Transfer eSim between current iPhone and new iPhone

[MarkF]

My current iPhone uses an eSIm. I have ordered a new phone (from Apple, not O2) and I will need to transfer the eSIM from my current phone to the new one.

I have read that you need to visit and O2 shop in order to get a new eSIM to use in the new phone even though I am keeping the same number and staying with the same network. I wasn't sure if this was out-of-date information.

Is it really the case that this is the process for transferring eSIMs?? 

[MI5 · Accepted solution]

@MarkF 

Yes it is correct.

You need a new esim pack and then you do a sim swap Guide: Sim Swap: a mini guide 2017 update 

[jimthing0]

How easy is it currently to move an O2 eSim from an iPhone to another iPhone? Apple's new iOS 16 seems to make this easier or something...? 

Is it still much quicker/easier to move the eSim back onto a p-sim, then move it to the new iPhone, then move it back from pSim to eSim? 

I seem to remember that moving your eSim to a new phone can take ages (like 24h or something?), compared to a pSim that can simply be popped straight into the new phone in minutes. 

So what's the deal with these on O2 currently? Good experience or still slow? 

[jimthing0]

(related thread: E-sim from iPhone to iPhone: quick/easy? )

[jimthing0]

I can confirm: you need a NEW eSim pack (from an O2 store or posted to you) when moving eSim from device1 to device2. 

Using your old eSim pack's barcode/QR code doesn't work when moving to a completely new device. While it should be near-instant most of the time, sim-swaps occasionally take a few hours, and rarely a maximum of 24h. 

(Been to nearby O2 store today, and they confirmed this.) 

[jonsie]

As explained by @MI5 

[jimthing0]

I confirmed it, by actually checking what happens now TODAY. As things change, and O2 staff continually get the answer wrong. 

[MI5]

I'm not staff

[jonsie]

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@jimthing0 wrote:

......As things change, and O2 staff continually get the answer wrong. 

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No change there, that is fairly constant with O2 staff who simply have insufficient training!

[stphnwrd]

I'm going through this process at the moment. I transferred my old iPhone to a new iPhone using the Transfer function, not realising the esim is not included in the transfer. After the transfer was complete, I reset my old iPhone and my mobile number was deactivated. I called O2 and was told the only thing to do was go into an O2 shop with ID and ask for an esim pack. I did this but the person in the shop had to call customer service who said they would have to post a new physical sim with my number on it. There was nothing they could do in the shop!

It's been 4 days without mobile service and I'm still waiting for that sim to arrive!