How to add and transfer eSIMs to iPhone

You no longer need to use cumbersome physical SIM cards. Here’s how to use the modern eSIM with your iPhone.

A SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) is a tiny contact card that your wireless service provider provides to make your iPhone and other devices work on their wireless network. However, in an ever-evolving market, they, too, have been replaced by something new.

The eSIM has been around for a number of years and offers all the benefits of a SIM card without having to worry about a physical item.

Of course, Apple has embraced the technology and its iPhone range has used it effectively.

With the existence of eSIM, it is no longer necessary to use a physical SIM card. So if you’re new to eSIM, here’s how to get started with the major communications changes of the last few years.

What is eSIM?

Just like e-mail belongs to the post, eSIM is an electronic version of the SIM card. In particular, it is a digital version that exists on your devices, not as a physical object.

Instead of inserting a SIM into a device, you can activate an eSIM on the iPhone, which you can use without further configuration.

Apple rolled out its support for eSIM in the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR and all later models. eSIM and SIM card support varies by model and region, with some variants offering dual SIM with one of each type.

An example of an outlier would be mainland China, where you cannot get an eSIM on an iPhone, only a model with dual nano-SIM support. However, you can still get an eSIM for a prepaid data plan outside the country that works within that country.

The main advantage of eSIM is the flexibility in using the technology. For example, you can store up to eight eSIMs on an iPhone, which you can switch between and use two of the phone numbers at the same time.

You can also use a feature called eSIM Quick Transfer to move the eSIM between an old iPhone and a new one, allowing you to use a new model without having to contact your carrier.

There are other benefits too, such as B. Minimizing the likelihood of physical damage, loss or theft of the SIM card.

While eSIM has its considerable advantages, such as For example, setting up prepaid eSIMs quickly for no-fuss travel, there are still some advantages to using an old-fashioned SIM card. For example, the physical version makes it easier to move your number and data plan between iPhone and Android.

The eSIM is undeniably useful, and with the prospect of SIMs eventually going out of style, it’s about time everyone learned how to set up their iPhone with it.

There are a few ways to activate an eSIM on an iPhone, with two being the most common.

Under eSIM carrier activation activate a plan with your iPhone. With eSIM Quick Transfer you move an already active eSIM from one iPhone to another.

Activation of new eSIMs

To use eSIM provider activation, you need an iPhone with eSIM support and a provider that supports eSIM. Apple has an up-to-date list of carriers worldwide that support this technology on its website.

For the iPhone 14 generation, you also need a Wi-Fi connection for activation to work at all.

If you purchased your iPhone from your carrier, it should be as easy as performing the initial iPhone setup:

How to activate an eSIM on an iPhone purchased from a carrier

1. Turn on the new iPhone and follow the instructions Setup Prompts.
2. Connect with a functional Wi-Fi network as part of this process, or it may not work.
3. Wait for the plan to activate. Once the process is complete, a cellular service icon will appear in the top right corner of the display.
4. Complete the iPhone setup process.

While this process may be easy, some carriers won’t do all the work for you. Sometimes you have to scan a QR code they send.

How to activate an eSIM on an iPhone purchased from a carrier using a provided QR code

1. Turn on the new iPhone and follow the instructions Setup Prompts.
2. Connect with a functional Wi-Fi network as part of this process, or it may not work.
3. From the Cellular Setup screen, select Use QR code.
4. Follow the directions Scan the QR codeand then wait for the plan to activate.
5. Complete the iPhone setup process.

You can also use a similar method to activate an eSIM on an iPhone that you’ve already set up.

How to activate an eSIM with a supplied QR code on an iPhone in use

1. open that camera apps and Scan the QR code.
2. Tap the Cellular data plan detected Notification.
3. Beat Keep going.
4. Beat Add mobile data plan.

You can also enter the information manually if you don’t have a QR code.

How to activate an eSIM manually

1. Go to Ideas.
2. Beat Cellular or mobile data.
3. Beat Add mobile data plan.
4. Beat Enter details manually.
5. follow that instructions to enter the data.

If your carrier offers an app, it can also be used to activate an eSIM on an iPhone. Check with your network operator for more details.

eSIM transfer

If you are switching from one iPhone to another and the old model has an eSIM, you can use eSIM Fast Transfer. In some cases, you may be able to digitally transfer a physical SIM card to the new iPhone as an eSIM, although it depends on the carrier.

How to perform a quick eSIM transfer on iPhone

1. Turn on the new iPhone and follow the instructions Setup Prompts. Make sure your old iPhone is nearby.
2. On the Set up cellular screen, select Transmission from nearby iPhone.
3. Beat a line If you want to transfer from old iPhone to new one, tap Keep going.
4. follow that prompts on the old and new iPhone to continue with the cellular setup, and then finish setting up your new iPhone.

After the transfer, the eSIM is not available on the old iPhone, only on the new device. If the number associated with the physical SIM is transferred, the physical SIM will stop working.

Note that you can only transfer one row with this method.

If you’ve already set up your iPhone, you can still transfer an eSIM after setup. You can also use the method to transfer a physical SIM card as an eSIM between devices.

Here’s how to transfer a physical SIM or eSIM card from one iPhone to another after setup

1. Open on the new iPhone Ideas Then mobile dataThen Add data plan.
2. Choose a mobile plan from your old iPhone. If you don’t see one, select it Transfer from another iPhone.
3. Check the old iPhone for instructions on how to transfer the plan. Confirm by tapping Transferand if required, enter a verification code that will appear on the new iPhone screen.
4. It may take a while for the transfer to complete, but a message may appear Complete the setup of your network provider’s data plan on the new iPhone. Tap on it and follow the carrier’s instructions.

Physical SIM to eSIM

Depending on whether your carrier supports it or not, you might be able to change your plan’s properties so that it works via an eSIM instead of a physical SIM, all on the same iPhone. While the previous explanation does just that as part of a transfer, in some cases you can do it from a single iPhone.

How to convert a physical SIM card to an eSIM on the same iPhone

1. Open Ideas Then mobile data.
2. If your carrier supports the option, select Convert to eSIM.
3. Beat Convert mobile data plan.
4. Beat Convert to eSIM.
5. After the transfer is complete, remove the physical SIM card.