How to transfer an eSIM to a new iPhone

Can I transfer my eSIM to a new iPhone?

Sometimes, depending on where the eSIM came from. An eSIM from a mobile carrier can often be moved with the iOS transfer features, but a travel eSIM installed from a QR code is usually a one-time profile tied to the first phone, so it often cannot be moved.

The reason is that an eSIM profile is encrypted and bound to the eUICC chip inside that phone; it is not a physical card you can swap. The operator that issued the profile must also permit the move. Under the GSMA eSIM specifications, the issuing operator decides whether its profile can be transferred.

Which type of eSIM can move to a new iPhone?

The table below summarises the usual pattern. What decides it in the end is the policy of the provider that issued the profile.

What should I check before I start the transfer?

Run through this checklist first; it removes most of the common causes of a Transfer failed message.

1. iOS version: both iPhones need iOS 16 or later, and Quick Transfer needs iOS 17 or later. Check under Settings > General > About.
2. Keep both phones nearby and unlocked, and keep the old one with you. Do not reset or sell it yet.
3. Connect both phones to Wi-Fi and turn Bluetooth on.
4. Quick Transfer does not require the same Apple ID on both phones, although signing in as usual while setting up the new phone keeps the other setup steps smooth.
5. Confirm the provider of that eSIM supports transfer. For a travel eSIM, ask the seller first.

Setting up a new phone for a trip? See all eSIM plans

How do I use Transfer From Nearby iPhone?

Choose the transfer on the new iPhone and confirm it on the old one. You can do it at two moments: during the new iPhone's initial setup, or afterwards from the Settings menu.

1. 1Start on the new iPhoneDuring setup, at the cellular setup screen, choose to transfer the eSIM from a nearby iPhone. Or after setup, go to Settings > Cellular (Mobile Data) > Add eSIM > Transfer From Nearby iPhone.
2. 2Confirm on the old iPhoneThe old phone shows a prompt asking for permission. Approve it and enter the passcode if asked.
3. 3Wait for activation to finishDo not power off or move the phones apart while it runs. When done, the new phone shows the cellular line and the eSIM on the old phone is deactivated.
4. 4Test before deleting anythingMake a call or load a web page over mobile data on the new phone to prove it works before you reset the old phone.

What if Transfer From Nearby iPhone is not available?

Some carriers activate the eSIM on the new phone themselves, by sending a fresh QR code or letting you activate through their app or website. This is a re-issue rather than a move of the old profile. The number usually stays the same, but terms and any fees depend on the carrier.

Before you do this, check that the carrier will not cut off the old phone in advance, and keep the old phone until the new one is genuinely online.

Can a travel eSIM installed from a QR code be moved?

Generally no. Most travel eSIMs are one-time profiles tied to the phone where they were first installed. The QR code cannot be reused on a new phone, and the iOS feature also needs the issuing provider's permission.

If it cannot be moved, your options in order are these. One, use the eSIM up on the old phone before you switch. Two, ask the seller whether a re-issue is possible; some allow it, possibly with a fee. Three, buy a new plan for the new phone. If you are switching phones before a trip and have not installed the eSIM yet, simply install it on the new phone.

Can your eSIM be moved to a new phone?

To be straightforward: our travel eSIMs are data-only plans, and as our help page on moving an eSIM explains, most are bound to the phone where they were first installed and cannot be moved. The phone's transfer feature works only if the provider that issued the profile permits it. If you must change phones mid-trip, contact us before deleting anything.

If you have not installed the profile yet, you can refund it yourself from the order page within 14 days at no fee, so if you can, finish switching phones first and install afterwards.

See eSIM plans you can install on the new phone

What do I do when the transfer fails?

Work through these in order, and do not delete the eSIM on the old phone while you troubleshoot.

1. Check that both phones run a supported iOS version and update if needed.
2. Check Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both phones, and keep them close together and unlocked.
3. Restart both phones and try again from the beginning.
4. Switch airplane mode on for 15 seconds, then off, to force a fresh network scan.
5. If it still fails, the provider may not permit transfer for that profile. Contact the provider or seller with your order number and say the profile has not been deleted.

If you have already deleted the eSIM by accident, see our help page on deleted eSIMs and the related guide to deleting an eSIM from an iPhone.