How to Switch to eSIM from a Physical SIM Card on iPhone and Android

You’re probably already familiar with the SIM card, a small chip built into your phone that connects it to your cell phone carrier of choice. For years, this chip was on a physical card that you could swap out by ejecting a SIM card tray from your phone. However, most modern phones also support eSIM. Instead of a physical card, the eSIM is integrated directly into the phone’s circuitry and the carrier information is programmed remotely via software.

This allows for some conveniences, such as allowing you to try the service on a new carrier without needing to obtain a physical SIM card by mail or from a store.

The problem arises if you want to convert an existing physical SIM card to an eSIM. You may want to do this if a new phone is eSIM only or if you want to load multiple eSIMs on a single device. Or maybe you just don’t want to have to worry about replacing physical cards in and out of devices anymore. Fortunately, converting a physical SIM to an eSIM is a relatively simple process.

Before you get started, you need to make sure your new phone accepts eSIMs. As we mentioned before, this is the case with most modern phones. All iPhones since the iPhone XS and XR support eSIM, and in the US, the iPhone 14 and later are eSIM only. Most Android phones also include eSIM support, including the Google Pixel 6 and later as well as the Samsung Galaxy S21 and later.

for example, it’s an iphone

There are different ways to convert a physical SIM card to eSIM on an iPhone.

Here’s how to do it if you’re converting a physical SIM card to eSIM on the same iPhone (this means the phone must support both).

1. Open Settingsthen select Cellular.

2. Then, if your carrier allows it, you will see an option saying Convert to eSIM. If you don’t see it, your carrier probably doesn’t support this action.

3. Faucet Convert cellular plan.

4. Faucet Convert to eSIM. Your eSIM will now activate.

If, on the other hand, you’re 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 Settingsthen choose Cellular.

2. Scroll down until you see Add an eSIM. Select it.

3. Then you have two choices. One is Transfer from a nearby phonewhich requires both handsets to have iOS 16 or later. If you select this option, you will follow the instructions on your old iPhone. You can then select Transfer to confirm, 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 old phone was a non-Apple handset. To scan the code, open the Camera app and point it at the QR code. Press the Cellular plan detected notification. If you are using an iPhone with iOS 17.4 or later, you can long press the QR code and then tap Add an eSIM.

5. Go ahead and follow the on-screen instructions, tap Continue and press Add a cellular plan.

Alternatively, you can also choose to manually enter the eSIM details if your carrier has provided them. If you want to do this, you can select SettingsSO CellularSO Add a cellular plan then press Enter details manually.

eSIM on an Android phone

The process of converting a physical SIM to eSIM on Android may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. The safest way to do this is to simply contact your carrier and tell them you are switching to an eSIM. They will then manually guide you through the process or send you a QR code. If they send a QR code, here’s how to add it to your phone.

1. Go to Settings. Then press one or the other Relationships Or Network & Internet.

2. Select Simulation Manager Or SIMS.

3. Faucet Add a mobile plan Or Download SIM card Or Add a SIM card.

4. Then follow the on-screen instructions and scan the QR code when prompted.

However, if you have a Samsung device, the process is a little simpler. Here’s how to do it on a Samsung.

1. Launch Settings. Then press Relationships.

2. Select SIM card manager.

3. Choose your SIM (If you only have one physical SIM, it will just be the only one listed).

4. Faucet Convert to eSIM.

5. Follow the on-screen instructions and you’re done.

We should note that different carriers may have different ways of adding a new eSIM to your device. If you have any problems doing this, please contact them directly. And if you’re transferring from an iPhone to an Android phone or vice versa, you’ll need to contact your carrier for their help making the transition.

If you would like to learn more about eSIMs and whether they are better or worse than physical cards, please check out our eSIM guide which delves into the pros and cons of each.