E-sim from iPhone to iPhone: quick/easy?

[jimthing0]

How easy is it currently to move an O2 e-sim from an iPhone to another iPhone? 

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

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

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

[MI5]

Security feature I guess to prevent someone else stealing your number.

[jimthing0]

Sure, but given Apple have the new system on that support doc, you would think O2 would support it, as it's just as secure. 

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT212780 

"You can activate your eSIM while you're setting up your iPhone if your network provider supports eSIM Network Provider Activation or eSIM Quick Transfer."

So does O2 do this "eSIM Quick Transfer" or not? That's the million dollar question. 

[MI5]

Not that we are aware of currently @jimthing0 

[jimthing0]

Firstly, I just chatted with O2. They support NEITHER facility: 

- "eSIM Network Provider Activation" – for (carrier-obtained iPhone) new eSIM activations. 

nor

- "eSIM Quick Transfer" – for current eSIM users device swaps. 

Secondly, I then found this, that also confirms they DO NOT: 

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT209096 

Ridiculous, quite frankly.

So I have to either traipse down to an O2 store or phone them to get a sodding old-fashioned barcode eSIM pack, just to eSIM-swap devices. Not great, as I'm really busy. 

----------------- 

EDIT: I found my old barcode/QR code card: can we use that...insead of having to get a *new* eSIM pack with a new barcode/QR code card on it?

[MI5]

@jimthing0 

Sadly not.

You can use the original barcode to reinstall the esim on the same phone up to 3 times, but not for a phone transfer.

[jimthing0]

The O2 CS agent I did an online chat with said exactly the opposite, and has it COMPLETELY WRONG. Quelle surprise.! 🙄

As usual a simple yes/no answer was too simple for them, they were clearly bluffing their way through the chat, only eventually saying I COULD use my OLD one after being pressed to clarify

– thus even then getting it entirely wrong, as you CANNOT! 

See the red box on PAGE 2 where they say entirely the wrong info: 

• Links in above chat: 

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT209096 

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT212780 

https://www.o2.co.uk/help/device-and-sim-support/esim – under "Upgrading your device with esim" it clearly says: "When you upgrade to a new esim device, you'll also need to get a new 4G or 5G esim pack."

Why can't O2 CS staff get such basic information correct. This is the most basic of things they should easily know. Pfft! 🙄 

[jimthing0]

Well I cut work short to drag myself to a nearby O2 store, and yes you need a NEW eSIM pack. 

I grabbed two, to be sure. They did say it's normally near-instant the swap, so we'll see on Friday how long it actually takes. 

Only EE currently offer the new Apple options: 

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT209096 

• "eSIM Network Provider Activation" – for (carrier-obtained iPhone) new eSIM activations.
• "eSIM Quick Transfer" – for current eSIM users device swaps. 

Thanks all! 

[gmarkj]

Given the number of queries that are going to be flying about with the new iPhone launch @Martin-O2 @RafaC @Breanna @Chris_K , it would seem as though the CS advisors could do with some re-training or having updated crib sheets.

Can you pass this back to o2?

[Breanna]

Morning @gmarkj thanks for flagging us. We'll definitely feed this back to O2.

[jimthing0]

WARNING: you definitely need a NEW eSIM pack to set-up a NEW device.

I set-up my new iPhone 14 PM this morning (paid in-full, from Apple online). I sim-swapped to a new eSIM using a new eSIM pack I got from recent O2 store visit. But after an hour, the number was still not working on the new phone or old phone (called it from my partners phone, and it said "sorry cannot connect you at this time"). 

So I called O2. The first agent was utterly clueless, telling me I needed to use the *old* eSIM pack's SSN, even after I pointed out this was entirely not what the Help section says for new device use. He then said he couldn't see the SSN for the new eSIM either, and that I needed to go to a store as they are the only ones who can activate new eSIM pack SSN's in store?! Utter rubbish, so I hung-up after a while as is was evident he was clueless. 

Redialled and the next agent checked the *new* eSIM pack's SSN was set-up and I re-called it form my partner's device again, and it was working on the new iPhone. 

So be aware: you still need a NEW eSIM pack to set-up a NEW device, regardless of if you get a clueless O2 CS agent telling you otherwise. And no, you do NOT need to go to a store to set it up either.