How to transfer an eSIM to a new phone (and when you cannot)
Home-operator eSIMs transfer with iOS and Android tools. Travel eSIMs are single-install profiles. What works, what does not, and what to do instead.
Quick facts
A Universal eSIMs travel profile installs once and does not transfer between phones through iOS Quick Transfer or Android eSIM transfer, because the activation code is consumed on first download. If you change phones mid-plan, send support the order number and the new phone's EID; where the plan allows, a replacement profile for the unused balance arrives within hours.
Guide reviewed on 25 October 2026 · Hotspot allowed on every plan · Full refund if your phone cannot install the eSIM
Step by step
Do not delete the eSIM from the old phone yet
Keep it until the replacement works on the new phone.
Get the new phone's EID
Dial *#06# on the new phone and note the EID line.
Contact support
WhatsApp or email with the order number, old and new phone models and the new EID.
Install the replacement
A new QR code arrives for the remaining balance and validity. Install on Wi-Fi as usual.
Delete the old profile
Once the new one connects, remove the old profile from the old phone.
Your destination. Your device. A plan that fits.
Check the phone, pick the plan, install on Wi-Fi, and switch on when you land.
Why travel eSIMs do not transfer
Each profile is bound to the eUICC chip of the phone that downloaded it. Operators who control the subscription can re-issue it on demand, which is what iOS Quick Transfer triggers for your home carrier. A prepaid roaming profile is issued once by a wholesale network and must be re-issued manually, which is what support does.
Still stuck? Message us on WhatsApp and a real person replies in minutes.
Send a screenshot of the screen and your phone model. Most install and activation issues are fixed within ten minutes, 24/7, in English and Hindi. If your phone cannot take the eSIM, you get a full refund.
Home operator eSIMs
- iPhone to iPhone: during setup, or Settings, Cellular, Add eSIM, Transfer From Nearby iPhone. Needs iOS 16 or later on both.
- Android to Android: Pixel and Samsung offer transfer during setup on Android 14 and later or One UI 6 and later, if the operator supports it. Jio, Airtel and Vi support varies; the fallback is a new eSIM QR from the operator app.
- iPhone to Android or back: request a new eSIM from the operator.
Replacement policy
One replacement per plan for a genuine phone change, lost phone or factory reset, with unused balance carried over. Repeated requests are reviewed manually.
Real people on WhatsApp, before, during and after the trip.
Install help in minutes, a refund if your phone cannot take the eSIM, and every price shown before checkout.
Frequently asked questions
Can I scan the same QR code on my new phone?
No. The code is consumed by the first install. Contact support for a replacement.
Is there a fee for a replacement?
No for a first replacement during the plan validity.
My phone was lost. Can someone else use my eSIM?
Not without unlocking the phone. Ask us to suspend the profile and issue a replacement for your new phone.
Does a factory reset delete the eSIM?
iPhone asks whether to keep eSIMs; choose keep. Android resets usually erase them. Back up nothing; just contact us afterwards if it is gone.
Can I move my Jio or Airtel eSIM to a new phone?
Yes, through the operator app or an SMS request for a new QR. Do it before travel.
How quickly does support issue a replacement?
Usually within a few hours, 24/7.
Related help
Deleting an eSIM · What is an EID? · Install on iPhone · Contact support · Help centre
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Tell us what was missing at hello@universalesims.com or on WhatsApp at +91 80199 92471. Guides are reviewed monthly by the Universal eSIMs editorial team.
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