Just bought a new phone? You're in good company: every autumn, as soon as the new iPhones and flagship Androids hit the shelves, millions of people upgrade. And every autumn the same question comes up: how do I transfer my eSIM from my old phone to the new one? The short answer: it depends entirely on which eSIM you mean. The eSIM from your own provider back home usually moves over just fine. A travel eSIM usually does not. Those two cases get mixed up so often that this guide keeps them strictly apart.
Two kinds of eSIM, two very different stories
| Type of eSIM | Transferable? | How |
|---|---|---|
| eSIM from your home provider | ✅ Usually yes | Quick Transfer (iPhone), provider app, or a fresh QR code |
| Travel eSIM (a prepaid data bundle for your trip) | ❌ Usually no | The QR code can typically be installed only once |
Why the difference? A contract with your home provider is tied to you as a customer, and your provider can always issue a new eSIM profile. A travel eSIM is a prepaid product: you buy a profile that installs once, with no account behind it that reissues profiles on demand. Here is what to do in each case.
Case 1: transferring the eSIM from your home provider
Good news: this is almost always possible, although the exact route differs per phone and per provider.
On iPhone it's easiest. While setting up your new iPhone, you get the option of eSIM Quick Transfer: with your old iPhone next to it, you confirm the transfer and the eSIM profile moves over wirelessly. This works with many (not all) providers. If you don't see the option during setup, you can try it later via Settings, Mobile Data, Add eSIM, then "Transfer from nearby iPhone".
On Android it depends on the brand and your provider. Recent Samsung and Google phones have similar transfer features, but provider support varies a lot. The most reliable route: log in to your provider's website or app and request a new QR code or eSIM profile for your new phone. With most providers, that takes a few minutes and no phone call.
Two golden rules, whatever phone you have:
- Check your provider's eSIM page before you wipe your old phone. Every provider has its own procedure, and you want to know it while your old phone still works.
- Keep your old phone until the new one has fully working service. Only once you can call and use data on the new phone should you erase or sell the old one.
Case 2: travel eSIMs usually cannot be transferred
Now for the eSIMs we compare: prepaid data bundles for your trip. Here the honest answer is less fun. The QR code of a travel eSIM can typically be installed only once. If you delete the profile from your old phone, you cannot scan the same QR code again on the new one. The bundle is simply gone, even if there was data left on it.
What does that mean in practice?
- Phone upgrade on the horizon? Install your travel eSIM on the phone you will actually take on the trip. If you order an eSIM in September and you know a new phone is arriving next week, wait to install until the new phone is in your hands. Installing a few days before departure is fine, see our activation guides for iPhone and Android.
- Mid-bundle and forced to switch phones (stolen, broken screen, warranty replacement)? Contact your eSIM provider's support first, before deleting anything. Sometimes they can issue a new profile for your remaining data. No promises, but your chances are far better while the old profile still exists.
Bought your eSIM from us and not sure what to do? Send us a message before touching anything. Support here is answered personally by Nick, no bots, so you'll get a straight answer about what's still possible in your situation.
Never delete an eSIM "to try again"
This deserves its own heading, because it's the most expensive mistake we see. When an eSIM doesn't work right away, the reflex is: delete the profile and scan the QR code again. With a travel eSIM that doesn't work, the code has already been used and your bundle is lost. Almost every "my eSIM isn't working" problem can be solved without deleting anything: data roaming on, correct line selected, APN checked, phone restarted. Work through our guide eSIM not working? Here's what to do first, before you delete a single thing.
Physical SIM to eSIM: where people lose their number
Many people use a new phone as the moment to also convert their physical SIM card to an eSIM. Good idea, but this is exactly when people temporarily (or worse) lose their phone number. Always do that conversion through your provider's official flow: the conversion option in your phone's settings, your provider's app, or a QR code requested from your account. Never deactivate your old SIM yourself first, and don't plan the conversion right before a trip or at a moment when you absolutely need to be reachable. There can be a few hours between the request and a working eSIM.
Frequently asked questions
My provider isn't supported by Quick Transfer on my iPhone. Now what? No panic: it only means you can't do the transfer wirelessly. Log in to your provider's account page and request a new QR code or eSIM profile for your new phone.
Can I put my travel eSIM on two phones at once? No. The profile belongs to one device. If you want to share data with a second phone or tablet, use the hotspot of the phone that has the eSIM installed.
I already deleted my travel eSIM. Can I scan the QR code again? Almost certainly not. Contact the provider you bought the eSIM from; sometimes they can help, but don't count on it.
Do my eSIMs move over automatically with a backup? No. A backup restores your apps and data, but eSIM profiles have to be transferred or reissued separately.
Conclusion
Transferring an eSIM to your new phone is no problem as long as it's from your own provider: via Quick Transfer on iPhone, or through your provider's app or a fresh QR code. Travel eSIMs are a different story: they can usually be installed only once, so put them on the phone that's actually going on the trip and never delete a profile on a hunch. Keep your old phone working until the new one fully does, and always convert your physical SIM through your provider's official flow.
New phone and a trip coming up? Browse our eSIM bundles for your destination and install your travel eSIM on the right phone from the start.