Travel eSIM for China — no VPN needed

You need two things to both be true: (1) your phone is carrier-unlocked, and (2) it supports eSIM. Unlocked — on iPhone, open Settings → General → About and check "Carrier Lock"; it should say "No SIM restrictions". If it says your phone is locked, ask your carrier (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, etc.) to unlock it before you travel. eSIM support — most phones from 2018 onward: iPhone XS or later (US iPhone 14 and later is eSIM-only), Pixel 3+, Samsung Galaxy S20+, recent Motorola/OnePlus. Look for an EID in Settings → About — if you see one, your phone supports eSIM. Note: iPhones sold in mainland China have a physical SIM tray and do NOT support eSIM. Run the quick 2-step check below to confirm both.

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For MOST plans: install before you fly, activate at your destination. Here's the key thing to understand — installing and activating are two separate steps, and only activation starts your plan's clock: • Installing just loads the eSIM onto your phone over Wi-Fi at home. This does NOT use any data and does NOT start your validity period. • Activation — and the countdown of your plan's duration — happens automatically the first time the eSIM connects to a network at your destination. That first connection abroad is the moment your days begin counting, not the moment you install. So installing early costs you nothing. That's why we say install before you fly: get the eSIM loaded at home while you have reliable Wi-Fi, then simply arrive, turn the line on, and the clock starts fresh on day one. Don't wait until you land to install — airport Wi-Fi can be unreliable for QR-code setup. 📍 Going to China? Installing before departure is essential, not just convenient. Once you're behind the Great Firewall, Gmail and the one-tap install are blocked and your receipt/QR can be hard to reach — so set it up at home (or before takeoff) and it'll be ready to switch on the moment you land. Installing early won't waste a single day, because the countdown only begins when you connect in China. EXCEPTION: A few plans (marked with a red 'Install starts clock' badge on the plan page) begin counting validity the moment you install — even before connecting to a network. For those, wait until you arrive at your destination before installing. See the next question for details.

Open the email/link we sent with your eSIM. On iOS 17.4 or later, tap the 'Install eSIM' button — it opens Settings and installs in one tap. On older iOS: Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM → Use QR Code → scan the QR. Follow prompts to label the plan (e.g., 'Japan trip') and confirm.

Common causes: (1) You're scanning with the wrong app — use your phone's CAMERA app or the eSIM install flow in Settings, not WeChat or another scanner. (2) The QR was already used — eSIMs install once per device. Contact us if you need a replacement. (3) Weak signal — install on a strong Wi-Fi connection. 📍 Already in China? China's firewall (the Great Firewall) blocks US services like Gmail and often breaks the eSIM one-tap install, so the QR can scan with no result. If you're already in China on Wi-Fi, install using Manual Entry instead: on the Add eSIM screen choose Enter Details Manually and type in the SM-DP+ address and activation code from your receipt email. This bypasses the blocked one-tap install so your eSIM installs and connects. Watch the short video below for the step-by-step. 💡 Tip: before you fly, screenshot or write down your SM-DP+ address and activation code (both are in your receipt email) — that way you'll still have them even if Gmail is blocked once you're in China.

Try in this order: (1) Turn Data Roaming ON for the eSIM line — this is required even though it sounds expensive (it's free with the eSIM). (2) Set the eSIM as your 'Cellular Data' line in Settings. (3) Toggle Airplane Mode on then off. (4) Manually select a network: Settings → Cellular → Network Selection → turn off Automatic → pick a carrier. (5) Restart your phone.

eSIMs can be refunded within 14 days of purchase if they have not been installed (never activated, no data used). Once installed, or after 14 days, they are non-refundable; top-ups are also non-refundable. If an eSIM is defective (fails to install, or no signal at the destination), submit a request and we'll review it manually. Email support@sinoconnection.com with your order ID. See our full refund policy at /refunds.