When Should You Install and Activate a Saily eSIM? September 2026

✓ Quick Answer

Install your Saily eSIM one or two days before departure while you still have reliable WiFi. Installation alone doesn’t start your data plan. The package activates when Saily connects to a supported network inside its coverage area. If you’re already in a covered country, keep the Saily line switched off until you’re ready to use the plan. You have 180 days to use your eSIM.

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Buying a Saily plan is simple, but getting the timing right can be the difference between getting online as soon as you land and fighting airport Wifi. Install it too late and you may have to complete the setup after arrival. This guide explains exactly when to buy, install and activate your Saily eSIM so it’s ready when you need it.

Saily installation and activation explained

Firstly, allow us to explain the difference between Installation and activation, as they’re not quite the same thing. Understanding the difference makes it much easier to know what needs to be completed before your trip.

What does installing a Saily eSIM mean?

Installation means after purchase, downloading the Saily eSIM profile and adding it to your phone.

Once installed, a new mobile line appears in your device’s cellular, mobile service or SIM settings. The exact name depends on your phone and how the eSIM was labeled during setup.

You need an active internet connection during installation because your phone has to download the eSIM profile from the internet. This is why it’s much easier to install Saily at home than after landing.

Installing Saily doesn’t use any of your travel data and doesn’t start the validity period of the data package.

What does activating a Saily eSIM mean?

Activation is when your data plan begins. This normally happens when the Saily eSIM connects to a supported mobile network inside the plan’s coverage area. If that hasn’t happened, Saily activates the package automatically 180 days after purchase.

In order to get to that stage, you’ll need to have..

• Purchased the Saily eSIM
• Installed the Saily eSIM
• Turned the Saily eSIM line on
• Enabled data roaming for Saily eSIM
• Completed the setup shown in the Saily app

Once these settings are in place and you’re inside a country covered by your plan, Saily can connect to a local partner network. That connection activates the data package and starts its validity period.

This is why installing the eSIM and activating the plan aren’t the same thing. Installation only adds the eSIM profile to your phone. Activation happens later, when the line connects inside the plan’s coverage area.

If you’re already in a covered country and don’t want the plan to begin yet, install the eSIM but keep the Saily line switched off. Turn it on and enable data roaming only when you’re ready to start using the package.

Put simply:

Stage	What happens	When it happens
Purchase	You choose and pay for a Saily data plan	Less than 180 days before you intend to use it
Installation	The Saily eSIM profile is added to your phone	Before departure
eSIM setup	You prepare the line and settings	Before use
Data plan activation	The package begins and its validity period starts	When Saily connects inside the coverage area or automatically 180 days after purchase

When should you install your Saily eSIM?

Install Saily before traveling, ideally one or two days before your flight.

This gives you time to:

• Complete the installation using your own reliable WiFi
• Confirm that the Saily line appears in your settings without any issue
• Fix any unexpected setup problem
• Contact Saily support before leaving, if necessary

Don’t worry, installing the eSIM profile doesn’t start the data package.

Saily gives you a 180 day activation period. The package begins when the eSIM connects to a supported network inside the plan’s coverage area or automatically 180 days after purchase. To avoid losing any validity before your trip, buy it less than 180 days before you intend to use it.

When should you buy your Saily plan?

Buy your plan within 180 days of the date you intend to use it. You don’t need to leave the purchase until the last minute. Buying a few days before departure gives you enough time and breathing room to choose the right package, install the eSIM and check your settings.

For example, if you’re traveling on August 10, you could buy and install Saily during the first week of August. There’s no practical reason to purchase it several months in advance. Saily activates the package automatically 180 days after purchase if it hasn’t already started at your destination.

Does installing Saily start the data plan?

No. Installing Saily only adds the digital eSIM profile to your phone. It doesn’t use your data allowance or start the plan’s validity period. The package begins later, when the Saily line connects to a supported network inside the plan’s coverage area.

IMPORTANT: Don’t turn Saily on early if you’re already in a covered country

Installing the Saily eSIM doesn’t start your data plan. However, you need to be more careful if you’re already inside a country covered by the plan.

