Transfer a SIM from your previous iPhone to eSIM on your new iPhone

: June 7, 2024
: Apple

Table of Contents

Transfer a SIM from your previous iPhone to eSIM on your new iPhone

Transfer a SIM from your previous iPhone to eSIM on your new iPhone

Learn how to transfer an eSIM or physical SIM from your previous iPhone to your new iPhone.

What you need

To transfer an eSIM to a new eSIM:

Your new iPhone must be iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, or later. Learn how to identify your iPhone model.
Your new iPhone also needs iOS 13.1 or later. Learn how to update your iPhone.

To transfer a physical SIM to a new eSIM:

Your previous iPhone needs iOS 14 or later.
Your new iPhone must be iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, or later.
Your new iPhone also needs iOS 14 or later.

With iOS 13.1 and later, some carriers support transferring your eSIM during Quick Start. Contact your carrier to see if they support this transfer process.

Transfer eSIM during set up

Transfer eSIM to eSIM after set up

Transfer physical SIM to eSIM after set up

Transfer your eSIM during setup

If you’re asked to “Transfer Cellular Plan” during Quick Start setup, follow these steps to transfer your eSIM:

Select the numbers that you want to transfer to your new iPhone and tap continue at the bottom of the page. If you choose to decide later, you can still complete the plan transfer after you set up your iPhone.
Follow the onscreen instructions to finish setting up your device.
Make a call on your new iPhone to check its cellular connectivity before removing your cellular plan from your previous iPhone. Contact your carrier if you have any questions.

When your cellular plan is activated on your new iPhone, the plan on your previous iPhone will deactivate.

Transfer an eSIM from your previous iPhone to an eSIM on your new iPhone

after setup

To complete the eSIM transfer process, you’ll need to approve it on the previous iPhone currently using this cellular plan. If you no longer have your previous iPhone, contact your carrier to transfer your cellular plan.

If you already set up your device, follow these steps to transfer your eSIM:

On your new iPhone, open Settings > Cellular, then tap Add Cellular Plan. If your eSIM plan is available, you’ll see it listed. If you don’t see a cellular plan listed, check your Apple ID login and two-factor authentication. Then follow these steps or contact your carrier.
Tap an available cellular plan, then tap Add Cellular Plan at the bottom of the screen.
On your previous iPhone, a message will appear asking if you want to transfer your phone number to your new phone. Tap transfer. Once you tap transfer, the cellular plan will no longer be available on your previous iPhone. Your previous iPhone needs to be near your new iPhone to complete this process.
If a Finish Setting Up Your Carrier’s Cellular Plan banner appears on your new device, tap it.
Tap Continue. You will be redirected to your carrier’s webpage to transfer your eSIM. If you need help, contact your carrier.
Make a call on your new iPhone to check its cellular connectivity before removing your cellular plan from your previous iPhone. Contact your carrier if you have any questions.

Transfer a physical SIM from your previous iPhone to an eSIM on your new

iPhone after setup

Before you get started, note these requirements:

If you plan to use Dual SIM in the future, remove the physical SIM from your previous iPhone and install it into your new iPhone without converting it to eSIM. Dual SIM works only if you have one physical SIM and one eSIM installed in your iPhone.
To transfer an eSIM or physical SIM to your new iPhone, you need to approve the transfer on your previous iPhone that’s currently using the cellular plan. If you no longer have your previous iPhone, contact your carrier to transfer your cellular plan.
Transfering a physical SIM to an eSIM requires iOS 14 or later.

If you already set up your new iPhone, follow these steps to transfer your physical SIM:

On your new iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular, then tap Add Cellular Plan. The next screen lists your previous iPhone that has a physical SIM. Tap your phone number to continue. If you don’t see a cellular plan listed, check your Apple ID login and two-factor authentication. Then follow these steps or contact your carrier.
Your new iPhone asks you to confirm that you want to convert the physical SIM from your previous iPhone to the eSIM on your new iPhone. Tap Convert Cellular Plan.
If you plan to use Dual SIM in the future, remove the physical SIM from your previous iPhone and install it into your new iPhone without converting it to eSIM. Otherwise, tap Convert to eSIM.
Tap OK on the alert that says you must approve the transfer on your previous iPhone. If you don’t have your previous iPhone, contact your carrier to transfer your plan.
On your previous iPhone, tap Transfer to confirm that you want to transfer the cellular plan and number from your physical SIM to the eSIM on your new iPhone.
Wait for the cellular plan to activate on your new iPhone. Your previous SIM card is deactivated when the cellular plan on your new iPhone activates.