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how do i swap esim between two iphones?

  • April 25, 2026
  • 4 replies
  • 38 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. 

4 replies

MZone
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  • Platinum 
Contributor
  • Answer
  • April 25, 2026

@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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  • iD Mobile Employee
  • April 25, 2026

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 


  • Author
  • New Contributor
  • April 25, 2026

Thanks for your answers, I’ll order a physical sim and manually swap it out between devices. Thanks again. 


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  • iD Mobile Employee
  • April 27, 2026

Hi ​@BoneyMalloney ,

 

Thank you for letting us know. If you need any further assistance, please let us know.

 

Michael Z