Why moving to a new phone isn’t as simple with an eSIM
Upgrade season is here, and plenty of people are about to hit the same snag: there’s no physical SIM tray to pop out and slot into the new handset. You need to transfer your eSIM instead, and unlike a SIM card, that’s a digital process with a couple of ways to get it wrong.
One thing worth knowing before you start, if an iPhone is what you’re upgrading to. Apple split this year’s launch. The iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max and the foldable iPhone Duo arrived in September 2026, but the standard iPhone 18, the 18e and the iPhone Air 2 are held back until spring 2027. So the September upgrade this year is a Pro priced one, and if you were waiting for the regular iPhone 18 you have a few months yet. We covered the foldable in our iPhone Duo UK piece.
The good news is that the transfer itself usually takes minutes, not hours. The bad news is that “usually” is doing some work in that sentence, because the steps differ by network and by whether you’re moving between two iPhones, two Android phones, or crossing over.
How do I transfer an eSIM between two iPhones?
If both phones are recent iPhones, Apple’s own Quick Start transfer handles most of it automatically during setup, pulling your eSIM across along with everything else. It’s the smoothest version of this whole process.
If Quick Start doesn’t offer the eSIM, or your old phone’s already wiped, go to Settings, then General, then Transfer or Reset iPhone. You’ll need your network’s app or a call to support to reissue the eSIM if the automatic route fails.
What about Android to iPhone, or iPhone to Android?
Crossing platforms takes a bit more care. Moving Android to iPhone, you’ll use the “Other Options” prompt under the QR code screen on the new iPhone, then pair the two phones and confirm the transfer from the Android side. Moving iPhone to Android depends on your network supporting the feature, and not all of them do.
When a direct phone to phone transfer isn’t available, the fallback is the same for every network: contact them, ask for a new eSIM, and get a fresh QR code or activation details sent to you.
The mistake that locks people out
Here’s the one to watch. Some networks limit how many times you can reissue an eSIM before you have to speak to someone directly, and disconnecting the old eSIM before the new one is confirmed working can leave you with no signal on either phone for a stretch.
Keep the old phone switched on and connected to WiFi until the new eSIM is confirmed active, and don’t request a second QR code while the first is mid transfer. If you do end up stuck, most networks can sort it over live chat rather than needing a shop visit.
Do I need to do anything before I contact my network?
Yes. Make sure your new phone is updated to the latest software and connected to WiFi before you start, since a mid setup update can interrupt the transfer. Have your account PIN or security details ready too, since most networks won’t reissue an eSIM without verifying it’s really you.
If you’re switching networks at the same time as upgrading your phone, our guide to switching mobile network and keeping your number covers the PAC process alongside this. Sort the network switch first, then transfer the eSIM once you’re safely on the new network. Trying to do both in the same afternoon is how people end up with two half working phones and a support queue.
What if my new phone is dual eSIM or I use two numbers?
Dual eSIM setups, a personal number and a work number, say, or a UK line plus a travel eSIM, need transferring one at a time. Pick your main line first, confirm that eSIM transfer has gone through and the phone has signal, then start the process again for the second profile.
It’s slower than doing it in one go, but trying to move two eSIM profiles simultaneously is a common way to end up with neither working properly. Our eSIM only phone guide covers dual eSIM handling in more depth if you’re buying a new device specifically to run two lines.
eSIM transfer checklist
- Update your new phone’s software and connect it to WiFi before you start.
- Try the built in phone to phone transfer first; it’s faster than calling your network.
- Keep the old phone on and connected until the new eSIM is confirmed working.
- Have your account PIN ready in case your network needs to verify you.
- Don’t request a second QR code while a transfer is already in progress.
What your network will and won’t do
Every major UK network supports eSIM and will reissue one, typically through its own app or by sending a QR code. What varies is whether a direct phone to phone transfer is offered, and that depends on your network, both handsets and the software they’re running rather than on any single rule.
Smaller networks and MVNOs more often need you to contact support for a fresh QR code rather than offering an in app self service route. Rather than rely on a general answer, check your own network’s eSIM support page for your specific handset before you start, because this changes with each software release.
Frequently asked questions about eSIM transfers
- Will I lose my phone number if I transfer an eSIM?
- No, your number stays with your account. An eSIM transfer moves the connection to a new device, it doesn’t touch your number or contract.
- Can I have the same eSIM active on two phones at once?
- No, an eSIM profile can only be active on one device at a time, which is why the old phone loses signal once the new one is confirmed.
- Is the standard iPhone 18 out yet?
- Not yet. Apple launched the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max and the foldable iPhone Duo in September 2026 and held the standard iPhone 18, the 18e and the iPhone Air 2 back to spring 2027.
- What if my old phone is lost or already sold?
- You can still request a new eSIM directly from your network using your account details, you just won’t have the option to transfer it phone to phone.
- Does transferring an eSIM cost anything?
- Most UK networks don’t charge for a standard eSIM reissue when you’re upgrading your own device, though it’s worth checking your specific plan’s terms.
- Do all new phones support eSIM?
- Most flagship phones from the last few years do, but budget models vary, so it’s worth checking before you assume you can skip the physical SIM entirely.
None of this is complicated once you know the order to do things in. Update first, transfer before you deactivate anything, and keep both phones close until the new eSIM is definitely live.
Sources
- MacRumors, Apple’s iPhone 18 release schedule. Which models launched in September 2026 and which are held to spring 2027.
Checked 24 September 2026. Network eSIM transfer support changes with each handset and software release, so check your own network’s eSIM page for your specific phone rather than relying on a general answer.
