Are you ready to ditch your old SIM card and embrace the future with eSIM? If you are a Google Pixel fan, you are in luck. The new Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro have just arrived, and they are packed with amazing features, both hardware and software.

One of the most exciting ones is the ability to transfer your eSIM profile from your previous Pixel phone to your shiny new one. And that’s not all. You can also turn your physical SIM into an eSIM with just a few taps.

This is a big deal, because eSIMs are awesome. They let you switch carriers without swapping cards, use multiple numbers on one device, and save space for other components inside your phone.

But they can also be a hassle, especially if you want to move them from one phone to another. That’s why Google announced earlier this year that Android would support eSIM migration, and now it’s finally here.

What this means for the eSIM landscape?

Google has been working on eSIM transfers since February this year. This move indicates wider adoption of eSIMs in the future. And naturally so, eSIMs are just simply better than traditional SIM cards in all aspects.

They make sense at a fundamental level by addressing this question brilliantly – Why do I need to deal with a SIM card if I already have a phone? Why should the phone and what powers the phone be two separate things?

Simply put, eSIMs are the future and the idea of eSIMs is in line with where technology itself is going – towards intuitiveness and accessibility.

Using eSIMs on the latest Pixel phones Both the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro have dual SIM functionality. You can use an eSIM and the normal SIM card at the same time. You are also free to use two eSIMs simultaneously as well and forget about the SIM card altogether.

Pixel 8 eSIM transfer drawback

Although this appears to be an exciting development, there is a major caveat to consider - the eSIM transfer and conversion features are not available for every Android device or every carrier.

But this does not mean that Android users are out of luck.

In fact, Samsung had beaten Google in the eSIM race by enabling SIM to eSIM conversion just recently. On certain devices running One UI 5.1, converting a SIM card to an eSIM is a seamless process.

How to convert SIM to eSIM on Samsung Galaxy?

If you want to convert your existing SIM card to an eSIM on the latest Galaxy models, follow the steps below.

  • Open Settings
  • Tap on Connections
  • Choose SIM Management
  • Choose settings related to SIM
  • Choose Convert to eSIM Note:

Only certain Samsung devices running One UI 5.1 or newer support eSIM transfer or conversion.

How to transfer eSIM to Galaxy models from older Galaxy phones? ·

  • Open ‘Settings’ 
  • Go into ‘Connections’
  • Now select ‘SIM Management’
  • Tap the settings related to the SIM
  • Choose ‘Add eSIM’
  • Choose ‘Other ways to connect’
  • Choose ‘Transfer eSIM from another device’

Note that if you are transferring eSIMs, you are required to de-register your older eSIM on the device before reactivating it on the new one.

Frequently Asked Questions about eSIM transfer

Will I lose all my data if I transfer my eSIM?

No, eSIM transfer will not remove your data. But, just to be on the safer side, you can consider creating a backup of your data for extra peace of mind.

How many eSIMs can I have on Google Pixel 8? Although you can store many eSIM profiles, you can only use up to two at a time. The rest will be disabled but you have the option to enable them later.

Can I use two SIMs on Pixel 8?

You can, but the Pixel 8 series devices only have one physical SIM card slot. You can use either a nano-SIM card and an eSIM, or two eSIMs.

Can I have multiple eSIMs on my device?

It depends on your phone. The following models are known to offer support for eSIMs such as A51, S21 (dependent on software updates), and S20.