Finish Pixel eSIM Setup in the US During Onboarding

Open Settings, tap Network & internet, then SIMs, then Add SIM, and follow the prompts to download or transfer an eSIM. During initial setup, look for the Download SIM or Set up option instead. You will need Wi-Fi, Android 12 or later, and an unlocked device if you are activating a plan from a provider other than your original carrier.

TL;DR:

• Activating an eSIM during Pixel setup requires a stable Wi-Fi connection, an Android 12 or later device, and an unlocked phone if switching carriers.
• Adding an eSIM later involves scanning a QR code, manually entering activation details, or using a carrier app, with carrier authorization needed for profile installation.
• Transferring a phone number to a new Pixel during setup depends on both devices having Android 12+, active screen locks, and current Google Play Services; retries may be necessary if initial transfer fails.
• Converting a physical SIM to an eSIM on supported Pixel models requires an active physical SIM and an ongoing Wi-Fi connection; physical SIMs become inactive after conversion.
• Troubleshooting common eSIM issues involves confirming device unlock status, current software versions, stable Wi-Fi, and retrying scans or manual entries before contacting carrier support.

Table of Contents

• How to set up an eSIM during Pixel initial setup
• How to add an eSIM later from Settings
• How to transfer an eSIM or phone number to a new Pixel
• Convert a physical SIM to an eSIM on Pixel
• Using two SIMs: limits, defaults, and common dual-SIM problems
• Troubleshooting checklist for activation and transfer errors
• Lessons from troubleshooting Pixel eSIM activations
• Quick path to a working eSIM for your Pixel
• Sources
• FAQ

How to set up an eSIM during Pixel initial setup

When you first power on a Pixel, the setup wizard offers a direct path to activate cellular service before you even reach the home screen. This works whether you are starting fresh or moving from another phone.

1. Work through the onboarding screens until you reach the mobile network step.
2. Tap Download SIM or Set up when prompted.
3. Choose your carrier or scan a QR code if you have one ready.
4. Confirm the download and wait for the profile to install.
5. Check for a signal icon and carrier name in the status bar once setup finishes.

If you are moving data from an old Pixel, automatic transfer during onboarding needs both devices running Android 12 or later, current Google Play Services, and an active screen lock on each phone. Keep both devices charged and within reach, since the transfer process checks in with the old device partway through.

A successful activation shows a carrier name next to the signal bars and lets you load a webpage over mobile data without Wi-Fi.

Pro Tip: Test mobile data immediately after setup finishes, before you start restoring apps, so you catch a failed activation while you still have Wi-Fi as a backup.

How to add an eSIM later from Settings

You do not need to activate an eSIM during initial setup. Go to Settings, then Network & internet, then SIMs, then Add SIM or Set up an eSIM, and Android gives you three ways in.

• QR code: grant camera access when asked, then scan the code your carrier or provider sent. A code that has already been used or that expired will throw an error, so request a fresh one if the scan fails repeatedly.
• Manual entry: pick this when the QR code will not scan. You will need an activation code, SM-DP+ address, and sometimes a confirmation code, all supplied by the carrier.
• Carrier app or provisioning: some carriers push the eSIM profile through their own app or activate it remotely once you confirm your account, which skips the QR step entirely.

The system component handling all three methods is the Android Local Profile Assistant, which requires carrier authorization before it will install a profile. That is why a QR code from an unsupported source simply will not work, no matter how many times you scan it.

Pro Tip: If the built-in scanner will not read a QR code on a cracked or glare-heavy screen, use another phone’s camera app to scan it and read the code aloud for manual entry instead.

How to transfer an eSIM or phone number to a new Pixel

Moving a phone number to a new Pixel works two ways, depending on when you do it.

1. During setup: the onboarding flow detects your old device and offers automatic transfer. Both phones need Android 12 or later and updated Play Services, and both need an active screen lock turned on.
2. From Settings on the new phone: go to Network & internet, then SIMs, then Add SIM, then Transfer SIM from another device, and follow the prompts to pull the profile from your old Pixel.
3. If the transfer fails: keep the old SIM active rather than removing it, then retry the transfer once more before escalating.
4. If it fails again: contact your carrier with your IMEI number and the exact error text shown on screen, since Pixel support guidance points to the carrier for persistent failures rather than a device reset.

Rushing a transfer before confirming the new eSIM works is the most common mistake. Verify the new line has signal and data before you deactivate anything on the old phone.

Convert a physical SIM to an eSIM on Pixel

Pixel 8 and later models support converting a physical SIM into an eSIM profile without needing a new activation code from the carrier, according to Pixel’s connectivity troubleshooting guide. The process needs an active Wi-Fi connection throughout.

