iPhone 12 Verizon eSIM Transfer

[imartez]

I was able to activate the eSim on my 12 Pro the day I received it (10/23). I chatted with Verizon and had to give them both my physical and digital IMEI numbers as well as my physical SIM card number. After about 5 minutes, my eSim was activated. I had to reboot the phone 2 times to get everything working.

 

[barkomatic]

I finally got my esim activated. I bought a Verizon iPhone directly from Apple, and was told by a Verizon rep in a store that first I’d have to activate the iPhone using the physical SIM card and then call back to transfer my account to the esim. It was a pain but it’s done. It would be great if the esim was activated by default.

 

[vanburen982]

I finally got my esim activated. I bought a Verizon iPhone directly from Apple, and was told by a Verizon rep in a store that first I’d have to activate the iPhone using the physical SIM card and then call back to transfer my account to the esim. It was a pain but it’s done. It would be great if the esim was activated by default.

I’m on what must be my third customer service/tech support call. I cannot believe how difficult this is. Nobody can help.

 

[enduser99]

This is exactly my experience. I bought an AT&T iPhone12 from Apple (paid in full, no lock), and wanted to activate eSIM on Verizon. They kept recognizing the IMEI #2 as a Physical SIM in their database and could not generate an ICCID. I had to go get a physical SIM, activate it, then did the process to transfer to eSIM with help of an agent (although I'm not sure I needed their help in the end). Then I had an activated line on eSIM, but data was not working. I had to insert the AT&T physical sim and then data started to work on Verizon w/eSIM line. I could then remove the AT&T physical SIM and data would continue to work with Verizon on eSIM.

 

[acousticbiker]

This is exactly my experience. I bought an AT&T iPhone12 from Apple (paid in full, no lock), and wanted to activate eSIM on Verizon. They kept recognizing the IMEI #2 as a Physical SIM in their database and could not generate an ICCID. I had to go get a physical SIM, activate it, then did the process to transfer to eSIM with help of an agent (although I'm not sure I needed their help in the end). Then I had an activated line on eSIM, but data was not working. I had to insert the AT&T physical sim and then data started to work on Verizon w/eSIM line. I could then remove the AT&T physical SIM and data would continue to work with Verizon on eSIM.

Just curious, (and I know they are the same phone, but) why did you buy a phone from AT&T to activate on Verizon?

 

[enduser99]

Just curious, (and I know they are the same phone, but) why did you buy a phone from AT&T to activate on Verizon?

It's a reasonable question. We have been on ATT for years. We have a microcell at home because coverage sucks at our home. ATT is really dropping support for the microcel in favor of Wifi calling (which kills my battery when the phone sits at one bar all day, so I don't accept that as a work around). My thought was to see how the iPhone 12 worked, maybe 5g upgrades etc, but alas it's not looking good so a switch to VZW is possible. I am evaluating VZW on the same phone with dual-sim mode, but I don't have to port the number just yet. I have corp discounts with ATT from a previous employer I don't want to go away if I port away to hastily.

 

[blueeyes2die4]

I just switched to esim today and it was so easy. I gave the lady the digital imei and she put it in. I didn’t even have to scan a QR code anymore. My phone had a notification in the settings app that a new cellular plan was ready to be added. I clicked on the add plan button and I was all setup. Just had to restart my phone after a min or so and my esim is all good to go.

 

[vanburen982]

This is exactly my experience. I bought an AT&T iPhone12 from Apple (paid in full, no lock), and wanted to activate eSIM on Verizon. They kept recognizing the IMEI #2 as a Physical SIM in their database and could not generate an ICCID. I had to go get a physical SIM, activate it, then did the process to transfer to eSIM with help of an agent (although I'm not sure I needed their help in the end). Then I had an activated line on eSIM, but data was not working. I had to insert the AT&T physical sim and then data started to work on Verizon w/eSIM line. I could then remove the AT&T physical SIM and data would continue to work with Verizon on eSIM.

Well another day another 90 mins and another failure. I’m at a loss. I have a 5G physical SIM. All I want to do is transfer that to the eSIM so I can use the physical SIM slot for my work phone, which is ATT. I have no idea what to try next 😐

 

[blueeyes2die4]

Well another day another 90 mins and another failure. I’m at a loss. I have a 5G physical SIM. All I want to do is transfer that to the eSIM so I can use the physical SIM slot for my work phone, which is ATT. I have no idea what to try next 😐

I just told the rep I wanted to use the esim for security reasons as if the phone was ever stolen it could not be removed, and it was changed without any problem

 

[vanburen982]

I just switched to esim today and it was so easy. I gave the lady the digital imei and she put it in. I didn’t even have to scan a QR code anymore. My phone had a notification in the settings app that a new cellular plan was ready to be added. I clicked on the add plan button and I was all setup. Just had to restart my phone after a min or so and my esim is all good to go.

Good for you! Did you do this over the phone or go into a store?

 

[blueeyes2die4]

Good for you! Did you do this over the phone or go into a store?

