Other How to links for eSIM Quick Transfer

[russell_314]

Okay since it's getting to be that time I thought I'd post some how to links on setting up your new iPhone with eSIM if you're coming from a physical SIM or eSIM

Here is the Apple support article on eSIM and how to set them up. I found most interesting the part on Use eSIM Quick Transfer. You probably should read the entire thing but that seems like the way to go. It says how to Transfer a physical SIM or eSIM on your previous iPhone to an eSIM on your new iPhone after setup

About eSIM on iPhone - Apple Support

Learn what an eSIM is, how to set up an eSIM on your iPhone, and how to transfer a physical SIM to an eSIM.

support.apple.com

If you look at this support article it lists supported carriers and if you scroll down Wireless carriers that support eSIM Quick Transfer

Find wireless carriers and worldwide service providers that offer eSIM service - Apple Support

An eSIM is a digital SIM that allows you to activate a mobile data plan from your network provider without having to use a physical nano-SIM. Find out which wireless carriers in your country or region offer cellular plans on an eSIM, either activated by eSIM Carrier Activation, eSIM Quick...

support.apple.com

Sorry mods for the terrible formatting I don't do it as well as the MacRumors articles. Feel free to clean this up or even delete it if you make your own and better version 😀

 

[Traverse]

I would like to thank the people on the iPhone upgrade program this transition should be mostly seamless. I am with Verizon and my pre-– Pre-order says my phone will be set up on my current plan

 

[russell_314]

I would like to thank the people on the iPhone upgrade program this transition should be mostly seamless. I am with Verizon and my pre-– Pre-order says my phone will be set up on my current plan

Are they charging you an activation fee? Someone posted in a different thread that if you buy just a regular phone that’s not affiliated with your carrier and switch it yourself you won’t get charged a fee but if you pick one on the Apple website when you buy it then your carrier will charge $30 or something.

 

[NYCValkyrie]

Are they charging you an activation fee? Someone posted in a different thread that if you buy just a regular phone that’s not affiliated with your carrier and switch it yourself you won’t get charged a fee but if you pick one on the Apple website when you buy it then your carrier will charge $30 or something.

The iUP includes the upgrade cost/switch from the carrier.

 

[NYCValkyrie]

I would like to thank the people on the iPhone upgrade program this transition should be mostly seamless. I am with Verizon and my pre-– Pre-order says my phone will be set up on my current plan

Yes the iUP is SUPER easy to switch phones. Make sure you do a back up before you turn on the new iPhone when it arrives. Once you turn it on, it walks you though it all and it's seamless. Here's a video that shows you how it works.

 

[Jackbequickly]

I was told by two ATT employees that my 13 PM with a physical SIM will transfer over to the eSIM in my new 14 PM during the data transfer. It has all been worked out.

 

[nealh]

The question I have is… can you swap an e-sim back and forth from one phone to another.
I get an eSim opens space inside the phone but having a physical sim is easy to move from one to another and back

 

[GrandeLatte]

My question is with eSim. Since I use VerizonWireless in the US (CDMA), and travel internationally (GSM). How will this work out? Or should I switch carriers (to AT&T for instance).

 

[ian87w]

My question is with eSim. Since I use VerizonWireless in the US (CDMA), and travel internationally (GSM). How will this work out? Or should I switch carriers (to AT&T for instance).

I don't think Verizon uses CDMA anymore. Many countries also are shutting down 2G GSM and even 3G. 4G LTE is the standard now, even internationally. So Verizon iPhones will work fine internationally.

The only issue is finding carriers with eSIM support for prepaid/tourist. Not many carriers around the world support eSIM, but hopefully with Apple pushing eSIM, we will see improvements soon.

 

[NYCValkyrie]

My question is with eSim. Since I use VerizonWireless in the US (CDMA), and travel internationally (GSM). How will this work out? Or should I switch carriers (to AT&T for instance).

Well CDMA is going to be retired on Dec 31 and if you’ using an iPhone now with Verizon, it is def not on CDMA.

As for how to use eSIM abroad, it depends on where, how often and how much you use for cost of roaming. But the eSIM and phone itself can be used basically across the globe.

 

[IconIc215]

The question I have is… can you swap an e-sim back and forth from one phone to another.
I get an eSim opens space inside the phone but having a physical sim is easy to move from one to another and back

I would think you would have to be able to although this is my first go around converting my physical SIM to eSIM so what do I know : )

 

[mlody]

My question is with eSim. Since I use VerizonWireless in the US (CDMA), and travel internationally (GSM). How will this work out? Or should I switch carriers (to AT&T for instance).

None of the new iPhones 14's have any CDMA hardware anymore, at least in the USA.

 

[Jackbequickly]

I would think you would have to be able to although this is my first go around converting my physical SIM to eSIM so what do I know : )

‘For people who like this ability, I hope you can switch phones without dealing with the carrier as their service and customer support is terrible.

 

[GrandeLatte]

None of the new iPhones 14's have any CDMA hardware anymore, at least in the USA.

View attachment 2054494

I'm not a tech savvy person. So please bear with me. Previously, I would buy an unlocked iPhone. Take it with me and swap out SIM cards depending on the country I'm in. It worked for me. Now it's eSIM, so am I locked to the US carrier and cannot use the phone locally (in different countries) without depending on the original carrier? Hence "roaming internationally"? Am I making sense? Help! Thank you in advance.

