How to Set Up Your Quantroam eSIM on iPhone and Android

Getting online in a new country used to mean hunting for a SIM kiosk in an airport arrivals hall, fumbling with a paperclip, and hoping the plan you bought actually works. Your Quantroam eSIM skips all of that. One tap, a few seconds, and you're connected across 175+ countries before you've even found the taxi rank.

This guide walks you through the whole thing: where to find your activation link, how to install it on iPhone and Android, and the one setting most people forget that quietly racks up roaming charges. It takes about two minutes. Read it once and you'll never think about it again.

Before you start: two quick checks

An eSIM is a SIM card built into your phone. There's nothing to insert and nothing to lose, because it activates from a digital link. Before you install, make sure of two things.

First, your phone supports eSIM. Most phones from the last few years do. On iPhone, that's the iPhone XR/XS and every model since. On Android, that includes recent Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy S and Note/Fold/Flip, and Motorola devices, among others. If you're not sure, dial *#06#. If you see an "EID" number, you have eSIM.

Second, your phone is unlocked. eSIMs only work on phones that aren't locked to a single carrier. If you bought your phone outright or you've finished a contract, you're almost certainly fine. If in doubt, your original carrier can confirm in a minute.

That's it. Ideally, install your eSIM on wifi before you fly. Set it up at home, and it's ready to switch on the moment you land.

Where to find your activation link

After you buy a Quantroam plan, your one-tap activation link lands in three places, so you'll never be stuck looking for it:

• Your email, sent to the address you used at checkout
• The order confirmation page, shown on screen right after payment
• Your Quantroam account, saved in your order history so it's there when you need it

Open whichever is easiest, and make sure you're doing it on the phone you want the eSIM installed on. This is the one detail that trips people up: the link has to be tapped on the device that will use the eSIM, not on a laptop or a second phone.

How to set up your eSIM on iPhone

Quantroam uses one-tap install, so there are no QR codes to scan and no long codes to type out. Here's the flow:

1. On your iPhone, open the email, confirmation page, or your Quantroam account and tap the activation link.
2. iOS recognises it as an eSIM and opens the setup screen automatically. Tap Continue (you may see this as "Add eSIM" or "Install eSIM").
3. Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm. Your iPhone downloads and installs the plan in a few seconds.
4. That's the whole thing. Your Quantroam line switches on by itself, with no manual APN and no network settings to dig through.

If you like, you can rename the line to "Quantroam" or "Travel" in Settings → Cellular so it's easy to spot. Handy when you're juggling your home line and your travel data.

Note: one-tap install works on iOS 17.4 and later. If your iPhone is on an older version, updating to the latest iOS first will give you the smoothest experience.

How to set up your eSIM on Android

The steps mirror iPhone. The exact wording just depends on your device, since Samsung, Pixel, and others label things slightly differently.

1. On your Android phone, open the email, confirmation page, or your Quantroam account and tap the activation link.
2. Your phone recognises the eSIM and opens the setup screen. Tap Download or Add to confirm.
3. Confirm the prompts. The plan installs in a few seconds and your Quantroam line comes online automatically.
4. Done. No APN entry, no manual configuration.

If your specific model doesn't jump straight into setup, you can start it yourself. Go to Settings → Connections → SIM manager (Samsung) or Settings → Network & internet → SIMs (Pixel), then choose Add eSIM and tap your activation link again.

The one setting that matters: avoid roaming charges

This is the part worth reading twice.

When your Quantroam eSIM is active, you want it handling your data, not your regular home line. If your primary line stays on with data enabled while you're abroad, it can connect to local networks and charge you international roaming fees. That's exactly what Quantroam is built to help you avoid.

So once your Quantroam eSIM is installed and running, do one of two things:

• Turn off mobile data on your primary line, or
• Turn off your primary line entirely

Either works. Turning off just the data on your home line lets you keep receiving calls and texts on your usual number while Quantroam handles the internet. Turning the whole line off is the belt-and-braces option if you'd rather not think about it at all.

Do this and your data runs cleanly through Quantroam, with no surprise charges from your home carrier when you get back.

When your trip ends

Coming home is as simple as setup. Turn your Quantroam eSIM off, switch your primary line back on, and you're straight back to your regular plan. Your Quantroam eSIM stays installed on your phone, so next trip you can top up or buy a new plan and switch it back on in seconds, with no reinstalling required.

Troubleshooting

Most setups are genuinely one-and-done, but if something looks off, start here.

The link won't open the setup screen. You're probably tapping it on the wrong device. The activation link has to be opened on the phone that will use the eSIM. Open your email or account directly on that phone and tap it there.

No data after installing. Two things to check. Make sure your Quantroam line is selected for mobile data, and, if you're abroad, make sure data roaming is enabled for the Quantroam line. This lets it use partner networks and does not cause charges on the Quantroam plan. On iPhone: Settings → Cellular → select the Quantroam line → Data Roaming on. On Android: Settings → SIMs → Quantroam line → Roaming on.

Still on your home network. Your primary line may still be doing the work. Turn off data on your primary line, or turn the line off, so your phone reaches for Quantroam instead.

Installed too early and want to save it. Installing your eSIM doesn't start the clock in a way that wastes your plan. But if you want to be certain about timing, install on wifi before you travel and only switch the line on when you land.

If you're still stuck, reach out through your Quantroam account and we'll sort it fast.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to scan a QR code? No. Quantroam uses one-tap activation links, so you just tap and confirm. No camera, no codes.

Can I keep my normal phone number? Yes. Your home line stays on your phone. Keep it active for calls and texts and let Quantroam handle data. Just switch your primary line's data off to avoid roaming.

Will the eSIM work in more than one country? Depending on your plan, yes. Quantroam covers 175+ countries, so the right plan keeps you connected across a whole region or trip without swapping anything.

Can I install it before I travel? Yes, and we recommend it. Install on home wifi, then switch the line on when you arrive.

What if I get a new phone? An eSIM doesn't physically transfer like a plastic SIM. If you switch phones, install your Quantroam eSIM on the new one using your activation link from your account.

You're ready to go

Setting up a Quantroam eSIM comes down to three moves: tap your activation link on the right phone, let it install itself, and switch off data on your home line so you don't pay to roam. That's the entire job, and it works the same way whether you're landing in Tokyo, Lisbon, or Lima.

Coverage across 175+ countries, activated in the time it takes to clear passport control. Browse plans and pick the one that fits your next trip.