What is an eSIM and how to transfer your phone number to a new iPhone

Starting with the iPhone 14, Apple abandoned the physical SIM card and replaced it with an electronic one. Accordingly, the new iPhone 15 will have only a virtual eSIM, which you need to be able to customize.

The ZDNet website writes about this: "Last fall, Apple released the iPhone 14 line with a host of new features: from satellite communications to updated cameras, and most importantly, the transition to an electronic SIM card." When using an eSIM, instead of a regular plastic SIM card, a virtual card built into the iPhone is used to transfer a phone number to the iPhone. Accordingly, the iPhone 14 does not have a SIM card tray - it simply does not exist.

SSPDaily told what the process of converting a SIM card to an eSIM on the iPhone 15 will look like.

What is an eSIM?

By default, a SIM card allows the manufacturer and service provider to understand what kind of phone you are using and, in turn, tells your phone what number it has and from which operator.

An eSIM, which is a digital version of a plastic SIM card, can be programmed and reprogrammed as many times as needed. According to Apple, iPhone eSIM users can store up to eight different cards, which is handy if you travel frequently or have multiple work lines.

How to set up an eSIM in iPhone 15

Setting up your iPhone 15 makes it easy to switch from a physical SIM card to an eSIM. When you order an iPhone, your carrier and phone number are linked to that device. Therefore, in theory, your iPhone 15 is ready for the eSIM activation process by your service provider.

As Apple notes: "Setting up an eSIM usually comes down to turning on your new iPhone and following the on-screen instructions."

Setting up the iPhone 15

When you activate your new iPhone and go through the Quick Start procedure, a window will appear on the screen asking you to confirm your actions.

On the "Set up eSIM" screen, you can choose the option that suits you best and follow the steps to set up an eSIM for your account.

Confirm the transfer

If you're transferring data from an older iPhone model, all you have to do is click the "Transfer from another iPhone" button, and Apple will take care of the rest. The process is relatively fast, but it depends on how busy the manufacturer's and service provider's servers are at the moment.

If you missed the number transfer to your phone during setup, you can do it later. To do this, open the Settings app, Next: "Cellular" - "Set up cellular" and follow the prompts.

How to set up an eSIM when switching from an Android phone

The process of switching from Android with a physical SIM card or eSIM to iPhone 15 and eSIM is slightly different from switching from iPhone to iPhone and depends on your carrier.

There is a possibility that your number was assigned to an eSIM when you ordered the phone, in which case everything will be simple as described above.

However, if you were not offered to transfer the number to the phone during the preliminary setup, contact your service provider's support service to get a QR code or request the eSIM activation settings from the operator.

"If you're switching to iPhone (for example, from an Android phone), contact your service provider to transfer your phone number to iPhone using eSIM Carrier Activation or scanning your carrier's QR code," Apple said in a statement.

Once you receive the QR code, scan it with your iPhone to add your eSIM.

If your service provider sets up Carrier Activation, you will receive a text message: "Carrier mobile plan is ready for installation". Click on it to start the process.