How to Set Up the eSIM on an iPhone

If you’ve bought an iPhone 14 or 15 series phone in the US – or one of the newer iPads – you’ll notice it’s missing one important feature: a SIM tray. That’s because Apple has gone all-in on eSIM, which is a digital version of the tiny card that lets you use your wireless carrier’s network.

There is good news and bad news here. If you’re migrating from an old iPhone, activating an eSIM on your new iPhone is incredibly easy. If you’re switching from an Android phone to an iPhone 14, well, it’s less straightforward.

Whichever path you need to take, we have some guidance for you.

To switch from an iPhone with a physical SIM card to an iPhone eSIM, follow these steps:

Confirm that you see your carrier icon and service bars at the top of the screen and that’s it: you’re living the eSIM life. Be aware that your old physical SIM card will no longer work, and if you want to switch back at any time, you will need to contact your carrier to get a new one.

To switch from an Android phone to an iPhone 14 or 15 – whether you’re using a physical SIM or already have an eSIM – you’ll need help from your wireless carrier. This may vary in difficulty depending on your carrier. For example:

No matter what your carrier, remember to turn off RCS on your Android device before switching so you don’t miss any messages. In the Google Messages app, you can do this by tapping the profile icon (or three-dot menu icon) in the top-right corner of the screen. Touch Message Settings > Chat Features and turn off Enable chat features.

If you need to call your carrier to port your number to your new iPhone, make sure you’re connected to Wi-Fi and, if possible, call from another phone line. If you are unable to do this, please inform the customer service representative that you are calling from the line you wish to change, as you will likely be disconnected. They should be able to email you a QR code so you can complete the setup process yourself.

Update May 7, 2022, 2:00 PM ET: This article was originally published on November 9, 2022 and has been updated to add current iPhones and iPads.