How to transfer eSIM from one iPhone to another
By Ultra Team
Originally published October 24, 2024 | Last updated October 24, 2024
Congrats on your new iPhone! Now you just need to move your eSIM to it so you can take full advantage of everything it can do. What is an eSIM? It’s essentially a digital version of a SIM card, embedded in your iPhone, meaning it can’t be removed. This very secure technology allows you to instantly activate a new wireless account without having to wait for a new SIM card to arrive or open up your iPhone’s SIM tray at all. Using eSIM, along with the iPhone’s built-in features, it’s incredibly easy to transfer your phone number from one iPhone to another yourself.
3 things you should know before you begin the transfer
Before you get started, confirm these three things first:
- Both iPhones need to be eSIM-compatible
- Both iPhones must be updated to iOS 18 or later
- The Apple ID on your new iPhone must match the Apple ID used on your old iPhone
3 things you should do before you begin the transfer
We strongly recommend you follow these steps first to ensure a smooth eSIM transfer:
- Make sure both iPhones are fully charged
- Back up your old iPhone to iCloud
- Make sure both iPhones are connected to the internet (via Wi-Fi or the cellular network)
Transferring your eSIM from one iPhone to another
Now that your iPhones are charged up and ready to roll, let’s transfer that eSIM:
- Turn on Both iPhones
- When you power on the new iPhone, follow the on-screen instructions to begin setup and select your language & region.
- Set Up Over Wi-Fi
- Connect your new iPhone to your Wi-Fi network when prompted. This ensures a stable means of communicating with your carrier’s network.
- Transfer Your Data & eSIM
- When you get to the Set Up Cellular screen, choose Transfer from Another iPhone.
- Make sure your old iPhone is right next to your new iPhone, turned on, unlocked and has Bluetooth enabled. You should receive a message on your old iPhone asking if you want to transfer your eSIM & cellular plan to your new iPhone.
- Confirm the eSIM Transfer on Your Old iPhone
- On your old iPhone, tap Transfer to start the process.
- You may be asked to enter a verification code from the new iPhone.
- Wait for the transfer to complete (it usually takes just a few minutes).
- Complete the Setup on Your New iPhone
- Once the eSIM transfer is successful, continue setting up your new iPhone. Your cellular plan will be activated, and your phone number will have moved to your new iPhone.
Your new iPhone is good to go
That’s all there is to it. Once you’ve completed the steps above, you can start calling and texting everyone from your new iPhone. Let them know just how simple transferring your eSIM from your old iPhone to the new one was. And if you have any additional questions or need help with your eSIM transfer, feel free to reach out to our Customer Care team. They’re available 6am-6pm PST at 888-777-0446. And if you’re still brand new to eSIM, consider making the switch today! Your phone might already be eSIM-compatible, meaning you could start saving with Ultra Mobile in a matter of minutes.