I haven’t been shy about my hatred for eSIM, the digital technology that stores SIM information on your device rather than on a separate SIM card. One of the occupational hazards of my job is that I’m always switching phone lines between iOS and Android phones. Ever since Apple and Google shifted to selling eSIM-only phone models, it has been painstakingly difficult. I’d have taken a 50% success rate, but my luck with transferring eSIMs between iOS and Android felt more like an unrelenting struggle.
If you’ve had similar eSIM hardships, trust me, I believe you. With that being said, I’m thrilled to report that Apple and Google have finally figured out cross-platform eSIM transfers. This isn’t exactly a new feature — it was first announced at last year’s WWDC — but it required software updates to work. In other words, the joint feature wouldn’t do users much good until the general public widely adopted iOS 26 and Android 16.
It feels like we’re there because I’ve been transferring eSIMs at least once a week for months, and I haven’t set foot in an AT&T store once. This is how you can quickly and easily transfer eSIM data from an iPhone to an Android phone, or from an Android phone to an iPhone, without calling your carrier or going to a store.
For years, iOS and Android didn’t play nice
The technology behind eSIM isn’t bad — the reality is quite the opposite. While physical SIM cards are easier to transfer between devices, this enables security vulnerabilities like “SIM swapping.” This attack involves stealing a locked phone, removing the physical SIM card, and inserting it into another device, where hackers can intercept things like two-factor SMS codes. Additionally, eSIMs are easier to purchase on a whim. You can buy a travel eSIM online and load it onto your phone in minutes.
Unfortunately, the infrastructure just wasn’t there to support easy eSIM switching before. Transferring from iPhone to iPhone or Android to Android was simple, but moving eSIMs between platforms was a headache. You likely had to contact your carrier, provide IMEI numbers, or walk into a physical store to get the transfer completed. With a physical SIM, a SIM-eject tool is all you need to switch phones.
Apple and Google finally fixed this shortcoming with iOS 26 and Android 16. Now, you can seamlessly move SIM data between devices without resetting them or contacting a carrier.
How to transfer an eSIM from iOS to Android
Transferring an eSIM from an iPhone to an Android phone is simple, as long as you’ve got the right hardware and software. Check that your carrier supports peer-to-peer eSIM transfers between iOS and Android. Then, verify your iPhone is updated to iOS 26, and your Android phone is running Android 16.
Since both devices will be without cellular data briefly during the eSIM transfer process, it’s important to connect them to a Wi-Fi network. Simply sticking with the cellular data or mobile hotspot connection from the eSIM you need to transfer won’t cut it. After you’ve connected to Wi-Fi and checked that your devices are ready, you can begin the transfer.
On your Android phone:
1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Network & Internet.
3. Press SIMs & mobile network.
4. Tap Download new SIM.
5. Select Transfer SIM from another device.
6. Choose to transfer from iPhone.
7. You’ll now see a QR code that can be used to initiate the transfer. Alternatively, you can tap Pair your devices manually to view a Session ID and Pairing code.
Now that you have the QR code and pairing details ready to go, it’s time to pull out your iPhone.
On your iPhone:
8. Open the Camera app and scan the QR code on your iPhone.
9. Alternatively, navigate to Settings > Cellular > Transfer Phone Number > Continue to scan the QR code on your iPhone or enter the manual Session ID and Pairing Code numbers.
10. Select the phone number you want to transfer, then hit Continue.
All you need to do now is keep both devices close to each other and wait for the transfer to finish. Soon, your eSIM will be transferred from your iPhone to your Android phone.
How to transfer and eSIM from Android to iOS
To start transferring an eSIM from an Android phone to your iPhone, make sure both devices are updated to at least Android 16 and iOS 26. Then, you’ll need to use each device throughout the pairing and transfer process.
Remember that both phones will need to be connected to a Wi-Fi network for the transfer to complete — cellular data or a mobile hotspot from the eSIM you’re transferring won’t work. With that out of the way, let’s begin!
On your iPhone:
1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap the Cellular tab.
3. Press Set up Cellular.
4. Tap Transfer from Android.
5. Read the disclaimer about device and carrier support, then press Continue.
6. You’ll now see a QR code that can be used to initiate the transfer. Alternatively, you can tap Other options to view a manual Session ID and Pairing code.
Now, it’s time to pick up the Android phone that has the eSIM you want to transfer.
On your Android phone:
7. Open the Camera app and scan the QR code on your iPhone.
8. Alternatively, navigate to Settings > Google > All services > Pair with iPhone or iPad > Transfer eSIM to enter the manual Session ID and Pairing Code numbers.
9. Wait for the devices to connect.
10. Choose an eSIM to transfer to your iPhone, then hit Transfer.
11. Enter your passcode or use biometrics to authorize the eSIM transfer.
Now, go back to your iPhone. In a minute or two, your eSIM will have been transferred from your Android phone to your iPhone. You’ll see a spinning Activating screen on your iPhone while you wait.
Eventually, a Phone Number Transfer Complete screen will appear on your iPhone confirming that the eSIM transfer was successful. Now, the eSIM you were just using on an Android phone is connecting your iPhone to a cellular network,
Switching to an Android phone just got so much easier
There are little things that make switching between platforms tricky, and eSIM used to be one of them. When Apple and Google both started selling eSIM-only phones in the U.S. without the infrastructure needed to switch phone lines between them, they were equally to blame for the fallout. Now, switching between platforms is seamless. If this was one of the reasons you didn’t want to move from iOS to Android, you now have one less reason to take the leap.
The starter Android
If you’re considering putting your iPhone’s eSIM into a new Android phone, the Google Pixel 10 might be your best bet. It has the polish and premium feel that Apple users love with the flexibility and Google features that Android users expect.
