Known issue - Having Trouble Activating eSIM on Your Samsung Galaxy S21, S22, or S23
Having Trouble Activating eSIM on Your Samsung Galaxy S21, S22, or S23?
You’re Not Alone!
If you’ve been trying to activate an eSIM on your Samsung Galaxy S21, S22, or S23 and it’s just not working — don’t worry, you’re not the only one dealing with this frustrating issue.
Even though these phones are supposed to support eSIM, some users have run into roadblocks. Let’s break down what’s going on and how you can (hopefully) fix it — in simple terms.
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Quick Recap: What’s an eSIM?
An eSIM is a digital version of the SIM card that connects your phone to your mobile network. Instead of inserting a little plastic chip, you activate it by scanning a QR code or using your carrier’s app.
It sounds simple — but with some Samsung phones, it's not.
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Common eSIM Problems on Samsung S21, S22, and S23
1. The eSIM Option Isn’t There
You go into Settings > Connections > SIM manager, and there’s no button to “Add eSIM.” That’s often the first sign something’s wrong.
2. QR Code Errors
You scan the QR code from your carrier and get weird messages like:
- “Profile download failed”
- “eSIM not supported”
- “Invalid activation code”
Even worse, sometimes it looks like it worked… and then nothing happens (no error).
3. Not All Models Are Created Equal
Here’s something most people aren’t told upfront:
Not every Galaxy S21/S22/S23 supports eSIM — even if it’s the same phone name.
Why? Because of:
- Dual SIM models vs. single SIM models: Some versions come with two physical SIM slots and no eSIM.
- Regional differences: A Galaxy S22 bought in the U.S. might behave differently than one from Europe or Asia.
- Carrier-specific firmware: Phones bought directly from a carrier might have custom software that blocks or hides eSIM support — even when the hardware supports it.
4. Firmware Variance and Bugs
Samsung phones don’t all run the same software. Even the same phone model can have different firmware versions depending on where you bought it and what carrier it's tied to.
This leads to:
- Missing eSIM menus
- Features being disabled (intentionally or by accident)
- Bugs that block activation
Samsung does fix some of these issues in updates, but it’s not always fast — and not every model gets updated at the same time.
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What You Can Try (Simple Fixes)
1. Update Your Phone's software/firmware
- Go to Settings > Software update > Download and install
- This can sometimes unlock the missing eSIM features or fix bugs.
2. Check What Model You Have
- Open the Phone app and dial *#06# to see your model number.
- Google that model number and see if it supports eSIM.
- If it says something like "DUAL SIM", it might use two physical SIMs instead of supporting eSIM.
3. Ask Your Home Country Carrier Directly
- Some carriers don’t fully support eSIM on Samsung phones
- Ask: “Do you support eSIM on the Samsung [your model]?”
4. When All Else Fails… Just Use a Physical SIM
- All Galaxy S21, S22, and S23 phones still have at least one physical SIM slot.
- If eSIM is causing too much headache, popping in a regular SIM card might be the fastest way to get connected.
- While we would love you to use an eSIM from airsims.com.au - sometimes there is simply no getting around the fact the phone is not 3rd party/travel eSIM compatible - At this point we are happy give a full refund
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In Summary
eSIM on the Samsung Galaxy S21, S22, and S23 should be easy — but in reality, it’s been confusing for a lot of users. Between firmware quirks, regional limitations, dual SIM models, and carrier support gaps, many people have hit snags.
So if it’s not working for you — you’re not doing anything wrong. And you're definitely not alone. These models of phones simply came out during the years of eSIM infancy and the phone manufacturer having many sub-variants.
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Still stuck?
Feel free to chat (bottom right corner of the page) or message us your phone model (you’ll see it under Settings > About phone) and your home mobile carrier, and we’ll try help figure it out together.
