Technology

How to set up eSIM on a new iPhone

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Say goodbye to your physical SIM card. | Image: Samar Haddad / The Verge
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If you’ve purchased an iPhone 14 or 15 series phone in the US — or one of the latest iPads — you’ll notice it’s missing one key feature: a SIM tray. That’s because Apple’s gone all in on eSIM, which is a digital version of the tiny card that allows you to use your wireless provider’s network.

There’s good news and bad news here. If you’re switching from an older iPhone, activating an eSIM on your new iPhone is incredibly easy. If you’re switching from an Android phone to an iPhone 14, well, it’s less straightforward.

Whichever path you need to take, we’ve got some guidance for you.

iPhone with physical SIM to iPhone 14 or 15

To switch from an iPhone with a physical SIM card to an eSIM iPhone, follow these steps:

  • Make sure your old iPhone is running iOS 16 or later, Bluetooth is turned on, and you have a passcode set up for biometric unlocking.
  • Enter the eSIM setup process on the new iPhone. You’ll either see this in the initial phone setup or you can come back to it at any time by going to Settings > Cellular > Set Up Cellular.
  • Tap Transfer From Nearby iPhone.
  • Bring your old iPhone close and, if prompted, enter the verification code displayed on your new iPhone.
  • On the new iPhone, select the phone number you want to transfer from the options on-screen. Tap to confirm that you want to transfer your number. (You’ll do this on the old iPhone, too.) Your physical SIM will be converted to eSIM as part of the process. Keep your phones close to each other until you see Cellular Setup Complete.

Confirm that you see your carrier’s icon and service bars on the top of your screen, and voila: you’re living the eSIM life. Just be aware that your old physical SIM card will no longer work, and if you want to switch back at any point, you’ll need to contact your carrier for a new one.

Screenshot of cellular setup menu on iOS.
If you don’t want to set up your eSIM during initial phone setup, you can do so after the fact in the cellular settings.
Screenshot of eSIM setup options on iOS.
To transfer a physical SIM in your old iPhone to eSIM, choose the top option.

Android with physical SIM to iPhone 14 or 15

To switch from an Android phone to an iPhone 14 or 15 — whether you are using a physical SIM or already have an eSIM — you’ll need help from your wireless carrier. This may vary in difficulty depending on your carrier. For example:

  • T-Mobile offers instructions on its website to change your SIM in your account settings.
  • AT&T’s bring-your-own-device page will walk you through eSIM activation in your account.
  • For Verizon, you’ll need to call customer service to switch.

No matter who your carrier is, remember to turn off RCS on your Android device before switching so you don’t miss any messages. In Google’s Messages app, you can do this by tapping the profile icon (or three-dot menu icon) in the upper right of the screen. Tap Messages settings > Chat features and toggle off Enable chat features.

If you do need to call your carrier to move your number to your new iPhone, make sure you’re connected to Wi-Fi and, if possible, call from another phone line. If you can’t do that, let the customer service representative know that you’re calling from the line you want to switch since you’ll likely be disconnected. They should be able to email you a QR code so you can finish the setup process yourself.

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