How to Move Your Phone Number and Service From iPhone to Samsung

What happens when you switch from iPhone to Samsung

When you move from an iPhone to a Samsung phone, your phone number and cellular service don't automatically follow. Your carrier — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or another provider — holds your number and service in a digital profile called an eSIM (embedded SIM). On iPhone, this profile lives in the phone's built-in chip. On Samsung, you can use either an eSIM or a physical SIM card, depending on your phone model and carrier.

The transfer process depends on which type of SIM your Samsung phone uses and whether your carrier supports eSIM on Samsung devices. Most major carriers now support eSIM transfers, but the exact steps vary. Some carriers let you move the eSIM yourself through their app or website. Others require you to contact them directly.

The key difference from switching between iPhones: you cannot straightforward restore from a backup. You must tell your carrier to move your service to the new phone, and you may need to choose between using an eSIM or ordering a physical SIM card for your Samsung.

Key Takeaways

Your carrier controls your phone number and service, not your phone — you must contact them or use their app to move service to your Samsung.
Most Samsung phones support eSIM, but some older models or certain carrier variants only accept physical SIM cards.
Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile all support eSIM transfers to Samsung, but the process differs slightly for each carrier.
If your Samsung does not support eSIM, your carrier can mail you a physical SIM card, which takes three to five business days.
Keep your iPhone powered on and in range of Wi-Fi or cellular until the transfer is complete, in case your carrier needs to contact you.

Check whether your Samsung phone supports eSIM

Not all Samsung phones support eSIM. Most newer models do — including the Galaxy S24, S23, S22, S21, and newer A-series phones — but some regional variants or older models only work with physical SIM cards. The fastest way to know is to check your phone's settings before you contact your carrier.

On your new Samsung phone, open Settings, then tap Connections (or Network & Internet on some models), then SIM Manager or Mobile Networks. If you see an option to add an eSIM or a section labeled "eSIM", your phone supports it. If you only see options for a physical SIM slot, you will need a physical SIM card instead.

You can also check Samsung's official specifications for your exact model number, or call your carrier's support line with your phone model and ask whether they support eSIM on that device. This takes two minutes and prevents you from starting a transfer process that will not work on your phone.

Transfer your eSIM through your carrier's app or website

If your Samsung supports eSIM and your carrier offers self-service eSIM transfer, this is the fastest route — usually taking 15 minutes to an hour. Each major carrier has a different process, but all of them let you start on a computer or tablet, then complete the transfer on your new Samsung phone.

Verizon: Go to verizon.com, sign in to your account, and look for "Manage Devices" or "Switch Devices". Select your new Samsung phone and choose "Transfer eSIM". Verizon will send you a QR code to scan with your new phone's camera, or you can enter a confirmation code manually. The transfer completes within minutes.

AT&T: Open the AT&T mobile app on your iPhone or a computer, go to "My Account", then "Manage Devices", and select "Switch to a New Device". Choose your Samsung phone and follow the prompts to transfer your eSIM. AT&T will display a QR code or confirmation number that you enter on your new phone. This usually takes 15 to 30 minutes.

T-Mobile: Use the T-Mobile app or go to t-mobile.com, sign in, and select "Switch Devices" under "Account". Choose your new Samsung and request an eSIM transfer. T-Mobile sends a QR code that you scan on your new phone, or you can use a confirmation code. The transfer is typically when ready, but service may take a few minutes to set up.

During the transfer, your iPhone will lose cellular service once the eSIM is removed from it. Keep your iPhone on Wi-Fi so you can finish any final steps or contact your carrier if something goes wrong. Do not power off either phone until the transfer shows as complete in your carrier's app.

Request a physical SIM card if your Samsung does not support eSIM

If your Samsung phone does not have eSIM capability, you will need a physical SIM card. Contact your carrier by phone, through their app, or in person at a store and tell them you are switching to a new Samsung phone that does not support eSIM. Ask them to mail you a replacement SIM card for your new phone.

Most carriers mail physical SIM cards at no charge, and delivery takes three to five business days. Some carriers, like Verizon and AT&T, let you pick up a SIM card at a retail store the same day if you cannot wait. When the SIM arrives, power off your new Samsung, insert the card into the SIM slot (usually on the side of the phone), and power it back on. Service activates within a few minutes.

Before you request the physical SIM, make sure you know your Samsung's SIM card size. Most modern Samsung phones use nano-SIM (the smallest size), but some older models use micro-SIM. Your carrier can confirm the correct size when you call, or you can check your phone's manual or Samsung's website.

What to do if the transfer fails or takes too long

If your eSIM transfer stalls or your new phone does not show service after an hour, contact your carrier's support line. Have your new Samsung's phone number (if it is visible in settings) and your account PIN ready. The carrier can check whether the transfer completed on their end and manually set up service if needed.

If your carrier's app shows an error during the QR code scan, try these steps: restart your new Samsung phone, make sure it is connected to Wi-Fi, and try scanning the QR code again. If the code has expired (usually after 10 to 15 minutes), go back to your carrier's app or website and request a new code.

If you switched your iPhone's eSIM to your Samsung but your iPhone still shows service, the transfer may not have completed fully. Power off your iPhone completely and leave it off for at least 10 minutes. Then power it back on. If it still shows service, contact your carrier — they may need to manually remove the eSIM from your iPhone's account.

Restore your data and settings after the transfer

Once your eSIM or physical SIM is active on your Samsung, your phone number and cellular service are working. Now you can restore your contacts, photos, and other data. Samsung phones do not restore from iPhone backups directly, so you have a few options.

The easiest method is to use Samsung Smart Switch, a free app that transfers contacts, photos, messages, and some app data from iPhone to Samsung. read Smart Switch on your new Samsung from the Google Play Store, open it, select "Receive Data", choose "iPhone", and follow the on-screen steps. You can transfer over Wi-Fi or by connecting both phones with a cable.

Alternatively, you can manually copy your contacts by signing into your Google account on your new Samsung — any contacts saved to your Google account will sync automatically. Photos stored in Google Photos or iCloud can also be accessed on your Samsung by signing into those accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my iPhone's physical SIM card in my Samsung?

Only if your Samsung has a physical SIM slot and your iPhone's SIM card is the same size (nano-SIM). However, most carriers recommend requesting a new SIM card when you switch phones, because the old card may not set up properly on a different device. Contact your carrier to confirm whether your current SIM will work on your Samsung.

What happens to my iPhone after I transfer the eSIM?

Your iPhone will no longer have cellular service once the eSIM is transferred to your Samsung. It can still connect to Wi-Fi and receive calls or texts through apps like iMessage or WhatsApp, but it will not have a phone number for regular calls or texts. You can keep using it as a Wi-Fi device or factory reset it before selling or recycling it.

Do I need to tell my carrier I am switching phones?

If you use your carrier's app or website to transfer the eSIM yourself, you do not need to call — the transfer notifies them automatically. If you are ordering a physical SIM card, you must contact your carrier to request it. Either way, it is a good idea to keep your iPhone powered on until the transfer is fully complete, in case your carrier needs to reach you.

How long does the eSIM transfer take?

Self-service eSIM transfers through your carrier's app or website usually take 15 minutes to an hour. Service may set up when ready or take a few minutes. If you order a physical SIM card by mail, expect three to five business days for delivery, plus a few minutes for set up once you insert it into your Samsung.

Can I transfer my eSIM back to my iPhone later?

Yes. If you switch back to an iPhone, you can transfer the eSIM from your Samsung to the iPhone using the same process — through your carrier's app or website. Your carrier will send you a QR code or confirmation code to scan on your iPhone, and the transfer takes 15 minutes to an hour.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.