 

[kupkakez]

I'm not a tech savvy person. So please bear with me. Previously, I would buy an unlocked iPhone. Take it with me and swap out SIM cards depending on the country I'm in. It worked for me. Now it's eSIM, so am I locked to the US carrier and cannot use the phone locally (in different countries) without depending on the original carrier? Hence "roaming internationally"? Am I making sense? Help! Thank you in advance.

The beauty of esim is being able to have several “accounts” you can still purchase a local SIM it’ll just be an esim and you can do it as soon as you land in the next country and you’re good to go. You would just select that esim profile you want to use. When you head back stateside just select your US carrier.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

The question I have is… can you swap an e-sim back and forth from one phone to another.
I get an eSim opens space inside the phone but having a physical sim is easy to move from one to another and back

Pre-Paid, Yes. I had no trouble swapping e-sims to a different phone from T-mobile and Verizon.

My main line is post paid and still on a physical sim. So, I'm a little anxious about that as well.

 

[Cory Bauer]

Thank you for this thread. I'm coming from an iPhone X on a Verizon pre-paid plan and am hoping this e-sim business doesn't require contacting the carrier on a day when ten million other people are also migrating to new iPhones.

Sounds like i should upgrade my X to iOS 16 this week to make the process easier?

 

[NYCValkyrie]

I'm not a tech savvy person. So please bear with me. Previously, I would buy an unlocked iPhone. Take it with me and swap out SIM cards depending on the country I'm in. It worked for me. Now it's eSIM, so am I locked to the US carrier and cannot use the phone locally (in different countries) without depending on the original carrier? Hence "roaming internationally"? Am I making sense? Help! Thank you in advance.

Ok I get the question. You won’t be able to do this anymore as many don’t have pre-paid eSIM available outside the US. But there are other alternatives depending on how much you travel and where you’re going.

I can help with some info but for some frequent travelers, it might be better to stay on the iPhone 13 IF you need a local number. If data is all you need then there are more options like esimdb that can help you find a plan. You just download their app, pick a plan for a country you need and then install it. It'll walk you through it.

Feel free to shoot me a PM if you need help! It can be daunting at first but easy once you learn it. @GrandeLatte

 

[nealh]

Thank you for this thread. I'm coming from an iPhone X on a Verizon pre-paid plan and am hoping this e-sim business doesn't require contacting the carrier on a day when ten million other people are also migrating to new iPhones.

Sounds like i should upgrade my X to iOS 16 this week to make the process easier?View attachment 2055202

Hmm. This seems more cubersome than physical sim. Pop it out and pop it in. I am not upgrading my 12Pro Max to iOS 16 to transfer its eSim. That would be a pain in the rear

 

[alee]

Hmm. This seems more cubersome than physical sim. Pop it out and pop it in. I am not upgrading my 12Pro Max to iOS 16 to transfer its eSim. That would be a pain in the rear

That seems to be an oddly specific gripe considering updates are an expected part of phone ownership. iOS 16 hits on Monday, long before you get your new phone as well.

 

[ADGrant]

I'm not a tech savvy person. So please bear with me. Previously, I would buy an unlocked iPhone. Take it with me and swap out SIM cards depending on the country I'm in. It worked for me. Now it's eSIM, so am I locked to the US carrier and cannot use the phone locally (in different countries) without depending on the original carrier? Hence "roaming internationally"? Am I making sense? Help! Thank you in advance.

eSIMs are not locked to a specific carrier but your iPhone might be if you bought it from a specific carrier or from Apple locked to a specific carrier. I always buy my phones unlocked from Apple. If the phone is unlocked it will accept any eSIM or nano SIM.

 

[Wags]

The question I have is… can you swap an e-sim back and forth from one phone to another.
I get an eSim opens space inside the phone but having a physical sim is easy to move from one to another and back

Ya. Says you cant delete esim? So cant delete and add on another and then back. Says can store up to 8 on a device.

 

[ADGrant]

Pre-Paid, Yes. I had no trouble swapping e-sims to a different phone from T-mobile and Verizon.

My main line is post paid and still on a physical sim. So, I'm a little anxious about that as well.

Post paid may easier than pre-paid for eSIM. The major US post paid carriers all support eSIM but some of the alternative pre-paid ones may not. I just moved my post paid to eSIM to free up my SIM slot for when I do travel.

 

[NYCValkyrie]

The beauty of esim is being able to have several “accounts” you can still purchase a local SIM it’ll just be an esim and you can do it as soon as you land in the next country and you’re good to go. You would just select that esim profile you want to use. When you head back stateside just select your US carrier.

Local pre-paid eSIM isn't offered by many countries right now so it'll depend. There are other alternatives like Ubigi, Airalo, etc though as long as you don't need a local #. But it'll change in the coming years.

 

[spamaka]

The question I have is… can you swap an e-sim back and forth from one phone to another.
I get an eSim opens space inside the phone but having a physical sim is easy to move from one to another and back

Same question I have as well. I have a 13 Pro as my main and 12 mini as a back up. I move my physical sim from the 13 Pro to 12 mini from time to time. Is that something you can do easily with e-sim? Thinking of trading my 13 Pro for a 14 Pro but not if having an e-sim means I can't move it from one phone to another.