topic Re: how to tranfer phone number to a sim-free iphone in SIM cards & Porting

how to tranfer phone number to a sim-free iphone

tanyamon88 — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 20:22:32 GMT

Hi, I've got a sim-free iphone, but still want to use an EE sim card. Anyone know the process to link the phone number with the phone, without using a sim card?

Re: how to tranfer phone number to a sim-free iphone

XRaySpeX — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 20:27:54 GMT

The SIM is the no. Just put an EE SIM in the phone & it becomes linked to the no.

Re: how to tranfer phone number to a sim-free iphone

tanyamon88 — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 20:35:41 GMT

the phone doesn't have a sim card slot - it's the new iphone

Re: how to tranfer phone number to a sim-free iphone

XRaySpeX — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 20:54:25 GMT

OIC! Then you need to order from EE an eSIM. You might need to order an ordinary physical SIM 1st & have it converted to eSIM.

"SIM-Free" usually means that it come w/out any particular network's SIM & you insert/load 1 of your choice, not that it can't have a SIM.

Re: how to tranfer phone number to a sim-free iphone

Chris_B — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 20:45:43 GMT

@tanyamon88 If it’s a UK model iPhone then it has a sim slot. Only iPhones sold in the USA are esim only.

On the left side of the device there is a hole you push the sim pin tool into that hole to open the sim tray.

Re: how to tranfer phone number to a sim-free iphone

Theo77 — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 20:45:05 GMT

If your iPhone 15 doesn't have a SIM card slot, this implies it was originally purchased in the USA as UK models do still have a SIM card slot (even on the latest device) so that is why others may have been getting confused.

To get this phone working on the EE network (and keep your current number) you'll need to install something called an eSIM on the phone.

This may be very easy if you can just select "Transfer number" during the initial set-up of the device or later when both devices (old and new) are in Bluetooth range from Settings > Mobile service. However, if you can't get this to work you'll need to order an eSIM from EE, which you could possibly install almost immediately via the EE app on your new phone, or may arrive as a QR code (note you will need WiFi on your new device to activate an eSIM).

Re: how to tranfer phone number to a sim-free iphone

tanyamon88 — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 20:45:27 GMT

it is a US phone

Re: how to tranfer phone number to a sim-free iphone

Chris_B — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 20:47:43 GMT

@tanyamon88 To have use of the esim in that device you need to be a contract customer esim isn’t yet available for PAYG customers.

If you’re a contract customer you’ll have to call customer services to get this setup.

Re: how to tranfer phone number to a sim-free iphone

Chris_B — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 20:52:06 GMT

@Theo77 Is there another iPhone in order to proceed with this ? @tanyamon88 Doesn’t say

Re: how to tranfer phone number to a sim-free iphone

tanyamon88 — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 20:55:43 GMT

Thank you! This is really helpful! I'm based in the US but use my UK sim when I travel to the UK. Since the new iphone doesn't have a slot, I was hoping to set up my UK number as Esim without needing to be in UK. I will try those steps you mentioned.

Re: how to tranfer phone number to a sim-free iphone

Chris_B — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 20:59:26 GMT

@tanyamon88 you can not setup an eSim when outside the UK as it’ll not receive the information activate.

Re: how to tranfer phone number to a sim-free iphone

tanyamon88 — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 20:58:53 GMT

ok, thanks.

Re: how to tranfer phone number to a sim-free iphone

XRaySpeX — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 21:03:30 GMT

& if you're not a UK resident just visiting UK for a trip, you won't be able to get a contract SIM but only PAYG (pre-paid) for which eSIMs are not yet available.

Re: how to tranfer phone number to a sim-free iphone

Theo77 — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 21:21:20 GMT

If you have an old iPhone, I would recommend putting the UK EE sim into this and then following my steps to transfer. If that doesn’t work you’ll have to order an ESIM QR code from EE, that might work via the website, and scan that with the new phone. Or you could install the EE app on the new phone and possibly install the eSIM from there, but you’d have had to order it already.

update: you should be able to get hold of the ESIM digitally, without coming to the UK, by one of several methods. So one unavailable option for you is the ESIM QR code by post, but I think that is not the only option.

Re: how to tranfer phone number to a sim-free iphone

Theo77 — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 21:24:06 GMT

Sorry, I overlooked the fact you might be on pay as you go, that would indeed stop you getting an eSIM, and I’m not sure about activation outside the UK.

but I can’t confirm, I have installed esim for other countries. When not being there, but don’t know about EE specifically