager - One UI 2 or 3 (Android 10/11): Settings > Connections > SIM card manager
Step 4 — Tap "Add eSIM." On some builds it reads "Add mobile plan." Both do the same thing.
Step 5 — Choose "Scan QR code from service provider." The S20's camera opens. Hold the QR code steady about 15cm away. Your profile begins downloading immediately.
Step 6 — Wait for the profile to land. This usually takes 30 seconds to 2 minutes on a stable WiFi connection. Don't close the Settings app. If it fails, you'll see "Couldn't activate eSIM" — jump to Troubleshooting below.
Step 7 — Label it. Samsung asks you to name the plan. Call it something obvious like "UROCOMM Japan" or "UROCOMM USA." You'll thank yourself when you're toggling lines at the airport.
Step 8 — Leave it OFF. Skip making it your default line for now. More on that below.
When to Activate — This Part Matters
Install the profile before you travel. Activate the plan only after you arrive.
Here's the risk. Activating a travel eSIM starts the validity clock. Activate it three days early while you're still packing, and a 7-day plan can expire before your trip is half over. You also risk roaming charges if the phone grabs a foreign network from your home country.
So: scan the QR code at home on WiFi, then toggle the eSIM off. When you land, connect to airport or hotel WiFi, then go to Settings > Connections > SIM Manager, tap your UROCOMM line, and turn it on. Set it as the primary line for Mobile data, and enable Data roaming — that toggle is required for travel eSIMs, even though you're not paying roaming fees.
Plans like the Japan unlimited eSIM or the USA unlimited eSIM are designed for exactly this flow. Heading somewhere else? The Asia regional eSIM covers multiple countries under one profile.
Troubleshooting
1. There's no "Add eSIM" option at all.
Your model likely doesn't have eSIM enabled. Dial *#06# to confirm. If there's no EID, a hotspot or physical SIM is your route. See eSIM-compatible phones.
2. "Couldn't activate your eSIM" during the download. Nine times out of ten it's the network. Reconnect to WiFi, restart the phone, then retry the scan. If the QR code has already been partially consumed, email service@urocomm.com with your order number, your EID, and a screenshot of the error. UROCOMM support can reissue the profile.
3. The QR code won't scan. Turn your screen brightness up and clean the S20's camera lens. You can also try the manual entry option, which asks for a SM-DP+ address and activation code — both are in your UROCOMM email.
4. eSIM installed, but no data after landing. Check three things in order: the eSIM is toggled on, Data roaming is enabled, and the UROCOMM line is selected under Mobile data (not your home SIM). Then restart the phone.
5. You deleted the eSIM by accident. Deleting a profile is permanent — the S20 can't recover it, and you can't move an eSIM to a different phone because it's locked to that EID. Contact support to request a replacement QR code.
FAQ
Does the Galaxy S20 support eSIM in the US?
Usually not on carrier variants. US Snapdragon models often hide or omit the eSIM menu. The *#06# EID check settles it in seconds.
Can I use the UROCOMM eSIM and my home SIM at the same time? Yes — one eSIM plus one physical nano-SIM. Just set the UROCOMM line as primary for mobile data so you're not paying your home carrier's roaming rates.
Do I need WiFi to install the eSIM? Yes, for the initial download. You'll also want WiFi for the activation step after you land, since the phone manages the profile over the internet.
Wrapping Up
The whole job takes under 10 minutes: check for your EID, update One UI if you're still on Android 10, scan the QR code at home, and leave the line switched off until you land. If your S20 turns out to be one of the models without eSIM support, don't fight it — a global WiFi hotspot covers up to several devices and sidesteps the whole compatibility question. Running a newer Samsung? The Galaxy S21 guide covers a slightly different menu path, and our Galaxy install walkthrough handles the rest of the lineup.
Stuck at any step? Email service@urocomm.com with your order number and a screenshot — and if you're planning to top up mid-trip, here's how that works before you run out of data at 11pm in a hotel lobby.
