How to Transfer an eSIM to a New Phone (2026 Guide)

Upgraded your phone? Lost your old one? Switching from Android to iPhone? Moving an eSIM is fundamentally different from popping out a plastic SIM card and pushing it into a new tray — but in 2026, it's usually faster, not slower.

This guide walks through every method for every major phone, with the gotchas that catch most people out.

The Three Ways to Move an eSIM

There are three distinct transfer methods, and which one applies depends on your carrier, your phone, and (sometimes) your destination country:

1. eSIM Quick Transfer — Bluetooth-based, iPhone-to-iPhone or Samsung-to-Samsung. Takes 30 seconds. Supported by most major carriers.
2. Re-scan a fresh QR code — Works for any eSIM, requires contacting your carrier to reissue an activation QR.
3. Manual eSIM swap via carrier portal — Used when neither Quick Transfer nor a fresh QR is possible. Some carriers charge a fee.

Teraroma travel eSIMs support method 2: if you change phones mid-trip, contact us and we'll reissue a fresh QR code at no charge.

Before You Start: 3 Checks

1. Both phones are signed into the same Apple ID / Google account (for Quick Transfer).
2. Both phones have Bluetooth on and are within 1 meter of each other.
3. The old phone still works. If it's lost, smashed, or factory-reset, you must use method 2 or 3.

If the old phone is dead, skip to Transferring from a Lost or Broken Phone below.

Method 1: iPhone-to-iPhone Quick Transfer

Apple introduced eSIM Quick Transfer in iOS 16 and it's been smoother with every release.

On the new iPhone

1. During initial setup, when prompted "Set Up Cellular", tap Transfer From Nearby iPhone.
2. Or if you've already set up the phone: Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM > Transfer From Nearby iPhone.
3. A code appears on the new iPhone.

On the old iPhone

4. A prompt appears asking you to confirm the transfer. Enter the verification code shown on the new phone.
5. Tap Transfer.

Both phones

6. Wait 30–60 seconds. The eSIM deactivates on the old phone and activates on the new one.
7. The new phone may prompt to "Finish Setting Up With Your Carrier" — tap and follow.

That's it. Your carrier line is now on the new phone, and the old phone no longer has cellular service. Brilliant for upgrade day, frustrating if you wanted both phones live (in which case, ask your carrier for a second eSIM).

Method 2: Samsung-to-Samsung Quick Transfer

Samsung built equivalent functionality starting with One UI 6 on Galaxy S22 and newer.

1. New Galaxy: Settings > Connections > SIM manager > Add eSIM > Transfer from another device.
2. Old Galaxy: a confirmation prompt appears — tap to authorize.
3. Wait 30–60 seconds; the line moves across.

Older Galaxies (S20, S21, Note 20) may not show the option. Fall back to method 2 (QR re-scan).

Method 3: Android-to-iPhone (and Vice Versa)

Cross-platform Quick Transfer doesn't exist (yet). You must:

1. Contact your carrier and request a new eSIM activation QR code for the new device.
2. Most carriers email it within minutes. Some require an app login or short call.
3. On the new phone, scan the QR — your line activates within 30 seconds.
4. The old phone's eSIM stops working as soon as the new one activates.

For Teraroma travel eSIMs, just open a chat with our team — we'll reissue a fresh QR within minutes, no charge.

Method 4: Transferring from a Lost or Broken Phone

If the old phone is gone:

1. Contact your carrier's customer support. Explain the device is lost/broken and you need a fresh eSIM on a new device.
2. They'll verify your identity (account PIN, recent invoice, photo ID).
3. You'll receive a new QR code by email or in the carrier's app.
4. Scan on the new phone — line activates immediately.

For Teraroma plans, email team@teraroma.io with your order number or registered email. We'll reissue without a verification process for the original buyer.

Transferring eSIMs to a New Country/Region

Travel eSIMs from Teraroma are tied to the device they were installed on, not your account. If you change phones mid-trip:

• Same trip, same plan still active: contact us for a free reissue.
• Trip over, plan expired: just buy a new plan on the new phone.

There's no "carrying over" leftover data — but our plans are cheap enough that this rarely matters. See current pricing at the destinations page.

What Happens to Your Old Phone

After a successful transfer, the eSIM profile on the old phone is deleted, not deactivated. You can't reactivate it by toggling a setting. If you want to revive the old phone with cellular, you'd need a fresh eSIM (your home line, a new travel plan, or any other carrier).

This is intentional — it prevents the same eSIM from being active on two devices simultaneously, which would confuse the network.

Transferring an eSIM During iPhone Backup Restore

When you restore a new iPhone from an iCloud or encrypted backup of your old one, iOS prompts you to transfer the eSIM lines as part of setup. This is the cleanest path — no separate Quick Transfer needed.

Caveat: not every carrier supports backup-based transfer. If yours doesn't, you'll be prompted to use Quick Transfer or to contact the carrier for a QR code.

Common Transfer Failures and Fixes

"Could not transfer cellular plan" — Sign both phones out of and back into iCloud, then retry. If that fails, restart both phones.

"Carrier does not support eSIM transfer" — Your carrier hasn't enrolled in the Quick Transfer program. Use method 2 instead.

Transfer completes but new phone shows "No SIM" — Restart the new phone. If still missing, Settings > Cellular > tap the line > Reset eSIM and re-do the transfer.

Old phone still shows the line as active — Wait 5 minutes; the carrier-side handoff sometimes lags the local UI. If it persists, factory-reset the old phone before selling it.

Selling or Trading In Your Old Phone

Before handing over the old device:

1. Confirm the new phone has the eSIM working (make a call, load a page on cellular).
2. On the old phone: Settings > Cellular > tap each line > Remove eSIM.
3. Sign out of iCloud, then Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.

For Samsung: Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset.

A factory reset alone doesn't always wipe eSIM profiles — explicitly remove them first.

FAQs

Will I lose my data balance during transfer? No. eSIM transfers move the profile, not the data balance. Your remaining GB stays intact on the new phone.

Does eSIM transfer cost money? Apple, Samsung, and Teraroma don't charge for transfers. Some traditional carriers charge a $5–$20 "device change" fee, especially in the US.

Can I have the same eSIM on two phones at once? No. eSIM profiles are device-bound. You'd need a separate plan per device, or use one phone's hotspot to share data.

How long does a transfer take? Quick Transfer: 30–60 seconds. QR re-scan: 1–5 minutes including waiting for the email. Carrier portal swap: 5–30 minutes.

What if the new phone doesn't support eSIM at all? You can't transfer to a non-eSIM device. You'd need to request a physical SIM from your carrier (if available) or switch to a phone that supports eSIM. Check our compatibility list.

Need a fresh eSIM for a new phone or a new destination? Start at Teraroma destinations or read up on why your eSIM might not be working.