For example, imagine you buy a regional Europe eSIM while in Spain, but you don’t want to start using it until you reach France three days later. If you switch on the Saily eSIM and enable data roaming while you’re still in Spain, it can connect to a supported network and activate the Europe plan immediately.

To prevent this, install the eSIM but keep the Saily line switched off until you’re ready to begin using the plan. You should also leave data roaming turned off for that line to ensure that there’s no chance Saily connects to a local network.

When you’re ready to activate it:

1. Turn on the Saily eSIM line.
2. Select Saily for mobile data.
3. Enable data roaming on the Saily line.
4. Wait for it to connect to a supported network.

Data roaming is essential when you want to use Saily because the eSIM connects through partner networks. However, it’s also one of the settings that allows the connection to happen, so don’t enable it early when you’re already inside the plan’s coverage area.

The safest rule

• Outside the plan’s coverage area: You can install and prepare Saily before traveling.
• Already inside the plan’s coverage area: Install it, but keep the Saily line off until you’re ready for the plan to start.

How to prepare Saily before your trip

Complete the following steps while you still have a stable internet connection.

1. Check that your phone supports eSIM

Your device must support eSIM technology and be unlocked from its mobile carrier. A carrier locked phone will prevent you from installing or using a travel eSIM, even if that phone model normally supports eSIM. Not sure whether your phone supports eSIM? Check out our What phones support eSIM guide.

2. Download the Saily app

Install the Saily app and sign in using the account connected to your purchase. We’re big fans of the Saily app because it’s simple and contains the installation process, plan details and access to Saily support.

3. Buy the correct plan

Check the destination, data allowance and validity before paying. For regional plans, confirm that every country on your itinerary is included. Don’t assume that a plan labeled for a wider region automatically covers every nearby destination.

4. Install the Saily eSIM

Open the plan inside the Saily app and follow the installation instructions. On most phones, Saily can complete the process directly through the app. Manual installation details are also available when automatic installation isn’t supported. Don’t delete the eSIM once it has been installed.

Important: If you are in a country supported by your current plan and don’t want to activate the plan yet, do not switch the Saily eSIM on.

5. Confirm that the Saily line appears

Open your phone’s SIM or mobile network settings and look for the newly installed line. It may appear as Saily, Travel, Business, Secondary or another label chosen during installation. We always rename it to Saily to make it easier to recognize when switching your mobile data settings after landing.

6. Enable data roaming at the right time

Saily needs data roaming enabled to connect through its local partner networks. Without it, the eSIM won’t provide mobile data. If you’re outside the plan’s coverage area, you can enable it during setup. If you’re already in a covered country, leave the Saily line off and enable data roaming when you’re ready to begin using the plan.

Make sure you change this setting for the Saily eSIM, not your regular SIM.

7. Keep your regular SIM selected for data until you travel

You can continue using your normal SIM at home. Don’t select Saily as the mobile data line before you need it. The Saily plan won’t activate or provide mobile data outside its coverage area, so your regular SIM can remain selected until arrival.

What happens when you arrive?

When you’re ready for the plan to begin, switch off airplane mode, turn on the Saily line and select it for mobile data. With data roaming enabled, the eSIM will search for a supported local network.

The package activates automatically once that connection is made. You don’t need to scan another QR code or manually start the validity period.

Check the following settings after landing:

1. Turn off airplane mode.
2. Make sure the Saily line is enabled.
3. Select Saily as the phone’s mobile data line.
4. Confirm that data roaming is enabled for Saily.
5. Keep mobile data switching turned off.
6. Disable mobile data roaming on your regular SIM, just to ensure that you don’t have any unexpected charges.

Your phone usually displays the name of the local mobile network that Saily is using.

Give the phone a few minutes to find a network after switching off airplane mode. There can be a small delay, which can be a bit frustrating after a long plane ride!

Can you install Saily after landing?

Yes, but installing it after arrival is less convenient. You won’t have internet straight away and you’ll need an active internet connection to download the eSIM profile. If you’ve already left home, that usually means relying on airport, hotel or public WiFi.

That can leave you without mobile data when you need it most in a new country for:

• Directions
• Ride hailing apps
• Public transport information
• Hotel check in details
• Messages and calls
• Translation apps

Installing Saily before departure removes that risk. Once you land, you only need to select the correct data line and wait for the network connection.

