How to Transfer eSIM to New Phone: iPhone and Android

1. Who this guide is for

This guide is for anyone moving their mobile service to a new phone that uses an eSIM — the digital version of a SIM card that’s stored inside the phone rather than on a physical card. It covers iPhone-to-iPhone transfers, Samsung Galaxy transfers, Google Pixel transfers, cross-platform moves (iPhone to Android and back), and the carrier QR code method that works on almost any phone. (Source: support.apple.com)

It is written for ordinary phone owners, not technicians. If you just bought a new phone and your carrier told you to “transfer your eSIM,” this is the guide that explains what that means and how to do it safely.

Quick facts: An eSIM is a digital SIM profile — there is nothing to physically move between phones. A transfer is really a re-activation of your number on the new phone’s eSIM. The old phone’s eSIM profile is deactivated once the new one is active. This is not the same as moving a physical SIM card, which is covered in our general phone setup guides.

2. How eSIM transfer differs from a physical SIM swap

With a physical SIM, you pop the little card out of the old phone, slide it into the new phone, and service moves instantly. An eSIM has no card. Instead, the phone contains a secure chip, and your carrier sends an encrypted profile — your phone number’s identity — to that chip over the internet or through a QR code you scan.

That difference matters for three reasons:

• The transfer can fail. A physical SIM either fits or it doesn’t. An eSIM transfer depends on carrier support, software versions, Bluetooth connections, and verification steps — any of which can go wrong.
• Timing matters. The old eSIM profile is deactivated when the new one activates. If something interrupts the process, you can be left with no service on either phone until you contact your carrier.
• You may need your carrier’s help. Some transfers complete entirely on the phones. Others require the carrier to issue a fresh eSIM profile — a QR code or a push activation. Both are normal; the right method depends on your carrier and phone combination.

Stop for safety: Do not delete or erase the eSIM profile on your old phone until the new phone is fully activated and you have confirmed it can make calls, send texts, and use mobile data. Deleting the old profile early is the single most common cause of “no service on either phone.”

3. Before you start: the pre-transfer checklist

Run through these steps before beginning any transfer method. They take five minutes and prevent the majority of failed transfers.

3.1. Confirm both phones support eSIM

Most iPhones from the iPhone 11 onward, Samsung Galaxy phones from the S20 onward (varies by model and region), and Google Pixel phones from the Pixel 3 onward support eSIM. If either phone lacks eSIM hardware, the transfer is impossible — you’ll need a physical SIM or a different activation from your carrier instead.

3.2. Update both phones’ software

Apple’s guidance requires both iPhones to be on iOS 18.4 or later for the newest Quick Transfer flow. Samsung’s guidance says both devices must have up-to-date software. Install pending updates on both phones first — outdated software is one of the top reasons transfer options don’t appear.

3.3. Connect both phones to Wi-Fi

Downloading an eSIM profile requires an internet connection, which you may not yet have on the new phone (it has no service yet). A stable Wi-Fi connection on both devices is the safe baseline for every method in this guide.

3.4. Know your carrier account details

Some transfers trigger carrier verification — a texted code, an account PIN, or a login to the carrier’s app. Have your carrier account login and account PIN handy. If you’re not the account holder (for example, you’re on a family plan), the account holder may need to approve the transfer.

3.5. Check whether your carrier supports direct transfer

Apple’s Quick Transfer and Samsung’s device-to-device transfer only work when the carrier supports them. Major US carriers — AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon — generally do, along with many others, but smaller MVNOs and prepaid carriers may not. If in doubt, ask your carrier before you start: “Does my plan support eSIM Quick Transfer to a new phone?”

Tip: Keep your old phone powered on and nearby throughout the transfer, even if you plan to trade it in. Several methods require the old phone to confirm the move.

4. Method A: iPhone to iPhone with eSIM Quick Transfer

Apple’s eSIM Quick Transfer moves your number from a previous iPhone to a new iPhone without contacting the carrier, provided the carrier supports it. Apple lists four requirements: both devices signed in to the same Apple Account, the previous iPhone unlocked with its device passcode, both devices nearby with Bluetooth turned on, and both on iOS 18.4 or later. With iOS 26 or later, Apple says you can transfer more than one phone number.

4.1. During new iPhone setup

If you’re setting up the new iPhone fresh, the setup flow may ask whether you want to transfer your phone number. Choose your number and follow the onscreen instructions to move the eSIM from the old iPhone. This is the smoothest path because the phone guides you before anything else is installed.

