How to Transfer an eSIM to a New Phone (2026)

How you move an eSIM depends on your phones. Between two recent iPhones, Apple’s eSIM Quick Transfer can move a line wirelessly over Bluetooth with no QR code. In most other cases — iPhone to Android, Android to Android, or when the old phone is gone — the reliable method is to re-download the eSIM from your carrier or travel-eSIM provider onto the new phone, usually by scanning a fresh QR code or using their app.

Important: an eSIM is tied to a device, so you cannot simply unplug it like a physical card. Plan the move before you wipe or sell the old phone. If you are still learning the basics, see what is an eSIM?

iPhone to iPhone: Quick Transfer

Quick Transfer works between iPhones on recent versions of iOS (broadly iOS 16 and later) and requires both phones nearby with Bluetooth on. Carrier support varies, so it is not guaranteed for every line.

1. Keep both iPhones close together and turn on Bluetooth on each.
2. Sign in to the same Apple Account on the new iPhone where possible.
3. On the new iPhone, open Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Service) > Add eSIM.
4. Choose Transfer From Nearby iPhone (wording may vary).
5. Approve the prompt that appears on the old iPhone.
6. Wait while the new iPhone downloads and activates the line — this can take a few minutes.

During iPhone setup, the Quick Start flow may also offer to move your eSIM automatically — follow the on-screen prompts if so.

When you must re-download instead

Use the re-download route when Quick Transfer is not offered or supported. This includes:

• Moving between different platforms (iPhone to Android or the reverse).
• Android to Android transfers, where there is no universal wireless equivalent.
• Cases where your old phone is lost, broken, sold, or already wiped.
• Carriers or providers that do not support wireless transfer.

How to re-download an eSIM

1. Contact your carrier or open your travel-eSIM provider’s app or account.
2. Ask them to reissue the eSIM, or find the re-install option in the app. Many travel providers let you reinstall from your order.
3. On the new phone, go to the Add eSIM screen (Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM on iPhone, or SIM manager / SIMs on Android).
4. Scan the new QR code or enter the details manually.
5. Set your data line and roaming preferences as needed.

Note that some travel eSIMs can only be installed once, and remaining data may or may not carry over to a reissued profile — check with your provider before switching phones mid-trip.

Android-specific help

Some Android phones offer transfer helpers during initial setup (for example when migrating data from an old device), and a few carriers support their own transfer tools. These vary by brand, model, and carrier, so if a transfer option appears during setup, try it — but be ready to fall back to re-downloading from your carrier if it is not available.

Before you move phones: a checklist

• Do not wipe the old phone until the eSIM is confirmed working on the new one.
• Have Wi-Fi available, since re-downloading needs the internet.
• Keep your carrier or provider details handy in case you need a reissue.
• For dual-SIM users, remember to move or re-add each line.
• After moving, confirm the new phone supports eSIM — see does my phone support eSIM?

After the transfer

Once the eSIM is on the new phone, set it as your data line where needed and check data roaming for travel plans, as covered in how to activate your eSIM. Then you are ready to carry on using it as normal.

Transferring a travel eSIM vs a home-carrier eSIM

It helps to separate two cases. A home-carrier eSIM (your main number) is the one Quick Transfer and carrier reissue are designed for, because your network account controls it. A travel eSIM from a third-party provider is managed through that provider’s app or dashboard, so the fastest route is usually to reinstall it from your order there rather than through the phone’s wireless transfer. If a travel plan is nearly used up or close to expiry, it may not be worth moving at all — it can be simpler to let it run out on the old phone and buy a fresh plan on the new one. When in doubt, contact the specific provider, since their reissue and transfer rules differ from a mobile network’s.

Heading somewhere new with your new phone? Browse eSIM destinations or grab a plan for Japan or the USA.