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How to Convert Your Physical SIM to eSIM on iPhone and Android

Fortunately, converting a physical SIM to an eSIM is a relatively easy process. Before you get started, you have to make sure your new phone accepts eSIMs.

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(CNET): You’re probably already familiar with the SIM card, a tiny chip in your phone that connects it to your cell phone carrier of choice.

For years, this chip was on a physical card that you could swap in and out by ejecting a SIM card tray from your phone.

Most modern phones, however, also support eSIMs.

Instead of a physical card, eSIMs are embedded directly into the phone’s circuitry and the carrier information is programmed remotely via software.

This allows for a few conveniences, such as letting you try out service on a new carrier without needing to get a physical SIM in the mail or at a store.

The problem arrives if you want to convert an existing physical SIM card to an eSIM.

You might want to do so if a new phone is eSIM-only or if you want to load multiple eSIMs in a single device.

Or perhaps you just don’t want to deal with the hassle of swapping physical cards in and out of devices any more.

Fortunately, converting a physical SIM to an eSIM is a relatively easy process. Before you get started, you have to make sure your new phone accepts eSIMs.

As we mentioned earlier, most modern phones do. All iPhones since the iPhone XS and XR support eSIM, and in the US, the iPhone 14 and newer are eSIM-only.

Most Android phones also include eSIM support, including the Google Pixel 6 and later along with the Samsung Galaxy S21 and later.

eSIM on an iPhone

There are a few different ways to convert a physical SIM to an eSIM on an iPhone.

Here’s how to do it if you’re converting a physical SIM to an eSIM on the same iPhone (that means the phone needs to support both).

1. Open Settings, then select Cellular.Then, if your carrier allows it, you’ll see an option that says Convert to eSIM. If you don’t see it, then your carrier likely does not support this action.

2. Tap Convert Cellular Plan.

3. Tap Convert to eSIM. Your eSIM will now activate. If, on the other hand, your transferring a physical SIM to an eSIM on a completely different iPhone, here’s how to do it.

  1. On your new iPhone,
  2. 1. go to Settings,
  3. 2. then choose Cellular.Scroll down until you see Add eSIM.
  4. 3. Select it.Then you have two choices. One is Transfer From a Nearby Phone, which requires both handsets to have iOS 16 or newer.
  5. If you select that, you’ll follow the instructions on your previous iPhone.
  6. 4 You can then select Transfer to confirm and then enter a verification code.
  7. Obviously this only works if both phones are iPhones.Another option is to Use a QR Code.
  8. This is what you would use if a QR Code is provided by your carrier, or if your previous phone was a non-Apple handset.
  9. To scan the code, you open up the Camera app and point it at the QR Code.
  10. Tap the Cellular Plan Detected notification. If using an iPhone with iOS 17.4 or later, you can touch and hold the QR code and then tap Add eSIM.
  11. Go ahead and follow the on-screen instructions, hit Continue and tap Add Cellular Plan.
  12. Alternatively, you can also choose to enter in the eSIM details manually if your carrier provided them.
  13. If you want to do that, you can select Settings, then Cellular, then Add Cellular Plan and then tap Enter Details Manually.eSIM on an Android phone.
  14. The process of converting a physical SIM to an eSIM on Android can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
  15. The most surefire way to do so is to simply contact your carrier and tell them you’re switching to an eSIM.
  16. They’ll then either walk you through the process manually or send you a QR code. If they do send a QR code, here’s how to add it to your phone.Go to Settings.
  17. Then tap either Connections or Network & Internet.
  18. Select Sim Manager or SIMS.Tap Add mobile plan or Download SIM card or Add SIM.
  19. Then follow the on-screen instructions and scan the QR code when prompted.
  20. If you have a Samsung device, however, the process is a little more straightforward.
  21. Here’s how to do it on a Samsung.
  22. Launch Setting.
  23. Then tap Connections.
  24. Select SIM card manager.
  25. Choose your SIM (If you only have a physical SIM, it’ll just be the only one listed).
  26. Tap Convert to eSIM.
  27. Follow the on-screen instructions and then you’re done.
  28. We should note that different carriers might have different ways of adding a new eSIM to your device.
  29. If you run into any problems when doing so, please contact them directly. And if you are transferring from an iPhone to an Android phone or vice-versa, you’ll need to contact your carrier to get their assistance with making the transition.
  30. If you want to learn more about eSIMs and if they’re better or worse than physical cards, then please check our eSIM guide which goes into more depth on the pros and cons of each.
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Sanwo-Olu swears in elected LG chairmen, vice chairmen

The state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, swore in the officials at Lagos House, Ikeja, on Sunday.

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The newly elected chairmen and vice chairmen of the 20 local government areas and 37 local development areas of Lagos State have been sworn in.

The state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, swore in the officials at Lagos House, Ikeja, on Sunday.

The council chairmen and councillors emerged following the July 12, 2025, elections held in the state.

The state Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Bolaji Robert, congratulated the council chairmen on their emergence.

He said: ” Your victories at the polls are a testament to your grassroots appeal and the confidence the people have reposed in you.

“The credibility of your emergence, anchored on transparency and broad-based support, is what has culminated in the swearing-in exercise we are gathered here to witness today,” he said.

Robert also commended Sanwo-Olu for promoting grassroots democracy, noting that his leadership ensured the implementation of all necessary measures for a peaceful, transparent, and credible local government election.

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VIDEO: Tears As Students’s Hostel Collapses

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A building collapse occurred at Pentagon Lodge near the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, Ebonyi State on Friday.

Students witnessed the incident, with one student captured on video expressing concern over the lodge’s collapse, saying, “See my lodge is falling, all my properties are inside.

”A video clip of the incident, seen by Naija News House , showed the moment the three-storey building collapsed.

As of the time of filing this report, it was not clear whether there were causalities as details of the collapse are still emerging.

A student, also said that students in that particular lodge had earlier noticed the cracks on the walls and some had already moved out of the facility before the collapse.

“Only properties inside the building are likely those of students that traveled out of the town,” the source said.

Recently there were reports of building collapses in Ebonyi State, including a three-storey building under construction near the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital.

In the construction building collapse, two persons were trapped and later rescued, with one labourer escaping due to stepping out to wash his hands before the collapse.

Sequel to the building collapses, the Ebonyi State government had established a special investigative committee to determine the causes of such incidents and prevent future occurrences.

The committee’s findings and recommendations aim to improve building standards and enforcement in the state.

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FG denies 12 Years Minimum Entry Age Into JSS1

Boriowo urged the public and education stakeholders to disregard any contrary claims.

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The Federal Government has debunked a report claiming that the minimum age for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1) has been raised to 12 years.

The Ministry of Education Director of Press, Folasade Boriowo, made this known via a statement issued on Friday, July 25, 2025.

Boriowo said the report was inaccurate, noting that it did not come from any official source and did not reflect government policy.Boriowo stated: “For the avoidance of doubt, the minimum age for admission into JSS1 remains 10 years.

“No child should complete primary education below the age of 10.”

Boriowo urged the public and education stakeholders to disregard any contrary claims.

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