Install before you fly
How to install a travel eSIM
Install your eSIM while you have reliable Wi-Fi, then follow the selected plan’s activation timing so its validity does not begin earlier than intended.
Quick check: the eSIM won't install
Follow these steps in order. Menu names may vary by phone and software version.
1. Check your phone supports eSIM
Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked. If you are unsure, send us your phone make and model.
2. Connect to reliable Wi-Fi
Open Settings → Wi-Fi → connect to a trusted network.
If the profile download fails, try another trusted internet connection. Restricted Wi-Fi or a firewall can block the download.
3. Open the eSIM installation screen
iPhone: Settings → Cellular (or Cellular) → Add eSIM → Use QR Code
Samsung: Settings → Connections → SIM manager → Add eSIM → Scan QR code
Open your Telroo order on another screen and scan the QR code using the phone where you will use the eSIM. If your order has an Install your eSIM button, you can use it on that phone instead.
This eSIM can only be installed once. Do not scan the QR code on a different phone or share it with anyone.
4. If you see an error, stop and save it
Do not delete an installed eSIM or keep trying the code on different phones. If the eSIM is already installed but has no internet, use the “Installed but no connection” option.
Screenshot to attach: the exact installation error. Keep the QR code and activation details out of the image.
5. Send us the error and phone model
Reply in the support form on your order page with your phone make and model, the exact error text, and the screenshot.
Still need help? Use the support form on your order page. The link is in your delivery email.
Install your travel eSIM before departure while you have reliable Wi-Fi, but follow the selected plan’s activation timing before switching it on. Some plans begin when installed; others begin after the first supported network connection at the destination.
Before you start
- Confirm your exact phone model and sales region support eSIM.
- Confirm the phone is carrier-unlocked.
- Keep the QR code private and open it on a second screen.
- Read the product’s coverage, validity and activation wording.
- Keep your usual SIM active only if you understand your US carrier’s roaming charges.
Install the eSIM
- Connect the phone to stable Wi-Fi.
- Open mobile, cellular or SIM settings and choose the option to add an eSIM.
- Scan the supplied QR code. If the phone asks for a confirmation code, use only the code supplied with the order.
- Label the new line with the destination name.
- Keep the travel eSIM off until the selected plan’s activation instructions tell you to use it.
After landing
- Turn on the travel eSIM line.
- Select it as the mobile-data line.
- Enable data roaming on the travel eSIM only when the plan instructions require it.
- Disable data roaming on your US line if you want to avoid home-carrier roaming charges.
- Wait several minutes, then restart the phone or toggle Aeroplane Mode if it does not connect.
Do not delete the eSIM as a first troubleshooting step
Each Telroo eSIM can only be installed once. If the eSIM is deleted, it can't be restored, and you'll need to purchase a new plan to keep using mobile data. If it isn't working, use the troubleshooting steps or contact support from your order page instead of deleting it.
Installation questions
Can I install the eSIM before I travel?
Yes. Install it at home on reliable Wi-Fi from the QR code in your delivery email. It only connects once you arrive in a country your plan covers, so it will not show signal or data at home. When you land, turn on data roaming for the eSIM and choose it as your mobile-data line. Your plan's validity starts when you first use it in a covered destination, not when you install it. Install on Wi-Fi before you fly.
How do I check how much data I have left?
Open your order page, from the order link after payment or by signing in to your account with your checkout email and a 6-digit code, and tap Check status on the eSIM. It shows the status, the data left and the expiry date as last reported by the network, which updates data use every 2–3 hours. More on this in how Telroo works.
Related help
Use the iPhone guide, Samsung guide or troubleshooting checklist for device-specific steps.