Step-by-step guide: move from a physical SIM to an eSIM on your smartphone – Android and iOS

The SIM card, a small chip in your phone that links it to your chosen cell phone provider, is probably already obvious 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 eSIMs. eSIMs are integrated into the phone’s hardware in place of a physical card, and software is used to remotely program the carrier information.

A few conveniences are made possible by this, like the ability to test out service on a different carrier without having to pick up an actual SIM card in person or over the mail.

Converting an existing physical SIM card to an eSIM presents a challenge. If you want to load many eSIMs into a single device or if a new phone is eSIM-only, you might want to do this. Or maybe you simply do not want to go through the trouble of constantly changing actual cards between machines. Thankfully, the process of switching 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 already stated. In the US, the iPhone 14 and later are eSIM-only, however 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.

eSIM on an Android phone

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 are moving to an eSIM is the most reliable method to accomplish this. After that, they will either send you a QR code or manually lead you through the procedure. Here’s how to add a QR code to your phone if they do send one.

1. Go to Settings. Then tap either Connections or Network & Internet.
2. Select Sim Manager or SIMS.
3. Tap Add mobile plan or Download SIM card or Add SIM.
4. Then follow the on-screen instructions and scan the QR code when prompted.

However, the procedure is a bit simpler if you own a Samsung handset. To do it on a Samsung, follow these steps.

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• Launch Settings. Then tap Connections.
• Select SIM card manager.
• Choose your SIM (If you only have a physical SIM, it’ll just be the only one listed).
• Tap Convert to eSIM.
• Follow the on-screen instructions and then you’re done.

eSIM on an iPhone

Converting a physical SIM to an eSIM on an iPhone can be done in a few different ways.

If you want to change a physical SIM to an eSIM on the same iPhone (which requires the phone to support both), here’s how to accomplish it.

1. Open Settings, then select Cellular.
2. Then, if your carrier allows it, you’ll see an option that says Convert to eSIM. If you don’t see it, then your carrier likely does not support this action.
3. Tap Convert Cellular Plan.
4. Tap Convert to eSIM. Your eSIM will now activate.

If, on the other hand, your transferring a physical SIM to an eSIM on a completely different iPhone, here’s how to do it.

1. On your new iPhone, go to Settings, then choose Cellular.
2. Scroll down until you see Add eSIM. Select it.
3. Then you have two choices. One is Transfer From a Nearby Phone, which requires both handsets to have iOS 16 or newer. If you select that, you’ll follow the instructions on your previous iPhone. You can then select Transfer to confirm and then enter a verification code. Obviously this only works if both phones are iPhones.
4. Another option is to Use a QR Code. This is what you would use if a QR Code is provided by your carrier, or if your previous phone was a non-Apple handset. To scan the code, you open up the Camera app and point it at the QR Code. Tap the Cellular Plan Detected notification. If using an iPhone with iOS 17.4 or later, you can touch and hold the QR code and then tap Add eSIM.
5. Go ahead and follow the on-screen instructions, hit Continue and tap Add Cellular Plan.

If your carrier supplied the eSIM information, you may also opt to manually enter it. You can choose Settings, Cellular, Add Cellular Plan, and then Enter Details Manually if you wish to accomplish so.

It should be understood that inserting a new eSIM to your device may be done differently by different carriers. Please get in touch with them directly if you have any issues. Additionally, you will need to receive help from your carrier to make the switch if you are switching from an iPhone to an Android phone or vice versa.

Take a look to our eSIM guide, which goes into greater detail on the benefits and drawbacks of each, if you would like to understand more about eSIMs and if they are superior than physical cards.