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The internet checklist before you travel

90% of connection problems at the destination are avoided with 10 minutes of preparation before boarding. This is the list.

Check compatibility: Settings → General → About (iPhone) or Settings → Connections (Android). If you see "eSIM" or "Add eSIM", you are set. iPhone XS or newer, Samsung S20+, Pixel 3+ generally work.
Confirm the phone is unlocked: if you bought it on a carrier plan, it may be locked. Test: does it accept a SIM from another carrier? If not, request the unlock (free in most countries once the contract term is met).
Buy the eSIM in advance: it arrives by e-mail in minutes and does not expire because you installed it early.
Update the operating system: several eSIM bugs are fixed in the latest version.

Install the eSIM (scan the QR or use the one-tap link). Installing ≠ activating: it does not use up your days.
Leave data roaming ON for the eSIM line (it is normal and required).
Download offline maps of your cities in Google Maps.
Download the language in Google Translate for offline use.
Download playlists and some content for the flight.

Select the eSIM as the data line and keep your usual line for SMS/calls only.
Airplane mode for 10 seconds, then off: it forces the phone to search for the local network.
Not connected after 2 minutes? Open eSIM Rescue on the airport Wi-Fi: guided diagnosis, free.

Item 3 on the list: sort out the eSIM today and cross it off.

Frequently asked questions

Does installing the eSIM early use up the plan days?

No. The days count from the first connection to a network at the destination, not from installation.

Why must data roaming be on?

Travel eSIMs technically operate in roaming on local networks. With the switch off, there is no internet even with signal.

What if my phone is not eSIM compatible?

Your options are a local physical SIM at the destination or a pocket Wi-Fi. But check carefully: almost every phone from 2019 onward has eSIM.