An eSIM is not a card you can pop out and move, so "transferring" one really means one of two things: using a built-in migration tool that re-provisions the profile onto a new device, or deleting the profile and re-downloading it from your provider.
Which route is available depends on who issued the profile. Carrier lines increasingly support one-tap transfer; travel eSIMs usually need reissuing. Here is how each case works.
iPhone to iPhone
Apple's eSIM Quick Transfer moves a supported line between iPhones without contacting your carrier. Both phones need iOS 16 or later, Bluetooth on, and to be near each other.
- On the new iPhone: Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM > Transfer From Nearby iPhone.
- On the old iPhone: confirm the prompt and, if asked, enter the code shown on the new device.
- Wait for the line to activate on the new phone. The old profile is deactivated automatically.
- Check that the transferred line is set as your data line and, for travel plans, that roaming is enabled.
- If Transfer From Nearby iPhone is missing, your carrier has not enabled it — you will need to contact them or reinstall from a QR code.
- During Quick Start setup of a new iPhone, transfer is offered automatically; you can also do it later at any time.
iPhone to Android
There is no cross-platform transfer tool. You must delete the profile from the iPhone and install a new one on the Android device, which means your provider has to reissue an activation code (or you use one you have not yet consumed).
- Ask your carrier or eSIM provider to reissue the profile before deleting anything.
- On the iPhone: Settings > Cellular > tap the plan > Delete eSIM.
- On the Android phone: Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Add eSIM, then scan the new QR code.
- Verify calls, texts and data before you discard the old device.
Android to Android
Pixel and recent Samsung devices support eSIM transfer during setup: choose to copy from your old phone and follow the prompts. Coverage of this feature still varies by carrier and by manufacturer, so treat it as best-effort.
If transfer is not offered, the process is the same as iPhone to Android: reissue, delete, reinstall.
What carriers actually allow
- Most major US, UK and EU carriers support device-to-device eSIM transfer for their own lines, sometimes only through their app.
- Some carriers charge a small fee or require an in-store visit for a SIM swap — worth checking before you rely on a same-day transfer.
- Prepaid and MVNO lines are the most likely to require a full reissue.
- Business or corporate-managed lines may be locked to an EID and need IT approval.
What happens to a travel eSIM
Travel eSIMs behave differently from carrier lines. The profile is tied to a data allowance rather than to a phone number, and most travel QR codes are single-install — once downloaded, they cannot be scanned again.
That means moving a travel eSIM to another phone normally requires the provider to reissue the profile. Any unused data usually moves with the plan, but the validity clock does not reset.
- Do not delete a working travel eSIM until the replacement profile is in your inbox.
- Remaining data typically carries over; expiry dates do not extend.
- If your plan is already active, expect a short gap in connectivity during the swap — do it on Wi-Fi.
- Wanderly can reissue a profile from your dashboard; open the order and request a new install code.
Before you factory reset the old phone
- Transfer or reissue every eSIM you still need first — a reset wipes profiles, and single-install codes are gone with them.
- When iOS asks whether to keep or erase your eSIM during a reset, choose deliberately: keeping it is right if the phone is staying with you, erasing it is right if you are selling the device.
- Screenshot your plan details (ICCID, provider, expiry) before wiping, so support can find the plan later.
Frequently asked questions
Can I transfer an eSIM to a new phone?
Yes. Between iPhones you can use eSIM Quick Transfer; between platforms you delete the old profile and install a reissued one from your provider.
How do I transfer an eSIM from iPhone to Android?
There is no direct tool. Ask your provider to reissue the profile, delete the eSIM from the iPhone, then scan the new QR code on the Android device.
Does transferring an eSIM cost money?
Device-to-device transfer is usually free. Some carriers charge a SIM-swap fee, and some travel providers charge for reissuing a profile.
Will I lose my remaining data if I move a travel eSIM?
Normally no — the allowance belongs to the plan, not the handset. The validity period keeps running, though, so do the swap promptly.
Can I install the same eSIM QR code on two phones?
No. Almost all eSIM QR codes are single-install. A second device needs a freshly issued code.
Changing phones mid-trip? A fresh short-duration plan is often faster than waiting on a reissue.
Browse short-trip plans