4.2. After setup is complete

If you skipped the transfer during setup, Apple’s documented steps are:

1. On your new iPhone, open the Settings app.
2. Tap Cellular.
3. Tap Set Up Cellular or Add eSIM.
4. Choose a cellular plan to transfer from another iPhone. If you don’t see a list of numbers, tap Transfer From Nearby iPhone.
5. Follow the instructions on your previous iPhone. To confirm, tap Transfer, or, if prompted for a verification code, enter the code that your new iPhone displays.
6. Wait for the cellular plan to activate on your new iPhone. Apple states that the cellular plan on your new iPhone deactivates your previous SIM when it activates.
7. If a banner appears saying Finish Setting Up Your Carrier’s Cellular Plan, tap it — you’ll be redirected to your carrier’s webpage to complete the transfer. If you need help, contact your carrier.

Quick facts: If your carrier supports it, you can also convert a physical SIM to an eSIM on the same iPhone from the Cellular settings screen — a handy option if your new iPhone has no physical SIM tray.

4.3. When Quick Transfer doesn’t work on iPhone

If no transfer option appears, the usual causes are: the carrier doesn’t support Quick Transfer, one phone is on older software, Bluetooth is off on either device, or the phones aren’t signed into the same Apple Account. Fix those, restart both phones, and try again. If it still doesn’t appear, fall through to the carrier QR code method (Method E).

5. Method B: Samsung Galaxy device-to-device eSIM transfer

Samsung documents an eSIM transfer flow between Galaxy phones — and, notably, from iPhone to Galaxy — through the SIM manager. Samsung’s requirements: both devices on up-to-date software, and both connected to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

5.1. Android-to-Galaxy (Galaxy-to-Galaxy) transfer

Samsung’s documented steps:

1. On your new Galaxy device, go to Settings > Connections > SIM Manager > Add eSIM.
2. Select Transfer SIM from Galaxy/Android Phone.
3. On your old device, tap Transfer when prompted.
4. Enter the 6-digit verification code displayed on your new device into the old one.
5. Select a phone number from the list and tap Transfer.
6. Confirm the transfer on your old device.
7. The eSIM transfers and activates on the new device.

5.2. iPhone-to-Galaxy transfer

Samsung also documents an “eSIM Instant Transfer from an iOS device” for supported carriers, so you can move an eSIM from an iPhone to a Galaxy without calling the carrier:

1. On your new Galaxy device, go to Settings > Connections > SIM Manager > Add eSIM.
2. Tap Transfer SIM from iPhone.
3. Follow the instructions on screen and tap Next.
4. The new device generates a QR code for linking the two phones.
5. On the old iPhone, scan that QR code — or tap Enter a passcode instead on the new device and follow the instructions if scanning fails.
6. On the iPhone, select the phone number from the list, then tap Continue.
7. On the iPhone, confirm the SIM transfer by tapping Continue.
8. The selected number transfers to the new Galaxy device.

Samsung publishes a list of carriers that support this instant transfer, including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Cricket, and FirstNet in the US. If your carrier isn’t listed, Samsung says you’ll need to contact the carrier directly to move the eSIM.

6. Method C: Google Pixel eSIM transfer

Pixel phones handle eSIM transfer through the setup wizard and through Settings. During setup of a new Pixel, the wizard offers to copy your SIM from your old phone — keep the old phone nearby with Bluetooth on and follow the prompts. After setup, the documented path is Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Add SIM, then follow the transfer prompts.

Pixel-to-Pixel transfers generally work the same way as other Android device-to-device moves, but carrier support still governs whether the automatic path appears. If it doesn’t, the carrier QR code method (Method E) is the fallback.

7. Method D: cross-platform transfers (Android to iPhone)

Moving from Android to iPhone is the one direction without a universal phone-to-phone button. Apple’s Quick Transfer is iPhone-only. For Android-to-iPhone, the standard route is the carrier method: contact your carrier (or use its app or website) and ask for a new eSIM for your new iPhone. The carrier will issue a QR code or push an activation, and you add it on the iPhone via Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM > Use QR Code. See our iPhone eSIM setup and transfer guide for the full activation walkthrough.

Quick facts: iPhone-to-Galaxy is documented by Samsung (Method B above). Galaxy-to-iPhone and Pixel-to-iPhone go through the carrier. iPhone-to-iPhone goes through Apple’s Quick Transfer. Know your direction before you start.

8. Method E: carrier QR code or manual activation (the universal fallback)

Every other method in this guide depends on carrier support, software versions, and working phones. The QR code method depends only on your carrier issuing you a new eSIM — it works on iPhone, Samsung, Pixel, and most other eSIM phones.

8.1. Get the QR code from your carrier

Log into your carrier’s app or website, or contact support, and request a new eSIM for your replacement device. Some carriers push the eSIM to your phone automatically (eSIM Carrier Activation); others give you a QR code to scan, sometimes by email. Do this over stable Wi-Fi, since downloading the profile needs internet.

8.2. Scan it on the new phone

• iPhone: Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM > Use QR Code, then scan. Alternatives: Open Photos (if the QR code is saved in your photo library) or Enter Details Manually (if you were given activation details instead of a code).
• Samsung: Settings > Connections > SIM Manager > Add eSIM > Scan QR code.
• Pixel: Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Add SIM, then follow the prompts to scan.

