How to Fix eSIM Did Not Transfer to New iPhone 16/15

Problem: eSIM did not transfer to new iPhone

Apple offers 3 ways to help you transfer eSIM to new iPhone. Usually, you can transfer eSIM via eSIM Quick Transfer during the setup process. In addition, you can transfer eSIM via Settings app or Bluetooth after the setup.

In most cases, the transfer will be completed within a few minutes. However, you got a notification saying that the transfer cannot be completed. Why eSIM did not transfer to new iPhone? What can do you when eSIM did not transfer to new iPhone? Just keep reading to learn more.

Why eSIM did not transfer to new iPhone

Below are some of the possible reasons behind eSIM did not transfer to new iPhone 16/15 problem.

● Outdated iOS version. You can only transfer eSIM via Bluetooth when your iPhone is updated to iOS 17 or later.
● Bluetooth or Wi-Fi problem. eSIM transfer requires Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to work. If there is a problem with the connection, then eSIM will not transfer smoothly.
● There is something wrong with your account or the cellular plans are not set up properly.
● Unknown bugs. The bugs of the existing iOS may also cause eSIM did not transfer to new iPhone problem.

How to fix eSIM did not transfer to new iPhone

What to do if eSIM won’t transfer to new iPhone? Don’t worry too much! Here are some of the working methods that can help you fix eSIM did not transfer to new iPhone issue.

Tip 1. Check essential requirement

When you meet eSIM did not transfer to new iPhone issue, you should first check essential requirements. If you miss any of the requirements, then the transfer will not go smoothly.

✔ Make sure you have set a passcode on your iPhone. You won’t be able to move eSIM if there is no passcode. You can go to Settings > Face ID/Touch ID & Passcode to set it up.

✔ Keep your iPhone unlocked. Please make sure your iPhone is unlocked during the transfer. You can go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock and choose Never to prevent your iPhone from locking automatically.

✔ Place two iPhones near each other. eSIM can only transfer smoothly when the two iPhones are connected.

Tip 2. Force Restart iPhone

Force Restart is a safe and useful solution for most iOS-related issues, which can clean up temporary files and potential glitches. It’s worth a try if you meet eSIM won’t transfer to new iPhone problem.

• Press and quickly release the Volume Up button  
• Press and quickly release the Volume Down button
• Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears

Tip 3. Turn on Bluetooth

eSIM did not transfer to new iPhone issue will occur when Bluetooth is disabled. You can go to Settings > Bluetooth to turn it on. Or you can go to Control Center to turn on Bluetooth. If it is already on, you can turn it off and on to refresh the connection.

Tip 4. Check Internet connection

Wi-Fi plays a crucial role in transferring eSIM. Please make sure two iPhones have connected to a stable Wi-Fi network. Otherwise, you will meet eSIM won’t transfer to new iPhone problem. You can try these three tricks to troubleshoot your network.

✔ Restart the router and place your iPhone closer to the router.

✔ Turn on Airplane mode and turn it off after a few seconds.

✔ Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings > Enter your passcode to confirm the reset. The reset can help you fix network-related issues. It will not erase any existing data on iPhone but it will remove Wi-Fi passwords, VPN, and Bluetooth-paired devices.

iPhone 14 can activate eSIM without Wi-Fi.

Tip 5. Update iOS to the latest version

Chances are that some hidden software bug caused the eSIM did not transfer to new iPhone issue. You can update iOS to get rid of any software errors. By the way, if you want to transfer eSIM via Bluetooth, both two iPhones should be upgraded to iOS 16 or later.

Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check if there is an update available. If there is, you can tap Download and Install to update your iPhone.

Tip 6. Reset the current iPhone

You can also reset the current iPhone to fix eSIM did not transfer to new iPhone problem. It will erase all content and settings including eSIM. After that, you can set up eSIM directly on new your iPhone. Before the reset, please back up your iPhone, otherwise, you will lose everything.

Go to Settings > General > Reset (Transfer or Reset iPhone in iOS 15 and later) > Tap Erase All Content And Settings and enter your passcode to confirm.

How to backup iPhone easily?

⭐ If you do not have a computer at hand, you can backup your iPhone with iCloud. However, by default, iCloud only offers 5 GB of free storage space, which may not be enough to backup everything. The good news is that, if your current iPhone has updated to iOS 15 or later, you can backup your iPhone with temporary iCloud storage.

When the backup is complete, you will have 21 days to restore the backup. For more info, you can refer to this guide: How to Use Temporary iCloud Storage to Transfer Your Data.

⭐ If you have a computer at hand, you can backup your iPhone with AOMEI FoneBackup. It’s one professional iPhone data management tool for Windows users. AOMEI FoneBackup provides two backup modes: Selective Backup and Full Backup.

You can preview and select the data to want to backup or backup everything in one click. What’s more, the backup files are readable and you can restore the backup to any iPhone.

Besides data backup, AOMEI FoneBackup also supports data transfer. It can help you transfer everything (including app data) or selected contacts, photos, songs, messages, etc.

You can click the download button to get AOMEI FoneBackup and give it a try by yourself.

Tip 7. Connect your carrier and Apple Support

If all the methods cannot help you fix eSIM did not transfer to new iPhone problem, you can contact your carrier and Apple Support for help.

✔ Contact your carrier and let them know about the problem. The support agents can help you check whether there are billing-related issues. In addition, it is possible that they will need to adjust some settings so that you can enable eSIM on your new iPhone.

✔ If the carrier says everything is fine, you can contact Apple Support. Tell them what you’ve tried. If needed, you can bring your iPhone to an Apple Store to have it checked by a professional.

Final words

That’s all about how to fix eSIM did not transfer to new iPhone issue. You can try to solve the problem yourself first. If nothing works, you can ask your carrier and Apple support for help. Hope you can finally fix this problem and enjoy your new iPhone.