How to Transfer Your eSIM to a New iPhone (2025 Guide)

Your phone now uses an eSIM a built-in digital SIM card how to smoothly transfer your eSIM when you switch phones.

Upgrading to a new iPhone? Good news: with iPhone 14 and later (US models) Apple ditched the physical SIM tray entirely. Your phone now uses an eSIM – a built-in digital SIM card. Moving to a new iPhone means moving that eSIM. In this guide we’ll explain what an eSIM is, why it matters, and walk through how to smoothly transfer your eSIM when you switch phones. We’ll cover iPhone-to-iPhone transfers, carrier tips (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile), and even moving between Android and iPhone. Finally, we’ll answer common FAQs (like getting a QR code or sharing an eSIM). Let’s get started on moving your number to that new device.

What Is an eSIM and Why It Matters

An eSIM is a digital SIM built into your phone. In Apple’s words, it “eliminates the need for a physical SIM card”. Instead of swapping tiny plastic cards, your iPhone can store multiple eSIM “profiles” and switch between them. You can have several lines (think personal vs. business or U.S. vs. international) and activate new plans digitally. eSIMs offer flexibility for travelers (add a local data plan without hunting a store) and security (no physical card to lose).

Note: In the U.S., all iPhone 14/15/16 models use eSIM only (no physical SIM slot). So when you buy a new iPhone, plan on transferring or activating an eSIM.

That means if you’re moving from an older iPhone or an Android phone, you’ll need to provision your phone number as an eSIM. Sometimes you can convert your old physical SIM to an eSIM on the same device. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular and tap Convert to eSIM. If that option isn’t there, your carrier doesn’t support it directly – you’d have to contact them to reissue your number onto an eSIM.

Pros and Cons of eSIM

• Pros:

  • No tiny card to lose – eSIM is built into the phone.

  • Can store multiple plans at once (e.g. home and travel numbers).

  • Easy to switch carriers or add local plans when traveling internationally.

  • Often more secure: you can’t physically steal an eSIM card.

• Cons:

  • Tied to the device: to move an eSIM to a new phone you must follow a transfer process (you can’t just pop out a card).

  • Requires carrier support. If automatic transfer fails, you may need to scan a QR code or use your carrier’s app.

  • Setup can be tricky if you don’t have Wi-Fi or forget account passwords – worst case you might need to call your carrier for help.

Comparison: Here’s how eSIM and a traditional SIM card stack up:

Feature	eSIM	Physical SIM
Form	Embedded in phone (no card)	Tiny removable card
Transfer to new phone	Quick setup via Settings (iOS) or QR code	Physically remove and reinsert the SIM card
Multiple lines	Yes – can store & switch among many plans	Usually just one per card (unless dual-SIM device)
Risk of loss	Cannot be lost or damaged (no card to misplace)	Can be lost, stolen, or broken
Travel	Easy: activate local eSIM plans over the air	Need to buy and swap in a local SIM card

How to Transfer Your eSIM on iPhone

Quick Start Transfer During Setup (iOS 16+)

If both your old and new iPhones run iOS 16 or later, Apple makes it very easy. During the Quick Start setup (the screen where you bring your old iPhone near the new one), you’ll be asked if you want to move your number to the new phone. This uses Apple’s eSIM Quick Transfer. Simply follow the on-screen instructions. You might tap “Transfer Phone Number” and choose your existing line. Once confirmed on the old iPhone (usually by double-clicking the side button), the eSIM profile will copy over automatically. Your number is activated on the new iPhone and deactivated on the old one, so calls and texts now go to your new device.

If the Quick Start prompt doesn’t appear or you skipped it, don’t worry – you can do it after setup:

1. Make sure both phones have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on, and are near each other. Unlock both devices and stay signed in to the same Apple ID if prompted.

2. On the new iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular > Add Cellular Plan.

3. You should see your old phone’s number listed. Tap it, then follow the prompts. If you don’t see your number, choose Transfer from Nearby iPhone.

4. A code or prompt appears on both phones. Confirm the transfer on your old iPhone (tap Transfer or enter the code shown).

5. Wait a moment. Your new iPhone will say Activate Your eSIM and show a progress. When complete, the line is active on the new iPhone and disabled on the old one.

6. If your new iPhone displays “Finish Setting Up Your Carrier’s Cellular Plan”, tap it to finalize with your carrier’s system.

Tip: During this transfer, you don’t need to contact the carrier – it all happens on the phones. The old SIM goes inactive automatically as soon as the new eSIM is active.

Manually Adding eSIM with a QR Code

If Quick Start isn’t an option (for example, one iPhone is too old, or you switched from Android), you can use a QR code from your carrier:

1. Contact your carrier and ask for an eSIM QR code for your existing number. Many carriers email this or provide it through their app.

2. On your new iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular > Add Cellular Plan, then choose Use QR Code.

3. Point the camera at the QR code you obtained.

4. Follow any on-screen instructions. Your iPhone should detect the plan and activate it. (If you need to enter a confirmation code, use the code given by your carrier.)

5. Once activated, you’ll see the new line on your phone. Remove any old SIM card (if present) and restart the phone to finalize activation.

Apple also notes that if you receive the QR code by email on your iPhone (iOS 17.4+), you can tap and hold the QR image, then tap Add eSIM. This saves a few steps.

