You can switch to eSIM if your new phone doesn’t accept SIM cards or if you no longer want to use them.
The SIM card, a small chip in your phone that links it to your preferred cell phone carrier, is probably already familiar to you. For many years, this chip was located on a physical card that you could replace by removing your phone’s SIM card tray. However, the majority of contemporary phones also support eSIM. The eSIM is integrated into the phone’s hardware in place of a physical card, and software is used to remotely program the carrier details.
A few conveniences are made possible by this, like the ability to test out service on a different carrier without having to pick up a physical SIM card in person or through the mail.
Converting an existing physical SIM card to an eSIM presents a challenge. If you want to load multiple eSIMs into a single device or if a new phone is eSIM-only, you might want to do this. Or maybe you simply don’t want to go through the trouble of constantly changing physical cards between devices. Thankfully, the process of converting a physical SIM to an eSIM is not too difficult.
Make sure your new phone is compatible with eSIMs before you begin. The majority of contemporary phones do, as we previously stated. In the US, the iPhone 14 and later are eSIM-only, but all iPhones since the iPhone XS and XR support eSIM. The majority of Android phones—including the Google Pixel 6 and later, as well as the Samsung Galaxy S21 and later—also support eSIM.
An iPhone’s eSIM
Converting a physical SIM to an eSIM on an iPhone can be done in a few different ways.
If you want to convert a physical SIM to an eSIM on the same iPhone (which requires the phone to support both), here’s how to do it.
Choose Cellular after opening Settings.
A Convert to eSIM option will then appear, if your carrier permits it. Your carrier probably doesn’t support this action if you don’t see it.
Click on Cellular Plan Conversion.
Convert to eSIM by tapping. This will activate your eSIM.
Here is how to do it, however, if you are moving a physical SIM to an eSIM on an entirely different iPhone.
Navigate to Settings on your new iPhone and select Cellular.
Add eSIM appears after you scroll down. Choose it.
After that, you have two options. The first is Transfer From a Nearby Phone, which necessitates iOS 16 or later on both devices. The steps on your old iPhone will be followed if you choose that. After choosing Transfer to confirm, you can input a verification code. Needless to say, this is only functional if both phones are iPhones.
Using a QR code is an additional choice. If your carrier provides a QR Code, or if your old phone wasn’t an Apple device, you would use this. You must launch the Camera app and aim it at the QR Code in order to scan it. Press the notification labeled “Cellular Plan Detected.” You can tap Add eSIM after touching and holding the QR code on an iPhone running iOS 17.4 or later.
Proceed as directed on the screen, select Add Cellular Plan, and click Continue.
If your carrier supplied the eSIM information, you may also decide to manually enter it. You can choose Settings, Cellular, Add Cellular Plan, and then Enter Details Manually if you wish to accomplish that.
An Android phone’s eSIM
Depending on the manufacturer, there may be differences in how to convert a physical SIM to an eSIM on Android. Telling your carrier that you’re switching to an eSIM is the most reliable method to accomplish this. After that, they will either send you a QR code or manually walk you through the procedure. Here’s how to add a QR code to your phone if they do send one.
Navigate to Settings. Next, select Network & Internet or Connections.
Choose SIMS or Sim Manager.
Select “Add SIM,” “Download SIM card,” or “Add mobile plan.”
Then, when prompted, scan the QR code and adhere to the on-screen directions.
However, the procedure is a bit simpler if you own a Samsung device. To do it on a Samsung, follow these steps.
Open the Settings. Next, select Connections.
Choose SIM card manager.
Select your SIM card (it will be the only one listed if you only have a physical SIM card).
Convert to eSIM by tapping.
You’re finished if you follow the on-screen directions.
It should be noted that adding a new eSIM to your device may be done differently by different carriers. Please get in touch with them directly if you encounter any issues. Additionally, you will need to get help from your carrier to make the switch if you are switching from an iPhone to an Android phone or vice versa.
Please refer to our eSIM guide, which goes into greater detail on the benefits and drawbacks of each, if you would like to learn more about eSIMs and whether they are superior to physical cards.