8.3. Confirm activation on the new phone before touching the old one

After scanning, the phone downloads the eSIM profile and activates it. Wait for the carrier’s confirmation (signal bars, the carrier name in the status bar), then place a test call and send a text. Only when the new phone provably works should you deactivate or erase anything on the old phone.

8.4. If the carrier pushes the eSIM automatically

Some carriers send the eSIM digitally after you request it. On iPhone, Apple documents the flow: when the notification Carrier Cellular Plan Ready to Be Installed appears, tap it, then in Settings tap the same item, then tap Continue at the bottom of the screen.

9. Method comparison table

10. The critical rule: don’t erase the old eSIM until the new phone works

This deserves its own section, because it’s where transfers go wrong. The deactivation of the old eSIM is supposed to happen automatically when the new one activates — but “supposed to” is not a guarantee. If you manually delete the eSIM profile on the old phone before the new phone is working, and the new activation then fails, neither phone has service, and your only fix is a call to the carrier (which is awkward when your phone can’t make calls).

Stop for safety: Verify the new phone before you wipe the old one. Place a real call, send a real text, and load a page on mobile data with Wi-Fi turned off. Only then is the transfer genuinely complete. If you’re trading in the old phone, do the verification at the store or at home — not in the parking lot.

10.1. What to check on the new phone

• Carrier name and signal bars appear in the status bar.
• An outbound call connects and audio works both ways.
• An SMS text sends and receives.
• Mobile data works with Wi-Fi switched off.
• iMessage/RCS registration completes (message threads show the right service type).

10.2. What to do with the old phone afterward

Once the new phone is verified, you can erase the old phone — but erase it properly. If you’re selling or trading it, follow our iPhone erase checklist so the eSIM profile and your data are both removed. If you’re keeping it as a spare, leave the eSIM profile alone or remove just the eSIM from the SIM settings; don’t factory-reset it without backing it up first.

11. Troubleshooting: when the transfer fails

11.1. “No transfer option appears”

The most common failure. Causes, in order of likelihood: the carrier doesn’t support the automatic method; one phone’s software is out of date; Bluetooth is off on either device; (iPhone) the phones aren’t on the same Apple Account; the old phone is locked with a passcode you haven’t entered. Fix each, restart both phones, and try again — or skip straight to the carrier QR code method, which doesn’t depend on any of this.

11.2. “Transfer started but activation never completes”

Check the new phone’s Wi-Fi — the profile download needs internet. If Wi-Fi is fine, the carrier’s activation system may be holding the request; some carriers take minutes, a few take hours. If a “Finish Setting Up Your Carrier’s Cellular Plan” banner appears, tap it and complete the carrier’s web flow. If nothing happens after an hour, contact the carrier and ask whether the eSIM activation is stuck on their side.

11.3. “New phone works, but the old phone still shows service”

Usually temporary — deactivation of the old profile can lag behind activation. Give it a few hours. If the old phone still has service the next day, the transfer may not have fully registered with the carrier; contact them to confirm the old profile is deactivated so you’re not billed for two active lines.

11.4. “I erased the old phone before verifying”

If the new phone’s activation is still in progress, wait — it may complete on its own. If it failed, contact your carrier from another phone (or their website/chat) and ask for a fresh eSIM activation for the new device. This is exactly the situation the safety rule above prevents, and it’s why we repeat it.

11.5. “Verification code doesn’t work”

Verification codes are time-sensitive. If the 6-digit code (Samsung) or the code on the new iPhone expires, cancel the attempt and start the transfer again to generate a fresh one. Keep both phones awake and unlocked while the code is on screen.

11.6. No service after transfer — is it the SIM or the phone?

If calls, texts, and data all fail after a seemingly successful transfer, check whether the problem is service or signal. Our no-service checklist and Samsung SIM-detection guide walk through airplane mode, network selection, and hardware checks that distinguish a transfer problem from a phone problem.

12. Hypothetical examples

Hypothetical example (not a customer story): Maya upgrades from an iPhone 13 to a new iPhone. During setup she’s offered the eSIM transfer, but she skips it to finish setup faster. Later she goes to Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM > Transfer From Nearby iPhone, confirms on the old phone, and the plan activates in about two minutes. She makes a test call on the new phone before erasing the old one.

Hypothetical example (not a customer story): Daniel moves from an iPhone to a Samsung Galaxy on a carrier that isn’t on Samsung’s instant-transfer list. The on-phone transfer option never appears, so he logs into his carrier’s app, requests a new eSIM for the Galaxy, scans the emailed QR code at Settings > Connections > SIM Manager > Add eSIM, and verifies calls and data before wiping the iPhone.

