How to activate eSIM on your Samsung

Stay connected with prepaid eSIM
Keep your phone number active

How to install a Samsung eSIM

Using a Samsung eSIM means you’ll have prepaid international data from aloSIM, and you can still call and text on your regular phone number.

Right before international travel ...

Welcome! Now that you’ve already bought an eSIM data package and installed your eSIM correctly on your Samsung device, you’re all set. You should also make sure you aren’t enrolled in a carrier travel plan.

 

These next steps should be done immediately before international travel to prevent roaming charges from the very first minute you arrive.

 

(If you don’t want to use your Samsung phone number while you’re travelling internationally, please follow this guide instead to turn off your SIM.)

Samsung eSIM installation _ Settings
step 1

Go to "Settings" then "Connections"

Ready to activate your Samsung eSIM data package? Great! Please go to “Settings” (try swiping down from the top of your screen and choosing the gear icon) and then select “Connections.”

 

Go to “Settings” > Select “Connections”

Samsung eSIM installation _ Connections
step 2

Select "SIM (card) manager"

Now you’ll want to choose “SIM manager” (which might be called “SIM card manager” depending on your device). This is where your Samsung device stores information about its SIMs.

 

“Settings” > “Connections” > Select “SIM (card) manager”

Samsung eSIM activation _ Make sure your Samsung eSIM is on
step 3

Make sure your eSIM is toggled on

Since you’re about to leave the country and you want your Samsung device to be prepared to use data immediately when you arrive at your destination, you need to make sure your eSIM is toggled on and selected as your device’s Primary SIM.

 

“Settings” > “Connections” > “SIM (card) manager” > Make sure your eSIM is toggled ON, and make sure your eSIM is selected as your Primary/Preferred SIM

Samsung eSIM activation _ If you want your phone number accessible
step 4

Choose the Primary/Preferred SIM for calls, messages, and mobile data

Now it’s time to tell your Samsung device which SIMs to use for different tasks. You want to keep your regular SIM selected for calls/texts on your regular number, and select aloSIM (your eSIM) for all mobile data.

 

“Settings” > “Connections” > “SIM (card) manager” > Make sure your eSIM is selected as the Primary/Preferred SIM for mobile data, but keep your regular SIM as the Primary/Preferred SIM for calls and messages.

Samsung eSIM activation _ Make sure your Samsung eSIM has Data Roaming ON
step 5

Make sure "Data roaming" is ON

Now that your eSIM is set as your Samsung’s Primary/Preferred SIM for all data, you need to make sure your eSIM is allowed to “roam.”

 

This setting allows your Samsung the freedom to connect to the best possible supported data network in any location, without being tied to only one network.

 

“Settings” > “Connections” > “Mobile networks” > Make sure “Data roaming” is toggled ON

Samsung eSIM activation _ Make sure Network Operators is set to Select Automatically
step 6

'Network operators' should have 'Select automatically' toggled ON

Your Samsung should already know to automatically select the best mobile network for you, based on your location, but it’s a good idea to make sure this setting is correct.

 

“Settings” > “Connections” > “Mobile networks” > “Network operators” > Make sure “Select automatically” is toggled ON

Samsung eSIM activation _ Set your APN Access Point Name to alosim
step 7

Go to "Access Point Names"

Your Samsung might already have your APN (Access Point Name) correctly set to aloSIM, but you might have to do this yourself.

 

If your APN already says “alosim,” skip to Step 9. If you see an empty bubble next to an APN that doesn’t say “alosim,” tap it to edit it.

 

“Settings” > “Connections” > “Mobile networks” > “Access Point Names” > If your selected APN doesn’t say “alosim,” tap to rename it

Samsung eSIM activation _ Set your APN Access Point Name to alosim in the Name and APN fields
step 8

Your APN should say 'alosim' (lowercase) in the Name field and APN field

If you need to edit your access point, tap in the ‘Name’ field, type ‘alosim’ (lowercase), and tap ‘OK.’ Then tap in the ‘APN’ field, type ‘alosim’ (lowercase), and tap ‘OK.’

