Programmable eSIM card

This guide is for people with an older Android phone that has a physical SIM slot but no eSIM in the phone settings. You buy a small programmable card, write your Panda eSim profile onto it, then use that card like a normal SIM for mobile data.

1. Check that you need this

• Open Settings → Network & internet (or Connections → SIM manager).
• Look for Add eSIM, Download a SIM, or eSIM.
• If you see that option, your phone already supports eSIM - go to your Panda account and install with QR. Stop here.
• If there is no eSIM option at all, continue with this guide.

2. What you need

• An Android phone with a physical SIM slot (and no built-in eSIM).
• A Panda eSim account with credit and an issued eSIM (QR / SM-DP+ details on /account/).
• Wi‑Fi (needed while writing the profile onto the card).
• A programmable eSIM card - we recommend 9eSIM V0 (open card, not locked to another travel-data store).

3. Buy the card

Order the entry card here: 9eSIM V0 (official 9eSIM shop).

One Panda profile is enough. V0 can hold up to 15 profiles, so you have spare room. Wait until the card arrives before the next steps.

9eSIM is a separate hardware seller. Panda sells the data eSIM / wallet. You keep buying data from Panda; the card only stores the profile on phones without built-in eSIM.

4. Get your Panda install details ready

1. On a computer or any phone with a browser, open pandaesim.com/account and sign in.
2. If you do not have an eSIM yet: top up credit. After the first top-up, Panda issues your eSIM automatically.
3. On the account page, find the QR code and the manual fields SM-DP+ Address and Activation Code. Keep that page open (or take clear screenshots / copy the two fields).

5. Install an LPA app on the Android phone

An LPA app writes the eSIM profile onto the programmable card. On Android use the official 9eSIM app on Google Play, or get it from the 9eSIM software page. Open alternatives: NekokoLPA / EasyEUICC.

1. On the Android phone (the one without built-in eSIM), install the official 9eSIM app from Google Play, or download from the 9eSIM software page. Alternatives: NekokoLPA download or EasyEUICC (direct APK).
2. Install the app and open it once. Allow any permissions it asks for to talk to the SIM (this is normal for this type of card).

Direct links: 9eSIM on Google Play · 9eSIM software · NekokoLPA · EasyEUICC · EasyEUICC APK

6. Insert the 9eSIM card

1. Power off the phone (recommended).
2. Open the SIM tray. Put the 9eSIM V0 card into a SIM slot (use the correct size punch-out for your tray: nano / micro).
3. If you still need your home number for calls/SMS, keep your normal SIM in the other slot (dual-SIM phones). Use the 9eSIM card for Panda data.
4. Power the phone back on. Connect to Wi‑Fi.

7. Write the Panda profile onto the card

1. Open the LPA app (9eSIM or your open LPA).
2. Choose Download / Add profile / Scan QR (wording varies by app).
3. Scan the Panda QR from your account page. Stay on Wi‑Fi until it finishes.
4. If QR scan fails: choose manual entry and paste SM-DP+ Address and Activation Code from your Panda account (two separate fields - do not paste one long LPA string into a single box unless the app asks for a full activation code / LPA string).
5. When the app says the profile is installed / enabled, leave it enabled on the card.

You only need to do this once per Panda eSIM. After that, the profile lives on the card.

8. Turn on mobile data for Panda

1. Go to Settings → Network & internet → SIMs (or Connections → SIM manager).
2. Turn the 9eSIM / Panda line on.
3. Set Mobile data to that SIM (not your home SIM).
4. Turn Data roaming ON for that line. Travel eSIM data will not work without roaming.
5. Turn Wi‑Fi off and open a website to test.

If you see signal bars with an R (roaming) but no internet, check APN for that SIM. For Panda / Citrus profiles, try APN globaldata (name can be “Panda”, username/password empty), then Airplane mode 30 seconds.

9. Common problems

• Phone already has eSIM - you do not need this card. Install from /account/ normally.
• Download fails - stay on stable Wi‑Fi; confirm the eSIM is still Ready in your Panda account; try manual SM-DP+ + activation code.
• Bars but no data - Mobile data = 9eSIM line, Data roaming ON, then APN globaldata.
• Wrong SIM for data - dual-SIM phones often switch data back to the home SIM after a reboot. Set Mobile data to the Panda card again.
• Card not detected - reseat the card, try the other SIM slot, reboot.

10. Need help

Email Contact support (or open Support) with: your Panda account email, Android phone model, whether the profile downloaded onto the card, and a screenshot of SIM settings (Mobile data + roaming).