Short answer: A direct Android-to-iPhone eSIM transfer is a conditional feature, not a default. Apple says that with iOS 26 and later, "some carriers and select smartphone manufacturers support transferring your SIM from Android to iPhone." You need a supported carrier, an iPhone 11 or later on iOS 26 or later, a compatible Android phone on Android 16 or later that its manufacturer confirms, and both phones on Wi-Fi with Bluetooth on. If your pair doesn’t qualify, Apple’s route is to contact your carrier to activate the eSIM.
Scope: Apple’s support article "Transfer your eSIM from Android to iPhone" (published September 17, 2026), checked October 10, 2026 (09:32 KST). This guide is for English-speaking buyers planning a switch from Android. We haven’t bought, set up or transferred any phone or line for this article, and nothing here says that a specific phone pair, carrier account or country will work.
Eligibility table
| Check | What Apple’s page states | Your evidence |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone model and iOS | "An iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max or later with iOS 26 or later" | UNKNOWN |
| Android model and OS | "A compatible Android smartphone with Android 16 or later," with compatibility checked with the manufacturer | UNKNOWN |
| Carrier | Must be on Apple’s supported carrier list | UNKNOWN |
| Wi-Fi and Bluetooth | Both phones connected to Wi-Fi, with Bluetooth enabled | UNKNOWN |
Each row is its own test. Android 16 on its own doesn’t settle the Android row: Apple tells you to "check with your smartphone manufacturer."
The carrier list is dated and narrow
On the day we checked, Apple listed these US carriers: AT&T, Cricket, FirstNet, T-Mobile, Verizon and Xfinity Mobile. The page also lists carriers in some other countries, so open it for your market rather than relying on this summary.
Being on that list is one condition, not a guarantee. Apple pairs it with "select smartphone manufacturers," so your Android model still has to be compatible. If your country or carrier isn’t listed, that only means Apple’s page doesn’t list it for this feature; Apple’s page says to contact your carrier to activate your eSIM.
Before-buy worksheet
Fill this in before you pay. Leave a cell UNKNOWN until you’ve checked it. Don’t write your IMEI, EID, phone number or any pairing code here.
| Item | Your entry |
|---|---|
| iPhone model, region and iOS version it will run | UNKNOWN |
| Android model and Android version | UNKNOWN |
| Carrier and country | UNKNOWN |
| Manufacturer statement that your Android model is compatible | UNKNOWN |
| Carrier confirmation for your line and account | UNKNOWN |
| Date you checked | UNKNOWN |
| Question still open (and who you asked) | UNKNOWN |
Read this before you start: the old SIM stops
Apple says: "After you transfer your eSIM to your new iPhone, the SIM on your Android deactivates." Plan for the Android phone to lose that line once the transfer is complete. Don’t count on both phones keeping it.
If your pair qualifies, Apple documents two places to start: during new iPhone setup, or later in the Settings app. The Settings route, in outline:
- Place the phones next to each other so you can see prompts on both.
- On the iPhone, open Settings, tap Set Up Cellular, then Transfer from Android (or Cellular, then Add eSIM, then Transfer from Android if the iPhone already has another SIM).
- The iPhone shows a QR code. Scan it with the Android camera. If scanning doesn’t work, Apple describes "Other Options" using a session ID and pairing code.
- On the Android, select the phone number to transfer and tap Transfer.
- If asked, tap Yes to use the transferred SIM as your primary eSIM.
- When the transfer is complete, tap Done on the iPhone and then OK.
Follow the prompts on Apple’s current page rather than this outline; the steps are Apple’s, not something we ran.
If it doesn’t connect, or the pair isn’t supported
Apple suggests: "Make a phone call on your iPhone to check its cellular connectivity. If you can’t make a call, contact your carrier." That’s Apple’s check, not a test we performed. If neither method works, Apple’s advice is the same: "contact your carrier."
The page gives no time estimate and says nothing about fees, so neither do we.
FAQ
Is Android 16 enough on its own? No. Apple also requires a compatible Android model, confirmed by the manufacturer, plus a supported carrier and an eligible iPhone on iOS 26 or later.
If my carrier is listed, will my phone pair work? Not necessarily. The carrier list is one condition; Apple says only "select smartphone manufacturers" support the feature.
Will both phones keep the line? Apple says the SIM on your Android deactivates after the transfer to your new iPhone.
What if my pair isn’t supported? Apple says to contact your carrier to activate your eSIM.
What about fees, travel eSIMs or moving apps and photos? Out of scope. Apple’s eSIM transfer page doesn’t explain them (it links a separate guide for moving data), so ask your carrier or check that Apple guide.
Before you buy
Keep the worksheet, confirm compatibility with your Android manufacturer and your carrier, and reopen Apple’s page on the day you switch. No link on this page is an offer or an affiliate link.
Source (checked October 10, 2026, 09:32 KST)
- Apple Support, "Transfer your eSIM from Android to iPhone" (published September 17, 2026): https://support.apple.com/en-us/123878