how do i swap esim between two iphones?

Forum|Forum|4 months ago
April 25, 2026
4 replies
119 views

I have two iPhones, a new one on contract with ID and my old one. I wish to swap my eSIM between the phones whenever I need to, for example I prefer to take the old iPhone out hiking or cycling etc. when I hold the iPhones next to each other, to swap the eSIM, I get a ‘Contact Service Provider’ message. WHO do I contact? Would I be better just ordering a plastic sim? Thanks.

Best answer by MZone

@BoneyMalloney You can only have 1 active SIM/eSIM for 1 number at anyone time. So if you want to move an eSIM number to another phone you have to order a new eSIM each time and install it on the phone you want to use it on. With a physical SIM you can just pull it out and swap it over.

MZoneAnswer

Platinum  Contributor

@BoneyMalloney You can only have 1 active SIM/eSIM for 1 number at anyone time. So if you want to move an eSIM number to another phone you have to order a new eSIM each time and install it on the phone you want to use it on. With a physical SIM you can just pull it out and swap it over.

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Z

Zandile M

iD Mobile Employee

Hi @BoneyMalloney

Thank you for getting in touch with us.

When you see “Contact Service Provider” during an eSIM transfer, this means the eSIM cannot be moved directly between devices like a physical SIM. With most networks, including ours, an eSIM needs to be deactivated on one device and re-issued/re-downloaded onto the other.

Thank you,

Zandile m

The iD Mobile Team

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