An eSIM can make a stolen Samsung phone easier to track down

A thief can pull a physical SIM card out of a stolen phone to cut its mobile connection. An eSIM, which is built into the phone, can't be removed that way. A writer at Android Police says that is why he changed his mind about eSIMs after years of disliking them. For Samsung Galaxy owners, one setting matters just as much.

Why staying online helps

Samsung Find and Google Find Hub can locate a lost or stolen phone. On Android phones, this tracking works when the phone is switched on and Airplane mode is off. Both services can track an offline phone, but the article says tests have shown online tracking is far more reliable. An eSIM keeps the phone's connection in place, so the tracking tools can do their best work.

The setting to turn on

Samsung has a feature called Lock network and security. It stops a thief from turning off the phone or switching on Airplane mode from the lock screen. It also stops them from turning off mobile data or Wi-Fi. It is not on by default. To switch it on:

• Open Lock screen and AOD, then Secure lock settings.
• Enter your passcode.
• Turn on Lock network and security.

The article also notes that IMEI tracking, which uses the phone's unique ID number, remains an option with an eSIM. It relies on an active SIM in the phone.

The trade-off

The main downside is moving an eSIM to a new phone. Samsung offers Instant Transfer, which moves an eSIM between phones without contacting your carrier. But not every carrier supports it. Samsung's page lists 40 US carriers that may support eSIM on a Galaxy. Only 10 of them are listed as compatible with Instant Transfer. The other 30 support eSIM without it.

The writer says that in his country, none of the four carriers offer Instant Transfer. Moving an eSIM there means a trip to the carrier's customer support office. A physical SIM swap would take under 60 seconds. He still considers the added security worth the hassle.

What to do

Galaxy owners can check the Lock network and security setting now, since it takes a minute and a passcode. Anyone thinking about an eSIM should check Samsung's carrier list first to see whether their carrier offers Instant Transfer. The article does not say how often these features lead to a stolen phone being recovered.