iPhone 12 Pro Transferring eSIM to new iPhone with AT&T (solved - yes you can)

[RumorConsumer]

I did the same, but it didn’t ask if i wanted to go eSIM to eSIM. How can I can if it transferred eSIM to physical SIM, or eSIM to eSIM?

Any SIM type transfers will need to happen at the carrier store. SIM to SIM is easy you just pop it out. eSIM to eSIM for regular post paid accounts you can do on ATT as Ive described here. But to get an eSIM or to go from eSIM to regular SIM you cant do alone as far as I know.

 

[Luba]

Any SIM type transfers will need to happen at the carrier store. SIM to SIM is easy you just pop it out. eSIM to eSIM for regular post paid accounts you can do on ATT as Ive described here. But to get an eSIM or to go from eSIM to regular SIM you cant do alone as far as I know.

I have my post paid AT&T on eSIM on the 11 Pro, performed the iPhone-to-iPhone transfer, but it didn't ask if I wanted to go from my old eSIM to physical or eSIM. Since it didn't ask I assume my phone number got transferred to the physical SIM, but how can I find out in Settings --> Cellular?

Weird . . . when I first looked at Setting --> Cellular last night, there was a section called "eSIM" and another called "digital SIM" so I couldn't really tell if it transferred to physical SIM. Now, the next day, it's just "AT&T" and then I went to "Add Cellular Plan" and it looks like I can transfer to eSIM if I want from my old iPhone.

 

[RumorConsumer]

empty post

 

[RumorConsumer]

I have my post paid AT&T on eSIM on the 11 Pro, performed the iPhone-to-iPhone transfer, but it didn't ask if I wanted to go from my old eSIM to physical or eSIM. Since it didn't ask I assume my phone number got transferred to the physical SIM, but how can I find out in Settings --> Cellular?

Weird . . . when I first looked at Setting --> Cellular last night, there was a section called "eSIM" and another called "digital SIM" so I couldn't really tell if it transferred to physical SIM. Now, the next day, it's just "AT&T" and then I went to "Add Cellular Plan" and it looks like I can transfer to eSIM if I want from my old iPhone.

Did you move your physical SIM over first before doing the migration? Can you show us how it looks to do the migration post-setup?

 

[screamace]

I like to set up new device as brand new, so didn't go through the iPhone-to-iPhone transfer step. What I learned it if you skip that, the activation process on new phone will automatically activate the physical SIM in the phone (I am on iPhone Upgrade Program, if that matters). I had to go to store today to transfer to eSIM. The process is quick though, and the store is not crowded at all.

What I'm trying to figure out now is how to enable 5G. I have unlimited elite plan and had 5G when using the physical SIM. Now on eSIM, 5G option is gone. I do have a physical SIM for a different line in the phone but had the line turned off (according to Apple support doc, in order to use 5G in dual sim, second line needs to be turned off). So far the 5G option hasn't come back yet. Tried rebooting too, no dice.

 

[Luba]

Did you move your physical SIM over first before doing the migration? Can you show us how it looks to do the migration post-setup?

Old iPhone didn't have a physical SIM in it, only eSIM was active. I moved my number to eSIM mainly for the option to add a physical SIM in the empty slot when traveling internationally and also so my SIM couldn't be stolen out of my phone. It was a pain to set up last year as few people knew what they were doing and you needed a QR code card. I was told I would need another fresh QR code card to set up eSIM again. It seems again AT&T reps aren't well informed. I figured this time I would keep it simple and activate the physical SIM and then put in a SIM PIN for the physical SIM in the unlikely situation the SIM gets taken out of my iPhone. Anyway, when I went through Quick Start using phone to phone transfer there was no option to move to eSIM, perhaps because my physical SIM slot was empty? So I thought perhaps it automatically activated the eSIM by default since under Cellular it said eSIM and another section said digital SIM. The next day (today) I noticed under Cellular that the digital SIM section is gone and "eSIM" is now "AT&T". Well, last year, instead of using labels such as "primary" or "secondary" which are Apple created labels I custom created a label called "eSIM". That must of have carried over last night, and then this morning AT&T's system updated it to "AT&T". Today under Cellular, I tapped "Add cellular Plan" out of curiosity and the option to transfer eSIM info from my old iPhone is there. So it seems we don't need a fresh QR code card to activate eSIM, but I'm concerned it will screw things up now that my number is active and working on the physical SIM. I'm guessing when I erase my old iPhone that option will go away.

 

[mwhals]

Pardon the topic hijack, but since the question has been answered, can I ask, does moving from SIM to eSIM (with AT&T, post-paid) still require going to a store? This seems like a crowd that would know. TIA!

No. I had a SIM card in one phone and did add cellular on a second phone. The second phone found the SIM card and asked if I wanted to convert it to eSIM. It worked. I now have eSIM from a SIM card.

 

[RumorConsumer]

Old iPhone didn't have a physical SIM in it, only eSIM was active. I moved my number to eSIM mainly for the option to add a physical SIM in the empty slot when traveling internationally and also so my SIM couldn't be stolen out of my phone. It was a pain to set up last year as few people knew what they were doing and you needed a QR code card. I was told I would need another fresh QR code card to set up eSIM again. It seems again AT&T reps aren't well informed. I figured this time I would keep it simple and activate the physical SIM and then put in a SIM PIN for the physical SIM in the unlikely situation the SIM gets taken out of my iPhone. Anyway, when I went through Quick Start using phone to phone transfer there was no option to move to eSIM, perhaps because my physical SIM slot was empty? So I thought perhaps it automatically activated the eSIM by default since under Cellular it said eSIM and another section said digital SIM. The next day (today) I noticed under Cellular that the digital SIM section is gone and "eSIM" is now "AT&T". Well, last year, instead of using labels such as "primary" or "secondary" which are Apple created labels I custom created a label called "eSIM". That must of have carried over last night, and then this morning AT&T's system updated it to "AT&T". Today under Cellular, I tapped "Add cellular Plan" out of curiosity and the option to transfer eSIM info from my old iPhone is there. So it seems we don't need a fresh QR code card to activate eSIM, but I'm concerned it will screw things up now that my number is active and working on the physical SIM. I'm guessing when I erase my old iPhone that option will go away.

Yeah that is weird. Are you saying both can make calls?
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No. I had a SIM card in one phone and did add cellular on a second phone. The second phone found the SIM card and asked if I wanted to convert it to eSIM. It worked. I now have eSIM from a SIM card.

Wow thats crazy Ive never heard of that happening.

 

[Luba]

Yeah that is weird. Are you saying both can make calls?
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Wow thats crazy Ive never heard of that happening.

Old iPhone can't make calls, it's now like an iPod Touch, but I think the eSIM info is still there such that it could possibly set up eSIM in the new phone. Since everything is working on the new phone along with 5G I don't dare try it and mess things up.

 

[tamaraa]

If you have a prepaid phone account here's what you need to do. Customer Service was no help and the store had no clue either.
1. Have them provide you with a new e sim
2. Scan the QR code on the new device and enter in your phone number in the My Number Space
3. Log into Att.com's prepaid site and go to My Device then Update Device
4.Check the box that says New SIM card and enter in the ICCID(begins with 89) from the new e sim and click continue. you should receive a message that says congratulations your new SIM card has been added.
5. Power your device off and back on and Waalah!

My old e sim and number is now on my new device.