Travel eSIM troubleshooting
How to Move a Travel eSIM to a New Phone Safely
Whether a travel eSIM can move depends on the provider. Airalo says an installed eSIM cannot be transferred to another device and remaining data cannot be recovered if the old phone is unusable; if the old phone still works, you can share its hotspot with the new one. Saily’s iOS process asks you to delete the old profile first and install a new one from the app (both as of 8 Oct 2026). Set up Wi-Fi and account access on the new phone before you delete anything.
By DmytroUpdated 7 min read
Short answer
- Airalo: an installed eSIM stays on its phone. Keep the old phone as a hotspot for the rest of the package, or buy a new package for the new phone.
- Saily on iOS: delete the old profile, open the Saily app, choose Install eSIM, then Share eSIM to other person, and scan the new QR code on the other device.
- Before any deletion, connect to Wi-Fi that does not depend on the eSIM, sign in to the provider app and your email on the new phone, and note the remaining data and expiry date.
- Moving an eSIM does not move your home number or bank sign-in methods, and it does not restart the package’s validity.
Check whether your eSIM can move at all
Two phones that both support eSIM can still face a no-transfer rule.
You have three routes: keep using the old phone, follow the provider’s transfer procedure, or buy a new package for the new phone. First check that the new phone’s exact model supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked. That settles the device; the provider’s rules settle the transfer.
Airalo’s help says an installed eSIM cannot move to another device, and remaining data cannot be recovered if the original phone is unusable. If the old phone still works, Airalo suggests connecting the new one to its hotspot. That works for the rest of the package as long as you carry both phones and keep the old one charged.
Saily’s iOS procedure has you delete the old profile first, then open the Saily app, choose Install eSIM and Share eSIM to other person, and scan the new QR code on the other device. Follow the current instructions for your own platform, and do not apply this order to an Airalo eSIM or reuse an old activation QR code.
If the provider transfers it, the package keeps its balance and expiry date: a transfer is not a new validity period. If the phone is lost, use the provider’s account recovery and replacement rules.
| Layer | What to check |
|---|---|
| Device | The new phone’s exact model supports this eSIM and is unlocked |
| Profile | Transfer, reissue or a one-device rule |
| Account | You can open the order and sign in without the old connection |
| Package | Remaining data, expiry date and current destination |
Prepare access before you delete the old profile
A correct transfer can cut the old phone’s mobile data on purpose.
Save the provider, order number, package, account email, both phone models, the destination and the plan status somewhere you can reach from either phone. Keep activation QR codes and recovery codes out of shared travel notes. Contact support only through the provider’s app or website, and never give anyone your password, a one-time login code, your card security code or remote control of your phone.
Connect to stable Wi-Fi, charge both phones and check that you can sign in to the provider app and your email on the new phone. Check your bank app, work authenticator and password manager separately: a data-only travel eSIM carries none of them, and it does not carry your home number.
If the procedure asks you to delete the old profile first, expect the old phone to lose mobile data at that moment. If the instructions are unclear or the old phone is lost, ask the provider’s support before deleting anything. Removing an eSIM profile does not require a factory reset of the phone.
Checklist
- The current procedure for this provider, platform and package is open.
- Wi-Fi is available that does not depend on the profile you are moving.
- You can sign in to the provider app and email on the new phone.
- The order number, remaining data and expiry date are noted.
- The move is scheduled away from boarding or a work deadline.
Move the eSIM in the right order and test it
A profile label on the new phone shows installation, not working data.
Follow only the documented transfer, reinstall or reissue steps. Keep the old phone nearby, but once its profile is removed it is no longer a backup. On iOS with Saily, use the transfer instructions generated in the app after the deletion step rather than an old QR code or a general phone-to-phone tutorial.
On the new phone, select the eSIM for mobile data, follow the provider’s roaming and APN instructions and keep the home SIM from taking over data. In a covered country, turn Wi-Fi off briefly and load a small page, then switch Wi-Fi back on if you need it. Outside the coverage area you can check installation and sign-in now and test data on arrival.
Check the remaining data and expiry in the provider app. If you need hotspot for a laptop, test it separately.
Step by step
- Open the provider’s current transfer instructions for your platform.
- Connect both phones to Wi-Fi and sign in to the provider app on the new phone.
- Delete the old profile only if the procedure asks for it at this point.
- Install the eSIM on the new phone with the newly issued QR code or in-app option.
- Select it for mobile data and apply the provider’s roaming and APN settings.
- Test a small page with Wi-Fi off, then check the remaining data in the app.
Erase the old phone only after access is secure
Wiping the whole phone is a separate decision from moving its eSIM.
Before selling or returning the old phone, check that your important accounts and data work on the new one, back up what you need and use the manufacturer’s secure-erase process, plus any employer policy. Remove personal accounts and active profiles before handing the phone to anyone else.
If the old phone is lost, broken or wiped, use your order details and an independent login to ask the provider’s support what it can reissue. In the meantime, use offline maps, saved bookings and Wi-Fi, or buy a new package for the new phone. After a theft, also follow your phone maker’s, bank’s and employer’s security steps.
Afterwards, update your notes with the new phone, the support link and the recovery steps. Each package follows the provider’s current rules, so check them again before the next move.
FAQ
Can I move an Airalo eSIM to a new phone?
No. Airalo says an installed eSIM cannot be transferred to another device (as of 8 Oct 2026). If the old phone still works, share its hotspot with the new phone, or buy a new package for the new phone.
Should I wait for the new eSIM to work before deleting the old profile?
Not always. Some procedures, such as Saily’s on iOS, require deleting the old profile first. Read the exact instructions and set up Wi-Fi before that step.
Can I reuse the old QR code?
Only if the provider’s current instructions allow it. A QR code can be single-use or tied to one device, and a transfer may come with a new activation route.
Will my remaining data and home number move too?
The remaining data follows the provider’s transfer rule; with Airalo it stays on the original phone. Your home number is a separate line with your carrier, and authentication apps need their own transfer.
Sources
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