Converting a SIM to eSIM on the Same Phone

If you’re not switching phones but simply want to free up the SIM slot (for example, moving from an older iPhone to a new eSIM-only model), you can convert the physical SIM on your current phone to an eSIM. On the iPhone with the physical SIM inserted, go to Settings > Cellular and tap Convert to eSIM. Then follow the prompts: it will move your phone number into the phone’s eSIM memory. The old SIM card is deactivated once conversion is complete.

After conversion, you can remove the physical SIM. Your number remains active via the eSIM profile. (If “Convert to eSIM” isn’t visible, your carrier doesn’t allow it; you’d need to call them or get a new eSIM activation code.)

Carrier-Specific Tips (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile)

Most US carriers now support eSIM, but the exact process can vary.

• Verizon: Verizon’s guide says that if your old device uses eSIM, you can transfer it to a new device via the iPhone’s Settings. In practice, you’d use Quick Start (above) or the Settings method. Verizon also lets you use the My Verizon app to move your number to an eSIM. If you’re ordering a new Verizon phone directly, they often ship it with eSIM activation ready out of the box. But for a bring-your-own-phone, Quick Start or scanning a Verizon-provided QR (via their website or app) will work.

• AT&T: AT&T suggests turning off “Wireless Account Lock” (if enabled) and then using their Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) portal. Sign in at AT&T’s site, go to Switch the device used on my line, and follow prompts. This will guide you through assigning your existing number to the new phone’s eSIM. Like others, AT&T will likely send a one-time PIN to confirm.

• T-Mobile: T-Mobile customers will be prompted during iPhone setup to activate or transfer the T-Mobile eSIM. If you miss that prompt, your iPhone should later notify you that “T-Mobile Cellular Plan” is ready to be installed, or you can go to Settings > Cellular and add a plan. T-Mobile also supports Samsung’s device-to-device eSIM transfer (see below). For any issues, T-Mobile’s own eSIM app (for prepaid customers) or support chat can provide a new QR code.

• Samsung (Android): If you have Samsung Galaxy S21, S22, S23, S24 or Z-series phones, Samsung has its own Instant Transfer for eSIM. On the new Samsung device, go to Settings > Connections > SIM Manager > Add eSIM, then tap “Transfer SIM from another device”. A prompt appears on your old Samsung; follow the code and steps to move the number. (This works over Bluetooth/NFC, no QR needed.) Once done, the eSIM is downloaded and activated on the new phone. Major US carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) support this Samsung transfer.
  (Tip for Samsung: If you’re switching from an iPhone to a Galaxy, you can’t use Instant Transfer. Instead, ask your carrier to deactivate the old iPhone’s eSIM and issue a new eSIM QR for the Samsung.)

FAQ

Q: How do I share an eSIM between two phones?
A: You can’t really share one eSIM profile on two phones simultaneously. An eSIM is tied to a single device. If you attempt to transfer it, it will deactivate on the first phone and activate on the second. In other words, moving an eSIM from Phone A to Phone B is possible (as outlined above), but Phone A will lose service once it’s transferred. Some carriers offer multi-device plans (like giving you separate secondary lines on your account), but those are separate provisions – not sharing the same eSIM. In short, to use your number on another phone, you must transfer it, not share it.

Q: How do I transfer my old iPhone to my new iPhone?
A: If you mean transferring data and accounts, Apple’s Quick Start feature is the easiest path (bring the phones close, follow the onscreen instructions, and all your apps, photos and settings move over). During Quick Start with iOS 18+, you’ll also be prompted to move your cellular number (eSIM) to the new phone. If you missed that, use Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM on the new phone and follow the prompts to transfer the plan from the old phone. In all cases, once done, your new iPhone will be fully set up with your number, and you can sign in to your iCloud to restore apps and data.

Q: How do I transfer my eSIM to my new phone?
A: This depends on the phones involved. For iPhone → iPhone, use the Settings method or Quick Start (see above). For Android → iPhone, you’ll need a new eSIM activation from the carrier – scan a QR code or use the carrier’s app to add the line. For iPhone → Samsung (Android), use Samsung’s Instant Transfer steps if both are Samsung; otherwise the carrier must issue a fresh eSIM. Basically, add a new eSIM plan on the destination phone (via Settings > Cellular on iPhone, or Connections > SIM Manager on Samsung) and then confirm transfer or scan the code. Always finish the process before turning off the old phone.

Q: How do I transfer an eSIM to a new Samsung phone?
A: On compatible Samsung Galaxy phones, Samsung makes this easy. On the new Galaxy, go to Settings > Connections > SIM manager > Add eSIM and tap “Transfer SIM from another device”. A prompt will pop up on your old Samsung: just follow the instructions and enter the 6-digit code shown. Your number will move to the new phone and the eSIM will automatically activate there. This works for carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. If your old device was not a Galaxy (for example, an iPhone), you can’t use this Samsung method. Instead, contact your carrier to deactivate the old eSIM and provide a new eSIM (often via QR code) for the Samsung device.

Conclusion

Transferring an eSIM might seem daunting, but it’s mostly a matter of following on-screen steps or scanning a QR code. Apple’s iOS (especially iOS 16/18+) has built-in support to move an eSIM from one iPhone to another, and Samsung phones now offer direct device-to-device transfer. Just make sure both devices are updated and have a network connection, and that you disable any account locks. If anything goes wrong, your carrier’s support is there to help – they can usually re-provision your number onto the new phone’s eSIM. With these tips, you’ll have your number up and running on your shiny new phone in no time.

Sources: Official Apple and carrier support pages and tech guides (for step-by-step instructions and details).