I am just trying to help you get it done as well. I did it through chat

 

[meDANOcine]

This is exactly my experience. I bought an AT&T iPhone12 from Apple (paid in full, no lock), and wanted to activate eSIM on Verizon. They kept recognizing the IMEI #2 as a Physical SIM in their database and could not generate an ICCID. I had to go get a physical SIM, activate it, then did the process to transfer to eSIM with help of an agent (although I'm not sure I needed their help in the end). Then I had an activated line on eSIM, but data was not working. I had to insert the AT&T physical sim and then data started to work on Verizon w/eSIM line. I could then remove the AT&T physical SIM and data would continue to work with Verizon on eSIM.

Been two days here without a working phone (thanks to the rep that disabled my old phone). If tech support doesn't resolve the issue tomorrow I'm going to try this and see what happens. Thanks for giving us a little hope that it can be done.

 

[vanburen982]

I am just trying to help you get it done as well. I did it through chats

SUCCESS!!! So thanks to everyone for their advice and assistance. I used the chat function and finally got this taken care of. One of the culprits may have been “Find my iPhone” being active on my iPhone 12 Pro. Didn’t think that would be an issue, but after we turned that off we were able to get everything updated. Now here’s to hoping that Apple and Verizon hurry up and allow 5G to be used in dual SIM mode. Again - thanks for all the ideas. Chat really was the way to go.

 

[meDANOcine]

Still no luck here, VZW system still insists my esim is a physical sim. I got a physical sim activated yesterday and turned off 'find my iPhone' just to be safe. At least I have a working phone, just rocking two phones until VZW can get their stuff straightened out.

 

[vanburen982]

Still no luck here, VZW system still insists my esim is a physical sim. I got a physical sim activated yesterday and turned off 'find my iPhone' just to be safe. At least I have a working phone, just rocking two phones until VZW can get their stuff straightened out.

So if it makes you feel any better, I received a voicemail yesterday afternoon from a Verizon customer care rep that I worked with previously as a follow up. He told me that after he consulted with tier 2 support, I cannot have a phone with only an eSIM. I would have to have a physical SIM and two numbers if I want to use the eSIM. He went on to state that I would have to take my physical SIM out if I were traveling overseas and switch it with a local SIM. Essentially - he said the eSIM is useless and the phone is behaving as designed.

I’m clearly using an eSIM now and can insert a physical SIM with a second number if I want. I say all that to say it’s literally luck of the tech support draw with the eSIM. It’s absolutely possible to go eSIM only. You just have to get the “right” tech. I know that they’re trying their best but there’s some blatant training gaps in their tech program as it relates to activating an eSIM on the iPhone 12.

Good luck!!!

 

[meDANOcine]

After 5 days, Verizon still couldn’t get my esim activated. I gave up and activated on AT&T. Wanted to avoid an activation fee with AT&T, since I have free activation with VZW, but I had $600 riding on mailing my phone off yesterday. Oh well, I’ll try again next year. Good luck to anyone else still struggling with activation issues. I’m told they are still working on getting it fixed so hopefully those of you more patient than me will get rewarded.

 

[max2]

Thank you.

 

[vanburen982]

After 5 days, Verizon still couldn’t get my esim activated. I gave up and activated on AT&T. Wanted to avoid an activation fee with AT&T, since I have free activation with VZW, but I had $600 riding on mailing my phone off yesterday. Oh well, I’ll try again next year. Good luck to anyone else still struggling with activation issues. I’m told they are still working on getting it fixed so hopefully those of you more patient than me will get rewarded.

What a pain in the ass. Sorry about your luck. Makes me wonder how many customers Verizon loses because of this issue. Terrible customer service on their part.

 

[max2]

I disagree.

 

[tdar]

I hope everyone has their phones working with Verizon now. One note- It takes Verizon several days after an Apple launch to receive the list of IMEI's from Apple. During that time, If you did not buy your phone from Verizon (there's are preloaded into the system) you may have to call a level 2 tech and have them open a ticket to have them manually add your IMEI to the system.

 

[SAMtheGAM]

I am hoping I can get esim setup on my iPhone 12 Pro Max Sim Free that I should be receiving today. I am using esim on my iPhone 11 Pro Max currently. My physical sim is T-Mobile

 

[gadgetfreak98]

Had this exact issue last year going from XS Max to 11 Pro Max. Same Verizon cluelessness. Same Verizon pointing to Apple or AT&T (my primary physical SIM provider). Same lack of knowledge on tech support's part generally. Same waste of time. I suspect this is going to take me another several weeks, like it did last year.

 

[gadgetfreak98]

Now Verizon's tech is telling me: I just got word from my supervisor that Pro Max and the Mini are not eligible yet for ESIM activation.

ugh... lots of time to get to another verizon dead end

Then they say: Yes, I agree! The esim feature is a big feature on the phone. I wouldn't recommend trying to push through the process as it seems to be a hard stop with no forms to work around. But what I can do is to notate the account with a reference to the article so we can get right to it when it changes if you would like to call in and check on the timeline.

So it's on me to randomly go through text and phone waiting to figure out if they have the s**t together. Gotta love virtual monopolies...

 

[n2deep]

Verizon is a sh*t show for sure. I have both AT&T and Verizon on my iPhone X and Verizon can not figure out how to get the esim activated on on the 12 pro.

 

[macfanboy]

Just updating with my experience: the quick esim transfer was not supported, as other people have encountered too. However, I was able to get it activated by calling into Verizon and giving them my eSIM IMEI