The Huawei P40 was one of the first devices to embrace eSIM technology. In this guide, we’ll explain how you can activate an eSIM on a Huawei P40, so you can connect to the internet abroad.
Before you start:
An eSIM is indispensable: travelers can buy an eSIM online for their preferred destinations – but remember:
Make sure the operator at your destination supports eSIMs on Huawei P40 phones.
You will need a prior internet connection to activate your eSIM
Activate eSIM as the main line on your Huawei P40
Huawei as well as Samsung and Apple work similarly when it comes to activating an eSIM. The difference is that there are some dual SIM cellphones and in these only 2 cards can be active, that is, if the P40 is dual SIM with physical cards, only the eSIM card or SIM 2 will be allowed to be used, since the physical SIM 2 will be disabled if we activate a virtual card.
Huawei P40 is a dual SIM phone meaning you can have 2 cards activated at the same time. When setting up your eSIM, you can activate it as a second SIM card. Here’s how.
How to activate eSIM in Huawei P40 by QR code
Time needed:Â 10 minutes.
Here are the steps you need to follow to configure an eSIM card in a Huawei P40 using a QR code
- Go to SIM settings on your Huawei cellphone
Go to: Settings >Mobile/Cellular networks > SIM management.
- Press on SIM 2
Here you will see any SIM and eSIM cards you have added previously.
- Select Add eSIM
In this step, you must first select on eSIM and removable SIM card so that the eSIMs you have added can be seen on the list.
- Press Add plan using QR code
Your Huawei’s camera will be activated.
- Scan the QR code
Focus your camera on the QR code to scan it.
- Add it to your Huawei
Agree to add the SIM card and then download and wait for the installation to finish on your phone.
- Activation of your virtual card
The eSIM will be activated automatically. You can disable it from Mobile/Cellular networks > SIM management > SIM 2
- Verification
Your new eSIM will appear as SIM 2 on your Huawei phone.
Other ways to activate an eSIM card on a Huawei P40
There are two other ways to activate an eSIM card on your P40 device.
The first is to scan the eSIM QR code from your gallery. To achieve this, follow all the steps above but click the option ‘Select from Gallery’ under step 4. Search and select the image with the QR code and the phone will immediately recognize the QR code, and then you can download the eSIM profile.
Secondly, you can activate your eSIM with an activation code provided by your operator. This time, when you click ‘Add eSIM’ select the ‘Manually enter’ option and add the activation code provided by the operator.
Which operators support eSIM on the Huawei P40?
After the launch of eSIM, several cellphone manufacturers have started to develop and enhance devices that include this technology. However, it is the cellular operator that determines whether the virtual card will work.
In the following table you will find a list of countries and operators that support activating an eSIM card in a Huawei P40 phone as a main line.
| Countries | Huawei P40 | Huawei P40 Pro |
| Italy | WINDTRE | WINDTRE |
| Poland | Orange | Orange |
| Norway | Telenor, Telia | Telenor, Telia |
| Mexico | AT&T, Movistar | AT&T, Movistar |
| Ukraine | lifecell | lifecell |
| Estonia | Telia | Telia |
| Cambodia | Cellcard | Cellcard |
| New Zeland | Spark | Spark |
| Colombia | Movistar | Movistar |
| Sweden | Tele2, Telenor, Telia, 3 | Tele2, Telenor, Telia, 3 |
| Russia | Tele2 | Tele2 |
Remember
– Check if your operator supports the use of eSIMs on a Huawei P40
– If your operator requires the use of an eSIM ID, you can find it here: Settings > About Phone > Show EID
-To enable or disable an eSIM go to Settings > SIM Management > SIM 2, select the eSIM and enable or disable it. If you want to enable the physical SIM, press on Removable SIM Card.
FAQs when configuring your eSIM on a Huawei P40
No. The iPhone is supported by most operators, but this does not mean that your Huawei P40 will also work. You need to check with your operator to make sure it is supported.
It is likely that after an upgrade you will be enabled to support eSIM in your operator, as the Huawei P40 hardware has this technology built in.
No. To terminate your eSIM service you have to contact your operator.
No. You can only use two SIMs/eSIM at that same time. If you add an eSIM, it will be activated in slot 2 and the physical SIM you have added to it will be disabled.
Neither the Huawei P30 nor the Huawei P40 Pro+ support eSIM card.
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