topic Re: New IPhone - switch from physical sim to Esim in Get Support

New IPhone - switch from physical sim to Esim

PaulBDunn — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 22:51:18 GMT

Hello folks,

My wife is getting a new IPhone 17 Pro Max which will only have an option for an Esim. Her cuurrent phone is an IPhone 14 Pro Max with a physical sim.

Is it a 1 step process to activate the new phone and convert to an eSim? or am I better off converting her current IPhone 14 to an Esim prior to trying to activate the new phone?

Thanks

Paul

Re: New IPhone - switch from physical sim to Esim

hTideGnow — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 22:54:57 GMT

hi @PaulBDunn

eSIM cannot be transferred. So, there is no point to convert the physical sim on iPhone 14 to esim

so, you just need to activate the new phone first. After it is activated, download PM app, login and go to Account to Purchase sim card and choose eSIM

Re: New IPhone - switch from physical sim to Esim

PaulBDunn — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 22:56:36 GMT

Thanks for the reply.

Will that maintain the same plan with the same phone number?

Re: New IPhone - switch from physical sim to Esim

hTideGnow — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 23:01:08 GMT

hi @PaulBDunn

yes it will.

Re: New IPhone - switch from physical sim to Esim

aip0401 — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 06:53:32 GMT

Public Mobile has its own way of "transferring" an eSIM, but you need to first download the Public Mobile app on your new device. Once you've logged in, go through the process of purchasing an eSIM. At checkout, the system will automatically recognize that you already have an eSIM and waive the cost. Once this process is complete, the eSIM on your old device will become inactive and the one on your new device will be activated with your current number.

Source: https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/get-help/articles/esim-faqs

Re: New IPhone - switch from physical sim to Esim

Trev88 — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:38:39 GMT

I just completed this exact scenario. It is very quick. I was done in under 2 minutes.

I had an iPhone 11 with a physical Public Mobile (PM) SIM. I bought an iPhone 17 Pro, which only allows eSIM (no physical SIM tray)

When your new phone is all set up, open the PM app. Mine was automatically signed in, but you may need to sign into yours.
Go to Account on the bottom
I chose Change Your SIM Card
Choose Get a new one here
At the bottom choose Continue With eSIM ($5)
Place Order
Install eSIM Now
I had a couple pop ups from my phone to Activate, Continue, then Done
PM then said it was all activated and Continue

Right after, I called our home phone from my new iPhone and it worked. My old iPhone did have a popup that LTE calls were turned off by PM, which was expected as the Physical SIM is no more.

Here are some screenshots…

Re: New IPhone - switch from physical sim to Esim

slusagm — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 06:34:01 GMT

@Trev88 do you get eSIM QR code in email? Last time I did a transfer , I didn't get one. Just want to confirm if sending QR still part of the process

Re: New IPhone - switch from physical sim to Esim

Trev88 — Sun, 19 Oct 2025 14:46:54 GMT

The way I completed this, there is no QR or email. My screenshots were the exact steps. Once I placed the order and then chose to install, it went right to the phone quick installation. I recommend the steps I did. I don’t know how it may work if an eSIM is somehow purchased separately and now you’re wanting to install later and get the number & plan moved over.

Re: New IPhone - switch from physical sim to Esim

Ecky11 — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 17:19:14 GMT

This worked exactly as you said. Thanks!!!

Re: New IPhone - switch from physical sim to Esim

Olage1 — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 23:51:33 GMT

After the purchase, when I click install eSIM on a new iPhone 17, it fails. Says something went wrong. Reboot didn’t help. Any ideas?

Re: New IPhone - switch from physical sim to Esim

kmbt — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 20:32:10 GMT

I had a problem with this. A very old phone to new iphone 17. Customer Support was useless

In the end I removed my app, restarted my phone and managed to get the Esim activated.

I received no QR code

The two phones side by side didn't work

So now I'm up and running and no thanks to support from Public Mobile

Re: New IPhone - switch from physical sim to Esim

hTideGnow — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 20:34:50 GMT

hi @kmbt

glad you have it working

there is no QR code if you buy the eSIM via the app. The app will install the eSIM for you and hence does not need the QR code

Re: New IPhone - switch from physical sim to Esim

Ganoguy — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 13:08:31 GMT

Would the same process work for a transfer from an android phone?

Re: New IPhone - switch from physical sim to Esim

hTideGnow — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 13:45:12 GMT

@Ganoguy wrote:
Would the same process work for a transfer from an android phone?

HI @Ganoguy

yes, same process applies