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iPhone 13 Pro Max How do you activate iphone 13 pro max from apple on T-Mobile

W

WindowsTraitor

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Dec 31, 2008
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How do you do. I am sure is is a dumb question, but do you just swap the SIM. I was reading that the phone should come with an e-sim activated but cannot make call.

If I have to swap sims do I need to request a new one since mine is from an Iphone 11. (5G support)

Adding resolution:

when you call T-Mobile if you have the issue, have them update the ICCID instead of EID

all working good
 
Last edited:
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Yeah - I'm experiencing the same issue - just got on the hold line for a representative. I'm pretty sure we could just pop in the old SIM card, but we should not have to do that.

Seems T-Mobile wasn't ready for a bunch of eSIM activations...

I'll post what I learn when I talk to a representative.
 
If you log into your T-Mobile account on the web and go to sim change you can transfer to esim yourself without having to talk to them.
 
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seezar said:
If you log into your T-Mobile account on the web and go to sim change you can transfer to esim yourself without having to talk to them.
Click to expand...
Yeah - I'm trying to do that, but it wants to send me a text message...which I can't receive now (I already nuked my old device).
 
seezar said:
If you log into your T-Mobile account on the web and go to sim change you can transfer to esim yourself without having to talk to them.
Click to expand...
Does not work for me. "We got our wires crossed!" is my end result. I've tried at least ten times today.

Icing on the cake is getting a physical SIM from a store... then 30 minutes later suddenly seeing "No Service" and determining the SIM was deactivated. 1+ hr hold on the phone currently...
 
Steve.P.JobsFan said:
Does not work for me. "We got our wires crossed!" is my end result. I've tried at least ten times today.

Icing on the cake is getting a physical SIM from a store... then 30 minutes later suddenly seeing "No Service" and determining the SIM was deactivated. 1+ hr hold on the phone currently...
Click to expand...
Did they charge you for the SIM?
 
Steve.P.JobsFan said:
Does not work for me. "We got our wires crossed!" is my end result. I've tried at least ten times today.

Icing on the cake is getting a physical SIM from a store... then 30 minutes later suddenly seeing "No Service" and determining the SIM was deactivated. 1+ hr hold on the phone currently...
Click to expand...

That stinks. I’ve yet to get my new phone delivered today but when I tried swapping from a physical sim to esim on my sons 12 pro last week it went smoothly. Their system must be overloaded from iPhone release day.
 
seezar said:
That stinks. I’ve yet to get my new phone delivered today but when I tried swapping from a physical sim to esim on my sons 12 pro last week it went smoothly. Their system must be overloaded from iPhone release day.
Click to expand...
From what I read on Reddit, somebody had issues at the Apple Store and an employee there claimed they found out from T-Mobile and Sprint their eSIM provisioning is just completely borked at the moment. EIDs aren't even appearing in their system.... allegedly.
 
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Just stuck my old SIM in. It seems like the eSIM is "kind of" activated, but no phone number (old or new) associated with it.
 
I was having the same issue. I used Quick Start to transfer the eSIM from my iPhone 12 Pro to the new 13 Pro. It worked initially, but shortly after went to "No Service". I was able to remove the plan and request a new eSIM through the T-Mobile website, which installed on the phone -- that took care of the "No Service" thing, but I cannot call out on the device - it gets redirected to Tmobile care. I ended up reaching out to them on FB Messenger and they were able to get it sorted out.
 
Updating T-Mobile EID via support did not work. Afterwards, I updated ICCID as per OP's comments and that did work! So the solution is either updating both EID and ICCID or updating ICCID alone.
 
T Mobile esim settup is pretty easy. Just log in t mobile account and scan qr code by using iphone 13 camera.
 
WindowsTraitor said:
How do you do. I am sure is is a dumb question, but do you just swap the SIM. I was reading that the phone should come with an e-sim activated but cannot make call.

If I have to swap sims do I need to request a new one since mine is from an Iphone 11. (5G support)

Adding resolution:

when you call T-Mobile if you have the issue, have them update the ICCID instead of EID

all working good
Click to expand...
I used the CHAT function while Logged into my account that way the Agent see all your devices Using the Chat function on the T-Mobile webpage. Took less than 2 minutes. Just power down the old device. Give the agent the number and verify the IMEI to be activated on that phone number. Went from an old iPhone 8 Plus to a 13 ProMAX in 2 minutes.
 
Go into Settings>General>About. You should have an eSIM profile so you will see details of it on the eSIM section and tap and hold to copy ICCID info. Log in online using the web browser, select your line and use Change SIM. Select physical sim because there is a ICCID info available for the eSIM and tap and hold to copy it from the device and paste it in the field. After you submit it, it should immediate take effect. EID info needed only if you are attempt to add eSIM without ICCID info. eSIM already added so no need to select eSIM from T-Mobile site.
 
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I called them to activate it and they did manually, but my old phone still works and the new one doesn't yet. I think their system just needs to catch up.
 
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