You installed the eSIM back home - great. Now comes the short, important part: switching it on the moment you land, so you leave the airport already connected. Two small actions, and that's it.
Install happens at home: you add the eSIM to the phone from the QR code. At that point nothing runs or is consumed yet. Activation happens at landing: you turn on Data Roaming for the travel line, the phone connects to the local network, and the plan's clock starts. So you can safely install days ahead - the plan only "switches on" once you're at the destination.
Settings › Cellular › pick the plan's line (the eSIM) › enable "Data Roaming". Without this the eSIM won't connect to the local network at the destination.
Settings › Cellular › "Cellular Data" › pick the plan's line. It helps to turn off "Allow line switching" so the phone won't fall back to the Israeli line.
So you won't accidentally browse on expensive roaming: Settings › Cellular › Israeli line › turn off "Cellular Data" (and "Data Roaming" on it). The line stays on for calls and SMS.
Settings › Connections › Mobile networks › pick the eSIM › enable "Data Roaming". On Pixel: Settings › Network & internet › SIMs › pick the eSIM › "Roaming".
Settings › Connections / Network › SIM manager › "Mobile data" › pick the eSIM. This routes browsing through the plan and not the Israeli line.
In the SIM manager turn off mobile data on the Israeli line (and roaming on it), so you won't browse on roaming by accident. The line still receives calls and SMS (at roaming rates).
If you switch on Airplane mode when boarding and turn it off at landing, the phone does a fresh network search and usually latches onto the local network faster.
Activation happens entirely over the local cellular network - no airport Wi-Fi needed. (The install from the QR code you already did at home, where Wi-Fi was handy.)
On most plans the validity days start from the first connection at the destination, not from purchase or install. So you can buy and install well before the flight without wasting a day.
No. Installing only adds the profile to the phone; the plan only starts once you enable Data Roaming and connect to the network at the destination. You can install days ahead with no worry.
Make sure the eSIM is set as the data line, and if needed pick a local network manually and then restart. The full steps are in our troubleshooting guide.
Better not. If you enable Data Roaming while still in Israel, the phone may connect and start the plan early. Leave Data Roaming off until you land, then turn it on - that's the right moment.
Landed, plan installed, but no internet? Almost always it's one setting that's off - not a fault in the plan. Run the checklist below in order and 90% of the time you'll be online in a minute.
Read east smartphoneRule of thumb: iPhone XS and up, and most Android phones from 2020 on. The device also has to be carrier-unlocked. Check your exact model below.
Read east wifi_tetheringWant to connect your laptop, tablet or a partner's phone to the same plan? Yes - our eSIM plans support hotspot. Here's how to turn it on, and how much it "burns".
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