Quick answer: You can settle this in about thirty seconds. Open your phone's dialer and type *#06#. If the screen that appears includes an EID — a 32-digit identifier assigned to the embedded SIM chip — your phone very likely supports eSIM. Devices without eSIM hardware normally show only an IMEI.
That said, seeing an EID doesn't guarantee a travel eSIM will work. There are a few traps that catch people who own a phone that is, on paper, an eSIM model. This guide covers how to check, and what actually goes wrong. You'll notice we don't publish a list of compatible model numbers — new models appear constantly and the same model name can ship with different hardware in different markets, so any list is wrong shortly after it's written. Learning to check your own device is far more reliable.
Three ways to check eSIM support
1. Dial *#06# and look for an EID (fastest)
Type *#06# into your dialer keypad. You don't need to press call — the identifier screen appears on its own. If you see an EID listed alongside the IMEI, the hardware is there. If only an IMEI appears, either the device has no eSIM chip, or you have one of the regional-variant situations described below.
2. Check through Settings
On iPhone, open Settings, then General, then About, and scroll down looking for an EID entry. On Android, look under Settings, then About device (or About phone), then SIM status — the exact label varies by manufacturer.
A second signal: open your mobile network settings and see whether there's an option like Add eSIM, Add SIM, or Add cellular plan. If that option is missing entirely, our article on what to do when eSIM options don't appear in settings explains the likely causes.
3. Confirm on the manufacturer's official site
The most authoritative source is your device maker's own specification page. Support changes as new models launch and specs get revised, so check the manufacturer's official site for current information. On models sold with different configurations by market, read the regional notes in the spec sheet rather than the headline feature list.
The three traps: "compatible model" but it still doesn't work
Nearly every failed travel eSIM comes down to one of these.
Trap 1: the regional variant of your model may have no eSIM
The same model name can ship with different hardware depending on where it was sold. A variant sold in one market may include an eSIM while the variant sold in another replaces it with a second physical SIM tray. This matters most if you bought your phone abroad, imported it, or picked it up secondhand. The test is simple: dial *#06# and see whether an EID appears. Don't rely on the model name alone.
iPhones sold in mainland China have their own specific situation here — see our article on mainland China iPhones and eSIM.
Trap 2: the phone is carrier-locked
A carrier lock restricts a device to the network that sold it. Even with eSIM hardware present, a locked phone won't accept a profile from another operator, including a travel eSIM. Typically the installation appears to proceed and then fails at the end, or the line installs but never registers and you stay out of service. Whether unlocking is possible and how to request it depends entirely on the carrier that sold the phone — check their official site. Our guide to unlocked phones and eSIM covers this in more depth.
Trap 3: carrier-branded Android with the feature disabled
On Android, some operator-sold models ship with eSIM functionality disabled in software. The chip is physically present, but no Add eSIM option ever appears in settings. The result is that the manufacturer's own version of a phone works fine while the carrier version of the same phone doesn't. If you suspect this, ask the operator you bought the device from.
How to check on iPhone
Screen names are representative; wording varies between iOS versions.
- Dial *#06# in the Phone keypad and look for an EID.
- Open Settings, then General, then About, and check for an EID entry.
- Open Settings, then Cellular, and look for Add eSIM or Add Cellular Plan.
- In Settings, General, About, check the Carrier Lock (or Network Provider Lock) field. "No SIM restrictions" means the phone is unlocked.
How to check on Android
Android labels differ substantially by manufacturer; this is the general shape.
- Dial *#06# and look for an EID.
- Open Settings, then About device, and look for EID or SIM status.
- Open Settings, then Network and internet, then SIMs (or Connections, then SIM manager), and look for Add SIM or Download a SIM.
- If nothing appears, check the manufacturer's official site using both your model name and where you bought it — direct from the maker, or from a carrier.
Pre-purchase checklist
Work down this list before buying a travel eSIM. Clearing all six makes a working connection abroad far more likely.
| What to check | How | What you want to see |
|---|---|---|
| eSIM hardware present | Dial *#06# | An EID is listed |
| Add-eSIM option exists | Mobile network settings | Add eSIM or similar appears |
| Carrier lock status | Settings, or ask your carrier | Unlocked |
| Regional variant | Manufacturer spec sheet | Your variant includes eSIM |
| Network bands at your destination | Manufacturer spec sheet | Covers the local bands |
| OS up to date | Software update screen | Updated |
Once you've cleared the list, our guide to setting up an eSIM for travel walks through installation.
FAQ
If I have an EID, will any travel eSIM work?
An EID tells you the hardware exists, which is the necessary first condition but not the only one. Also confirm the phone is unlocked, that eSIM isn't disabled on a carrier-branded model, and that the device supports the network bands used at your destination.
My phone is unlocked — doesn't that mean eSIM works?
No. Being unlocked and having eSIM hardware are two separate things. An unlocked phone with no eSIM chip still can't install a profile. Check for an EID first.
What about budget phones or a handset that's a few years old?
Price bracket and release year don't decide it — whether the specific model includes an eSIM does. Use the same test: dial *#06# and look for an EID, then confirm against the manufacturer's official specifications if you want certainty.
Can I use a travel eSIM on a tablet or smartwatch?
Often yes, if the model supports eSIM. Be aware that some devices are data-only or accept only certain kinds of profiles. Check both the manufacturer's specifications and the plan's stated supported devices before buying.
What happens if I buy an eSIM and my phone turns out to be incompatible?
Refund and exchange terms are set by the seller and vary. To avoid the situation entirely, do the *#06# check and confirm your carrier lock status before purchasing — together they take about a minute.
Checked and ready? Try Coral eSIM
Coral eSIM covers more than 180 countries and regions, and you can set it up right after purchase — no searching for a SIM counter after you land. Run the checks above on your device first, then browse plans at Coral eSIM.