How to Transfer a SIM to an eSIM

Two things get called transferring an eSIM: converting your existing physical SIM into an eSIM on the same phone, and moving an eSIM to a new phone. They work differently and fail differently, so it is worth knowing which one you are doing.

This is your carrier’s decision, not your phone’s. The phone can do it; whether your carrier supports it, and whether they charge, varies. Start by asking them — most large carriers now offer it free through their app.

1. 1Check with your carrier that they support eSIM conversion, and whether there is a fee.
2. 2On iPhone, look for Settings → Cellular → Convert to eSIM. If the option is there, the carrier supports it and the conversion happens on the phone. Android has the same idea under a different name — Google documents Convert to eSIM on Pixel, sitting under Settings → Network & internet → SIMs and limited to the Pixel 7 and later.
3. 3Otherwise your carrier issues a QR code, usually in their app or by email, which you install like any other eSIM.
4. 4Once the eSIM is active, the physical SIM stops working. Keep the card until you have confirmed calls, texts and data all work.

The main reason to bother is that it frees the physical tray for a second line while keeping your number — useful if you travel and want a local plan in the tray, though a travel eSIM alongside your existing SIM achieves the same thing without touching your main line at all.

A profile is issued for one specific chip, so there is no copying it across. There are three routes, and the newest of them did not exist a year ago.

Direct transfer, where supported

Recent iPhones can move a carrier eSIM to another iPhone over Bluetooth during setup, which Apple now gates on both phones running iOS 18.4 or later and being signed in to the same Apple Account. Google offers an equivalent on Pixel, needing Android 12 or later on both devices. Either way it takes a couple of minutes and needs both phones present and unlocked.

Across platforms, on the carriers that support it

This used to be impossible and no longer is. iOS 26 added a direct Android-to-iPhone move: the iPhone shows a QR code, the Android phone scans it, you pick the number, and the Android line deactivates as the iPhone one comes up. iOS 26.3 added the return journey, iPhone to Android through Settings → Cellular → Transfer eSIM. Both depend on your carrier, and the supported list is short.

Reissue, otherwise

Your carrier deactivates the old profile and issues a new QR code for the new phone. Same number, new profile. This is still the normal path for most carriers, and it is why the answer to "can I just scan the old code again" is no.

Travel eSIMs from third-party providers usually do not transfer at all. Ask before you delete anything: most will not reissue, so a plan with data left on it can simply be lost with the old phone. That is the same constraint behind deleting an eSIM being irreversible.

• Converted but no service: restart first. If it persists, the carrier may not have finished provisioning — it is on their side, not yours.
• "Cannot add cellular plan": usually the code was already used. Ask the carrier to reissue.
• Number works but data does not: check that the converted line is selected for cellular data rather than an old line still listed, then the APN.

You do not need to convert anything. Leave your home SIM exactly as it is and add a travel eSIM alongside it — your number keeps working for calls and texts while the travel plan carries data. Plans by destination, ranked on price per GB.