How to Activate eSIM on Android in Pakistan (2026): QR Setup, Network Guide & Dual SIM Tips

By Auraz Tech Editorial Team | October 2026

Your new phone has one SIM slot, but you need two numbers — one for work, one for family. Or your carrier just told you to "scan this QR code" instead of handing you a SIM card, and you're staring at it wondering what happens next. That QR code is an eSIM: a digital SIM built into your phone that replaces the little plastic card entirely. In 2026, all four of Pakistan's mobile networks — Jazz, Zong, Telenor and Ufone — support eSIM, and a growing share of Android phones sold here can use one. The actual setup takes about ten minutes once you have the QR code, but there are Pakistan-specific catches: biometric verification rules, carrier-app steps that differ by network, and the small matter of confirming your phone actually supports eSIM before you pay any conversion fee. This guide covers everything: what eSIM is and why to switch, how to check compatibility, how to get an eSIM from each network, the exact scan-to-activate steps on Pixel and Samsung phones, how to run a physical SIM and eSIM together, how to move an eSIM to a new phone, and fixes for the problems people hit most.

What Is an eSIM, and Why Switch in 2026?

An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a tiny chip soldered inside your phone at the factory. Instead of inserting a plastic card, you download your carrier's profile — your number, plan and network identity — over the internet, usually by scanning a QR code. Once installed, it behaves exactly like a physical SIM: calls, SMS, mobile data and packages all work the same.

Why people are switching:

• Dual SIM without two slots. Many phones with a single physical slot can run that slot plus an eSIM — two numbers, one phone. Perfect for separating work and personal life.
• No franchise visit to change networks. Switching carriers or converting your SIM no longer means hunting for a SIM ejector tool and a tiny tray.
• Travel-friendly. You can add a local eSIM for another country before you even board the plane, while keeping your Pakistani number active.
• Nothing to lose or damage. No more snapped SIM trays, lost ejector pins, or cards that stop working after too many swaps.
• Theft resilience. A thief can't pop your SIM out to dodge tracking the way they can with a physical card — handy alongside our lost-phone guide.

The timing matters: eSIM used to be a flagship-only curiosity, but by 2026 every Pakistani network supports it and mid-range Android phones increasingly ship with the hardware. If your phone qualifies, there's little reason not to at least know how it works.

Step 0: Check Whether Your Android Phone Supports eSIM

Do this before paying any conversion fee or visiting a franchise. Two quick checks:

1. Dial *#06#. Alongside your IMEI number(s), look for an EID — a 32-digit code. If the EID is there, your phone has eSIM hardware. No EID, no eSIM. This is the definitive test.
2. Check Settings. Go to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs and look for an "Add SIM" or "Download a SIM instead" option (wording varies by brand and Android version). If it's there, you're good.

As a rough guide for 2026: Google Pixel 3 and newer support eSIM; Samsung Galaxy S20 series and newer, plus the Z Flip / Z Fold lines, generally do; recent Motorola Edge and Razr models do as well. Most budget phones from Infinix, Tecno and itel — the best-sellers in Pakistan — do not include eSIM hardware as of 2026, so check rather than assume. Two caveats: grey-import or certain regional dual-physical-SIM variants sometimes have eSIM disabled in software even when the hardware exists, and eSIM only works properly on a PTA-approved phone — an unapproved device can lose network access regardless of SIM type, so verify yours with our PTA approval check guide first.

What You Need Before You Start

Gather these and the process is smooth; skip them and you'll be making a second trip:

• Biometric verification. Pakistan requires biometric verification for SIM issuance, and eSIM is no exception. Many carriers now do this inside their app; otherwise you'll do it on a biometric device at a franchise or service center. Keep your original CNIC handy either way.
• Wi-Fi connection. The eSIM profile downloads over the internet. Connect to stable Wi-Fi — don't rely on the mobile data of the very SIM you're converting.
• Your carrier's QR code or manual activation code. Issued by the carrier's app or franchise after verification. QR codes are single-use and time-limited — don't screenshot one "for later."
• Updated phone software. Install any pending system update first; eSIM provisioning bugs get fixed in updates.
• The conversion fee. Networks typically charge a small one-time issuance/conversion fee. Promotional waivers appear and disappear, so check the current amount in your carrier's app before you commit — it's shown before you pay.

