How to Transfer an eSIM to a New Phone (iPhone and Android)
Learn how to transfer an eSIM to a new iPhone or Android phone, which transfer methods exist, and what to do when a travel eSIM will not move to a new phone.
Updated 16 October 2026
In one sentence
An eSIM transfer is moving your phone plan from the built-in eSIM on your old phone to the eSIM on a new phone, so the new phone can use the same plan.
In detail
An eSIM is a digital SIM stored on a chip inside your phone, so there is no tiny card to pull out and slot into the new handset. Because the plan lives in software, moving it means your phone maker or your provider has to release the plan from the old phone and install it on the new one. iPhones can do this during setup or from Settings, and many Android phones (including Pixel and Samsung models) offer a similar option, depending on the phone and the provider. The catch for travellers is that this transfer tool mostly works for regular mobile plans. Many travel eSIMs are built to be installed once, so the safest approach is to check before you wipe or trade in your old phone.
How it works
Your eSIM is a small profile that is downloaded and stored on a secure chip in your phone. A transfer asks the provider's system to cancel the profile on the old phone and issue a fresh copy to the new phone, which is why the phones usually need Wi-Fi or mobile data, and sometimes a confirmation code, during the process. If a provider does not support moving the profile between phones, it has to issue a new install link or QR code instead.
Why travellers should care
Upgrading your phone just before a trip, or having one stolen or broken mid-trip, is when this matters most. A travel eSIM that was installed with a one-tap install button usually cannot be copied across, so you may need a new install link from the store that sold it. Checking this before you leave means you do not land in a new country with a new phone and no data.
Related terms
- eSIM migration
- New device setup
- Carrier transfer
- eSIM QR code
- eSIM activation
Example
Scenario: Priya buys a new iPhone two days before flying to Japan. She had already installed a travel eSIM on her old phone, so before trading it in she checks whether the eSIM will move. Her regular home plan transfers during setup, but the travel eSIM does not. She contacts the store that sold it, gets a new install email, taps Install on iPhone on the new phone, and has data on arrival.
Key takeaway
Regular phone plans can often be moved with your phone's built-in transfer tool, but a travel eSIM usually cannot, so sort out a fresh install link before you retire your old phone.
Frequently asked questions
How do you transfer an eSIM?
You transfer an eSIM using the built-in tool on your phone, which is eSIM Quick Transfer on iPhone and the eSIM transfer option in setup or Settings on supported Android phones. During setup of the new phone, choose the option to transfer your plan, keep both phones close with Wi-Fi or mobile data on, and confirm on the old phone when prompted. If your provider does not support transfers, you will need a new install link or QR code from them.
How do you transfer an eSIM from one phone to another?
You transfer an eSIM between phones by using the transfer option on the new phone, then confirming the move on the old phone. On iPhone, go to Settings, then Mobile Service (or Cellular), then Add eSIM, then Transfer From Nearby iPhone, or choose the transfer prompt during setup. On Android, open the new phone's network settings or setup screen and look for the option to transfer or download your eSIM, which varies by phone brand and provider. Once the new phone is active, the plan stops working on the old one.
Which platform facilitates the process of transferring eSIMs between phones?
No single platform handles every eSIM transfer, because the tool depends on your phone and your provider. On iPhone it is Apple's eSIM Quick Transfer, built into iOS. On Android it is the eSIM transfer feature from Google or the phone maker, such as Samsung's tools, and it works only where your provider supports it. For travel eSIMs, the platform is usually the store that sold the eSIM, which can tell you whether it can issue a new install link.
Can I transfer a travel eSIM to a new phone?
Often you cannot copy a travel eSIM across, because many are designed to be installed on one device only. Check with the store that sold it before you erase or trade in your old phone. If it was installed with the one-tap Install on iPhone or Install on Android button, it may need a fresh install link for the new phone. Ask the store whether a replacement is possible, as policies vary.
Can I use the same eSIM QR code on a new phone?
Usually not, because most eSIM QR codes and install links work only once. After the eSIM is installed, the code is typically used up, so scanning it again on a new phone will often fail with an error. A QR code is best treated as an easy way to share the eSIM or install it from another screen, not a backup. If you are changing phones, contact the store that sold the eSIM to ask about a new code or link.
Where you'll use this
More esim glossary
Sources
- Apple Support — Transfer an eSIM from one iPhone to another
- Google Help — Transfer or use an eSIM on your Android phone
- GSMA — Remote SIM Provisioning (eSIM) specifications for consumer devices