Nothing and eSIM
According to Nothing's own help centre, the Nothing Phone (3) has eSIM in every market, the (3a) family has it only on units sold in Japan, and the (1), (2) and (2a) models have no eSIM. Check your model before buying a plan.
| Model | eSIM | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nothing Phone (3) | Yes | 2025 | — |
| Nothing Phone (3a) Pro | Yes | 2025 | eSIM only on units sold in Japan |
| Nothing Phone (3a) | Yes | 2025 | eSIM only on units sold in Japan |
| Nothing Phone (2a) Plus | No | 2024 | Nothing confirms this model has no eSIM |
| Nothing Phone (2a) | No | 2024 | Nothing confirms this model has no eSIM |
| Nothing Phone (2) | No | 2023 | Nothing confirms this model has no eSIM |
| Nothing Phone (1) | No | 2022 | Nothing confirms this model has no eSIM |
How to check on the phone
- Open Settings → Network & internet → SIMs
- Tap the plus beside SIMs and choose Download a SIM instead
Things to know
- Some India-market batches do not match the European SIM spec — check the handset's SIM menu first.
- CMF is Nothing's budget sub-brand and does not follow the Nothing Phone spec sheet, so we keep it off the table until each model can be confirmed.
What Nothing's own support pages say about eSIM
Nothing's help centre answers Does the Phone support eSIM? separately for each model, and for several models the answer differs from the table on this page. As checked today, Nothing says the Phone (3) supports eSIM; the Phone (1), Phone (2), Phone (2a) and Phone (2a) Plus do not; and the Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro support it only in versions sold in Japan. We have flagged the table for correction. Until then, go by Nothing's answer and your own handset's menu.
| Model | Nothing's answer |
|---|---|
| Phone (3) | Supports eSIM |
| Phone (3a) / (3a) Pro | Only versions sold in Japan |
| Phone (2a) / (2a) Plus | Not supported |
| Phone (2) | Not supported |
| Phone (1) | Not supported |
Where the eSIM menu sits on Nothing OS
We could not find a Nothing help page with step-by-step eSIM menu instructions to verify. Nothing OS keeps close to stock Android's layout, so the route to try is Settings → Network & internet → SIMs, tap the plus or Add SIM, then choose to download an eSIM. If it is not there, search Settings for eSIM.
Check your own Nothing 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 → Network & internet → SIMs. 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 Nothing, 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 Nothing, go to Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → + or Add SIM → download an 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 Nothing, calls and texts can use a different line from mobile data. The setting to change is the mobile data line, found at Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → 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 Nothing
| Problem | Usual cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No download-eSIM button | A model Nothing lists as unsupported | Use a physical travel SIM |
| Second-hand Japanese unit will not install | Network lock or an old profile left on it | Ask the seller about unlocking and removing the old profile |
| Signal but no data | Roaming off or wrong data line | Turn on roaming and set it as the data line |
FAQ
Does the Nothing Phone (2) support eSIM?+
According to Nothing's help centre, no. Use a physical travel SIM.
Does a Phone (3a) bought in Thailand have eSIM?+
Nothing says the Phone (3a) supports eSIM only in versions sold in Japan, so a Thai unit should not have it. Confirm with *#06# and the SIMs menu.
Which Nothing model does Nothing confirm for eSIM?+
Of the pages we checked today, the Phone (3) is the model Nothing says supports eSIM without a market condition.
Does a CMF Phone support eSIM?+
Nothing's help centre says the CMF Phone 1 does not, and the CMF Phone 2 Pro supports it only in versions sold in Japan.
Sources
- Does the Phone (3) support eSIM? (help centre API copy) — Nothing, October 10, 2026
- Does the Phone support eSIM? Phone (3a) (help centre API copy) — Nothing, October 10, 2026
- Does the Phone support eSIM? Phone (2) (help centre API copy) — Nothing, October 10, 2026
- Does the Phone support eSIM? Phone (1) (help centre API copy) — Nothing, October 10, 2026
- Does Phone 1 support eSIM? CMF Phone 1 (help centre API copy) — Nothing, October 10, 2026