How to Get an eSIM from Your Network (Jazz, Zong, Telenor, Ufone)

All four networks support eSIM in 2026, for both converting your existing number and activating a brand-new connection on eSIM. The general flow is the same everywhere: verify your identity biometrically, request eSIM, receive a QR code. Where you do it differs slightly:

• Jazz: open the Jazz World app and look for the eSIM option, or visit a Jazz Experience Center / franchise with your original CNIC. After biometric verification, the QR code is issued — digitally in the app, or printed at the franchise.
• Zong: use the My Zong App or visit a Zong service center / franchise with your CNIC for biometric verification and QR issuance.
• Telenor: request through the My Telenor App or at a Telenor franchise with CNIC and biometric verification.
• Ufone: request via the Ufone app or at a Ufone service center / franchise after biometric verification.

Important: when you convert, your number moves from the plastic SIM to the eSIM profile and the physical SIM is deactivated. Don't throw the old SIM away until the eSIM is fully working and tested — but don't expect it to work afterward either. If anything goes wrong mid-process, the franchise that issued your QR is your fastest fix.

Method 1: Activate eSIM by Scanning a QR Code (Pixel & Stock Android)

On Pixel phones and most stock-Android-style devices (Motorola, Nokia and similar), the flow is:

1. Connect to Wi-Fi.
2. Go to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs and tap Add SIM (on some versions: "Download a SIM instead?").
3. When asked "Use a different network?", tap Next — your camera opens as a QR scanner.
4. Scan the carrier's QR code. Keep it well-lit and fill the frame. If scanning fails, tap "Need help?" and enter the details manually: the SM-DP+ address and activation code printed with your QR.
5. Wait while the profile downloads — usually under two minutes. Tap Activate / Download when prompted, and restart the phone if it asks.
6. Test immediately: make a call, send an SMS, and toggle mobile data on. If data works but calls don't, enable VoLTE for the eSIM — our VoLTE activation guide walks through it per network.

Give the new profile a recognizable label (e.g. "Jazz" or "Work") when the phone offers — with two SIMs active, clear labels save endless confusion later.

Method 2: Activate eSIM on Samsung (One UI)

Samsung's menus use different names but the same idea:

1. Connect to Wi-Fi.
2. Go to Settings > Connections > SIM manager and tap Add eSIM.
3. Choose "Scan QR code from service provider" and scan your carrier's code. Alternatives on the same screen: "Search for eSIMs" (finds carrier profiles automatically on some networks) or "Enter activation code" for manual entry.
4. On newer One UI versions you may also see "Transfer SIM from another device" — handy if your old phone is nearby and both are signed into the same Samsung account. It still provisions a fresh profile with your carrier, so keep Wi-Fi on.
5. Once added, the eSIM appears in SIM manager. Tap it to turn it on, rename it, and set your defaults: which SIM handles calls, SMS and mobile data.
6. Test with a call, an SMS and mobile data, and enable VoLTE on the eSIM if calls drop to 2G/3G.

Method 3: Run a Physical SIM and eSIM Together (Dual SIM)

This is the setup most people actually want: your existing physical SIM in the tray, plus the new number on eSIM — dual SIM standby, both reachable. Most eSIM-capable Android phones support one physical SIM + one eSIM active together, and can store several eSIM profiles while keeping one or two active.

• Set defaults per SIM: in Settings > Network & internet > SIMs (Samsung: Connections > SIM manager), choose which SIM is the default for mobile data, which for calls, and which for SMS. A common split: personal SIM for calls/SMS, work eSIM for data — or vice versa.
• Per-call choice: when placing a call, your dialer lets you pick which SIM to use for that call, overriding the default.
• VoLTE is per-SIM: enable it separately on each SIM or one of them will fall back to older networks for calls. See our VoLTE guide.
• Two WhatsApps: dual SIM pairs beautifully with dual WhatsApp — our two-WhatsApp guide shows how to run one account per number.
• Data usage: with two SIMs sharing one data default, monitor consumption so the wrong SIM doesn't burn through its bundle — and remember a hotspot draws from the data-default SIM (see hotspot setup).

If you only want one number, you can also just disable the physical SIM in SIM settings instead of removing it — useful as a fallback if the eSIM ever has issues.