One thing that has worked for us in the past is using personal hotspot to connect to another internet connected phone, but we would certainly not recommend this one, don’t try it at home folks.

Can you install Saily at the airport?

Yes, provided you have a reliable internet connection, which isn’t always the case in an airport unless you’re in a lounge.

Installing it at the airport is still better than waiting until you arrive abroad, but it gives you less time to fix a problem. Home Wifi is the safer and easier option.

What if Saily doesn’t connect after landing?

Start with the basic settings. Most connection issues come from the wrong SIM being selected or data roaming being turned off. Check that:

• Airplane mode is off
• The Saily eSIM is enabled
• Saily is selected for mobile data
• Data roaming is enabled for Saily
• Your regular SIM isn’t selected for data
• Your plan covers the country you’re in

Then try the following steps.

1. Toggle airplane mode

Turn airplane mode on, wait around 15 seconds and turn it off again. This classic trick forces the phone to search for a mobile network again.

2. Restart your phone

A restart can clear a stalled network registration and force the phone to reconnect using the correct SIM settings.

3. Check the Saily app

If you have an internet connection, open the app and confirm that the plan is active and linked to the installed eSIM.

4. Change the network mode

When 5G isn’t connecting properly, temporarily change the Saily line to LTE or 4G. A stable 4G connection is better than a phone repeatedly searching for an unavailable or weak 5G signal. Saily recommends this as one of its troubleshooting steps on both iPhone and Android.

5. Contact Saily support

Saily provides great customer assistance through live chat in its app and by email. It doesn’t currently offer phone support.

If those checks don’t fix the problem, follow our complete Saily not working guide for APN, network selection and device-specific fixes.

Does installing Saily affect your refund?

Saily says you may request a full refund within 30 days if the eSIM hasn’t been installed or the data plan hasn’t activated. Once the eSIM has been installed and the data plan has activated, Saily considers the service used and no longer guarantees a full refund. A partial or full refund may still be considered if a technical problem prevented you from using most of the plan.

Our advice? Check the destination and package carefully before completing the installation.

Get 15% off Saily before your trip

Planning to use Saily for your trip? Our exclusive Saily promo code TEE15 gives you 15% off Saily eSIM and phone plans. Check our Saily promo code page for the full offer, terms and current prices before buying your plan.

Frequently asked questions

How early can I install a Saily eSIM?

Install Saily after purchasing your plan and before traveling. We recommend completing the setup one or two days before departure. Saily requires the eSIM to be installed and activated within 180 days of purchase.

Will installing Saily activate my data plan?

No. Installing Saily adds the eSIM profile to your phone, but the package doesn’t begin until the line connects to a supported network inside its coverage area.

Should I activate Saily before my flight?

You should install the eSIM before flying, but whether you switch the line on depends on your current location. If your current country isn’t covered by the plan, you can turn on the Saily line and enable data roaming before departure. If it is covered, leave the line switched off until you’re ready for the plan to begin (see above).

Do I need Wifi to install Saily?

You need an active internet connection for the initial installation. Home Wifi is generally the easiest and most reliable option.

Do I need Wifi to use Saily after installation?

No. Once the eSIM is installed and connected, Saily provides the mobile data connection. You’ll only need Wifi or another internet connection during the initial installation.

Should data roaming be turned on for Saily?

Yes. Data roaming must be enabled when you want Saily to connect and provide mobile data. Keep it disabled on your regular SIM to avoid accidental roaming charges.

Can I leave my normal SIM turned on?

Yes, but make sure it isn’t selected for mobile data and disable mobile data switching. You can also turn the regular line off completely to reduce the risk of roaming charges.

Can I install Saily more than 30 days before traveling?

Yes. Saily now gives you 180 days days after purchase to use your eSIM.

Can you make phone calls with Saily?

Saily’s standard travel eSIM plans provide mobile data rather than a traditional phone number, calls or texts. You can still make internet calls through apps such as WhatsApp and FaceTime.

Saily also offers separate phone plans with a US number for calls and texts. Read our complete guide to making phone calls with Saily for the prices, limitations and setup process.