 

Make sure your access point says ‘alosim’ in the Name and APN fields

Samsung eSIM activation _ Set your APN Access Point Name to alosim in the Name and APN fields and hit Save
step 9

Make sure to save your APN change

Once you’ve typed ‘alosim’ into the ‘Name’ field and the ‘APN’ field, it’s important to tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner and hit “Save.

 

Tap the three vertical dots and save your access point changes

Samsung eSIM activation _ Correct aloSIM APN setting
step 10

Now your APN should be set to 'alosim'

Now your APN (Access Point Name) should be set to ‘alosim’ in the Name field and the APN field, and your empty bubble should now be a blue dot to show this is the correct APN.

 

Your selected APN should now be ‘alosim’

When you arrive in the new country ...

Welcome! Now that you’re on international soil, those steps (above) that you’ve already completed should mean your eSIM data starts working right away …

Samsung eSIM activation _ Your aloSIM data package should now be active
step 1

Check the eSIM in your aloSIM app

Your Samsung eSIM data package should automatically be active because it’s able to connect to a local network. If you log into your aloSIM account and tap on your eSIM, it should show a green “ACTIVE” bar. If not, tap the blue “ACTIVATE” button below.

 

Log into aloSIM > Tap your eSIM > See if it says “ACTIVE”

Your eSIM make take up to 15 minutes to connect to a network
step 2

Your connection may take a few minutes

Depending on your device and your physical location, your eSIM might take up to 15 minutes to connect to a local supported network. Please make sure Airplane Mode is off and wait a few minutes to see if your eSIM will connect to a local network.

Samsung eSIM activation _ Test a website with Wi-Fi off to see if your data is working
step 3

OPTIONAL: Test your data

To make sure your data is working properly, you can temporarily turn off Wi-Fi and try loading a website to see if you have an internet connection. Once you have confirmed you can load a website properly, be sure to turn your Wi-Fi back on so you can use it when it’s available (and save your data).

 

Turn off Wi-Fi > Load a website > Turn Wi-Fi back on

Samsung eSIM activation _ Samsung mobile hotspot and tethering
step 4

OPTIONAL: Share your data with another device via Mobile Hotspot and Bluetooth tethering

If you would like to share your aloSIM internet connection with other devices around you, you always have the option to toggle on Mobile Hotspot and Bluetooth tethering.

 

“Settings” > “Connections” > “Mobile Hotspot and Tethering” > Toggle on “Mobile Hotspot” and “Bluetooth tethering” if you want to share your data with another device

long distance roaming charges
step 5

Be aware of carrier fees for international calling and texting

Even though you’re now using your eSIM for all mobile data, remember that keeping your phone number active while you’re in another country means that your home carrier may charge for active calling minutes and texts that occur internationally.

 

Select your carrier below > See what you can expect to pay for international calling and texting fees

Contact aloSIM Technical Support
step 6

Need help? We're always here!

If you have completed the steps above, but your data doesn’t seem to be working yet, please contact aloSIM Technical Support via email (support@alosim.com), in-app chat, or live chat on aloSIM.com.

 

Need help? aloSIM’s Support team is available 24/7 if you have questions about any part of the Samsung eSIM activation process.

Congratulations on activating your Samsung eSIM! Now that you’ve correctly followed the steps above, your carrier can’t charge data roaming fees. But using your regular phone number in another country might result in calling/texting fees.

Please select your mobile carrier

Nervous about roaming charges?
Review your roaming settings anytime!

Need prepaid data for your Samsung?

aloSIM has eSIM data packages for 175+ countries

Questions about using eSIM with your Samsung?

Our friendly aloSIM Technical Support team is available 24/7 via email (support@alosim.com) and live chat.