I bought a Chinese model iPhone 15 when it first came out, and now I'm considering getting an iPhone 17, which only supports eSIM. Is there any way for me to transfer my physical SIM from the iPhone 15 to the new eSIM-only model? I'm aware that Chinese models don't have eSIM support, but I'm curious if the transfer process could still work.
3 Answers
You'll need your carrier involved for the eSIM. They are the ones who issue it, so you can't do a direct transfer via Apple. Make sure to check with them!
When I upgraded from my iPhone X to a 15 Pro, there was an easy setup process that let me transfer my physical SIM to an eSIM. It did require some approval on my old phone, but it was super straightforward! Just keep in mind the process can vary based on your carrier.
This is really helpful! So it seems like if my carrier supports the eSIM transfer, I should be good to go even if the old phone doesn't typically support eSIM, right?
Which carrier do you have? In the US, most carriers support eSIM transfers. When you set up the new iPhone, your provider can help you swap the physical SIM for the eSIM automatically during this process.
I'm actually in Mexico using Telcel, which does offer eSIM Quick Transfer. My main concern is if I can convert the physical SIM from a non-eSIM phone (like the iPhone 15) to an eSIM on the new iPhone 17 when setting it up.
Just to clarify; the transfer is indeed possible, but only through my carrier, right? So it can't be done through Apple's setup process?