Moving Your eSIM to a New Phone (and What "Delete" Really Does)

eSIM profiles do not transfer automatically — not through Google backup, not through Smart Switch's data copy. Here's the correct move:

1. On the old phone, go to SIM settings, select the eSIM, and choose Erase / Delete. This removes only the local profile — your number stays registered with your carrier. Nothing is lost.
2. Get a fresh QR code from your carrier (app or franchise). The old QR was single-use and won't work twice.
3. On the new phone, scan the fresh QR as in Method 1 or 2.

Two warnings that save real grief: never delete the eSIM profile while travelling abroad unless you can get a new QR code remotely — without it, that number is unreachable until you're back. And during a factory reset, Android asks whether to also erase eSIMs — choose keep if you're resetting the same phone to fix a software issue (see our backup guide before any reset), and erase only when handing the phone to someone else.

Troubleshooting: Common eSIM Activation Problems

• "QR code invalid" or "code expired": eSIM QR codes are single-use and time-limited. Request a fresh one from your carrier's app or franchise — screenshots of old codes won't work.
• No EID when you dial *#06#: your phone lacks eSIM hardware. No setting or update can add it; stick with a physical SIM.
• "Couldn't add eSIM" / download stalls: check Wi-Fi stability, make sure the phone's date and time are set to automatic (wrong clocks break profile downloads), install pending system updates, then retry.
• Data works but calls don't: the eSIM likely needs VoLTE enabled or carrier-side provisioning. Enable VoLTE for that SIM and, if it persists, call your network's helpline — they can re-push the provisioning.
• No signal at all after activation: confirm the eSIM is turned on in SIM settings and set as the data/calls default you intend. If you converted from a physical SIM, remember the old SIM is dead — the eSIM is now the only copy of that number.
• eSIM option missing from Settings after an update: some carrier-specific firmware variants disable eSIM in software. There's no user-side fix; your options are the physical SIM or different firmware — don't flash firmware casually, it can break PTA compliance.
• Accidentally deleted the profile: your number is safe with the carrier. Get a new QR code (you may pay the issuance fee again) and reinstall.
• Phone running hot or battery draining after adding eSIM: dual-SIM standby uses marginally more power, but a big drain usually means the phone is struggling to hold signal — check coverage first, then our performance guide if it persists.

FAQ

Which mobile networks in Pakistan support eSIM?

As of 2026, all four mobile networks in Pakistan — Jazz, Zong, Telenor and Ufone — support eSIM on compatible Android phones, for both converting an existing number and activating a new connection. Whether you can complete the process entirely inside the carrier's app or need to visit a franchise for biometric verification varies by network and by whether the number is new, so check the carrier's app first.

Does eSIM cost extra in Pakistan?

There is no monthly extra charge for using eSIM — your package and rates stay exactly the same. Networks typically charge a small one-time issuance or conversion fee when you move your number to eSIM, though promotional waivers come and go. Confirm the current fee inside your carrier's app before you start; it is shown before you pay.

Can I use an eSIM and a physical SIM at the same time on Android?

Yes. Most eSIM-capable Android phones support dual SIM standby with one physical SIM and one eSIM active together. You can set which SIM handles mobile data, which handles calls, and which sends SMS, per SIM, in Settings under Network & internet > SIMs (or Connections > SIM manager on Samsung).

If I delete the eSIM profile, do I lose my number?

No. Deleting the eSIM profile only removes the local copy from your phone — your number stays registered with your carrier. To use the number again on any phone you will need a fresh QR code from your carrier, because eSIM QR codes are single-use. Never delete the profile while travelling unless you have a way to get a new QR code.

Can I activate eSIM from home, or do I have to visit a franchise?

Many users can do the whole thing from home through their carrier's app (Jazz World, My Zong App, My Telenor App, or the Ufone app), which handles identity and biometric verification in-app and issues the QR code digitally. A franchise or service center visit remains the reliable fallback — and is still required in some cases, such as brand-new biometric registrations.

How do I check if my Android phone supports eSIM?

Dial *#06# and look for an EID number (a long 32-digit code) alongside your IMEI numbers — if the EID is there, your phone has eSIM hardware. You can also check Settings > Network & internet > SIMs for an 'Add SIM' or 'Download a SIM instead' option. No EID and no such option means your phone cannot use eSIM.

Auraz Tech Editorial Team — we test every guide on real devices and keep our tutorials updated.