Everything you need to know

The GSMA originally developed eSIM technology back in 2012, but like all new tech, it’s taken a little while to gain a foothold. These days, most modern Android phones come with support for eSIM, including the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Pixel 8 Pro.

That said, the eSIM is still relatively new for a lot of folks. Plus, it’s not quite as simple as your everyday SIM card, which has been around in various forms for decades. So, let’s talk about what it is, what it does, how it works, and how to transfer an eSIM from one phone to another.

What is an eSIM?

Embedded SIMs or eSIMs differ from traditional SIMs because there’s no physical card. An eSIM is digitally encoded on your phone. With an eSIM, there’s no scratching around for an eject tool or losing the SIM tray down the back of the couch; you can’t lose it because you can’t remove it from your phone.

You can also store more than one eSIM profile on your phone, meaning you can access multiple carriers with the tap of a screen. The number of profiles you can access varies from model to model, but it’s generally at least five. In addition, devices running Android 13 or above can have two eSIM profiles active simultaneously, giving access to two networks at once — perfect for those who want a business and personal line on one device.

What are the benefits of an eSIM on Android?

As well as being entirely digital, eSIMs have several other benefits over physical SIM cards.

• They’re great if you travel a lot — If you travel internationally, an eSIM makes switching between operators simple. To reduce roaming costs, you can store multiple profiles and switch to a local operator’s plan with a few screen taps.
• They can’t be lost or damaged — Nano SIMs are pretty easy to lose. Since you can’t remove an eSIM from your Android phone, you can’t lose or accidentally damage it.
• You can have more than one number — Multiple eSIMs mean you can have access to different phone numbers. You can easily switch eSIM profiles with a few taps, allowing near-instant access to a different number and operator plan.

How does eSIM work on Android?

Most recent Android smartphones offer eSIM compatibility alongside traditional SIM card trays. Most phones will allow you to connect an eSIM whilst also having a SIM card installed, or you could do away with a physical SIM card altogether and have multiple eSIM profiles loaded on your device.

How do I know if my Android phone is eSIM compatible?

Different manufacturers have different combinations of menu options to discover whether devices are eSIM compatible. Still, there’s one universal set of keystrokes that will show you whether your Android device can use eSIM.

Here’s how to find out:

1. Open your Phone app
2. Dial *#06# and hit call
3. If you see an EID number, your device is eSIM compatible

How do I set up an eSIM on Android?

Once you’ve signed up for an eSIM plan, you can add it to your Android phone. There are two ways to add your eSIM on Android:

• Scan a QR code — Your carrier may have sent you a QR code. Scan the code and follow the instructions to add your eSIM.
• Use an activation code — If you have an activation code, you can manually add your eSIM to your Android phone.

How do I transfer an eSIM from one Android phone to another?

If you already have an active eSIM on your Android phone and need to transfer it to your new phone, Google is currently rolling out a new eSIM transfer feature to streamline the process. The new eSIM transfer tool is as easy as following some instructions on your device, but it’s still in the early rollout stages and works only on T-Mobile with select devices.

We were able to trigger the transfer feature when trying to add an eSIM on a Galaxy S24 Ultra from a Pixel 8 Pro, but because our carrier is Google Fi, the transfer process didn’t complete. Google requires you to use the Fi app to facilitate the transfer.

The process below was done between a Galaxy S24 Ultra and a Galaxy S23 Ultra on T-Mobile. You can also check out the images above to see how everything shakes down.

1. When your phone is switched on for the first time, part of the setup process will ask you if you want to transfer your eSIM.
2. If you select yes, you’ll have the option of selecting T-Mobile or Other service provider.
3. On the phone you want to transfer from, you’ll either need to scan a QR code or otherwise prepare the transfer.

1. From here, one of two things happens.
   • Either the eSIM transfers on its own or you’ll need to sign in to your carrier network to initiate the transfer with them.
   • It depends on which phones you’re transferring between and which carrier network you’re on.
2. Once the transfer is done, the phone you transferred your eSIM to will reboot to complete the transfer.
3. The old device will lose network connection and be restricted to Wi-Fi only.

The above steps are generally accurate, although each service provider may have some additional steps. For your reference, here are the eSIM transfer methods for T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T. Google Fi also has its own method as well.