Huawei and eSIM
Huawei supports eSIM on selected models, mainly European-market P and Mate devices. China-market units and most models after 2022 do not offer it.
| Model | eSIM | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mate 60 Pro | No | 2023 | Mainland China variants commonly ship without eSIM — check your own handset's settings menu. |
| P60 Pro | No | 2023 | Normally ships without eSIM — confirm in your handset's SIM menu. |
| Mate 40 Pro | Yes | 2020 | European variants only |
| P40 Pro+ | Yes | 2020 | European variants only |
| P40 Pro | Yes | 2020 | European variants only |
| P40 | Yes | 2020 | European variants only |
| nova series | No | 2024 | Normally ships without eSIM — confirm in your handset's SIM menu. |
How to check on the phone
- Open Settings → Mobile network → SIM management
- Look for the eSIM option
- EMUI and HarmonyOS lay the menus out differently — search Settings for eSIM if you cannot find it
Things to know
- Newer Huawei devices lack Google Mobile Services. That does not affect the eSIM itself, but it does affect the apps you rely on while travelling.
- Market differences are unusually large on this brand: the European unit has eSIM while the same model from China usually does not.
Where the eSIM menu sits on EMUI
Huawei's support page Use eSIM cards on your phone gives the route Settings → Mobile network → SIM management, then tap the icon next to SIM 2. From there you can add an eSIM, enable or disable it, rename it and delete it. The same page lists the products it applies to as the HUAWEI Pura 70 Pro and Mate 40 Pro on EMUI 13.0 and EMUI 14.2. Huawei does not confirm other models on that page, so check the actual handset using the steps below.
Market caveats
- Huawei's instructions put the eSIM control next to SIM 2, meaning the eSIM works as the second line. Plan on one Thai SIM plus the eSIM.
- Huawei's support pages are regional; the one we cite is the Philippines page. Mainland China units run HarmonyOS builds with different menus.
- Newer models lack Google Mobile Services. That does not affect the eSIM, but install the maps and ride-hailing apps you need before you leave.
Check your own Huawei before you buy a plan
- Open the Phone app and dial *#06#. If the screen shows an EID (a 32-digit number), the handset has an eSIM chip. If you see only IMEI numbers, treat it as unconfirmed and carry on with the next check, because some phones do not show the EID on this screen.
- Open Settings → Mobile network → SIM management. If there is a button to add or download an eSIM, the software for your unit's market has the feature switched on.
- Find the model code under Settings → About phone and compare it with the manufacturer's spec page for the country you bought it in. The model code is more reliable than the marketing name, because one name can cover several market variants.
- If the phone is second-hand or imported, ask the seller whether it is network locked. A unit locked to an overseas carrier usually refuses another operator's profile even when an EID is present.
Installing an eSIM on a Huawei, step by step
- 1Install in Thailand before you flyConnect to stable Wi-Fi and install the eSIM while you are still at home. If the scan fails you still have time to contact the shop, which beats troubleshooting at the arrival airport with no data.
- 2Open the add-eSIM menuOn a Huawei, go to Settings → Mobile network → SIM management → tap the icon next to SIM 2 → Add eSIM and choose to scan the QR code. If the QR code is on the same phone and you cannot scan it, choose to enter the activation details by hand (the SM-DP+ address and activation code from your email).
- 3Label the lineRename the new line, for example Travel or the country name, so you do not mix it up with your Thai SIM when choosing the data line.
- 4Leave it off until you landIf the plan's validity starts on first network connection, keep the eSIM line switched off and turn it on only when you reach the destination.
- 5Turn on data roaming for the eSIM lineMost travel eSIMs run as roaming on a local network. If the line shows signal but no data, switch on Data roaming in that eSIM line's settings.
Switching the data line while travelling
On a dual-SIM Huawei, calls and texts can use a different line from mobile data. The setting to change is the mobile data line, found at Settings → Mobile network → SIM management → Default mobile data.
- Set mobile data to the travel eSIM and keep your Thai SIM for calls and texts, so bank OTP messages still arrive.
- Switch off Data roaming on the Thai SIM, so the phone cannot fall back to it and run up roaming charges.
- If the menu offers automatic data switching during calls (labelled Mobile data switching or similar), turn it off while abroad.
- Back in Thailand, move mobile data back to the Thai SIM, then turn off or delete the expired eSIM line.
Common problems on Huawei
| Problem | Usual cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No icon next to SIM 2 | Model or market without eSIM | Search Settings for eSIM; if nothing, use a physical SIM |
| eSIM gone after a reset | Reset was chosen instead of Reset but keep eSIMs | Contact the shop about a new QR code |
| Installed but not working | The eSIM is disabled | Enable it in SIM management |
| Signal but no data | Roaming off or wrong data line | Turn on roaming and set it as the data line |
FAQ
Which Huawei models does Huawei itself confirm for eSIM?+
The help page we checked names the Pura 70 Pro and Mate 40 Pro on EMUI 13.0 and 14.2. Other models in our table come from European-market specs, so always check your own unit.
Will a factory reset remove my travel eSIM on a Huawei?+
It depends on the option. Reset but keep eSIMs keeps it; Reset deletes the eSIM information.
Can a Mate 60 Pro bought in China use a travel eSIM?+
According to the table on this page, mainland China units commonly lack eSIM. Check SIM management and *#06#; if neither shows it, use a physical travel SIM.
Does eSIM work on a Huawei without Google services?+
Yes. The eSIM is installed through the system Settings menu and does not depend on Google apps.
Sources
- Use eSIM cards on your phone — Huawei, October 10, 2026
- Implement eSIM — Android Open Source Project, October 10, 2026