Unlike a physical SIM card, you don't have to wait for anything to arrive in the mail to activate an eSIM. An eSIM is part of your phone's internal hardware, so you always have it on hand. This means you can change plans and providers without the wait. And activating or setting up an eSIM can take just a few minutes.
Both your phone and your telco need to support eSIM and the method can vary slightly depending on either of those factors. But in general, it's quick and easy to set up eSIM on your phone.
Choosing an eSIM plan
Not every provider in Australia offers eSIM plans yet, but at this point it's most of the bigger names. Here are some of the most popular mobile plans from providers in our database that do:
How to activate an eSIM: the basics
When setting up an eSIM for a new plan, you can either follow the instructions from your telco or try to do it all via your phone's built-in menus – or a mixture of both. The phone-specific steps can differ depending on the make and model, so we've covered those in dedicated sections below.
Usually, you'll receive a confirmation and a QR code from your provider that contains the details necessary to set up your eSIM profile. This can sometimes also take the form of a link.
If you're using your phone and only receive a QR code (which you can't scan using that same phone), there's a workaround. Take a screenshot of the QR code and open it in your gallery app. You should be given the option to follow the link, as if you'd scanned it.
If you want switch to eSIM on your current plan, you'll need to request this with your telco, at which point you should receive similar setup instructions.
The instructions can differ based on what phone you have. Activating eSIM on an iPhone is usually pretty straightforward. On Android, it can be bit more of a diverse experience because the various brands don't necessarily follow the same process.
How to set up eSIM on iPhone
All iPhones from the XS/XR series (released in 2018) and newer are eSIM compatible. You can set up an eSIM using a variety of methods, but we'll just cover the most straightforward one.
- Open the Settings app
- Tap Mobile
- Tap Add eSIM followed by Use QR Code
- Scan the QR code provided by your telco. If you're doing this on your phone tap and hold the QR code to scan it. If the QR code won't work, you can tap Enter Details Manually at the bottom of the screen. Follow the prompts including selecting your default number.
Note: For iPhone models earlier than iPhone 14 you will need to be connected to a Wi-Fi network to activate eSIM.
How to set up eSIM on Android
Samsung's flagship phones have supported eSIM since the launch of the Galaxy S20 series (released in 2020), and the Fold and Flip models (released in 2019). Google's Pixel has supported eSIM since the Pixel 3a in 2019. Together, these two brands make up the vast majority of the Android phone market in Australia.
If you have an Android phone from a different manufacturer, it might follow Google's process. But that's by no means guaranteed, so you might need to look up the steps on your phone manufacturer's website.
Here's how to activate an eSIM via a Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel phone:
- Open the Settings app
- Tap Connections followed by SIM card manager
- Under eSIMS, tap Add mobile plan or Add eSIM, followed by Scan carrier QR code
- Scan the QR code provided by your telco and follow the prompts. If you're doing this on your phone (and therefore can't scan the code), you can take a screenshot and, when viewed in your gallery app, you should be given an option to open the link.
- Open the Settings app
- Tap Network & Internet, then SIMS, Add SIM, and Set up an eSIM
- At this point, a set of instructions should appear that you can follow
Note: If you're prompted to scan a QR code, but can't do so because you're using your phone, take a screenshot and, when viewed in your gallery app, you should be given an option to open the link.
How to transfer eSIM between phones
One of the few disadvantages of eSIM technology is you can't just remove the old SIM and slot it into a new phone. This means it's more difficult to move your existing eSIM profile to a different handset.
The eSIM profile exists as software on your old phone, and only one phone can be registered to it at a time. You'll need to follow instructions from your telco to transfer your existing eSIM to the new handset.
And remember, you can only transfer between eSIM-enabled devices. But this includes most flagship phones from Apple, Samsung and Google released in the last five years, plus plenty of models from other manufacturers.
We'll outline the transfer process for a few common devices below.
Transfer an eSIM to a new iPhone
Transferring eSIM to a new iPhone is different depending on what your old phone is.
If your provider supports Apple's "Quick Transfer", you can transfer an eSIM between two iPhones without your provider's assistance – as long as both iPhones are using iOS 16 or later. Telstra, Vodafone, and Optus all support Quick Transfer. Smaller telcos might as well, but you'll need to check on a case by case basis.
The Quick Transfer process is usually simple, with an option to "Transfer from Nearby iPhone" during the set-up process.
If you skipped this step when setting up your phone, you can still do it via these steps:
- Open the Settings app of the new iPhone
- Tap Mobile
- Tap Add eSIM or Set Up Mobile
- Choose a plan to transfer from the old iPhone to your new one, then follow the instructions that appear on your old iPhone.
