Traveller installing a Taiwan eSIM on a smartphone before a trip

How to Install a Taiwan eSIM: Complete Installation Guide for iPhone and Android

NoveSIM | Last updated on: September 23, 2026 | 5 minute read

Install a Taiwan eSIM while you still have stable internet, then switch it on according to the plan’s activation instructions. Installation adds the profile to the phone; activation or validity may begin later, depending on the purchased plan.

The phone must support eSIM and be network-unlocked. Menu names vary by manufacturer and software version, but the essential sequence is the same: add the plan, label it, select it for mobile data after arrival and enable Data Roaming when required.

NoveSIM travel eSIMs are data-only. They do not provide a Taiwanese number or conventional calls and SMS, while messaging and internet calls continue through data.

Quick answer: Install the QR code before flying, keep the new line labelled and inactive until the plan instructions say to connect, then select it for mobile data in Taiwan. Enable Data Roaming on the travel line, leave automatic network selection on and do not delete the eSIM if setup fails.

Top Taiwan eSIMs

Check the phone before installation

  • Confirm that the exact model and regional variant support eSIM.
  • Check that the phone is unlocked from its home carrier.
  • Connect to reliable WiFi.
  • Keep the QR code or manual activation details available on another screen.
  • Read when the plan validity begins.

If compatibility is unclear, use the Taiwan eSIM compatibility checks before purchasing.

Install a Taiwan eSIM on iPhone

  1. Open Settings and select Cellular or Mobile Service.
  2. Tap Add eSIM.
  3. Choose Use QR Code and scan the supplied code.
  4. If scanning is unavailable, choose the manual-entry option and enter the supplied activation details exactly.
  5. Label the line Taiwan eSIM so it is easy to identify.
  6. Keep the home line as the default voice line if you still need it, but do not allow it to use roaming data accidentally.

Install on Samsung Galaxy

  1. Open Settings, then Connections.
  2. Select SIM Manager.
  3. Tap Add eSIM and scan the QR code.
  4. Use the manual activation-code option if your instructions provide one.
  5. Name the plan Taiwan eSIM and leave it off until activation is appropriate.

Install on Google Pixel and other Android phones

  1. Open Settings and go to Network & Internet.
  2. Select SIMs and choose the option to add a SIM.
  3. Choose to download an eSIM and scan the QR code.
  4. Follow the prompts, then rename the profile clearly.
  5. On another Android brand, look for SIM Manager, Mobile Network or eSIM; wording differs by software.

Activate mobile data after arrival

  1. Turn on the Taiwan eSIM line.
  2. Select it as the phone’s mobile-data line.
  3. Enable Data Roaming on the travel eSIM when required by the plan.
  4. Keep automatic network selection enabled.
  5. Turn off mobile-data switching if it could send data through the home SIM.
  6. Open a map or webpage to test the connection before leaving the arrival area.

Enabling roaming on the travel line does not mean the home SIM should also use roaming data. Review the broader dual-SIM setup in the Taiwan activation guide.

APN settings

Many phones receive the APN automatically. If the NoveSIM instructions require manual entry, use data.esim. Do not enter a domestic carrier APN unless support specifically instructs you to do so.

Save the APN, return to the mobile-network screen and confirm it is selected. Menu placement differs on iPhone, Samsung and Pixel.

Keep the normal SIM and messaging apps

A compatible dual-SIM phone can keep the primary line active for essential calls or SMS while the Taiwan eSIM supplies data. Carrier charges may still apply to the home line. WhatsApp normally remains registered to the existing number; installing a data eSIM does not require re-registering it.

For more detail, see using WhatsApp in Taiwan.

If installation or data does not work

  • Confirm the QR code has not already been used on another device.
  • Verify that the eSIM appears in the phone’s SIM list.
  • Confirm it is selected for mobile data.
  • Check Data Roaming and the APN.
  • Toggle Airplane Mode once and wait for reconnection.

Do not delete the installed eSIM unless NoveSIM support tells you to do so. Deletion may not make the original QR code reusable. Continue with Taiwan eSIM troubleshooting or the focused no-internet checklist.

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FAQ

Should I install my Taiwan eSIM before flying?

Yes, installation is easier over reliable WiFi. Check when validity begins and wait to activate or connect if the plan instructions require that.

Why does Data Roaming need to be on?

Travel eSIMs commonly connect through a partner network, so the travel line may require Data Roaming. Keep roaming data disabled on the home SIM unless you accept its charges.

Can I install the same QR code on two phones?

Usually not. An eSIM activation code is commonly intended for one installation. Follow the supplied plan instructions.

Should I delete the eSIM when it has no data?

No. Check the selected data line, roaming, APN and network first. Delete it only when support specifically instructs you.

Final Recommendation

Install the Taiwan eSIM over stable WiFi before travel and label it clearly.

After arrival, choose it for mobile data, enable Data Roaming when required and keep automatic network selection on.

If connection fails, retain the profile and work through the settings rather than deleting the eSIM.

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