13. What these steps can and cannot establish

14. When to contact your carrier vs. when to seek phone help

Contact your carrier when: no transfer option appears and you need a QR code; activation stalls; you erased the old phone early; you need the old profile deactivated; or you’re unsure whether your plan supports eSIM transfer. The carrier owns the eSIM profile — only they can issue, reissue, or deactivate it.

Seek phone help when: the phone’s settings menus don’t match this guide (software differences); the phone won’t scan QR codes (camera issue); or you’ve verified the carrier side is fine and the phone still won’t activate. Be ready to describe which method you tried and exactly where it stopped.

15. Frequently asked questions

Can I transfer an eSIM if my old phone is broken or lost?

Yes — the phone-to-phone methods need the old phone, but the carrier QR code method doesn’t. Contact your carrier, verify your identity, and ask for a new eSIM for your new phone. They’ll issue a QR code or push the activation. The old profile gets deactivated on their side.

Will transferring my eSIM delete my contacts, photos, or apps?

No. The eSIM carries only your mobile service identity — your number and plan. Contacts, photos, and apps move through separate backup and transfer processes. See our contacts transfer guide and data transfer guide for those.

How long does an eSIM transfer take?

Phone-to-phone transfers typically complete in a few minutes once both devices are ready. Carrier-issued QR codes can take minutes to a day depending on how fast the carrier processes the request. If an automatic activation stalls beyond an hour, contact the carrier.

Can I move an eSIM back to the old phone afterward?

Usually yes, by running the transfer in reverse or asking the carrier for a fresh activation — but some carriers limit how often an eSIM can be reissued, and each move may count against that limit. Ask your carrier before shuffling a number back and forth.

Does eSIM transfer work on prepaid or MVNO carriers?

Sometimes. Many prepaid and MVNO carriers support eSIM activation via QR code, but fewer support the automatic phone-to-phone transfer. Check with your specific carrier — “does my plan support eSIM transfer to a new phone?” — before you start.

What if my new phone has both a physical SIM tray and eSIM?

You can use both: keep service on the eSIM and add a second line on the physical SIM, or vice versa. The transfer in this guide moves your primary line to the eSIM; the physical tray stays free for a second line or a travel SIM.

Do I need to remove the eSIM from the old phone before trading it in?

Don’t remove it before the new phone is verified working (see the safety rule above). Once verified, erase the old phone completely — a full erase removes the eSIM profile along with your data. Don’t hand over a phone with an active eSIM still on it.

Can a repair shop transfer my eSIM for me?

A shop can walk you through the on-phone steps and help troubleshoot, but the eSIM profile itself belongs to your carrier — only the carrier can issue or reissue it. Any service claiming to “unlock” or bypass carrier eSIM activation is not legitimate. If your phone needs hands-on assessment for an unrelated issue, Las Vegas Phone Repair & Accessories is at 7400 Las Vegas Blvd S, Unit TT42, Las Vegas, NV 89123 — call (424) 406-6202 ahead to confirm today’s hours (generally 10:00 AM–8:00 PM).

Video: How to transfer all data to new iPhone fast

Sources and editorial notes

• Apple Support — Set up eSIM on iPhone: Apple’s official eSIM transfer prerequisites (same Apple Account, unlocked previous iPhone, Bluetooth on, iOS 18.4+), the after-setup transfer steps, the verification-code flow, the “Finish Setting Up Your Carrier’s Cellular Plan” banner, QR code activation, and eSIM Carrier Activation. (Last checked October 13, 2026.)
• Samsung Support — Galaxy eSIM and supported network carriers: Samsung’s documented eSIM Instant Transfer from an iOS device (Settings > Connections > SIM manager > Add eSIM > Transfer SIM from iPhone), QR-code linking, and the supported-carrier lists. (Last checked October 13, 2026.)
• Samsung Support — Galaxy eSIM transfer guide: the Android-to-Galaxy transfer steps (Transfer SIM from Galaxy/Android Phone with 6-digit verification code) and physical-SIM-to-eSIM conversion. (Last checked October 13, 2026.)
• Robots.net — How to Transfer an eSIM to a New iPhone or Android Phone: third-party walkthrough corroborating the Apple Quick Transfer requirements and the carrier-redirect banner behavior. (Last checked October 13, 2026.)
• Coverage Checker — How to Transfer eSIM to a New Phone: third-party guide corroborating Pixel transfer paths and the carrier QR code fallback. (Last checked October 13, 2026.)

Last source check: October 13, 2026. AI-assisted editorial guide, checked against the linked manufacturer information. Procedures described here follow Apple’s and Samsung’s published support guidance; third-party sources are cited only for corroboration. Carrier support for automatic eSIM transfer varies — if a menu option in this guide doesn’t appear on your phone, your carrier likely requires the QR code method. Menu paths can shift with software updates; check the manufacturer’s current support pages if yours differ.