Converting a physical SIM to eSIM frees up your SIM tray for a second SIM card and eliminates the risk of losing a tiny nano-SIM card. Most major carriers now support self-service conversion through phone settings or their app. The process keeps your phone number, plan, and remaining balance intact.
This guide covers which carriers support it and the step-by-step process on each platform.
Step-by-step instructions
- 1
Check if your carrier supports SIM-to-eSIM conversion
Not all carriers offer self-service conversion. In the US, T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon all support it. In Europe, EE, Vodafone, Three, Orange, and Deutsche Telekom support it in most markets.
In Asia-Pacific, NTT Docomo, au (KDDI), SoftBank, Singtel, and Telstra support conversion. Check your carrier's website or app for 'Convert to eSIM' or 'Switch to eSIM' under account settings. If the option is not available online, visit a retail store.
Tip: Carrier-locked devices from some prepaid carriers may not show the conversion option until the device is unlocked.
- 2
Start the conversion on your phone
On iPhone running iOS 16 or later, go to Settings > Cellular > tap your physical SIM line > Convert to eSIM. On Samsung with One UI 5+, go to Settings > Connections > SIM Manager > select the physical SIM > Convert to eSIM. On Pixel with Android 13+, go to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > select your SIM > Convert to eSIM.
Your phone contacts the carrier's provisioning server and downloads the eSIM profile. This takes 1 to 5 minutes.
Tip: Stay connected to Wi-Fi throughout the conversion. If the connection drops mid-process, the conversion may stall and require carrier support to complete.
- 3
Confirm the conversion and test
After the eSIM profile downloads, your phone automatically deactivates the physical SIM. The signal bars should switch from the physical SIM indicator to the eSIM within 30 seconds. Make a test call and send a text to confirm your number works on the eSIM.
Load a webpage to verify data connectivity. Remove the now-deactivated physical SIM from the tray, as it serves no purpose after conversion.
Tip: Keep the deactivated physical SIM in a safe place for 30 days. If the eSIM conversion causes issues, some carriers can reactivate the physical SIM as a temporary rollback while they troubleshoot.
- 4
If the conversion fails or the eSIM does not activate
If the profile does not download within 10 minutes, or the phone shows 'No Service' after conversion, first confirm Wi-Fi is still connected and restart the phone. On iPhone, check Settings > Cellular for a 'Cellular Plan Error' label on the new line; tapping it usually offers a retry option. On Android, remove the incomplete eSIM profile under Settings > Network & internet > SIMs and restart the conversion from the carrier's app.
If a second attempt also fails, contact carrier support directly.
Tip: Write down the exact error message before calling support. Carriers can usually resolve provisioning errors within one call once they see the specific error code.
Frequently asked questions
Can I convert back from eSIM to physical SIM?
Yes, but you need to visit your carrier's store or contact support. They deactivate the eSIM profile and issue a new physical nano-SIM. The process typically takes 15 to 30 minutes in-store. Online reverse conversion is not widely available yet.
Does converting to eSIM change my phone number?
No. Your phone number, plan, data balance, and all account details remain exactly the same. The conversion only changes how the carrier profile is stored on your device, from a removable chip to the embedded chip.
Is there a fee for SIM-to-eSIM conversion?
Most major carriers offer the conversion at no charge. A few prepaid and MVNO carriers charge $5 to $10 for the conversion. Check your carrier's fee schedule before starting.
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