Moving Your eSIM to a New Phone: iPhone and Android Guide

Published 2026-10-16 · Marion Phone Repair

An eSIM is a digital SIM card built into the phone. There is no card to move, so switching phones means transferring the eSIM profile from the old phone to the new one, or getting your carrier to issue a new one. Done right, it takes a few minutes. Done in the wrong order, it can leave you without service until the carrier fixes it. Here is how to do it safely.

Before you start

• Keep the old phone on and nearby, with Wi-Fi or another internet connection. Most transfers use it to approve the move.
• Make sure the new phone is unlocked, or locked to the same carrier. A carrier-locked phone will not accept another carrier's eSIM.
• Back up the old phone with iCloud, Google, or your phone maker's tool, so contacts and messages move too.
• Know your carrier account login. If the transfer fails, the carrier app or website is the fastest fix.
• Turn on two-factor apps on the new phone first. If your bank or email sends codes by text, you will want the line working before you need them.

iPhone to iPhone

Most major carriers support eSIM Quick Transfer between iPhones.

1. During setup on the new iPhone, follow the Set Up Cellular screen. It shows numbers from your nearby old iPhone, signed in to the same Apple Account.
2. Select the number to transfer and confirm on the old iPhone when asked.
3. Wait for the new phone to show the line as active. This can take a few minutes.

If you skipped this during setup, go to Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM (or Add Cellular Plan) and choose Transfer from Nearby iPhone.

Once the transfer completes, the eSIM on the old iPhone is deactivated. You do not need to delete it yourself first.

Android to Android

Support depends on the phone maker and carrier. Recent Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones can transfer an eSIM during setup or under the SIM settings, using a nearby phone. Look for Transfer SIM from another device on the new phone, typically under Settings > Network & internet > SIMs on Pixel, or Settings > Connections > SIM manager on Samsung.

If that option is not offered, use the carrier method below.

Between iPhone and Android

Moving an eSIM between iPhone and Android is not supported by the built-in transfer tools on most carriers. Use the carrier method: your carrier issues a new eSIM for the new phone, and the old one stops working.

The carrier method (works for any phone)

Every carrier can activate an eSIM on a new phone directly. Options typically include:

• The carrier's app: install it on the new phone, sign in, and choose to activate or switch devices.
• A QR code: the carrier provides a code that you scan in the phone's eSIM settings.
• In-store or by phone: the carrier activates it while you wait. They may need to verify your identity.

Carriers often require extra verification for eSIM changes to prevent SIM-swap fraud, such as a code sent to your email or a PIN on the account. Set up an account PIN in advance if your carrier offers one; it protects you as well.

After the transfer: check it works

• Make a phone call and send a text message to a different phone.
• Turn Wi-Fi off and load a web page to confirm mobile data works.
• On iPhone, check that iMessage and FaceTime show your number under Settings > Messages > Send & Receive.
• Ask a contact to send you a text, to confirm incoming messages arrive.

If it fails

• No service, or SIM not supported: the phone may be carrier-locked. Check under Settings > General > About > Carrier Lock on iPhone.
• Stuck on Activating: restart the new phone and wait several minutes. Make sure it has a Wi-Fi connection.
• Transfer option missing: your carrier may not support quick transfer for your plan type; use the carrier method.
• Old phone already lost or broken: contact the carrier directly; they can issue a new eSIM to the new phone after verifying your identity.

Do not delete the old eSIM first

Deleting the eSIM from the old phone before the new one is active does not move it; it can leave you without service until the carrier issues a replacement. Also, if you are selling or trading in the old phone, erase it only after the new phone is working.

Help from Marion Phone Repair

If you are setting up a new phone, Marion Phone Repair can help move your data and check that calls, texts, and data work on the new device. If your old phone is damaged and will not turn on, we can often recover it long enough to complete the transfer.