Switching your eSIM from iPhone to Android might get method simpler quickly

Over the previous few years, bodily SIM playing cards have been step by step disappearing, with eSIMs (digital SIM playing cards) taking their place. In 2022, Apple took a daring step ahead in embracing eSIM by completely eliminating the bodily SIM card tray from its iPhones, beginning with the iPhone 14 lineup within the US. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 collection adopted go well with.

Whereas eSIMs are a fast and handy method to hook up with your mobile carrier, one downside is that switching between iPhone and Android is sadly not as handy because it was prior to now, when you might merely take away your SIM card and insert it into your new iPhone or Android system with out a lot trouble.

Nevertheless, transferring an eSIM from an iPhone to an Android system (or vice versa) usually requires you to contact your cell service for a brand new QR code or activation code to your eSIM, which is usually a trouble. Happily, with Android 16 and Apple’s upcoming iOS replace (iOS 19 or iOS 26?), the method might quickly change into a lot easier.

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Android 16 and iOS 19 might make transferring eSIMs seamless

New traces of string within the current Android 16 beta level to a brand new eSIM switch function

Google lately launched its newest Android 16 QPR1 Beta, just some weeks forward of the anticipated launch of Android 16 in June. In some new traces of string (a line of code used to carry textual content) in Google’s eSIM supervisor app, Android Authority noticed language that implies the app might quickly help transferring eSIMs from Android to iPhone and vice versa.

At the moment, the Google eSIM supervisor permits Android customers to switch their eSIM between totally different Android units, to not iPhones. And Apple’s eSIM switch performance solely works between iPhones.

The brand new line of string states, “Make sure that your different system is operating iOS 19 or later variations,” seemingly suggesting that help for wirelessly transferring an eSIM between Android and iOS is certainly being labored on for the most recent variations of every OS.

Primarily based on the road of string, it is believed that with iOS 19, a brand new “Switch to Android” web page will change into out there underneath the iPhone’s switch settings, which might be discovered underneath Settings > Basic > Switch or Reset iPhone. It is not clear how the method will work, nevertheless it might contain scanning a QR code along with your Android that will get generated in your iPhone or by utilizing a session ID and passcode.

With Android 16 anticipated in June and iOS 19 anticipated to launch this fall, it is doubtless that this new eSIM switch function between the 2 working programs will not be launched till the iPhone 17 collection launches alongside iOS 19.

If this new line of string is correct, and a brand new eSIM switch function really will get applied, this may be a large win for customers, as it might make switching between Android units and iPhones a a lot simpler course of. Gone would be the days of getting to contact your cell service for a brand new eSIM activation code or QR code.

Cell carriers will doubtless be blissful about this, because it means much less work on their finish. And for tech fans and tech journalists, it would make their life so much simpler after they’re testing new smartphones and have to switch an eSIM between iOS and Android on the fly. This function ought to’ve been applied years in the past, nevertheless it’s higher late than by no means, I suppose.

Apple will unveil iOS 19 at its annual Worldwide Builders Convention ( WWDC) occasion on June 9, 2025. In keeping with Bloomberg, Apple might announce at WWDC that it’s abandoning its present naming conference for iOS, presumably renaming iOS 19 to iOS 26 to align with its major 12 months of operation, which is technically 2026. Whatever the naming resolution, I hope Apple will announce this eSIM switch function at WWDC.

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