- If you're prompted to Finish Setting Up Your Carrier's Mobile Plan, tap the banner. You'll be taken to your provider's website and asked to complete additional steps to finish the transfer.
If your telco doesn't support Quick Transfer of you're transferring eSIM from an Android phone to a new iPhone, you'll need to contact your provider. You'll likely end up transferring your number via an eSIM Carrier Activation or by scanning a QR code, which will be sent to you by said provider. In either case, you should receive additional instructions you can follow.
Transfer an eSIM to a new Samsung Galaxy
To transfer an existing eSIM to a new Samsung Galaxy phone, the steps are similar as those we've already outlined, but with an important difference: you'll need to choose the option called "Transfer SIM from another device", instead of the option to "Scan carrier QR code".
Here's the full set of steps:
- On the new phone, open the Settings app
- Tap Connections, followed by SIM manager
- Under eSIMs, tap Add mobile plan or Add eSIM
- Select Transfer SIM from another device and follow the prompts
Transfer an eSIM between other Android phones
If you're going from one Android device to another, you can usually transfer your eSIM as part of the onboarding process – this is when all of your data and apps are copied from your old device to the new one. If so, you'll be prompted to do this during setup.
- Follow the standard setup prompts
- When prompted, choose the eSIM profile you want to transfer
- Tap Transfer, then Activate
- Wait for eSIM activation to complete and follow any additional prompts
How to convert a physical SIM to eSIM
Some providers offer the option to swap your existing physical SIM for an eSIM. This essentially deactivates the profile associated with the physical SIM card and creates a new eSIM profile for the same mobile number.
Most of the time, this has to be done through your provider, either via the official app or by contacting your telco directly.
iPhone users can sometimes skip contacting their provider, assuming said provider supports this feature.
On an iPhone, open the Settings app. Tap Mobile, then Set Up Mobile or Add eSIM. Choose the physical SIM (identified by its phone number), tap Convert to eSIM and follow any subsequent instructions.
eSIM setup FAQs
Can I activate eSIM myself?
Yes, generally you can activate eSIM yourself with a QR code from your provider. In some cases, you might need to order a new eSIM profile and then contact your telco's support. Kogan for example says if you lose your device or purchase a new one you'll need to order a new eSIM and call customer care to move the existing service to the new eSIM.
How long does it take to activate an eSIM?
For most people, the process should be fairly quick. As an example, Optus says activation may take up to 15 minutes or in some cases up to 4 hours. This is the same as a physical SIM. Activations can only take place during certain hours of the day - which is also standard practice for both SIM types.
While activation is similar to a physical SIM you do save time by not having to wait for a physical SIM to arrive or having to pick one up in-store.
What is an eSIM profile?
An eSIM profile is the software and associated information (such as your mobile number and personal details) that allows you to connect to your provider's network. The eSIM profile data is stored in an eSIM chip, which is part of your phone's built-in hardware. Technically, the chip is the "eSIM", but this term is also often used interchangeably with "eSIM profile".
Can I convert physical SIM to eSIM myself?
Yes, on some devices you may see the option to convert your physical SIM to an eSIM. In some cases, you might need to contact your telco for assistance.
Can I use one eSIM on two devices?
No, like a physical SIM card, an eSIM profile can only be active on one device at a time. However, you can have multiple active eSIM profiles on one device. The limit is usually two eSIM numbers active at once, depending on the make and model of the phone.
How do you install an eSIM?
You don't need to physically install an eSIM because it's a built-in part of your phone's hardware. It gets rewritten with a new eSIM profile each time you change providers or plans, just as if you'd swapped out one physical SIM card for another. And most phones can store up to two eSIM profiles at a time, as if you had two physical SIM cards installed. If your phone doesn't have an eSIM, that's unfortunately not something you can change.
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SOURCES
1. Apple Support. "Set up eSIM on iPhone". As at October 2026.
2. Apple Support. "Find wireless service providers and worldwide providers that offer eSIM service on iPhone". As at October 2026.
3. Apple Support. "iPhone User Guide". As at October 2026.
4. Google Help. "Set up a new eSIM". As at October 2026.
5. Google Help. "Transfer a SIM to a new phone". As at October 2026.
6. GSM Association. "What is eSIM for Consumer and IoT?". As at October 2026.
7. Samsung. "How do I install a Nano-SIM card and eSIM on my Galaxy device?". As at October 2026.
These are the most popular mobile phone plans with our readers right now that support eSIM, sourced from our database of 28 mobile providers:
Dylan Crismale
Digital Content Editor
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