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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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FG Initiates Tax Reforms Reporting Award for Journalists and Others

The competition, attracting 1st Prize: ₦10m | 2nd Prize: ₦5m | 3rd Prize: ₦3m | Consolation prize of ₦m for top 20 finalists, is open to all Nigerian journalists across print, broadcast, and online platforms, as well as digital influencers, bloggers, and podcasters.

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Taiwo Oyedele, the Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee has unveiled the Excellence in Tax Reform Reporting Award to recognise and reward journalists and online influencers who provide balanced, accurate, and impactful reporting on Nigeria’s ongoing tax reforms.

Oyedele made this know during an interactive session on Tuesday with journalists and online influencers on Nigeria’s new tax reform laws.

At the event held in Abuja, he emphasised that the Award aims to foster constructive public discourse, counter misinformation, and promote journalism that explains reforms in a manner that citizens can trust and understand.

The competition, attracting 1st Prize: ₦10m | 2nd Prize: ₦5m | 3rd Prize: ₦3m | Consolation prize of ₦m for top 20 finalists, is open to all Nigerian journalists across print, broadcast, and online platforms, as well as digital influencers, bloggers, and podcasters.

They are to submit published work between 1 July – 31 December 2025, in English, Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo, or Yoruba.

“It was an excellent opportunity to clarify misconceptions and deepen public understanding of the reforms,” said Oyedele.

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I’ve been banned from US — Soyinka

Soyinka stressed that he had never engaged in any criminal activity or violated U.S. laws to warrant such action.

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Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has disclosed that his United States of America visa has been revoked, meaning he cannot enter the country.

Soyinka made the revelation on Tuesday, while addressing journalists at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island.

“It is necessary for me to hold this conference so that people in the United States, who are expecting me for this event or that event, do not waste their time,” the literary icon said.

“I have no visa; I am banned, obviously, from the United States. And if you want to see me, you know where to find me.”

Soyinka said that he was informed of the development by the U.S. Consulate through an official letter dated October 23, 2025, noting that he was unaware of any reason for the decision.

The letter read in part, “This letter serves as official notification by the United States Consulate General in Lagos that the nonimmigrant visa listed below has been revoked pursuant to the authority contained in U.S. Department of State regulations.

”Soyinka stressed that he had never engaged in any criminal activity or violated U.S. laws to warrant such action.

“I’m still looking into my past history… I don’t have any criminal record or even a misdemeanour to qualify for the revocation,” he said.

“I keep asking myself — have I ever misbehaved toward the United States of America? Have I gone against the law anywhere?”

He did not specify whether he had applied for a new visa or challenged the decision.

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Kanu Declines to Open Defence, Insists no Case Against him

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………..Judge Advises Kanu to Consult Expert on Criminal Law

The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has declined to open his defence in his ongoing trial, insisting that the Federal Government has no valid charges against him.

At Monday’s proceedings before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Kanu informed the court that, after finally receiving and reviewing his case file, he found no basis for the charges brought against him. He therefore requested one week to file a written address instead of calling witnesses as earlier planned.

However, lead prosecutor Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, strongly objected to the request, noting that the court had already granted the defendant six days to conclude his defence—two of which had elapsed. Awomolo argued that Kanu was fully aware of the charges since his plea was taken and witnesses were cross-examined, stressing that the matter could not be allowed to drag indefinitely.

The prosecution urged the court to deem Kanu’s refusal to open his defence as a conclusion of the case and to proceed to judgment.

Justice Omotosho cautioned Kanu about the risks of representing himself, describing him as a “layman” in legal practice and advising him to seek counsel from someone versed in criminal law. The court also reminded him that the issue of his extraordinary rendition from Kenya had already been resolved and was no longer relevant to the current trial.

In the interest of justice, Justice Omotosho granted Kanu’s request and adjourned the case until Tuesday, November 4, for either the opening of his defence or the adoption of his written address on his claim that the Federal Government has no case to answer.

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