• Insert the physical SIM you want to convert and confirm it is active.
• Go to Settings, then Network & internet, then SIMs, then select the physical SIM entry.
• Choose Convert to eSIM and confirm when prompted.
• Wait for the new eSIM profile to finish installing before removing the physical card.

Once conversion completes, the physical SIM stops working permanently. If you need a backup or plan to switch phones later, contact your carrier about a replacement physical SIM before you convert, not after.

Using two SIMs: limits, defaults, and common dual-SIM problems

Pixel 7 and later models can run two active eSIM profiles at once, but only when the carrier supports it. Pixel 10 models drop the physical SIM tray entirely and rely on eSIM only, so both lines on that model are eSIM by default.

• Set your default line for calls, texts, and mobile data individually under Settings, then Network & internet, then SIMs, then tap each line to assign its role.
• Voice calls failing on one line often means the carrier does not support Wi-Fi calling or VoLTE on that secondary profile, not a device fault.
• Data dropping intermittently with two SIMs active usually points to a network incompatibility between carriers rather than a setup mistake.
• A rejected activation on a brand-new Pixel can mean the carrier’s system has not yet logged the device’s IMEI in its provisioning database.

Pro Tip: Test each SIM’s voice, text, and data separately right after activation, since a combination that works fine for data can still fail for calls.

Troubleshooting checklist for activation and transfer errors

Most eSIM problems on Pixel trace back to one of a handful of causes, and working through them in order saves time.

1. Confirm the device is unlocked, since a carrier lock blocks third-party eSIM activation outright.
2. Check that Android and Google Play Services are current, since outdated versions can break the transfer tool.
3. Confirm Wi-Fi is active and stable, since Pixel support’s setup guide notes that downloads and provisioning both depend on it.
4. Reboot both devices if a transfer stalls, then remove any conflicting or duplicate eSIM profile before retrying.
5. Retry the QR scan or manual entry once more, since a slow carrier server is a common cause of a single failed attempt.

The Android Local Profile Assistant requires carrier authorization for every profile it installs, which means an activation failure is often a provisioning issue on the carrier’s end rather than something broken on the phone.

Before contacting support, gather your IMEI (found under Settings, then About phone), a screenshot of the error, and the exact wording it shows. That combination gets a carrier agent to the fix faster than describing the problem from memory.

Lessons from troubleshooting Pixel eSIM activations

The activation failures that frustrate people most are rarely mysterious. A profile that will not download is usually waiting on carrier authorization, not a broken phone, and a transfer that stalls usually resolves on a second attempt once both devices have rebooted.

Keep one working line active until you have confirmed the new one sends and receives data. That single habit prevents the scenario where both lines are down at once. The activation flow mirrors the same QR scan and Settings path Pixel uses natively, so the steps above apply directly whether the profile comes from your home carrier or a travel plan.

— Theo Wheeler

Quick path to a working eSIM for your Pixel

If you want a line ready to scan the moment you land, pick a destination, buy the matching plan from a provider, and scan the QR code during Pixel setup or from Settings, then SIMs, then Add SIM. The profile installs the same way as a carrier eSIM, so nothing about the Pixel steps above changes.

These providers deliver the QR code instantly after checkout, cover many destinations, and back plans with support if a scan does not take on the first try. For a quick domestic data line, check the United States eSIM Plans, or browse the Global eSIM Plans for coverage that travels with you across borders.

Sources

• Set up a new eSIM - Pixel Phone Help
• eSIM overview - Android Open Source Project

FAQ

What are the drawbacks of using an eSIM?

An eSIM cannot be physically swapped between phones, so switching devices requires a transfer or a fresh activation rather than moving a card. It also depends entirely on carrier provisioning, meaning an unsupported or locked device cannot activate one no matter how correct the QR code is.

My Pixel 9 has an eSIM that isn’t working. What can I do?

Start by confirming Wi-Fi is active and that Android and Google Play Services are up to date, since Pixel’s setup guidance ties provisioning to both. Reboot the phone, remove any duplicate or conflicting eSIM profile, and retry the activation before contacting your carrier with the IMEI and exact error text.

Why won’t eSIM activate?

The most common cause is a carrier lock on the device or a provisioning delay on the carrier’s side, since the Android Local Profile Assistant requires carrier authorization for every profile. Confirm your device is unlocked, check your Wi-Fi connection, and retry the QR scan or manual entry before escalating to support.

How do I switch my Pixel phone from a physical SIM to an eSIM?

Go to Settings, then Network & internet, then SIMs, select the physical SIM, and choose Convert to eSIM while connected to Wi-Fi, following the Pixel conversion guidance for supported models. Once the new profile installs, the physical SIM stops working, so request a replacement from your carrier first if you think you will need one.

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• eSIM Activation Issues: Quick Fixes for iPhone Users
• Fix eSIM Activation Problems: Steps for iPhone & Android