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Transfer eSIM from old cell phone to new one.

inROW
Good Citizen / Bon Citoyen

Hello,

I've been with Public Mobile with eSim for a while now. I bought a new cell phone and to transfer from Android to Android to the new phone, I removed the eSim from the old one and used the QR code that Public Mobile sent me to add it to the new one, but I get an error saying that the eSim is already on another device.

I already contacted support, but it seems they forgot to respond to my messages, and I didn't receive any support. The bot is still just as inefficient at solving any kind of problem.

Does anyone know what I can do?

6 REPLIES 6

inROW
Good Citizen / Bon Citoyen

Hi,
Samsung has three options:
Proceed with
1. Having a SIM card, as you mentioned.
2. Scanning a QR code, which is how I received my first eSIM with Public Mobile.
3. Scanning plans available on the network (which is very rare, by the way).

What you say makes a lot of sense. I'm going to try to find a SIM card through someone I know. I'll let you know if I succeed. Thank you for taking the time to respond.

inROW
Good Citizen / Bon Citoyen

Hello, thank you for responding. Yes, I understood about the SMS. I redirect it to my email and that's how I get my authentication. My account is not blocked. I was able to purchase the e-SIM, but Public Mobile is not sending me a new QR code so I can install it on my new phone, as I mentioned to the other community member:

What if the new phone only allows me to scan a QR code and won't let me install the app until I have an e-SIM installed?

This happens to me with Samsung; it won't let me proceed until I have the QR code, and the Public Mobile website tells me that I have to download the app in order to make a purchase. I used the app on my old phone to buy the e-SIM, but it doesn't generate a QR code, so I can't continue because I'm not going to install it on my old phone.

@inROW 

for Samsung phone, it is a Samsung restriction that you need to first use a physical sim to set up the phone first.

If you don't have a physical sim card, borrow an active sim from a friend to complete the phone setup process first (you can still use your own Google account and Samsung account while using a friend's sim to setup the phone)

After that is done, download PM app and login to buy a new eSIM.   

inROW
Good Citizen / Bon Citoyen

Hello, thank you for responding.

What if the new phone only allows me to scan a QR code and won't let me install the app until I have an e-SIM installed?

This happens to me with Samsung; it won't let me proceed until I have the QR code, and the Public Mobile website tells me that I have to download the app in order to make a purchase. I used the app on my old phone to buy the e-SIM, but it doesn't generate a QR code, so I can't continue because I'm not going to install it on my old phone.

slusagm
Mayor / Maire

@inROW 

you shouldn't remove your old esim.  You won't be able to get the 2FA via sms now.  But you can get it via email.  Click Didn't receive code or Resend code and choose Send email

and what you need to do with the esim on the new phone is to download PM app , login (receive 2FA via email as said above), go to Account -> Purchase sim card -> esim

if you really cannot login, then ask Pm to help

 Since your account is locked, you will need support agent to help.  Please send them a message

      https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/notes/composepage/note-to-user-id/22437 

CharlieWhisky
Mayor / Maire

Hi, I did that recently, you need to install the Public Mobile app on your new phone and buy a new eSIM. Public mobile will reimburse you.

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