Pixel 8
Supports eSIM
Google confirms eSIM support on Pixel 4 and later. The phone must also be unlocked and accepted by the eSIM provider.
Google Pixel Help: Get a SIM or eSIM and add it to your Pixel phone (opens in a new tab) · Checked
MODEL AND REGIONAL GUIDE
Pixel 8, 8 Pro and 8a eSIM: setup and dual-SIM differences
Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 8a support eSIM. Carrier acceptance and unlocking still apply, and the 8a has a different dual-SIM calling behavior from the 8 and 8 Pro.
Exact models & regional exceptions · Checks in Settings · Official sources
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Use the model evidence and regional exceptions below if the interactive checker is unavailable.
Choose the two lines you want to use
Google supports two active eSIM profiles on Pixel 7 and later when the carrier allows it. Another option is a physical SIM plus an eSIM. Only one SIM is the default for mobile data.
For a travel setup, choose the travel plan for mobile data and check which line handles calls and texts. A data-only eSIM does not automatically replace a home phone number.
Pixel 8a changes the calling situation
Google groups Pixel 8 and 8 Pro with the earlier behavior: during a call, a call to the other SIM goes to voicemail. Pixel 8a and later can place or answer a call on the second SIM while putting the first call on hold, under Google’s stated requirements: mobile data on both SIMs, automatic data switching for the second SIM and carrier Wi-Fi calling support for that line.
That difference is not an eSIM compatibility failure. If keeping two numbers reachable during a trip matters to you, check the carrier requirements rather than treating all three Pixel 8 models as identical.
Install through the phone’s SIM settings
Open Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Add SIM → Set up an eSIM, then follow the provider’s instructions. Keep a working internet connection available for setup. If the plan is rejected, ask the provider to check this exact Pixel model and its activation requirements.
Google also warns that some older physical SIM cards are no longer supported on Pixel 8 and later. If the phone displays that specific message, ask your carrier for a replacement SIM. It is a different issue from whether the Pixel supports eSIM.
Questions about Pixel 8
Do Google Pixel 8 Pro and Google Pixel 8a support eSIM?
Yes. Both support eSIM, with carrier acceptance and unlocking still required for the plan you intend to use. Pixel 8a has a separate dual-SIM calling behavior from Pixel 8 Pro.
Can Google Pixel 8 use two active eSIMs?
Google supports this on Pixel 7 and later when the carrier permits it. Confirm the plan and carrier requirements before depending on two digital lines.
Does Google Pixel 8a behave like Pixel 8 during calls on two SIMs?
No. On Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, a call to the second SIM goes to voicemail while the first SIM is in a call. Pixel 8a can handle a second call by placing the first on hold, subject to Google’s mobile-data, automatic switching and carrier Wi-Fi calling requirements described above.
Official sources for this guide
- Google: Pixel SIM combinations and setup (opens in a new tab)
- Google: add a SIM or eSIM (opens in a new tab)
The model records on this page retain their own regional and hardware evidence. Compatibility is documented from manufacturer sources. This does not represent hands-on activation testing.
EXACT MODEL EVIDENCE
Check the version you own
Compare the full model and A-number or SM-number where listed. The phone’s original market can differ from the shop where you bought it or the country you are visiting.
Pixel 8 Pro
Supports eSIM
Google confirms eSIM support on Pixel 4 and later. The phone must also be unlocked and accepted by the eSIM provider.
Google Pixel Help: Get a SIM or eSIM and add it to your Pixel phone (opens in a new tab) · Checked
Pixel 8a
Supports eSIM
Google confirms eSIM support on Pixel 4 and later. The phone must also be unlocked and accepted by the eSIM provider.
Google Pixel Help: Get a SIM or eSIM and add it to your Pixel phone (opens in a new tab) · Checked
CHECK ON YOUR PHONE
Confirm the device in Settings
On Google Pixel
Open Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Add SIM → Set up an eSIM. Ask the original carrier about unlocking and your chosen provider about device acceptance. Menu wording can vary by Android version.
An EID indicates eSIM hardware. It does not prove the phone is unlocked, that every provider will accept it or that a plan includes coverage at your destination. Do not send us your IMEI, EID or account details.
These records use manufacturer documents, with no remote inspection or hands-on activation testing. Read how the compatibility checker works.